Acoustic Springsteen hits No. 1

Bruce Springsteen became the Boss of the national album chart Wednesday as his “Devils & Dust” entered at No. 1 after selling 222,000 copies its first week in stores.

The collection, which is drawing raves from critics, gives Springsteen his seventh chart-topping album, though it sold less than half the 525,000 copies that its 2002 predecessor, “The Rising,” did in its first week to debut at No. 1. Unlike that rock-driven set with the E Street Band, the new album is a stripped-down, acoustic affair.

“This is the Alternative Bruce of 1982’s ‘Nebraska’ and 1995’s ‘The Ghost of Tom Joad,’ albums in which he stepped away from the superhero ‘Boss’ persona and the E Street Band spectacle to examine the gritty, dimly lighted world of characters who have been pushed to society’s extremes,” Times pop music critic Robert Hilburn wrote.

“It’s not the side that has helped Springsteen fill stadiums,” Hilburn noted. “But it’s just as heart-stirring.... “

“Devils & Dust” dislodged Rob Thomas’ ” ... Something to Be,” from the top slot. “Something” slipped to No. 4 after sales fell from 252,000 to 145,000 last week. Mariah Carey’s “The Emancipation of Mimi” held at No. 2 despite a sales drop from 226,000 to 197,000.

The first R&B; release from rapper Ludacris’ new label, “Disturbing That Peace Presents: Bobby Valentino” sold 180,000 copies and debuted at No. 3.

R&B; singer Amerie’s sophomore album, “Touch,” arrived at No. 5 on sales of 124,000, and country singer Jo Dee Messina posted her first Top 10 pop album with “Delicious Surprise,” at No. 7 and sales of 99,000.