Fast Starters

The pop world has become accustomed during the SoundScan era to seeing lots of albums make high entries into the national Top 10, but there’s an unusually high number this week: four of the nation’s five best-selling albums, in fact.

Leading the pack is DMX’s “It’s Dark & Hell Is Hot,” which sold an estimated 251,000 copies since the rap collection was released May 19. That’s almost 90,000 more than the “City of Angels” soundtrack, which held on to its No. 2 position, according to SoundScan, which has been monitoring record sales since 1991.

Also new on the chart this week: Sparkle’s “Sparkle” at No. 3, the soundtrack for the new “Godzilla” film at No. 4, rapper Eightball’s three-disc package “Lost” at No. 5 and Natalie Merchant’s “Ophelia” at No. 8. Garth Brooks’ boxed set dropped from No. 1 to No. 6.

What’s Hot

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

Tori Amos’ “From the Choirgirl Hotel” (Atlantic). On her fifth album, Amos sticks with her recipe of undulating piano and strangely phrased lyrics, only this time she pumps it up with a little electronic trickery here and there.

DMX’s “It’s Dark & Hell Is Hot” (Def Jam). This New York rapper suffers from frequently listless production that hardly matches the intensity of his seething rants.

Garbage’s “Version 2.0” (ALMO Sounds). Shirley Manson and bandmates Butch Vig, Duke Erikson and Steve Marker land squarely among the rare acts that have turned their love and understanding of pop into an art form.

What’s New

Mo Thugs’ “Family Scriptures Chapter II: Family Reunion” (Mo Thugs/Relativity).

What’s Coming

Tuesday: Master P’s “The Last Dawn” (No Limit/Priority), Various artists’ “The X-Files” soundtrack (Elektra).