AMERICAN CHARTWATCH.

After consecutive number ones by Janet Jackson and Destiny's Child debuted with sales of more than 500,000 in the last month, rock fights back with the hard 'n' heavy Tool selling upwards of 555,000 copies of their latest album Lateralus last week to take the prize. That is comfortably more than three times the first-week sales of their last album, 1996's Aenima, and condemns heavyweight acts Missy Elliott, Weezer, REM and Depeche Mode to supporting roles, although they all debut inside the Top 10, too. Elliott's Miss E ... So Addictive sold more than 250,000 copies to debut at number two, while Weezer's self-titled album debuts at number four with sales of 215,000 and REM's Reveal takes sixth place with 126,000 sales.

Meanwhile, Depeche Mode arrive at number eight with Exciter. That is three places down on the debut/peak position of their last album of new material, 1997's Ultra, though sales of Exciter last week were nearly 115,000, compared to the 92,000 copies Ultra sold on its first week. Exciter is Depeche Mode's 14th chart album in the US, but only the fourth to reach the Top 10. It is also the highest charting album this week by a UK act, as Paul McCartney's Wingspan slides 2-9 with sales off more than 50%.

The Depeche Mode debut is one of few bright spots for UK and Irish acts this week. Another is provided by Mark Knopfler, whose Sailing To ...