Avril Lavigne scored her second No. 1 on The Billboard 200 as her third album 'The Best Damn Thing' bowed on top. The RCA set moved 286,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, short of the 381,000 that greeted her first chart-topper, 2004`s 'Under My Skin.' Sales were fueled by her current single, "Girlfriend," which is No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Nine Inch Nails` sixth studio release, 'Year Zero' (Nothing), entered at No. 2, selling 187,000 copies. As previously reported, its release was preceded by various guerilla marketing efforts to raise awareness of the album. First single "Survivalism," already peaked at No. 1 on the Modern Rock tally. NIN`s prior album, 2005`s 'With Teeth,' opened with 272,000.

The 'NOW 24' hits compilation slipped to No. 3 after two weeks at No. 1 with 68,000 copies, a 24 percent sales decrease.

"American Idol" season five eighth-place finalist Bucky Covington`s self-titled Lyric Street debut starts at No. 4 on The Billboard 200 and No. 1 on Top Country Albums with 61,000 units. On the latter chart, it`s the biggest start by a new male artist since Billy Ray Cyrus` "Some Gave All" debuted with 90,000 in 1992.

Martina McBride`s 'Waking Up Laughing' (RCA) ascended from No. 8 to No. 5 with 55,000, a 10 percent sales increase. Sales were helped in part by the country singer`s appearance on "American Idol." Akon`s 'Konvicted' (SRC/Universal) slipped 3-6 with a 13 percent drop to 52,000 while Daughtry`s self-titled RCA effort fell 6-7, also with 52,000 (-4 percent).

Tim McGraw`s Curb set 'Let It Go' dipped 2-8 with a 22 percent decrease to 51,000. Carrie Underwood returned to the top tier as 'Some Hearts' (Arista Nashville) moved 14-9 with 45,000 (+24 percent). Timbaland`s Mosley Music Group/Interscope set 'Timbaland Presents Shock Value' descended 5-10 with 40,000 (-32 percent).

Only two other releases bowed inside the top 100 spots on The Billboard 200 this week. Country artist Clay Walker earned his best charting week ever as 'Fall' (Curb) enters at No. 15 with 32,000. R&B singer Lumidee`s sophomore set 'Unexpected' (TVT) started at No. 44 with 16,000. Her first album, 'Almost Famous,' peaked at No. 22 in 2003.

Album sales were up 1.3 percent from last week`s total at 8.16 million units and down 10.7 percent compared to the same week last year.

Taken from M&C