DEATH AFTER LIFE: METALLICA, NE-YO RUNNING 1-2

Another week, another Metallica chart victory.

That’ll make it three weeks in a row for WB’s Death Magnetic at #1, with a total in the mid-100ks in very early returns. Meanwhile, Def Jam/IDJ Gentleman R&B/hip-hop star Ne-Yo will hold down the #2 slot for the second week in a row with an estimated 100k, give or take a bling or two.

Hollywood Records’ latest starlet, Camp Rock’s Demi Lovato is the leader among the newcomers, with her debut album, Don’t Forget, primed to sell between 70-80k and at least an early nod for #3 as the highest debut of the week, certainly Top 5.

Interscope’s Pussycat Dolls and RCA/RMG’s Kings of Leon will be in the mix, both in the 70-75k range. Nicole S. and company return with estimates in the 70-75k range for their latest, Doll Domination, the follow-up to their 2.8 million-selling debut PCD. Perhaps the most pleasant surprise of the week, Nashville rock critical darlings Kings of Leon, make their highest-charting debut to date, with estimates in the 70-75k range for their fourth album, Only by the Night, thanks to massive iTunes action and several high visibility media breaks, including a performance on last weekend’s SNL and a Spin cover.

J/RMG’s neo-soul tout Jazmine Sullivan debuts with an impressive 55-60k for her debut album Fearless, already sporting a #1 R&B single in the Missy Elliott collab, “Need U Bad.”

Veteran rapper Joe returns on Kedar Entertainment through Fontana Distribution, could do as much as 50k for his latest, Joe Thomas, New Man.

Indie rock torchbearers, Interscope’s TV on the Radio return with 20-25k for its eagerly anticipated third effort, Dear Science.

Downtown/Fontana’s Cold War Kids eye a total of around 20k for the emo poster boys’ latest, Loyalty to Loyalty album

The market was up 1% vs. last week, down 17% vs same week last year and still down 11% year-to-date. You may now return to watching the American economy flush itself down the toilet.