THE CHARTS

MAXWELL’S HOUSE

With Maxwell making a boffo bow atop the album chart, and Alicia Keys continuing to fend off ‘N Sync, now seems like the perfect time to talk about a neo-soul takeover. One problem with that: The Isley Brothers can be counted as part of the trend, too, and there ain’t nothin’ neo about ’em. Coming off a disappointing sophomore album, Maxwell saw his third effort blast off with sales of 296,000 units, well ahead of the 213,000 sold by Juvenile in his first week. As Mary J. Blige is likely to debut on top next week, and a new Macy Gray disc is due in mid-September, the world hasn’t been this safe for classic R&B since the old school was still in session.

POP ALBUMS

LAST WEEK WEEKS ON CHART

1 — MAXWELL Now, Columbia 1 2 — JUVENILE Project English, Cash Money/Universal 1 3 1 VARIOUS ARTISTS NOW That’s What I Call Music! 7, Virgin 4 4 2 ALICIA KEYS Songs in A Minor, J 9 5 3 ‘N SYNC Celebrity, Jive 5 6 4 THE ISLEY BROTHERS… Eternal, DreamWorks 3 7 9 LINKIN PARK Hybrid Theory, Warner Bros. 44 8 5 USHER 8701, Arista 3 9 8 STAIND Break the Cycle, Flip/Elektra 14 10 10 JENNIFER LOPEZ J. Lo, Epic 31 11 12 ALIEN ANT FARM ANThology, DreamWorks 25 12 11 VARIOUS ARTISTS O Brother… soundtrack, Mercury Nashville 35 13 7 VARIOUS ARTISTS American Pie 2 soundtrack, Republic 4 14 6 JADAKISS Kiss tha Game Goodbye, Ruff Ryders/Interscope 3 15 14 DROWNING POOL Sinner, Wind-Up 12

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