Four years removed from predecessor “Backspacer,” Pearl Jam’s new LP “Lightning Bolt” is pacing for a bow in the same sales ballpark.
Based on its opening day sales data, Hits Daily Double forecasts 170-180,000 debut-week sales for “Bolt,” which would mark a slight decline from the 189,000 moved by the 2009 album. Far from a discouraging drop, the news also brings positivity with its promise of a near-certain number one debut on next week’s Billboard 200.
Among new releases, the closest competitor will be Paul McCartney’s “New.” Hits is eyeing a debut total in the 70-80,000 range.
Other new entries include The Avett Brothers’ “Magpie & The Dandelion” (60-70K), Scotty McCreery’s “See You Tonight” (40-45K), Head and the Heart’s “Let’s Be Still” (35-40K), Willie Nelson’s “To All the Girls…” (27-30K) and Gavin DeGraw’s “Make a Move” (25-28K).