Keys gets some rock 'n' roll company on chart

Alicia Keys and the soundtrack to “Juno” continue to dominate the U.S. pop album chart, but this week, they finally have some new company – with guitars.

Keys’ “As I Am” returns to the top spot, but with sales of 61,000 copies, again just a hair ahead of the all-time low figure for a No. 1 album of 60,000 posted a little over a year ago by the “Dreamgirls” soundtrack. It gives Keys her fourth week as the nation’s top-selling album artist.

Falling in behind “Juno,” which finished No. 2 on sales of 55,00 copies, are rock acts the Mars Volta and Bullet for My Valentine. The Mars Volta’s “The Bedlam in Goliath” lands at No. 3 after selling 54,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The prog-rock group has a rabid fan base and a tendency to debut high, but expect it to quickly fall off. The act’s 2006 effort “The Amputechture” entered at No. 9, but only spent five weeks on the tally, according to Billboard.

Bullet for My Valentine has a new chart peak with its “Scream Aim Fire,” which enters at No. 4 after selling 53,000 copies. The hard-rock outfit’s 2005 effort “The Poison” peaked at No. 128.
The annual “Grammy Nominees” compilation CD enters at No. 5 with sales of 50,000 copies. Expect a slight bump next week after the Feb. 10 awards telecast.

After her 3-D concert film “Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour” topped the U.S. box office over the weekend, the remix album “Hannah Montana 2: Non-Stop Dance Party” lands at No. 7 on the strength of 40,000 copies. Meanwhile, the proper Miley Cyrus album, “Hannah Montana 2/Meet Miley Cyrus,” maintains its No. 10 position, selling 35,000 copies this week.

Sarah Brightman lands at No. 13 with “Symphony,” selling 31,000, giving her a new chart peak. Indie band Vampire Weekend (pictures) enters at No. 17 with the debut album bearing the group’s name, which sold 28,000 copies in its first week.

(Photo courtesy Billions.com)