CHART PREVIEW:
IT’S CURTAINS FOR Q4

It’s mid-December, and gift-givers nationwide are thinking to themselves, “In the true spirit of the holidays, why don’t I give the gift of the most popular works by our most famous and beloved comedically psychotic hip-hop sociopath?

Indeed, the numbers may not be as staggering as they once were, what with the industry falling apart before our very eyes for the last five years, but Eminem’s new greatest-hits collection, Curtain Call (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope) has captured enough hearts among holiday shoppers to easily claim the #1 slot on this week’s album chart.

As the counting continues, it looks like Curtain Call will dominate the chart with sales of at least 350k. Whaddaya mean, songs about killing your wife and stuffing her in the trunk aren’t in the spirit of the holidays? Of course they are!

Meanwhile, New Orleans rapper Lil’ Wayne, who many of you will know from his association with Destiny’s Child, will see his latest, Tha Carter II (Cash Money/Universal) put #2 on lockdown with first-week sales of around 250k.

And those following the Korn saga will wait with interest to see if the band’s first album under its unusual revenue-sharing partnership with Virgin, See You on the Other Side, will finish its first week north of 200k. Early indications are that it will.

The fourth notable debut of four this week, Lindsay Lohan’s A Little More Personal (Raw) (Universal) appears headed for first-week total of around 100k, making her a Top 10 candidate.

As usual, all of the above numbers could be substantially off-base by the time you read this, and it gets less and less likely as the year draws to a close that anyone will bother to update this story before the chart becomes final tomorrow afternoon, so please keep that in mind. But remember, especially during this special season—it’s the thought that counts. Thank you.