Kelly Clarkson’s Stronger comes in at a distant #2. By Gil Kaufman Coldplay’s fifth studio album, Mylo Xyloto Photo: Parlophone Records Coldplay can be as self-deprecating as they want, but the fact remains that they are one of the biggest rock bands in the world. They proved it when their fifth album, Mylo Xyloto, moved more than 447,000 copies in its first week on the charts, according to Nielsen SoundScan, notching the third-highest Billboard 200 debut of 2011 behind Lady Gaga and Lil Wayne. In a testament to their chart prowess, in addition to snagging their third consecutive #1 debut, the band’s previous four albums are back on the charts as well, down in the mid-50s and 60s. The group has referred to Mylo Xyloto — which features a cameo from Rihanna on “Princess of China” — as “schizophrenic” thanks to the wide range of sounds it explores. Coldplay’s first-week showing was more than enough to keep Kelly Clarkson from hitting the top of the charts in the debut week of her latest album, Stronger, which is a distant #2 on sales of 163,000. Clarkson is back doing what she does best on the disc: writing awesomely powerful pop breakup anthems like “Mr. Know It All.” She told MTV News that she particularly likes that “feisty” single, since it is so “in your face.” Crooner Michael Bubl
