‘Titanic’ Yields to No One

The “Titanic” soundtrack was the nation’s best-selling album for the fifth consecutive week, easily brushing aside a strong challenge from Pearl Jam’s new “Yield.”

The mostly instrumental score from the blockbuster movie sold about 588,000 copies last week, pushing its total sales to 2.8 million, while “Yield” sold about 359,000 copies during its first week in stores to come in at No. 2.

First-week sales of the Pearl Jam collection were down about 8,000 from initial-week sales of the band’s 1996 album, “No Code,” which sold about 1.3 million copies to make it by far the least successful of the group’s first four albums.

Meanwhile, Usher’s “Nice & Slow” was the nation’s best-selling single for the fourth week in a row.

What’s Hot

Here are some recent releases that are generating critical or commercial attention:

Peter Case’s “Full Service No Waiting” (Vanguard). In spare, acoustic arrangements, Case spins a mesmerizing song cycle of regret and longing in perhaps the strongest album of his solo career.

Celine Dion’s “Let’s Talk About Love” (550 Music/Epic). Dion’s voice is a technical marvel, but her delivery lacks the personality and intuitive sense of drama that are a diva’s stock in trade.

The Lynns’ “The Lynns” (Reprise). Family harmony has been a rarity in country music since the Judds called it quits, but Patsy and Peggy Lynn, Loretta’s 33-year-old twin daughters, bring it back with spunk.

Pearl Jam’s “Yield” (Epic). On the Seattle band’s fifth album, Eddie Vedder’s vocals continue to express a variety of emotions as the group’s music grows in all the important ways.

What’s New

James Iha’s “Let It Come Down” (Virgin).

What’s Coming

Tuesday: Ani DiFranco’s “Little Plastic Castle” (Righteous Babe).

March 3: Madonna’s “Ray of Light” (Warner Bros./Maverick).

March 10: Eric Clapton’s “Pilgrim” (Reprise).