The National Hit Third In Billboard Album Chart

Posted on May 20th 2010 6:30AM by Barnaby Smith

The National have this week seen their fifth album 'High Violet' hit a surprise third spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart, with only Justin Bieber and Lady Antebellum preventing the five-piece from reaching the dizzy heights of No. 1.

According to Billboard, 'High Violet' sold 51,000 copies to earn the bronze medal, making this week the album's best yet since its release on May 11 (May 10 in UK). The National's previous LP, 'Boxer', could do was when it hit No. 68 on the chart in 2007.

'High Violet' beat off AC/DC's soundtrack to the film 'Iron Man 2' into fourth spot, with the Dead Weather's 'Sea of Cowards' in fifth.

However, while it's good news for the National, Billboard reports that this was one of the worst weeks ever for album sales overall since tracking system SoundScan began providing sales figures to Billboard in 1991. Bieber's 'My World 2.0' sold only a little over 60,000 copies to take No. 1 in the chart. The record low came in 2007 when the 'Dreamgirls' soundtrack made No.1, having sold even fewer.

The National, meanwhile, are putting the final touches to preparations for an extensive US tour before heading over to Europe where they will play Glastonbury.