Incubus
Photo: Epic

California rockers Incubus have been making music together for more than 15 years — and in all that time, they've never known what it was like to have one of their records debut at the top of the Billboard albums chart. That's about to end.

With close to 165,000 copies of Light Grenades sold, Incubus lay claim to the chart's #1 position during another strong week for album sales overall, according to the latest SoundScan data. While Light Grenades is the band's highest-charting album, it isn't its best-selling debut. Incubus' Morning View bowed at #2 in 2001, selling 266,000 copies its first week in stores, while 2004's A Crow Left of the Murder just missed the mark yet again, finishing as the chart's #2 disc with sales of nearly 332,000.

Jay-Z is at the center of the week's other big chart story. Sales of his latest album, Kingdom Come, slipped a whopping 79 percent its second week in stores. The disc, which topped the previous Billboard albums chart with more than 680,000 copies sold, falls to #6 with 140,000 sales — the largest week-two drop of the rapper's career.

Incubus' Grenades was one of just three new albums to crack this week's top 200, with the other new entries coming from the Clipse — whose oft-delayed Hell Hath No Fury debuts at #14 with more than 78,000 scans — and the Ying Yang Twins, who open at #40 after selling 36,000 copies of Chemically Imbalanced. Total sales of the albums on the latest chart fell substantially — from 7.5 million to 5.3 million, with most albums on the chart experiencing slight declines — from those generated the previous week, which is typically thought of as the first of the holiday shopping season.

The soundtrack to the Disney Channel original series "Hannah Montana" climbs five spots to #2 with 157,000-plus copies sold. Sales of the self-titled debut offering from Daughtry, the band fronted by "American Idol" finalist Chris Daughtry, slipped 49 percent, bumping the disc one spot to #3 with nearly 156,000 scans. Now That's What I Call Music! 23 — a collection of singles from hitmakers including Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado and Christina Aguilera — finishes at #4 with 154,000 copies sold, followed at #5 by the Beatles' Cirque du Soleil soundtrack project Love, with 146,000 scans.

For the first time since its release seven weeks ago, Sarah McLachlan's holiday-themed Wintersongs makes the chart's top 10, thanks to a 38 percent sales boost. The album sold more than 116,000 copies, and climbs 15 spots to #7. Akon's Konvicted holds #8 with 110,000 units scanned, while Josh Groban's Awake returns to the top 10 at #9 with 108,000 sales.

Rounding things out at #10 is the third installment in the Now That's What I Call Christmas! compilation series. The two-disc collection — which features classic Yuletide tunes from Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Johnny Cash as well as cuts from contemporary artists including Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, the Pussycat Dolls, and Relient K — sold close to 102,000 copies, making it another first-timer to the top 10; it was originally released eight weeks ago.

• Jay-Z
• Incubus
• Clipse
• Sarah McLachlan
• Akon

Sarah McLachlan
Photo: Arista

We couldn't get enough of them. Their songs were our soundtrack, and we laughed, danced, cried and loved along with them. They flashed across our radio and TV burning brightly ... but where have they been lately? As you'll find out in this regular feature, sometimes the stories behind your favorite songs are more interesting than the hits themselves.

With the summer-festival scene dominated by mostly male-centric tours like Lollapalooza and the jammy H.O.R.D.E., the Lilith Fair was a breath of fresh, lavender-scented air. Founded in 1997 by Canadian singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan to combat what she saw as sexism in the radio and touring industries, the tour crisscrossed North America for three summers before folding up its tent.

With a lineup of established stars including Sheryl Crow, the Indigo Girls, Jewel, Emmylou Harris and Suzanne Vega, the first year's outing was a success that led to two more years of tours with such well-known acts as Bonnie Raitt, Liz Phair, Natalie Merchant, Sinéad O'Connor, the Dixie Chicks, the Pretenders and Tracy Chapman. Plenty of emerging stars also got their first mainstream exposure on Lilith, including Fiona Apple, Missy Elliott, Nelly Furtado, Beth Orton and Dido.

The tour also featured many lesser-known acts whose names have faded in the ensuing years, such as Melky Sedeck (Wyclef Jean's brother and sister), the Mediæval Bæbes, K's Choice, Cibo Matto, Splashdown, Antigone Rising, Wild Strawberries, Holly McNarland, Leah Andreone and Luscious Jackson (see "Luscious Jackson Reunite — To Make Children's Album"). Then there are the artists you might not have known paid their dues on Lilith, like Monica, Mya, Deborah Cox, Bijou Phillips, Erykah Badu, Queen Latifah and Christina Aguilera.

During its run, Lilith played to more than 2 million people and raised in excess of $7 million for women's causes, but what became of the big-name acts who were on the verge or huge during Lilith but have been flying under the radar since? Glad you asked.

Who: Sarah McLachlan

Her story: The tour's founder had a string of hits in the 1990s with such soft-rock staples as "Possession," "Building a Mystery," "Sweet Surrender" and "Angel." After the third Lilith in 1999, she decided to take a hiatus, during which her first child was born, eventually returning to the pop world in 2003 with Afterglow. Though still popular, McLachlan has not fully recaptured her early success in the second phase of her career.

What's next?: McLachlan's first holiday album, Wintersong, slated for release October 17, includes her version of John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," Joni Mitchell's "River" and the original title track.

Who: Meredith Brooks

Her story: In 1997, Brooks was taking off with her Alanis Morissette-style kiss-off "Bitch," which helped her debut, Blurring the Edges, climb the charts and landed her a spot on Lilith. Though her second album, 1999's Deconstruction, got decent reviews, it failed to live up to her first, and 2002's Bad Bad One came and went without much notice. In the interim, Brooks tried her hand at producing, sitting behind the board for Jennifer Love Hewitt's 2002 track "BareNaked" and co-writing and producing Hilary Duff's Metamorphosis album. Brooks' song "Shine," from the album of the same name, became the theme song for the 2004 season of the "Dr. Phil" TV program.

What's next?: Brooks is producing the debut by the first act signed to her Kissing Booth production company, 16-year-old Bec Hollcraft. According to Brooks' Web site, the 2004 birth of her son led her to refocus her career. "It's funny how trying to be the best mom I can be and feeling so happy about it has produced the most inspired music of my whole career," Brooks said on her site about her latest project, a children's record called If I Could Be ..., which will be accompanied by a festival tour aimed at children.

Who: Paula Cole

Her story: This former Peter Gabriel backup vocalist broke onto the scene in 1994 with her spare singer/songwriter debut, Harbinger, sporting a cropped hairdo, combat boots and a nose ring. By the time she returned in 1996 with This Fire, though, she had ditched the androgynous look and scored a pair of big hits with "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" and the inescapable "I Don't Want to Wait," which became the theme song for "Dawson's Creek." In 1997, she became the first woman to be nominated for a Grammy for Producer of the Year; she lost but did take home the Best New Artist trophy. After a few years off to raise her daughter, Cole returned in 1999 with the Paula Cole Band and released Amen.

What's next?: A greatest-hits album called Postcards From East Oceanside was released in June.

Who: Lisa Loeb

Her story: For the most part, there are two things people remember about Dallas fizzy-pop singer Lisa Loeb: her signature cat-eye glasses and the fact that she became the first unsigned artist to top the American singles chart. Loeb did the latter with her signature hit "Stay," from the 1994 soundtrack to the slacker flick "Reality Bites." The smash single landed her a major-label deal, followed by a few more hits like "I Do" and "We Could Still Belong Together" from the soundtrack to "Legally Blonde." After releasing two LPs in 2004 — the heart-on-sleeve The Way It Really Is and a children's album called Catch the Moon — Loeb switched to television, appearing in the Food Network's "Dweezil & Lisa" show with then-boyfriend Dweezil Zappa.

What's next?: Loeb released a greatest-hits album in 2006 and starred in the E! Entertainment Television dating show "#1 Single" about entering the dating pool for the first time since college.

Who: Joan Osborne

Her story: Of all the singers on this list, curly-headed soul belter Osborne has had the most eclectic career path. The singer moved to New York in the early 1980s and formed the Womanly Hips label to release a live album and EP. She then signed to a major to release her second album, 1995's Relish, which spawned the pop-oriented, spiritually ambiguous hit "One of Us" and earned eight Grammy nominations. The singer, who dabbled in blues and folk on the album, had a few more hits with "Right Hand Man" and "St. Teresa." But her third album, the frequently delayed 2000 release Righteous Love, didn't fare as well. Osborne, who studied the devotional Qawwali form of Indian singing with late legend Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, gained some serious cred with her gritty singing in the 2002 documentary "Standing in the Shadows of Motown." She took to the road with the famed Motown house band featured in the film, the Funk Brothers, and released an album of soul covers, How Sweet It Is, in 2002. She toured with former Grateful Dead members in their new band, the Dead, as a guest vocalist in 2003.

What's next?: Osborne has recently played with Dead spinoff band Phil Lesh & Friends. She's slated to release a new country/ Americana-flavored album called Pretty Little Stranger on November 14. It features contributions from such country stars as Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Sonny Landreth and Rodney Crowell.

Ever wonder what happened to Crazy Town? How about Snow? Ace of Base? Tell us which faded stars you'd like us to check up on, and you just might find them in a future edition of "Where Ya Been?" Send us your suggestions and we'll get digging...

Past "Where Ya Been" Artist Profiles:

• " '90s Hip-Hop Edition: Onyx, MC Lyte, Rob Base, Young Black Teenagers"
• "Grunge Edition: Soundgarden, Screaming Trees, Mudhoney"
• "Marvelous 3 Now Down To One, SWV End 10 Years Of Resting Their Voices"
• "Sammie Graduating To Comeback, Third Eye Blind Can See Clearly Now"
• "Vitamin C Juicing Up A Comeback, Fastball Heading Back To The Mound"
• "Dream Wake Up, 'Sex' Burns Marcy Playground"
• "Willa Ford Strips Down, Jesse Camp Drops Out"

• Sarah McLachlan
• Joan Osborne
• Lisa Loeb

Kanye West
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

50 Cent has been trying to steal some of Kanye West's thunder in recent days.

First, the G-Unit captain credited himself with paving the way for the Louis Vuitton Don's rise, suggesting in an MTV News interview that The College Dropout benefited from timing (see "50 Cent: 'I Feel Like Kanye West Is Successful Because Of Me' "). Then, 50 released a beefed-up, redesigned version of his chartbusting LP The Massacre featuring Mobb Deep on an "Outta Control" remix and a bonus DVD with videos for each of the album's tracks as well as trailers for his upcoming film, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," and video game, "Bulletproof."

Try as he might, 50's lunge for Kanye's Billboard throne failed to get the job done. West's Late Registration spends a second straight week on top with more than 283,000 scans, pushing the disc over the 1 million mark despite a 67 percent sales drop.

50 Cent scored sales of close to 154,000 with the reissue — quite a feat when you consider that the album has been available for over six months and has already sold over 4 million copies.

Billboard's third-place finisher — Rolling Stones' first studio effort in nearly a decade — debuted big, but the rock icons didn't threaten West's position. A Bigger Bang scored opening-week scans of close to 129,000, ranking as the chart's best-performing debut disc by well over 100,000 copies. The new release charting closest to the Stones belongs to rapper AZ, whose A.W.O.L. checks in at #73 with 11,000 plus scans, followed by Sarah McLachlan's Bloom remix album at #76. Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand's Dream Big claims the chart's #87 with debut-week sales of over 10,000, Against Me!'s Searching for a Former Clarity finishes at #114, and Between the Buried and Me's Alaska is in at #121 with close to 8,000 copies sold.

The Black Eyed Peas' Monkey Business climbs two spots to #4 with scans of 83,000 and change, followed by Mariah Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi, at #5 with over 81,000 copies sold. 50 Cent associate Tony Yayo's Thoughts of a Predicate Felon falls four chart positions to #6 with second-week sales of over 70,000, followed at #7 by the 19th Now That's What I Call Music! compilation, netting scans of more than 68,000.

Green Day's American Idiot surges four spots to #8 thanks to an 11 percent sales increase, resulting in more than 67,000 discs scanned. Hilary Duff's Most Wanted collection takes #9 with sales of close to 64,000. Rounding out the top 10 is Young Jeezy's Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101, which moved 62,000 copies during its seventh week in stores.

Kelly Clarkson might be battling bronchitis, but sales of her album Breakaway are still healthy. The disc takes Billboard's #11 with sales of nearly 56,000, followed at #12 by Gorillaz's Demon Days with scans of 47,000 and then some. Country duo Brooks and Dunn check in at #13 with Hillbilly Deluxe — which sold only 300 fewer units than Demon Days — and Fall Out Boy's From Under the Cork Tree climbs four spots to #14 with 46,000 copies sold. Coldplay's X&Y finishes at #15 with over 41,000 sold, just in front of Death Cab for Cutie's Plans. That LP was the previous week's #4 finisher and plunges to #16 this time around, with scans of over 38,000 representing a 57 percent sales decline.

For more on Kanye West and his Late Registration, check out the feature "All Eyes On Kanye West."

• Kanye West
• 50 Cent
• The Rolling Stones
• Sarah McLachlan
• Against Me!

50 Cent's <i>The Massacre: Special Edition</i>
Photo: Aftermath/Interscope

50 x 2: With a replacement black backdrop on the cover and a bonus DVD adding an extra ounce or two in weight, it won't be hard to distinguish the special edition of 50 Cent's The Massacre from the previous pressings — the enhanced version, the collector's edition, et al. The audio disc has a remix of "Outta Control" with Mobb Deep and the DVD features a video for every song on the original release.

Bang and Blame: The Rolling Stones' first studio album in eight years, A Bigger Bang, isn't all hyperbole. The album reportedly represents the band's fascination with the scientific theory of the origin of the universe — as also illustrated by the cover, which depicts the Stones staring into a ball of light. Tracks include: "Sweet Neo Con," their supposed bash on Bush; "Laugh, I Nearly Died"; "Look What the Cat Dragged"; and "Rough Justice."

Bloom's Day: If you're living in Canada and carrying a computer, you've got an extra edge when it comes to hearing Sarah McLachlan's stuff, as the north-of-the-border singer put out an exclusive EP through iTunes Canada in anticipation of her second remix album, Bloom. Tracks from the LP include: "Train Wreck (Sly & Robbie Mix)," "Dirty Little Secret" (Thievery Corporation Mix)" and "Just Like Me (Will.I.Am Remix)," which is actually a song McLachlan collaborated on with DMC.

E Springs Eternal: As it spells out on the cover, this package binds together the best-of Eazy-E collection Eternal E, with the new bonus track "Lil Eazier Said" by Lil E., and a DVD featuring seven clips by E and two by N.W.A. The video disc closes with three public-service announcements by the nonprofit health-care organization Kaiser Family Foundation, a touching reminder of the rapper's tragic end.

Allstars Duke It Out: In one corner we have blues jammers North Mississippi Allstars tag-teaming with Lucinda Williams, Robert Randolph, Al Kapone and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band on Electric Blue Watermelon. In the other we've got George Clinton and his indomitable P-Funk All Stars with How Late Do U Have 2 B B 4 U R Absent. Seeing as how this is the inauguration of Clinton's the C Kunspyruhzy label and he's got a 50th-anniversary tour in the works, he deserves the heavyweight title.

Have We Seen You Before?: Released on a tiny independent label, Seu Jorge's Cru squeaks by this week, mirroring the Brazilian artist's fleeting (but hilarious) presence singing David Bowie covers in Portuguese in Wes Anderson's oddball pic "The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou." José González has made a slight appearance on the small screen — or at least his music has, on "The O.C." Veneer features "Crosses," a song that surfaced on one of the episodes.

Song Titles Of The Week:

"Mediocrity Gets You Pears (The Shaker)" (Against Me!'s Searching for a Former Clarity)

"Woe Is the Contagion" (Twilight's Twilight)

Other Notables:

Joan Baez's Bowery Songs: With covers galore — Bob Dylan, whom she has saluted tirelessly throughout her career, Steve Earle, and Natalie Merchant — Baez also chips in with four unreleased songs on this November 2004 concert. There isn't much break between numbers, save a brief dedication to Michael Moore.

Richard Youngs' The Naive Shaman: Purported to feature the Glasgowian's first kazoo work since 1992's obscure New Angloid Sound, the prolific multi-instrumentalist also lets loose with a 16-minutes-plus track, "Summer's Edge II." (There is no "Summer's Edge I," of course.) He also shines bright with "Life on a Beam" and "Illuminated Land."

Richard Thompson's "Grizzly Man" soundtrack and The Old Kit Bag reissue: The guitarist who was once notorious for releasing the worst-selling album in the history of Warner Bros., Henry the Human Fly, takes on a different species with a documentary soundtrack. Fans might raise their eyebrows at this one, but they'll undoubtedly want to pick it up — it's 84 minutes of pure Thompson. A DualDisc version of 2003's The Old Kit Bag also comes out this week.

New Releases:

• 32 Leaves - Welcome to the Fall (enhanced; Double Blind)
• The Absence - From Your Grave (Metal Blade)
• Against Me! - Searching for a Former Clarity (Fat Wreck Chords)
• Doug Alan - Sun, Surf and Sand (AmeriMusic)
• Augustana - All the Stars and Boulevards (Epic)
• AZ - AWOL (Fastlife)
• Joan Baez - Bowery Songs (live recording from November 6, 2004, in New York; Koch)
• Baleen - Follow Me Blind (LiquiLab)
• Bellini - Small Stones (Secretly Canadian)
• Between the Buried and Me - Alaska (Victory)
• Black Dice - Broken Ear Record (Astralwerks)
• Brick Bath - American Currency (Crash)
• Blood on the Wall - Awesomer (The Social Registry)
• Bozzio Metropole Orkest - Chamber Works (Favored Nations)
• King Britt - King Britt Presents Sister Gertrude Morgan (Ropeadope)
• Kate Campbell - Blues and Lamentations (Large River)
• Johnny Casino's Easy Action - We've Forgotten More Than You'll Ever Know (Steel Cage)
• Casual - Casual Presents Sam Rockwell (Hieroglyphics)
• George Clinton Presents the P-Funk All Stars - How Late Do U Have 2 B B 4 U R Absent (C Kunspyruhzy)
  Buy Now: How Late Do U Have 2 B B 4 U R Absent (C Kunspyruhzy)
• Barbara Cook - Tribute (DRG)
• Deaf Pedestrians - Deaf Pedestrians (Dot Point Period)
• The Divorce - Gifted Program (Made in Mexico)
• Dreamside - Spin Moon Magic (Dancing Ferret)
• Drums & Tuba - Battle Olé (Righteous Babe)
• Exploited - Beat the Bastards (Reis) (Abstract Sounds)
• Frontier Index - Frontier Index (Rainbow Quartz)
• José González - Veneer (Hidden Agenda)
• Adam Harnett - Adam Harnett (Goretti)
• Beth Hart - Live at Paradiso (Koch)
< LI>Richard Hawley - Cole's Corner (Mute)
• Heatmakerz - Crack, Vol. 1 (Fastlife)
• Heaven 17 - Before/After (Ninth Wave)
• Armand Van Helden - Nympho (Ultra)
• Honky - Balls Out Inn (Small Stone)
• Immaculate Machine - Ones and Zeroes (Mint)
• The Immortal Lee County Killers - These Bones Will Rise to Love You (Tee Pee)
• Indukti - S.U.S.A.R. (Laser's Edge)
• Liz Janes & Create (!) - Liz Janes & Create (!) (EP; Asthmatic Kitty)
• Howard Jones - Revolution of the Heart (Koch)
• Seu Jorge - Cru (Wrasse)
• Little Bruce - Base Rock 2 Pimp Socks (High Speed Entertainment)
• Mad Science Fair - ... For a Better Tomorrow (Mud)
• Marat - Again (Morisen)
• Sarah McLachlan - Bloom Remix Album (Arista)
• James McMurty - Childish Things (Compadre)
• Merciless - Block Monster (Big Gun)
• Mortal Decay - Cadaver Art (Crash Music)
• Alison Moyet - Voice (Sanctuary)
• Johnny Napp - Cowboy Up and Party Down (Johnny Napp)
• New Model Army - Carnival (Attack Attack)
• New Monsoon - The Sound (Harmonized)
• North Mississippi Allstars - Electric Blue Watermelon (ATO/RCA)
  Buy Now: Electric Blue Watermelon (ATO/RCA)
• Hope Partlow - Who We Are (Virgin)
• The Peasall Sisters - Home to You (DualTone)
• Duane Peters & the Hunns - Beyond Warped Live Music Series (Immergent)
• The Phenomenauts - Beyond Warped Live Music Series (Immergent)
• Qualo - Believe. (The Movement)
• Stan Richardson - Moon on the Water (Gemini Sun)
• The Rolling Stones - A Bigger Bang (Virgin)
  Read: "Rolling Stones Announce World Tour, Unveil New Song"
  Buy Now: A Bigger Bang (Virgin)
• Secret Oyster - Vidunderlige Kaelling (Laser's Edge)
• Sexsmith & Kerr - Destination Unknown (Emergent)
• Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand - Dream Big (Capitol)
• Robert Skoro - That These Things Could Be Ours (Yep Roc)
• Socratic - Lunch for the Sky (enhanced; Drive-Thru)
• Space Mtn - A Drawing of a Memory of a Photograph of You (Aeronaut)
• Angela Strehli - Blue Highway (M.C.)
• Symphorce - Godspeed (Metal Blade)
• Ben Taylor - Another Run Around the Sun (Iris)
• Lewis Taylor - Stoned (with bonus tracks not on European version; HackTone)
• Richard Thompson - "Grizzly Man" soundtrack (Cooking Vinyl)
• Big Mama Thorton - Big Mama Thorton in Europe (Arhoolie)
• Twilight - Twilight (Southern Lord)
• Dinah Washington - Blues for a Day (Delta)
• Watch Them Die - Bastard Son (Century Media)
• Kathy Valentine - Light Years (All for One)
• Valina - Epode EP (54º40' or Fight)
• Valis - Champions of Magic (Small Stone)
• Viva K - Viva K (Stinky)
• Wobbler - Hinterland (Laser's Edge)
• Richard Youngs - The Naive Shaman (Jagjaguwar)
• Various artists - Aerosmithsonian: A Tribute to Aerosmith (Perris)
• Various artists - All Men Country (Direct Source)
• Various artists - The Best of Just Jazz (Direct Source)
• Various artists - Putumayo Presents: Latin Lounge (Putumayo World Music)
• Various artists - Summoning of the Muse: A Tribute to Dead Can Dance (Projekt)
• Various artists - Tone Poets (Acoustic Disc)
• Various artists - Ultimate Pickin': The Best of Instrumental Bluegrass (Pinecastle)

Notable Reissues:

• 50 Cent - The Massacre: Special Edition (CD/DVD; Aftermath/Interscope)
  Buy Now: The Massacre: Special Edition (Aftermath/Interscope)
• Billy Bragg - Brewing Up With Billy Bragg (double disc with bonus tracks; Cooking Vinyl)
• Eazy-E - Eternal E: Gangsta Memorial Edition (Priority)
  Buy Now: Eternal E: Gangsta Memorial Edition (Priority)
• The Human League - Hysteria (Astralwerks)
• M83 - M83 (Mute)
• River City Tanlines - River City Tanlines (collection of 7-inches; Dirtnap)
• Richard Thompson - The Old Kit Bag (DualDisc; Silverline)
• Run-DMC - King of Rock, Raising Hell, Run-DMC and Tougher Than Leather (Arista)
  Buy Now: King of Rock (Arista)
• Steve Vai - Archives, Vol. 4 (Favored Nations)
• Venice Underground - Venice Underground (DualDisc; Immergent)
• Van Zant - Brother to Brother (DualDisc; Silverline)

DVDs:

• Dave Brubeck - "Brubeck Returns to Moscow" (Koch Vision)
• Lunachicks - "XXX Naked" (Koch)
• Mariah Carey - "Music Video Box Document" (Koch)
• Rolling Stones - "Music Video Box Document" (Koch)
• Bruce Springsteen - "VH1 Storytellers" (Columbia)
• Various artists - "Punk: Attitude" (Capital Entertainment)
• Various artists - "Rockin' the Corps" (Image)

Coming Attractions:

September 13:

• Pussycat Dolls - PCD (A/M)
• Paul Wall - The People's Champ (Atlantic)
• Switchfoot - Nothing Is Sound (Columbia)
  Read: "Switchfoot Look Like California Raisins After Video Shoot"
  Buy Now: Nothing Is Sound (Columbia)

September 20:

• David Banner - Certified (Universal)
• Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
(Columbia Records)
• Disturbed - Ten Thousand Fists (Warner Bros.)
  Read: "Disturbed Songs Will Be 'United In Anger' On Third Album"
  Buy Now: Ten Thousand Fists (Warner Bros.)

September 27:

• Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Jacksonville City Nights (Lost Highway)
• Blackalicious - The Craft (Anti-)
• Sheryl Crow - Wildflower (A/M)
  Buy Now: Wildflower (A/M)

• 50 Cent
• The Rolling Stones
• Sarah McLachlan
• Eazy-E
• George Clinton

Madonna (file)
Photo: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Madonna has revealed the name of the first single from her new all-dance album, Confessions on a Dancefloor, due in November. According to a post on her Web site, the song is called "Hung Up" and was produced by Stuart Price (a.k.a. Jacques Lu Cont), her musical director on the Reinvention Tour who also popped up on American Life by co-writing "X-Static Process." ...

Kelly Clarkson has signed up with retailer Meijer for a back-to-school sweepstakes in which students can win a week on tour with her next year, as well as a $500 shopping spree, $500 in spending money and concert tickets. The singer will tout the Midwest chain's selection of fashion and school supplies in a radio commercial as well. The contest runs through September 3. ... Fefe Dobson channels rock chicks like Joan Jett, Debbie Harry, Courtney Love, Shirley Manson and Karen O for her next video, "Don't Let It Go to Your Head," which is supposed to emulate album covers come to life, according to the treatment from director Diane Martel. Meanwhile, she's set a September 20 release date for her second album, Sunday Love, which she recorded with a variety of producers and songwriters, including former Veruca Salt singer Nina Gordon, ex-Letters to Cleo singer Kay Hanley and former Marilyn Manson guitarist John5. ...

Nelly Furtado, who's been recording her new album in Toronto, Los Angeles, Miami and London, has finally decided on a title for the project. She's going to call her third album Loose, she posted online. "It's getting closer to being finished every single day," she wrote. "Let's just say it's a whole lot of fun. It's a whole other side of me." ... Sarah McLachlan will release her second remix album, Sarah McLachlan in Bloom, on September 6. The disc will feature 10 previously unreleased remixes of songs such as "Fallen," "World on Fire," "Dirty Little Secret," "Ice (Dusted Mix)," "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (Junior Boys Mix)" and the previously released collaboration with Run-DMC's DMC on "Just Like Me," remixed by the Black Eyed Peas' Will.I.Am. Other remixers include the Thievery Corporation, Rollo (Faithless), Hyper & Ronnie, Junkie XL, Sly & Robbie and Talvin Singh. ...

The August series of benefit shows to try and save legendary New York punk club CBGB has been expanded to include gigs by the Vandals, Kid Dynamite, the Misfits, Bush Tetras, Chevelle, Raw Power, Youth Brigade and a reunion of the classic punk act Flipper. Rare and autographed items have been donated for auction by Sting, Social Distortion, Motörhead, Anti-Flag, GBH, Elvis Costello, the Tragically Hip and Norah Jones. For the full show lineup and to sign a petition in support of the club, visit www.savecbgb.com. ... Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine has filed a lawsuit against the band's erstwhile bass player David Ellefson on Monday, claiming the musician used the Megadeth name unlawfully in print advertisements that ran in Bass Player magazine. Mustaine's suit claims the two former metal cohorts entered a settlement early this year, restricting the bassist's use of the band name, according to The Associated Press. Mustaine, understandably, was none too happy when he spotted Ellefson in the magazine holding a pedal next to a list of the bands he's been involved with. The suit seeks unspecified damages. ...

On August 17 Nine Inch Nails fans will have an opportunity to score the ultimate collector's item — the ownership rights to Trent Reznor's groundbreaking debut, Pretty Hate Machine. Yes, kids — you could own tracks like "Down in It," "Something I Can Never Have" and, of course, "Head Like a Hole," but it's going to cost you millions. The disc is one of several TVT Records titles on the auction block, compliments of Prudential Securities Financial Services. Pretty Hate Machine and numerous other recordings from the likes of KMFDM, Sister Machine Gun and Gravity Kills were presented as collateral in 1999 against a $32 million loan the label was approved for. TVT managed to pay back $10 million of that amount, but Prudential took the label to court three years ago, claiming the current home of the Ying Yang Twins defaulted on the loan. Pretty Hate Machine is part of an overall biddable package that also includes the rights to the Television's Greatest Hits compilations and the "Mortal Kombat" movie soundtracks. In addition, the highest bidder will be able to collect a percentage on future sales of Nine Inch Nails' other TVT-related releases, including Broken, Fixed, The Downward Spiral and Further Down the Spiral. ...

Power-pop rockers Big Star are gearing up to release their first record in 27 years. Founding members Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens were augmented in the studio by the Posies' Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer. The latter duo have been part of the touring band since 1993, but In Space, due September 26, will be the band's first proper record since 1978's Third/ Sister Lovers — itself somewhat of a posthumous record. ...

07.25.2005

Gwen Stefani might be raking in the VMA nominations for "Hollaback Girl" and "What You Waiting For?" but she's already moving on to make a sequel to her solo album, Love, Angel, Music, Baby. She was recording last week with Pharrell Williams again and is back in the studio with No Doubt bandmate Tony Kanal. One of the new songs she and Kanal have written together is called "Fluorescent Lights," according to the singer's label rep. ...

Original U.K. dance rockers Gang of Four have recorded their first new album with their original lineup in more than 20 years, though the material isn't exactly new. Due October 11, Return the Gift features 14 re-recorded versions of classic Gang of Four songs. "Some of the recordings, especially on Entertainment!, in no way reflect the way we sounded live," guitarist Andy Gill said." [Return the Gift] is more like us onstage — a lot punchier and more explosive." A companion album of remixes by Tony Kanal, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the Dandy Warhols, Ladytron and others is expected in 2006. ... Korn have found a replacement for former guitarist Brian "Head" Welch, but don't expect to see the new addition performing with the band anytime soon. Korn, who're working on their next album, have recruited former Otep guitarist Rob Patterson to take over for the band's upcoming European tour, but, as frontman Jonathan Davis detailed in an online posting, "he will not be onstage." Davis said the band refuses to use "samples or tape, 'cause that would suck," but admitted Korn are "not ready to have a new guy onstage with us." Patterson's stint with the band will end when the European jaunt does, Davis said, promising "some new, exciting ideas on how we are gonna play live in the future" that "will blow your mind." ...

Christina Aguilera is in the middle of recording her new album, but she took a break to do a tune with Herbie Hancock for his new album, Possibilities, due August 30. The two duet on a cover of Leon Russell's "A Song for You." Also collaborating with Hancock on "Possibilities" are Paul Simon, Sting, Carlos Santana, Trey Anastasio, John Mayer and Annie Lennox. ... Jewel has signed on to be the face of an organics line called the Healing Garden that is trying to convince customers they can "Save Your Skin, Save the Planet" at the same time. It claims to be the first mass line of organic bath and body products, and a portion of the proceeds goes to the Nature Conservancy. The singer designed an awareness bracelet for the line that will be available in September. ... Konami Digital Entertainment, makers of music video games "Karaoke Revolution" and "Dance Dance Revolution," announced Monday that it will be making games based on "American Idol" for current and next-generation consoles. This marks the hit TV series' second chance at video games. The first, non-Konami batch of "Idol" games was released more than a year ago but met with poor reviews. ...

Queen have announced two U.S. concerts in October — their first in more than two decades. The news comes on the heels of Queen's 32-date European run. Billed as "Queen and Paul Rodgers," the concert features former Free/ Bad Company frontman Rodgers "collaborating" with Queen; he has not joined the band, but is merely filling in for the late Freddie Mercury, a press release points out. The concerts have been set for October 16 at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and October 22 at the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood. ... When not consulting indie filmmakers' music choices, Sonic Youth tend to their own music. The experimental noise rockers will reissue their 1990 major-label debut, Goo, as a double CD on September 12. The expanded edition of the disc will contain 31 tracks including demos, outtakes and previously unheard tracks such as a cover of the Beach Boys' "I Know There's an Answer." Meanwhile, the band is writing material for its 20th record. New songs include "Pink Steam," "Helen Lundeberg," "OR" and "Do You Believe in Rapture," a song that attempts to "come to terms with the religious right," guitarist Thurston Moore said. ...

Where has Latin pop sensation Ricky Martin been and what has he been up to for the past few years? Well, trying to end stereotypes apparently. According to The Associated Press, during Martin's first trip to the Middle East, the pop heartthrob said he would do his best to help change the negative perception of Arabic youth in the West. "I promise I will become a spokesperson, if you allow me to, a spokesperson on your behalf. I will defend you and try to get rid of any stereotypes," the 33-year-old singer said at a youth conference on Monday. Martin plans to embark on a concert tour of the Middle East and North Africa next year. ... Tenacious D's Kyle Gass will star in a Broadway musical in the works based on the power ballads of the '80s. Songs from Bon Jovi, Journey, REO Speedwagon and more will be included in the production, titled "Rock of Ages" and currently being shopped to theaters in New York and Las Vegas. ...

Björk has a composed a new album. Well, kinda, sorta — at least not a proper full-length. In the vein of her abstract a cappella record, Medulla, the Icelandic imp has collaborated with contemporary visual artist (and the father of her second child) Matthew Barney for the soundtrack of his new experimental film, "Drawing Restraint 9." Due August 23, The Music of Drawing Restraint 9 features 11 orchestral, vocal-based tracks that center on traditional Japanese music forms. Guests on the record include rustic folk singer Will Oldham of Palace and harpist Zeena Parkins. Both Björk and Barney are featured in the film. ... Head Automatica have canceled the remaining dates of their July tour due to the illness of lead singer Daryl Palumbo, who is suffering a relapse of Crohn's Disease. "I am incredibly sorry for the inconvenience I may have caused, and I promise to see you all soon and make up for the lost time," the singer said in a letter to fans. ...

Eugene Record, the founder of legendary Chicago soul act the Chi-Lites, died Friday after a long battle with cancer, according to the group's booking agency. He was 64. The Chi-Lites formed in Chicago in 1959 and, led by Baker, scored a number of soul hits, including "Have You Seen Her" and "Oh Girl." The group's song "Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So)" was the basis for Beyoncé's hit "Crazy in Love." ... British Blues legend Long John Baldry, who helped launch the careers of the Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart, died Thursday of a chest infection, according to his agent. He was 64. Baldry, who got his name due to his 6-foot-7 frame, recorded more than 40 albums during his career, and his hangdog stylings won him a legion of devoted fans, including Elton John, who took his surname in honor of the bluesman. During the 1960s, Baldry's stage band consisted of a virtual galaxy of stars-to-be, including Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page, Charlie Watts and Stewart. ...

• Madonna
• Kelly Clarkson
• Fefe Dobson
• Nelly Furtado
• Sarah McLachlan

50 Cent (file)
Photo: Jason Campbell

There will be no live rendition of "Candy Shop" during the Philadelphia edition of Bob Geldof's Live 8, a follow-up to 1985's Live Aid concert, which raised millions for famine relief efforts in Africa.

The thousands expected to flock to the City of Brotherly Love and congregate at the foot of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in little more than two weeks' time won't even be hearing "Just a Lil' Bit." That's because 50 Cent has removed his name from the concert's bill, just as more artists have been added.

A publicist for 50 Cent told The Associated Press on Wednesday that a scheduling conflict linked to the filming of the rapper's forthcoming film, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," which is shooting in Toronto, has forced the New York native to pull out of the show.

However, organizers announced on Thursday (June 16) that Linkin Park and soon-to-split Destiny's Child (see "Destiny's Child Announce Split") have been added to the Philadelphia concert, which also features Will Smith, Bon Jovi, Jay-Z, Kaiser Chiefs, Maroon 5, P. Diddy, Rob Thomas, Sarah McLachlan and the Dave Matthews Band, among others.

Geldof has organized five simultaneous Live 8 concerts for July 2, as a means to raise awareness about African debt relief (see "50 Cent, Jay-Z, Mariah, U2, Coldplay On Board For Massive Live Aid Sequel"); the events precede the two-day G8 summit, which is set to begin on July 6 in Gleneagles, Scotland.

	Check out "RAW: 50 Cent" in Overdrive, in which 50 talks about everything from his first love scene to getting acting tips from Eminem.

While the G-Unit general is off the Live 8 bill, several artists have just been added. Organizers announced Wednesday that African musicians would stage a concert to coincide with the other Live 8 events, which had been criticized by Blur frontman Damon Albarn as being "too damn Anglo-Saxon" (see "Pink Floyd Get Roger Waters For Live 8; Green Day In For Berlin Show").

According to Reuters, Peter Gabriel is spearheading the show, dubbed Africa Calling. The concert will be held in Southwest England, at the Eden Project in Cornwall. Senegalese star Youssou N'Dour, West African singer/songwriter Angelique Kidjo, Somalia-born vocalist Maryam Mursal and Salif Keita, called the "golden voice of Africa," are all scheduled to perform.

And a seventh Live 8 show has been organized for July 6 in Edinburgh, Scotland; the concert will feature Annie Lennox, Snow Patrol, Dido and the Proclaimers. Live 8's organizers announced Thursday that they'd be expanding the scope of the series to include gigs in Tokyo, Toronto and Johannesburg, South Africa, according to Reuters. An official announcement — with lineups — is expected Friday.

Get involved: Learn about the poverty crisis in Africa, the proposed solutions, and how you can help. Plus find all of our coverage of the international Live 8 concerts and more at our thinkMTV Live 8 hub.

• 50 Cent
• Will Smith
• Bon Jovi
• Jay-Z
• Kaiser Chiefs

DMC
Photo: MTV News

HOLLYWOOD — As if his latest collaborator weren't enough of a shocker, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels is taking her down a surprising path paved by none other than Ugly Kid Joe.

"Me and Sarah McLachlan did a remake of 'Cat's in the Cradle' by Harry Chapin," the Run-DMC rapper said recently of the track famously covered in 1992 by rockers Ugly Kid Joe. "It's awesome."

DMC wrote new verses for his version, the first single from his upcoming solo album, but he's keeping the details on the down low.

"It's very personal," he said. "It has to do with stuff I'm going through in my life, stuff I found out about. You gotta hear the record."

D was equally coy about the video, yet to be shot. "It's gonna be moving, people gonna cry," he said.

The veteran rapper also worked with the late Jam Master Jay, Kid Rock (see "DMC Laments 50 Cent's Busy Schedule, Preps New Song With Kid Rock"), DJ Lethal and Napoleon from the Outlawz on the album titled Checks, Thugs, and Rock 'n' Roll. But he considers McLachlan the ultimate get.

"She's like my favorite artist of all time," he said. "Her music changes people. I called her up and she said yeah. A lot of people in the business be frontin'; they don't call you back. She called me back and we made the record. She's real."

DMC said the long-delayed album is due before spring. However, an Arista Records spokesperson said it wasn't on the release schedule.

The track list has yet to be finalized, but DMC has mentioned a Jam Master Jay tribute called "I'm Missing My Friend" (see "DMC Solo Album Includes Tribute To Jam Master Jay") and "Find My Way," a rocker produced by Kid Rock.

"It's the new hip-hop, musically and lyrically," D boasted of his classic-rock-influenced music. "I did the whole rhymes without writing them down, like Jay-Z does, off the top of the head. It's tight."

Along with finishing Checks, Thugs, and Rock 'n' Roll, DMC has been spending time in Hollywood developing a couple of projects, neither of which he'd discuss.

"I don't want anybody to steal it from me, but I got a movie and some cartoons getting ready to drop," he said.

• DMC
• Run-D.M.C.
• Sarah McLachlan

Jay-Z may have retired from the rap game, but he's working double duty this week to help his protégés shine.

First up there's The Roc Files Volume 1, featuring Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel, Foxy Brown and the Jigga Man himself. Then, Memphis Bleek's M.A.D.E — an acronym for Money, Attitude, Direction and Education — finally hits shelves and, wouldn't you know it, Beanie and Jay turn up on that LP as well.

Raekwon reunites with some of his Wu-Tang buddies — Ghostface Killah and Cappadonna — on The Lex Diamond Story, and Santana's Ceremony — Remixes & Rarities features what its title promises plus three unreleased tracks, "Manana," "Curacion" and "Let Me Love You Tonight."

Sarah McLachlan's Remixed finds her ethereal songs electrofied by beatmakers BT ("Hold On" and "I Love You") and William Orbit ("Black"). Meanwhile, the Goodie Mob hit us off with some Dirty South Classics, And Then ... Joe drops his new material as well.

Finally, Outkast release a DVD of their funked-up and freaked-out videos. Hey ya!

Out Tuesday, December 16:

• B-Legit - Word Pimpin' (Outbac)
• Broken Bottles - In the Bottles (TKO)
• Down South Georgia Boys - 'Til Death Do Us Part (Universal)
• Goodie Mob - Dirty South Classics (La Face)
  Buy Now: Dirty South Classics (La Face)
  
• Joe - And Then ... (Jive)
• Sarah McLachlan - Remixed (Arista)
  Buy Now: Remixed (Arista)
  
• Memphis Bleek - M.A.D.E. (Def Jam)
  Read: "Memphis Bleek Gets Past Bleak Period, Now Has It M.A.D.E."
  Buy Now: M.A.D.E. (Def Jam)
  
• Raekwon - The Lex Diamond Story (Universal)
• The Rum Diary - Poisons That Save Lives (Substandard)
• Santana - Ceremony — Remixes & Rarities (Arista)
• Scarling - Band Aid Covers the Bullet Hole (EP, Sympathy for the Record Industry)
• Spits - The Spits (Dirtnap)
• Year Future - Year Future (EP, Gold Standard Laboratories)
• Various artists – "Cold Mountain" soundtrack (DMZ/Soundtrax)
• Various artists - The Roc Files Volume 1 (Def Jam)
• Various artists – "Something's Gotta Give" soundtrack (Soundtrax)
• Various artists – "Wicked" original Broadway cast recording (Decca)
• DVD: Outkast - The Videos (Arista)

December 23:

• B2K - "You Got Served" soundtrack (Sony)
• Juvenile - Juve the Great (Universal)
• Various artists - "Big Fish" soundtrack (Sony)

January 6:

• Clarence Clemons - Live in Asbury Park Vol. 2 (Valley)
• Paul Weller - Under the Influence (UTI)
• Justin Timberlake - Live From London (BMG)
• DVD: Coldplay - Unauthorized (Music Video Distributors)

January 13:

• Crystal Method - Legion of Boom (V2)
• Lou Reed, John Cale and Nico - Bataclan 72 (Pilot)
• Runaways - Waitin' for the Night (Cherry Red)

January 20:

• Cee-Lo - Cee-Lo Green Is the Soul Machine (Arista)
• Ani DiFranco - Educated Guess (Righteous Babe)

January 27:

• Stereolab - Margerine Eclipse (Elektra)

• Memphis Bleek
• Raekwon
• Santana
• Sarah McLachlan
• Goodie Mob

Jay-Z
Photo: Def Jam

By a margin of just 33,000 copies, Jay-Z was able to stave off albums by Tupac and G-Unit to take the top slot on the Billboard albums chart in a tight race that pitted hip-hop's past, present and future against each other.

Jay's supposed swan song, The Black Album, sold more than 463,000 copies last week, according to SoundScan figures released Wednesday (November 19). Even more impressive, his third-largest opening-week tally — behind last year's The Blueprint 2: The Gift and the Curse and 2000's The Dynasty Roc La Familia, which opened with 545,000 and 557,000 in weekly sales, respectively— is the result of only three days in stores. After bootleg copies surfaced on the Internet and on the streets, the LP's release date was moved up from November 28 to Friday (see "G-Unit, Jay-Z To Duke It Out In Stores").

The same rush to stores happened to G-Unit's debut album, Beg for Mercy, though with lesser results. 50 Cent's crew — Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks and Young Buck — moved more than 376,000 copies in the three-day cycle to take the #3 slot, falling short of Tupac's latest posthumous album, the soundtrack to "Tupac: Resurrection," by roughly 55,000 copies. The tracks on "Resurrection" are considered among the best to surface since the prolific rapper's 1996 death. Collaborations with Eminem and 50 Cent didn't hurt the album's allure, either.

Fourth place goes to the decidedly un-thug Josh Groban. The vocalist's second album, Closer, sold more then 375,000 copies last week. Its predecessor, 2001's Josh Groban, debuted at #127 but went on to sell more than 3.5 million copies.

Kid Rock's cover of Bad Company's "Feel Like Makin' Love" helped his self-titled sixth album seduce a spot at #8, with more than 188,000 copies sold. Rock's previous album, 2001's Cocky, bowed at #7 with 223,000 copies and wound up selling more than 4 million, fueled by the crossover single "Picture."

Pink's third album, Try This, featuring the hit "Trouble," sold more than 147,000 copies to come in at #9, right behind Kid Rock. Coincidentally, when Rock's Cocky and Pink's Missundazstood dropped the same week two years ago, the rap-rocker also edged out the rebellious problem child by one notch on the chart, though both artists enjoyed stronger sales then than now.

The remainder of the top 10 finds last week's #1, Toby Keith's Shock'n Y'all, falling to #5 (with more than 227,000 copies sold); Now That's What I Call Music! 14 sliding three to #6 (195,000); Sarah McLachlan's Afterglow dropping five to #7 (191,000); and The Very Best of Sheryl Crow dropping six to #10 (141,000).

Multi-disc sets from Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam take the #14 and #15 spots. Two of the three discs that comprise The Essential Bruce Springsteen, which sold more than 89,000 copies, collect his greatest hits, while the third features outtakes and rarities. Unreleased tracks, B-sides and rarities are all that make up Pearl Jam's Lost Dogs. The band's 30-track fulfillment of its Epic Records contract fell just shy of Springsteen's set by around 300 copies.

The live Another 700 Miles EP, featuring 3 Doors Down performing their hits "Duck and Run," "When I'm Gone" and "Kryptonite," comes in at #21, while Stone Temple Pilots' best-of set, Thank You, earns a #26 showing for the recently disbanded quartet.

Major second-week drop-offs hit the latest albums from P.O.D. and Wyclef Jean. After moving more than 105,000 copies of Payable on Death two weeks ago, P.O.D.'s sales dropped by 59 percent, plunging the album from #9 to #29. Jean's The Preacher's Son, meanwhile, could sure use some help from above. On the heels of a disappointing #22 debut, it sinks to #44 after sales slumped from 49,000 to 34,000 copies.

Nick Lachey's SoulO comes in at #51. Incidentally, wife Jessica Simpson's latest, In This Skin, bowed at #10 with more than twice as many copies sold when it dropped in August.

Other notable chart debuts include R&B crooner Dave Hollister's Real Talk at #42; Matchbox Twenty's descriptively titled EP at #43; prog-metallers Dream Theater's Train of Thought at #53; the soundtrack to chick flick "Love Actually," with contributions from Kelly Clarkson, Norah Jones and Joni Mitchell, at #56; and Here I Am, a collaboration of pop songsmith Burt Bacharach and Ronald Isley, at #73.

• Jay-Z
• Tupac
• G-Unit
• Josh Groban
• Kid Rock

Toby Keith
Photo: DreamWorks

Even more surprising than Toby Keith's new album, Shock'n Y'all, coming in at #1 on next week's Billboard albums chart is that the combined sales of new records by Ja Rule, P.O.D., Coldplay, Bon Jovi, Wyclef Jean, Fabolous and Ryan Adams couldn't match the flag-waving cowboy's huge first-week draw.

Capitalizing on a buzz created from criticizing Dixie Chick Natalie Maines' controversial remarks about the president, Keith's ninth album, which includes such war-themed fare as "American Soldier" and "The Taliban Song," sold more than 585,000 copies, according to SoundScan. The big first-week sales give Keith his second consecutive #1 album. Last year's Unleashed also took the top slot with more than 338,000 in sales its debut week, and his last three albums each sold progressively more than the last, in excess of 1 million copies.

Gentle-voiced chanteuse Sarah McLachlan will take the #2 slot with Afterglow, her first album in four years. The follow-up to Mirrorball, which came in at #2 in 1999, sold more than 361,000 copies, a greater first-week pull than that of her last two LPs.

Tracks from Mya, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Chingy, R. Kelly and Justin Timberlake, among others, helped the compilation Now That's What I Call Music! Volume 14 sell more than 321,000 copies to take next week's #3 slot; Sheryl Crow's The Very Best of Sheryl Crow, meanwhile, will place at #4, with more than 246,000.

Ja Rule's latest, Blood in My Eye, is obscuring his view of the top, since each of his last four albums placed higher with more weekly sales. Fronted by the single "Clap Back," Murder Inc.'s magnet for controversy sold more than 139,000 copies of his follow-up to The Last Temptation, which landed at #4 with more than 237,000 copies sold in its first week in 2002.

Although not as drastic a slip as Ja Rule's, P.O.D. fell slightly below the benchmark set by their last album. Where 2001's Satellite moved more than 133,000 copies and landed at #6, P.O.D.'s namesake latest album, Payable on Death, moved 105,000 copies to land at #9.

The rest of next week's top 10 finds the current chart champ, Outkast's Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below, falling four places to #5 (148,000); Rod Stewart's As Time Goes By ...: The Great American Songbook, Volume II dropping from #2 to #7 (121,0000); Clay Aiken's Measure of a Man sliding five places to #8 (113,000); and Ludacris' Chicken-N-Beer taking the same number of steps to #10 (87,000).

Recorded at one stop during Coldplay's tour behind last year's A Rush of Blood to the Head, the English quartet's Coldplay Live 2003, with the inclusion of one new song, "Moses," will come in at #13, just ahead of the latest release by Bon Jovi. Consisting of peculiar new versions of hits such as "Wanted Dead or Alive," "I'll Be There for You" and "Bad Medicine," among others, This Left Feels Right sold more than 70,000 copies to come in at #14.

Wyclef's first album for J Records, The Preacher's Son, will place at #22, a disappointing position compared with last year's Masquerade, which landed at #6. Fabolous, meanwhile, is milking his latest LP, Street Dreams, with More Street Dreams Pt. 2 - The Mixtape, an assembly of freestyles, remixes and skits that had been previously released on the mixtape circuit. The 14-track compilation will come in at #28.

Former y'allternative yokel Ryan Adams' return with his first studio album in two years, the decidedly riff-heavy Rock N Roll, will come in at #33; while parts of the album that he wanted to release but his label didn't, the EP Love Is Hell Part 1, can be found at #78.

Other notable chart debuts include Bob Seger's Greatest Hits 2 at #23; 18-year hip-hop veteran Too Short's Married to the Game at #49; the soundtrack to "The Matrix Revolutions" at #69; Peter Gabriel's best-of set Hit at #100; Ultimate Toni Braxton at #119; the solo retrospective of former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant, Sixty Six to Timbuktu, at #134; hand-puppet agitator Triumph the Insult Comic Dog's long-awaited Come Poop With Me at #183; and Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz's remix album, Certified Crunk, at #197.

• Ja Rule
• P.O.D.
• Wyclef Jean
• Coldplay
• Sarah McLachlan

2005 MTV Video Music Awards Nominees

• Green Day
• Gwen Stefani
• Missy Elliott
• U2
• Coldplay

Kanye West, Destiny's Child, Linkin Park, Jay-Z: Live 8 Philadelphia

• Black Eyed Peas
• Destiny's Child
• Kanye West
• Kaiser Chiefs
• Will Smith

• Sarah McLachlan