Apparently the waiting only makes desire stronger, or at least that's what Breaking Benjamin learned with its most recent release, Dark Before Dawn. The band had gone more than six years without a new album but the new release debuted with 141,000 equivalent copies sold (and 135,000 actual copies, marking the group's highest sales week ever). It's also the band's first no. 1 album on the Billboard 200 (check out our exclusive interview with band here).
Two more debuts crack the Top 3 spots this week. The first comes from Tori Kelly, whose Unbreakable Smile sold 75,000 copies. Like Breaking Ben, this was also her largest sales week ever. One more act—Kacey Musgraves—joins that pair in achieving her highest sales week ever. Pageant Material may not have peaked as high as her debut Same Trailer, Different Park (yet), but it managed to move 60,000 copies.
Taylor Swift had managed to hold down no. 2 on the Billboard 200 for a few slow release weeks, but she drops to no. 4 with 1989 this week. The album moved another 54,000 copies and maintained her place in the Top 10 for a 35th consecutive week. Look for her "equivalent sales" to increase soon as the album is available for streaming on the newly-launched Apple Music, making it the first time the album has been available for that listening format.
Last week's no. 1 album, Before This World by James Taylor, stays relatively strong in terms of sales, coming in at no. 5 by moving another 50,000 copies.
The fourth new album on this week's chart, Coming Home by Leon Bridges, serves as a strong debut for the up-and-coming R&B star, selling 42,000 copies.
Three long-since-released albums take spots nos. 7-9. Ed Sheeran and x maintain its almost weekly spot, moving another 35,000 copies. Sam Hunt, who's bounced back strong with Montevallo following his appearance at the CMT Awards, lands at no. 8 this week by selling 30,000 copies of that album. Maroon 5 stays in the no. 9 position with V for a third consecutive week, selling 27,000 copies.
The last entry this week is another new one: the soundtrack for Disney's Teen Beach 2. The album doesn't feature any A-list appearances but Disney has always been successful at marketing its soundtracks.
