Godsmack’s Oracle was the top seller on the Billboard 200 albums chart this week after selling 117,000 copies. This is the band’s third-consecutive full-length studio release to debut at No. 1.

Lady Antebellum’s Need You Now continues to perform impressively, holding at No. 2 on sales of 97,00o copies.

The week’s second highest debut is MercyMe’s The Generous Mr. Lovewell, which enters the chart at No. 3 on sales of 88,000 units. This marks the group’s best sales week ever.

Carole King and James Taylor’s duets album, Live at the Troubaour, debuts at No. 4 after selling 78,000 copies. Rounding out the top five is Justin Bieber’s My World 2.0, which dropped one spot to No. 5.

Other notable debuts in the top 10 include the Deftones’ Diamond Eyes at No. 6; Court Yard Hounds‘ self-titled debut, at No. 7; and Toni Braxton’s Pulse at No. 9 who also debuts at the #1 R&B album.

Last week’s top album, B.o.B’s The Adventures of Bobby Ray took a major tumble, dropping to No. 12 on sales of 36,000 units. ‘

After taking a break, Toni Braxton returns with her Atlantic Records debut, Pulse. Here the singer finally re-establishes her balance in what could be her most cohesive album since, Secrets. The album starts off with the tour de force ballad, “Yesterday,” which in it’s original form shines throughout leading into her current dance-driven single, “Make My Heart.” On songs like “Woman,” and “If I Have To Wait,” Braxton eludes into her country music fascination and offers some of the best pop offerings since, “Un-Break My Heart.” In “Woman,” which is a remake from country artist Delta Goodrem, Braxton re-connects with David Foster and on “If I Have To Wait,” the singer works alongside producer Busbee. “If I Have To Wait,” recorded in Nashville has the potential to crossover into country territory giving the right set up from Atlantic.

R&B faithfuls need not fear as Braxton slithers through her latest top 10 Urban AC single “Hands Tied,” explaining, “I was the one giving all I had, kept my promises all in tact, better or worst I honored that” while on the Michael Warren written and produced “No Way,” she finds herself channeling her inner Anita Baker. Braxton also keeps the tears flowing on the Chuck Harmony assisted, “Pulse,” and Harvey Mason produced, “Hero,” but is best on the album’s closer. “Why Don’t You Love Me,” is one of the most beautifully crafted songs to ever grace any album of her career. The song which was co-written by Braxton is as raw as they come, “hold up wait a minute, can you tell me, promise you’ll be honest and you’ll tell me everything,” she adds, “Is it the way I wear my hair, just tell me the truth, I don’t care.” In the chorus when she sings, “Tell me why, why won’t you love me, the way I need to be loved, I keep trying,” you can feel the pain in every note.

One of the most respected artist in R&B has returned to form with, Pulse. It will take a lot of support from Atlantic Records but this is the album fans and R&B lovers have come to expect from any artist of our genre. The only lackluster song included is “Looking at Me,” which never finds it’s groove and the album could have featured production from her mentor Babyface but definitely not a requirement. For die hard fans if you pick up the deluxe version from Target or iTunes you will also recieve “Yesterday,” featuring Trey Songz, “The Wave,” “Stay,” “Rewind That” and the Monique featured, “Caught (Don’t Take Your Hat Off).” With no question, Pulse is one of the best R&B albums so far this year.

Direct from the UK, singer/songwriter/musician, Carmen Reece, has teamed up with mega-producer/songwriter Mark Feist to bring listeners an incredible album called, Love in Stereo. Reece’s hit single, “Right Here,” has been blazing up the Billboard charts and shows no signs of slowing down.

Groovevolt.com Contributing Writer Jonathan Hikade recently spoke with the multi-talented and focused Carmen Reece in New York City.

Groovevolt: I understand you were heavily influenced by music at an early age. Can you tell me a little about that?
Carmen Reece: My parents said that I was always singing around the house when I was little and I started playing the flute and the piano at the age of seven. I was actually in the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain playing the flute, so bit of a classical background which really kind of steadied me for where I am today and gave me the foundations that I needed. I then went to the Brit School, a performing arts school, for two years which was an amazing experience because I’d be doing music all day, everyday. [I was] learning, recording, performing, composing; so that really was like the best two years of my life.

GV: Your parents were and still are very supportive of your music. Are your parents musically inclined or play any instruments themselves?
CR: Everyone in my family has played an instrument. They all have great musical ears. My brother played the trumpet. My sister has had a go at all of them [instruments] because she gets kind of bored with them after three weeks. My granddad, who I actually never knew because he passed before I was born, was apparently an amazing pianist. It’s a shame I never got to know him because we could’ve had so much fun playing [together]. I’m very, very lucky to have a supportive family. They’ve really stuck by me through this. My dad especially has been a big driving force to keep me focused.

GV: How did your relationship with Mark Feist come about and were you intimidated by the artists that he’s worked with in the past (i.e. Beyonce and Celine Dion)?
CR: Of course. The people that he’s (Feist) worked with are some of my idols and I’ve looked up to them growing up so it was extremely exciting for me, but I just embrace the moment of us working together and how it came around. He called me, actually, because I worked with him a few years before. He flew me out for two weeks and wrote with Mark for a couple of days. It was great, but obviously I went back to England. Then he MySpace stalked me a couple of years ago and I was quite happy that he was stalking me (laughing). And I really wanted to get out to L.A. to do some writing and just broaden my whole knowledge of music and writing with people. I turned up on his doorstep with my computer and my tracks. He wanted me to do some demo songs, but I had another agenda.

GV: How is it like working with Mark Feist? Do you complete each others sentences when you write together?
CR: I’ve never worked with someone that I’ve been so compatible with musically. When we are in the studio we don’t have to say anything. It’s almost too good to be true. (Carmen knocks on the table so not to jinx her good fortune.) I’m just so grateful I’ve found him. It’s not often you come across someone you just bond with and connect with musically.

GV: In many interviews you’ve mentioned the role of “The Divas.” What particular “diva” or person has influenced you?
CR: I remember one of the first cassettes that I ever got my hands on was Beverly Craven and she had this really big hit called “Promise Me.” She played the keys and it’s funny because I listen back now and her style of playing is kind of like my style. I really was inspired by the early Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, and Boyz II Men. I just really latched on to anything soulful.

GV: Your hit single, “Right Here,” is out and currently at No. 65 on the Billboard singles charts. What do you personally think of the dance remix version done by Dave Aude?
CR: I do like it. It’s always amazing to hear a song that you’ve written in its original form and then hear it flipped to how someone else heard it. It’s really been going down very well in the clubs and on radio. Dave Aude is a great remixer. He really kind of gets music. He’s not just throwing a beat on there to get people jumping in the club.

GV: Which version of your single, “Right Here,” do you prefer? Is it the remix, the original, or the stripped-down, acoustic version?
CR: How it’s originally written is normally the preferred because that’s what naturally came from you and how you’ve been inspired, but I love them all really. I started off at seven [years old] playing the piano and writing songs so me just sitting at the piano is something very close to me and it feels extremely natural.

GV: You recently opened for Pitbull in New Jersey. What was that experience like for you and how did the audience respond to your performance?
CR: There were a lot of people there. They were really hyped up. It was actually pouring outside so they’ve all been curing in the rain, bless them, but they came in and they were revved up and it was just electric. I really had a great time. The crowd was great.

GV: Speaking of New Jersey.The Dave Aude remix of “Right Here” sounds like it would be playing in the background on MTV’s Jersey Shore. Would you mindif your song was on such a controversial show?
CR: I wouldn’t mind at all.

GV: When is your album, Love in Stereo, going to drop?
CR: The album is done. Mark’s just putting the finishing touches on production and mixing, but I would say near the end of the first quarter, like March/April. We just want to get it exactly right.

GV: What’s next for Carmen Reece? Acting possibly?
CR: There are so many things I want to do, but music is my focus and I’ve wanted to do this for such a long time and worked towards it, so I’m really just focused. I wouldn’t say that I wouldn’t want to act in the future. We’ll see what comes my way.

- Jonathan Hikade, Contributing Writer

Toni Braxton previews her upcoming album with “Make My Heart.” Atlantic has not officially labeled the song as a single from her upcoming set, Pulse, scheduled for May 4, 2010.

Toni Braxton – Make My Heart
(Atlantic Records)

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In an effort to promote her upcoming album, Pulse, Toni Braxton stopped by the Walmart Soundcheck for a performance of her latest single, “Yesterday.” The singer also did an exclusive interview saying she was considering retiring, “I’m a little nervous – I have to be honest – because it’s been awhile since I have been singing. I just wanted to make an album I felt great about. I tried to pull a Jay-Z and said ‘I’m gonna retire’ He couldn’t do it either,” she adds “It was a lot of pressure going back into the studio and recording. It’s been a while for me; I’m very fortunate that I found my particular niche on this album.”

Braxton is planning to tour late Spring, “I’m so excited about being out again and touring. It’s my favorite part. [That's my] adrenaline rush when I have that microphone in my hand. I’m so looking forward to kicking off a tour very soon. Braxton’s debut single, “Yesterday,” which features Trey Songz on the remix recently peaked at #12. on the Billboard Hip Hop & R&B Singles Chart. The singer is putting the finishing touches on her debut album for Atlantic Records which is scheduled for a March release. To watch the performance and hear more about, Pulse visit Walmart Soundcheck.

Singer Toni Braxton previewed her new album and debut from Atlantic Records last night (10/19) to an exclusive crowd in New York City. The album includes smoldering ballads and a few uptempos to keep her fans and competition on their toes. Among the favorites were, “No Way, No How,” “Make My Heart,” “Looking At You,” and the pop leaning ballad “Wait For You.”

The crowd was exceptionally pleased with the R&B-laden track, “Hands Tied,” and which Mrs. Braxton says, “I can love you with my hands tied, I can please you with my hands tied,” while on the track, “Not Enough (Woman),” she explains to her love, “All I needed was for you to tell me I’m beautiful but your not even talking at all.” Braxton’s current single, “Yesterday,” and remix featuring Trey Songz has been receiving a positive response with her album scheduled for release in February 2010.