MARIAH’S MC = #1

It’s yet another win called Mariah for the Island/IDJ diva, whose E=MC2 Careys her to a second straight week on top, relatively speaking, with 176k sold, for a two week-total over 650k.

That was more than enough for her to top challenger Leona Lewis, whose J Records/Syco Music debut, Spirit, remains at #2 with 98k, up 9% thanks to her appearance on American Idol.

Ashlee Simpson’s Geffen album Bittersweet World debuts at #3, making her significant other, Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz, very happy.

Wacky Kiwis Bret and Jemaine, aka Flight of the Conchords, bow at #4, with their self-titled Sub Pop long-play debut, as the HBO cult stars generate almost 50k in first-week sales.

Minneapolis art-hip-hop duo Atmosphere—rapper Slug and DJ/producer Ant—enters the Top 10 at #7 with their Rhymesayer/ILG album, the marvelously titled When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold.

Universal South country mainstay Phil Vassar’s Prayer of a Common Man is the other Top 10 newcomer at #9.

Mainstays like SBMG/Commercial Music Group’s Now 27 (#5), Rhino’s Juno soundtrack (#6), MCA Nashville’s George Strait (#8) and Big Machine/Universal Republic’s Taylor Swift (#10) round out the Top 10.

Epitaph’s Story of the Year (#20), Nettwerk’s Weepies (#33), AAO Music’s Mobb Deep member Prodigy (#39) and Universal Latino’s Enrique Iglesias (#46) are the other new Top 50 entries.

Reprise’s Michael Buble returns to the chart with Call Me Irresponsible (#21), joined by Atlantic’s Kid Rock (#41), Pearl Records’ Garth Brooks Ultimate Hits collection (#44) and BNA/SBMG Nashville’s Kenny Chesney (#45), all re-entering.

Among the week’s gainers are Warner Bros. Nashville’s James Otto (#13, +7%), 19/Jive/ZLG’s Jordin Sparks (#21-18, +7%), Hollywood’s Jonas Brothers (#22-19, +8%) and Universal Republic’s Colbie Caillat (#27-22, +6%).

Madonna’s final studio album for Warner Bros, Hard Candy, hits retail this week and is expected to debut at #1 next Tuesday.

Other albums streeting include Hear Music/Concord Music Group’s Carly Simon, Def Jam’s The Roots, Island’s Portishead (their first studio album in 10 years), Columbia’s Lyfe Jennings, Jive/ZLG’s Lil’ Mama and WB’s Tom Petty-led Mudcrutch.