The Age of Acropolis

What’s happening to The Times’ Southern California pop album Top 10? There are all sorts of strange intruders, such as the Benedictine Monks of Santa Domingo de Silos doing “Chant” (No. 6) and Enigma’s “The Cross of Changes” (No. 7)--not to mention Yanni’s “Live at the Acropolis.” All have a New Age slant and, compared to the usual Top 10 entries, are sort of oddball. Normally an album like one of these might creep into the elite circle a few times a year--but never three at the same time. Could this be the start of a trend, with a New Age wave engulfing the Top 10?

TOP 10 ALBUMS

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 Above the Rim, soundtrack (3) 1 2 Longing in Their Hearts, Bonnie Raitt (1) 3 3 August and. . .After, Counting Crows (4) 5 4 The Sign, Ace of Base (2) 13 5 The Colour of My Love, Celine Dion (7) 10 6 Chant, Benedictine Monks (13) . . . 7 The Cross of Changes, Enigma (16) 12 8 12 Play, R. Kelly (5) 7 9 Live at the Acropolis, Yanni (10) 8 10 Superunknown, Soundgarden (14) 9

TOP 10 SINGLES

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 Bump ‘n’ Grind, R. Kelly (1) 1 2 The Most Beautiful Girl. . ., Prince (10) 2 3 The Sign, Ace of Base (2) 4 4 The Power of Love, Celine Dion (8) 5 5 Something to Ride to, Conscious D. (43) 3 6 Mmm Mmm. . ., Crash Test Dummies (3) 7 7 Born to Roll, Masta Ace Incorporated (26) 9 8 Without You. . ., Mariah Carey (6) 6 9 So Much in Love, All-4-One (4) 8 10 Whatta Man, Salt-N-Pepa (9) 12

TOP 10 COUNTRY ALBUMS

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 Rhythm Country and Blues, Various (2) 1 2 Kickin’ It Up, John M. Montgomery (3) 2 3 Not a Moment Too Soon, Tim McGraw (1) 3 4 Songs of the Eagles, Various artists (7) 4 5 In Pieces, Garth Brooks (4) 6 6 Greatest Hits Vol. 2, Reba McEntire (9) 7 7 Pure Country, George Strait (11) 9 8 Come On. . ., Mary-Chapin Carpenter (12) 5 9 A Lot About Livin,’ Alan Jackson (10) 8 10 Easy Come Easy Go, George Strait (16) . . .

Source: SoundScan Inc., for week ending April 3