While Ricky Martin's self-titled album bumped up a notch to No. 3 on 144,000 units, it was the Runway Bride that picked up the most speed last week, with the soundtrack sprinting from No. 12 to No. 4 on sales of 139,000.
Naughty schoolgirl Britney Spears skipped a grade to No. 5, while a compilation she is featured on, Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 2 fell to No. 6 from No. 3.
The biggest bow of the week was from Memphis Bleek. Don't expect to find much Elvis influence on the No. 7 album Coming of Age, though--he's a hardcore rapper whose songs are filled with murder and drugs. He hails from Brooklyn's notorious Marcy Projects, where he grew up with rapper/producer Jay-Z. "Don't respect me just cause I'm down with Jay," he says. "I'm a grown man. Respect me for me. If you listen to my music, you'll know I don't write imaginary stuff. I write what I feel, see or went through." Coming of Age sold 118,000 copies.
Rounding out the Top 10: Kid Rock's Devil Without a Cause found another 110,000 worshippers at No. 8; Smash Mouth's Astro Lounge seated 108,000 new customers in ninth; and Destiny Child's Writing on the Wall was read by 100,000 new fans last week.
Bluegrass fiddler Alison Krause (whom you may remember from her appearance in the film The Horse Whisperer) bowed at No. 60 with Forget About It. The soundtrack for the music-driven film Detroit Rock City barely rocked the house with a No. 68 debut and G. Love and Special Sauce didn't even cut the mustard in the Top 100, with Philadelphonic bowing at No. 113.
