Next week on the Billboard 200 watch for rock band Godsmack to possibly earn its third No. 1 album with its new release “The Oracle.” Industry prognosticators think the set could sell in the range of 100,000 to 120,000 copies by week’s end on Sunday, May 9.
Godsmack has topped the chart with its last two full-length studio albums — 2006’s “IV” and 2003’s “Faceless.” The new album’s current single, “Cryin’ Like a Bitch!!,” peaked at No. 7 on the Rock Songs radio airplay chart last month. This week it drops from No. 8 to No. 9 in its 12th week on the tally.
Other albums headed for perhaps a top 15 debut are Deftones’ “Diamond Eyes,” Toni Braxton’s “Pulse” and James Taylor and Carole King’s “Live at the Troubadour.”
Other new releases include alterna-pop act the New Pornographers with its new album “Together,” rap veterans Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s “Uni5: The World’s Enemy,” Latin super star Juan Gabriel’s self-titled album — his first studio release in over six years, Christian pop/rock group MercyMe with “The Generous Mr. Lovewell?” and Court Yard Hounds (also known as two-thirds of the Dixie Chicks) with its self-titled pop/rock debut.
