They’ve been around for more than a decade now and their
seventh studio album, “Narrow Stairs,” has taken Death Cab for Cutie to new
heights: a No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200.
“Narrow Stairs” is the band’s first No. 1, album. Released
May 13 in the US,
it sold 144,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen Soundscan. The
previous album, 2005’s “Plans,” debuted at No. 4 with 90,000. It displayed
impressive longevity, staying 50 weeks on the chart, reports Billboard.com.
The band greeted the news of chart supremacy by sending
“their deepest thanks” to loyal friends who have been supportive over the past
decade, helping them reach this “wonderful milestone,” a message on their
official website reads.
Second to Death Cab for Cutie came a retrospective Frank
Sinatra collection titled “Nothing but the Best,” which entered at No. 2 with
99,000. Nostalgics can rejoice in having helped the legendary singer find his
way higher on the chart than in the past 15 years. In 1993, “Duets” opened at
No. 2 and stayed thee for another two weeks.
Another high debut is Jason Mraz’s “We Sing, We Dance, We
Steal Things,” which bowed at No. 3 with 73,000 sold copies. Welsh soul singer
Duffy follows closely behind, with 71,000 units of “Rockferry” landing her at
No. 4. Billboard notes she is the third female British newcomer to earn a top
10 debut since 2007, after Amy Winehouse and Leona Lewis.
Lewis by the way is next on the chart, with “Spirit”
climbing one place to No. 5 with 62,000. R&B diva Mariah Carey remains on
the chart with “E=MC2,” exchanging places with the British singer at No. 6,
selling an additional 59,000 copies.
Neil Diamond’s glorious debut last week has waned down a
bit. The 67-year-old singer-songwriter experienced his biggest debut sales week
since SoundScan began tracking in 1991, with 146,000 units. “Home Before Dark,”
his 29th studio album, catapulted Diamond to the top of the Billboard chart for
the first time in his career. His album sold another 53,000 this week, placing
seventh.
Madonna’s “Hard Candy” slipped further down the chart,
selling 53,000 at No. 8, while Toby Keith’s double-disc collection “35 Biggest
Hits” descended to No. 9, from last week’s No. 2, with 41,000.
Rounding out the top ten is Keith Sweat’s “Just Me,” with
first week sales of 37,000.
