Rascal Flatts’ new release takes the lead

Five artists have new albums debut in the Top 10 on this week’s U.S. pop chart, with country-pop group Rascal Flatts atop the heap. The trio’s “Still Feels Good” sold 547,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan, to arrive at No. 1, the group’s third album to debut in the top slot on the pop as well as the country chart.

While “Still Feels Good” is one of six albums to sell more than 100,000 copies this week, it easily held down the No. 1 post, even though sales fell short of the 722,000 copies the group’s previous album, “Me and My Gang,” sold during its first week last year, the highest first-week sales figure of 2006. Keyshia Cole’s “Just Like You” came in a distant No. 2, as the R&B; singer’s sophomore effort sold 281,000 copies in its first week in stores, benefiting from the fast-rising single “Let It Go.”

The Foo Fighters’ new “Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace,” sold 168,000 copies to land the veteran rock group at No. 3. That’s a dip from the first-week sales of its 2005 double album, “In Your Honor,” which sold 311,000 copies when it arrived.

Jill Scott enters at No. 4 with “The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3,” which sold 148,000 copies. R&B; combo Jagged Edge bows at No. 8 with “Baby Makin’ Project,” which sold 78,000 copies.

Reba McEntire, whose “Reba Duets” entered at No. 1 last week, fell to No. 6, with sales of 130,000 copies. Kanye West’s “Graduation” fell three slots to No. 5 during its third week of release, as sales dipped 41% to 133,000 copies. 50 Cent’s “Curtis,” meanwhile, slipped to No. 9 on sales of 71,000 copies.

todd.martens@latimes.com