As the generally positive media coverage of the band's new, totally worthwhile record Mylo Xyloto suggests, kicking sand in Chris Martin's face may not longer be the best way to shore up your tough-guy, upturned-collar cred. Like it or not, Coldplay appears to be in it for the long haul. And considering that throwbacks from the '00s like Evanescence, Staind, and Bush seem to be the only rock bands selling records in mass quantities lately, it's nice to see that Coldplay still flexes some commercial muscle (if not exactly musical muscle) when it puts out a record. Mylo Xyloto debuted at No. 1 this week on the Billboard albums chart, selling 447,000 copies, the best one-week tally for a rock album since (of course) U2 sold 484,000 units of 2009's No Line On The Horizon. Mylo is the third straight Coldplay album to debut at No. 1, and while it sold significantly less than 2005's X&Y (737,000) and 2008's Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends (721,000) did in their first weeks, the record's opening-week pull is the third best of 2011, behind Lady Gaga's Born This Way and Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV.
Coming in at No. 2 on this week's uncommonly robust chart is Kelly Clarkson, who debuted with 163,000 copies sold of her latest, Stronger. Crooner Michael Buble debuted at No. 3 this week with his holiday album, Christmas, which sold 141,000 copies. Other chart premieres this week include Toby Keith, who comes in at No. 5 (69,000 sold) for Clancy's Tavern, and Tom Waits, whose Bad As Me is his highest charter ever, landing at No. 6 (63,000).
Rounding out the Top 10 are Adele's 21 (No. 4, 107,000), Scotty McCreery's Clear As Day (No. 7, 42,000), Lady Antebellum's Own The Night (No. 8, 31,000), Tony Bennett's Duets II (No. 9, 31,000), and Casting Crowns' Come To The Well (No. 10, 30,000). [via Billboard]