by Andrew Miller

This week local act the feelers do something they've never done before as The Best: 1998-2008 rolls over for a second at #1. Although they've been to the top of the chart before, it's the first time the band has held the Albums top slot for longer than a week.

And by a narrow margin, they also fend off a major challenge by the Axl Rose-led Guns N Roses.by Andrew Miller

This week local act the feelers do something they've never done before as The Best: 1998-2008 rolls over for a second at #1. Although they've been to the top of the chart before, it's the first time the band has held the Albums top slot for longer than a week.

And by a narrow margin, they also fend off a major challenge by the Axl Rose-led Guns N Roses.The Gunners first studio album of original material in 17 years makes a strong opening in the runners-up position, particularly impressive given the set was only on sale for the weekend. Even so, Saturday and Sunday's sales were enough to outsell all others, bar the feelers and debut at #2.

This makes New Zealand the first country to chart Chinese Democracy.

It gives the '80s rockers a total of eight charting albums with Appetite For Destruction (1988), Use Your Illusion II (1991) and Greatest Hits (2004) making #1.

The new album's title track makes a quick exit from the Singles Chart after a solitary week at #27.

Beyonce Is Fierce. Sasha Fierce.

Twenty-seven-year-old Texan Beyonce Knowles has new entries on the both Albums and Singles surveys this week.

Her new alter ego is one 'Sasha Fierce' hence the I Am - Sasha Fierce title of her new double album, fresh at #16.

It gives her a trio of solo charting long-players, both previous efforts peaking at #8.

Meanwhile the second track culled from it, Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It), is the highest new Singles entry of the week at #32. It follows If I Were A Boy, now into its third week at #2.

Beyonce's solo singles tally now stands at 13, three of which have topped the chart.

The New Singles

#32 Beyonce - Single Ladies (Put A Ring on It)
See story above.

#37 All American Rejects - Gives You Hell
All American Rejects have a new album, When The World Comes Down, due in December. Preceding it, Gives You Hell lands at #37. It gives the Oklahoma natives their second and biggest hit to date, bettering the single-week #39 peak of their March 2007 track It Ends Tonight.

#40 Paramore - Decode
The forthcoming movie Twilight and its former American #1 soundtrack features two new songs by Paramore (Hayley Williams, Josh Farro, Jeremy Davis and Zac Farro). In this part of the world the Twilight soundtrack has yet to chart, but Decode lands at #40, giving the rockers a third hit.

The New Albums

#2 Guns N Roses - Chinese Democracy
See story above.

#3 Nickelback - Dark Horse
Dark Horse was the name of Beatle George Harrison's label and 1974 album. Now Canadian rockers Nickelback title their sixth studio album the same. It drops in at #3, giving the band a fourth chart album here and first since 2005's #1 All The Right Reasons. 2001's Silver Side Up also topped our list, while 2003's The Long Road made #3. The band has a half dozen hit singles as well, five of which have gone Top 10.

#6 Dido - Safe Trip Home
It's been five years since London singer-songwriter Florian Armstrong (aka Dido) last issued an album. Well we still like Dido (who's 37 on Christmas Day) as Safe Trip Home returns her straight into the NZ Top 10 at #6. Time will see if it can match the #1 placing of her 2001 No Angel debut and 2003 sophomore Life For Rent.

#15 The Priests - The Priests
It's a case of what-you-see-is-what-you-get with Irish Catholic group The Priests. Priests by name, priests by vocation. Their self-titled debut lands at #15.

#16 Beyonce - I Am Sasha Fierce
See story above.

#20 Herbs - Lights Of The Pacific: The Very Best Of
It's been 13 years since Herbs called time following the death of member Charlie Tumahai. 1994 saw the first hits compile for the Kiwi reggae groundbreakers, 13 Years: The Best Of Herbs making #14. Another repackage, Listen: The Very Best Of Herbs, gave the band their sole #1 album in January 2002. Now founding member Dilworth Karaka has had a hand in selecting the latest collection Lights Of The Pacific: The Very Best Of Herbs. This time the tracks have been digitally remastered and local diva Hollie Smith has re-recorded Sensitive To A Smile, included on the release. It's chart album number seven for the group who racked up 15 hit singles between 1982 and 1995.

#32 Mudvayne - The New Game

Chad Gray, Greg Tribbett, Ryan Martinie and Matthew McDonough are hard rockers Mudvayne, who've been together 12 years. Their second chart appearance here, The New Game, opens at #32 following on from 2005's #20 Lost And Found.

#33 Josh Groban - A Collection
Twenty-seven-year-old American crooner Josh Groban places his first hits compile A Collection at #33. Of his four chart sets here, his 2002 self-titled debut is the biggest, making #4.