This week’s Billboard album chart crowns a new leader, and her name is…Sara Bareilles?? The unassuming singer-songwriter, who initially made waves when her hit single “Love Song” was featured in a TV commercial, sells 90,000 copies of her sophomore effort, “Kaleidoscope Heart”, leading the pack of four debuts in the Top 10.

Slipknot side project Stone Sour starts off at #6 with their latest effort, “Audio Secrecy”, and they are followed by indie rock titans Interpol at #7 and alt-rock favorites Anberlin at #9.

There were only a couple of hours left in the tracking week when the MTV Video Music Awards aired on Sunday night, but even those couple of hours were enough to accept the charts. Show performers Florence & the Machine shoot up 66 spots to #44 on a 70% increase. Given the fact that this year’s VMAs show reported a 33% increase in ratings over the year before, expect Flo & co. to rise even higher next week. Over on the digital downloads chart, the VMAs also spark increases for 30 Seconds to Mars’ ‘Kings & Queens” (up 161%), Kanye West’s “Power” (+45%), and Rihanna’s “Rock Star 101” (which is up 40% after being included in VMA promos).

While this week’s chart is fairly unexciting, there should be quite a bit of movement on next week’s chart, thanks to a full week of VMA action plus a lengthy slate of new releases. While I expect Linkin Park to debut at the top with a healthy sum, you might want to watch out for Trey Songz, who has established himself as R&B’s young buck to watch over the past year or so.

So, I bet you’re asking “what was the #1 album this week in 1995”? Actually, you’re probably not asking-but I’m here to tell ya! In a year that was dominated by the likes of Hootie & the Blowfish and Alanis Morissette, the chart-topping album was actually the “Dangerous Minds” soundtrack.

Thanks to the huge hit “Gangsta’s Paradise” (by Coolio), the music from the Michelle Pfeiffer film sold 208,000 copies to hang on to the top spot for the third consecutive week. Elsewhere on the chart, it was a very B.I.G. week for artists associated with the Notorious B.I.G. His protege group Junior M.A.F.I.A. (which included Lil’ Kim) scored the week’s highest debut with “Conspiracy”, which bowed at #8 on the comprehensive album chart and #1 on the R&B chart.  The week’s second highest debut was the maiden effort from Faith Evans, who was married to B.I.G. at the time. Her “Faith” started at #22. The next highest debut-all the way down at #43-was the second album from a future country superstar-Faith Hill.

It’s pretty interesting to see how few artists from this chart still have an impact on today’s music scene. The only three artists in the Top 20 who appear to be capable of scoring a #1 debut these days are Dave Matthews Band, Shania Twain, and the late Michael Jackson.

Here’s a look at the Top 20 albums this week in 1995!

1-“Dangerous Minds Soundtrack” Various Artists
2-“Cracked Rear View” Hootie & the Blowfish
3-“Jagged Little Pill” Alanis Morissette
4-“The Show Soundtrack” Various Artists
5-“E. 1999 Eternal” Bone Thugs ‘n Harmony
6-“Crazysexycool” TLC
7-“The Woman in Me” Shania Twain
8-“Conspiracy” Junior M.A.F.I.A.
9-“Games Rednecks Play” Jeff Foxworthy (seriously?!?)
10-“Four” Blues Traveler
11-“Dreaming of You” Selena
12-“Frogstomp” Sliverchair
13-“Throwing Copper” Live
14-“Under the Table & Dreaming” Dave Matthews Band
15-“Mortal Kombat Soundtrack” Various Artists
16-“Seal” Seal
17-“Batman Forever Soundtrack” Various Artists
18-“Tigerlily” Natalie Merchant
19-“HIStory: Past, Present & Future Book 1” Michael Jackson
20-“Sixteen Stone” Bush