"Idol" finalist Daughtry back atop charts

NEW YORK (Billboard) - In yet another week where no album sold more than 100,000 copies, former "American Idol" finalist Chris Daughtry flip-flopped with

Norah Jones to reclaim the top spot on the U.S. pop charts Wednesday.

The self-titled album from Daughtry's eponymous band sold 90,000 copies in the week ended March 4, according to Nielsen SoundScan, scoring its second non-consecutive week at the top.

Jones' "Not Too Late" slipped to No. 2 with 74,000 copies, while R&B singer Akon's "Konvicted" rose two to No. 3 with 73,000. Fall Out Boy's "Infinity on High" fell one to No. 4 with 67,000, and Robin Thicke's "The Evolution of Robin Thicke" moved up one to No. 5 with 57,000.

Justin Timberlake's "FutureSex/LoveSounds" followed at No. 6, up one, with 54,000.

Nelly Furtado's "Loose" shot up seven to No. 7 with 45,000. The former chart-topper had not been in the top 10 since last August.

The "Dreamgirls" soundtrack jumped eight to No. 8 with 45,000, following a best supporting actress Oscar win for the film's star, Jennifer Hudson.

Corinne Bailey Rae's self-titled debut dropped one to No. 9 with 45,000, and the Dixie Chicks' "Taking the Long Way" rose one to No. 10 with 42,000.

The week's top debut came from B.G. and the Chopper City Boyz's "We Got This" at No. 20 (27,000). Also back on the chart was the Goo Goo Dolls' "Let Love In," which was reissued in a new edition. The album returned at No. 48 (15,000), having fallen off the chart in its original form in September 2006.

The only other debuts on the top half of The Billboard 200 were Slim Thug Presents Boss Hogg Outlawz's "Serve & Collect" at No. 63, comedian

Bill Engvall's "15 Degrees Off Cool" at No. 93, and Marco Antonio Solis' "La Historia Continua ... Parte III" at No. 94.

Among the significant gainers, former "American Idol" contestant Kellie Pickler's debut, "Small Town Girl," jumped 34 places to No. 66 after her return appearance to the hit reality show; and Los Angeles rock band Silversun Pickups' "Carnavas" rocketed 38 places to No. 80 as radio play accelerates for the single "Lazy Eye."

This week's album sales were down 7.5% over last week at 8.49 million. Sales were down 22.8% from the same week in 2006.

Reuters/Billboard