‘Titanic’ Sails Ahead

It’s full speed ahead for the “Titanic” soundtrack, which is the nation’s top-selling album for the second week in a row.

The collection of music from the hit movie sold about 419,000 copies last week, an unusually high number for this time of year.

It easily outsold the No. 2 album, Celine Dion’s “Let’s Talk About Love,” which sold about 257,000 copies. Each of the top two albums includes “My Heart Will Go On,” Dion’s “love theme” from the film.

Entering the chart at No. 3 is the L.O.X.’s debut album, “Money, Power & Respect.”

Meanwhile, the nation’s top-selling single was Usher’s “Nice & Slow,” which outsold Puff Daddy’s “Been Around the World” by less than 500 copies.

What’s Hot

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

Garth Brooks’ “Sevens” (Capitol). Brooks’ strongest album to date is a 40-plus-minute couch session in which the good ol’ boy becomes human-potential poster boy.

Celine Dion’s “Let’s Talk About Love” (550 Music/Epic). Dion’s voice is a technical marvel, but her delivery lacks the personality and intuitive sense of drama that are a diva’s stock in trade.

Barbra Streisand’s “Higher Ground” (Columbia). The heart of this studio collection of inspirational ballads showcases the kind of higher aspirations that are all too rare in mainstream pop.

The Spice Girls’ “Spiceworld” (Virgin). If you’re gonna conquer the world with your outrageous antics and messages of “girl power” and “positivity,” you ought to muster a bit more zest for your second album.

Victoria Williams’ “Musings of a Creekdipper” (Atlantic). It won’t set the charts on fire, but this fantastic song cycle showcases Williams’ talents to often breathtaking effect.

What’s Coming

Feb. 3: Pearl Jam’s “Yield” (Epic).