from billboard 'Life' Is Sweet Amid Slow U.S. Sales Week Even a strong debut by Madonna isn't enough to forestall a big decline in U.S. sales the week after the Easter holiday. Total album sales fell 18% to 10.8 million units, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That's 3.6% behind the comparable week last year. Year-to-date sales trail 2002 by 7.3%. The only title to exceed 200,000 units this week is Madonna's "American Life" (Maverick/Warner Bros.), which debuts at No. 1 with 241,000. Madonna's biggest debut week ever was the 420,000 units sold by her 2000 effort "Music." "American Life" has an easy lead over 50 Cent's "Get Rich or Die Tryin' " (Shady/Interscope), up 5-2 despite a 31% dip to 142,000 copies. Last week, 50 Cent's CD/DVD "The New Breed" entered at No. 2; it falls to No. 10 on a 69% second-week slide to 76,000. "Get Rich" and "The New Breed" are No. 1 and 2, respectively, on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Last week's No. 1, Kelly Clarkson's "Thankful" (RCA), slips to No. 3, down 55% to 134,000. Linkin Park's "Meteora" (Warner Bros.) is up 6-4, despite a 43% drop to 111,000. "The Very Best of Cher" (Geffen/MCA/Warner Bros.) jumps 10-5 on a 12% dip to 106,000. Norah Jones' "Come Away With Me" (Blue Note/Capitol) moves 8-6, with sales down 31% to 99,000 units. Evanescence's "Fallen" (Wind-Up) returns to the top 10, up 12-7 despite a 19% dip to 89,000. Fleetwood Mac's "Say You Will" (Warner Bros.) sees a 60% drop to 87,000 in its second week, to move 3-8. "NOW 12" (Universal/EMI/Zomba/Sony) slides 7-9, down 60% to 77,000. A weeklong stint on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" helps the White Stripes' "Elephant" (V2) rebound 21-15 in its fourth week, on a small 12% sales dip to 57,000 copies. Also back up is the Dixie Chicks' "Home" (Monument/Columbia), which moves 33-23 following a publicity campaign to regain favor with fans who were upset after the band slammed President Bush. Sales of "Home" were down 10% to 39,000 units. -- ※ Origin: 交大機械工廠 ◆ From: 159.c160.ethome.net.tw