‘Evolution’ launches Ciara to No. 1 spot
- Share via
THE title of pop R&B; chanteuse Ciara’s second album, “Ciara: The Evolution,” may have been intended as a sly acknowledgment of her growth as a woman and an artist. But the singer-songwriter’s maturation process took her to the top of the national album chart for the first time Wednesday, where “The Evolution” outsold new CDs from pop icons Eminem (“Eminem Presents: The Re-Up”) and Gwen Stefani (“The Sweet Escape”), with 338,000 copies in its first week.
Though impressive, Ciara’s accomplishment comes with an asterisk. “The Re-Up” is a compilation featuring new tracks from Eminem sprinkled among appearances from artists on the rapper’s Shady Records roster. Stefani’s album moved 243,000 copies, despite being rushed into stores without the kind of promotional buildup and campaign common for an artist of her stature.
Last week’s top seller, Incubus’ “Light Grenades,” plummeted 65% to No. 37 -- the biggest drop in chart history, topping Marilyn Manson’s fall from No. 1 to No. 21 in 2003, according to Billboard magazine.
Next week, Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy’s sophomore album “The Inspiration” is expected to hit No. 1 with sales in the 325,000 to 350,000 range.
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
