Janet Jackson’s Newest Album Edges ‘Gang Related’ Soundtrack

It was very close--a difference of fewer than 2,000 copies--but Janet Jackson’s “The Velvet Rope” held back the “Gang Related” soundtrack in a battle of new releases for the No. 1 spot on the album sales chart.

Jackson’s sales of 202,000, according to SoundScan, is a big drop from the 350,000 debut week of her last album, 1993’s “janet.” But it kept “Gang Related” from being the fifth consecutive No. 1 debut for an album featuring rapper-actor Tupac Shakur, and the third since his death last year. If sales for the handfuls of copies that snuck into stores last week are figured in, though, “Gang Related” actually takes the sales lead by a tiny margin.

The new albums bumped last week’s Top 2, LeAnn Rimes’ “You Light Up My Life” and Boyz II Men’s “Evolution,” down to the third and fourth slots, but they still registered strong sales--147,000 and 117,000, respectively.

The hottest item far and away remains Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind 1997,” with U.S. sales of nearly 800,000 pushing its total to an astounding 5.5 million in just three weeks of release.

What’s Hot

Here are some recent releases that are generating critical or commercial attention:

Bjork’s “Homogenic” (Elektra). In her third solo album, the Icelander delivers an enigmatic but resonant album that affirms her stature as one of pop music’s most uncompromising adventurers.

Bob Dylan’s “Time Out of Mind” (Columbia). Rock’s master songwriter has come up with what is arguably his most artful and convincing collection since the ‘70s.

Steve Earle’s “El Corazon” (E-Squared/Warner Bros.). The veteran country rocker delivers it straight--and with a twist--as he crafts spare songs from a palette of folk, country, blues and rock.

Janet Jackson’s “The Velvet Rope” (Virgin). As a musician, Michael’s little sister has never seemed more confident or ambitious than she does here.

LeAnn Rimes’ “You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs” (Curb). In her third album in 14 months, the 15-year-old phenom unleashes her powerful voice on a dozen inspirational songs.

The Rolling Stones’ “Bridges to Babylon” (Virgin). This ballad-heavy collection is bland enough in spirit and attitude to make you long for the good old days of gratuitous controversy and sexist swagger.

What’s New

Green Day’s “Nimrod” (Reprise), Aaron Neville’s “To Make You Who I Am” (A&M;).

What’s Coming

Tuesday: Elvis Costello’s “Extreme Honey--The Very Best of the Warner Bros. Years” (Warner Bros.), Wynonna’s “The Other Side” (Curb/Universal).