Country star George Strait has beaten R.E.M. to the top of the U.S. album charts. The singer has scored his fourth number one on the Billboard 200 with Troubadour, selling 50,000 more copies that R.E.M.'s new release Accelerate.

But the rockers are still celebrating - Accelerate's 115,000 sales gave the band its highest sales and charting week in nearly 12 years.

The album has already topped the charts in Canada, Ireland, U.K., Denmark, Switzerland, Norway and the Czech Republic.

Meanwhile, Strait's latest also becomes his 22nd number one on the Top Country Albums countdown.

Hits compilation NOW 27, Day26's eponymous debut and the soundtrack to family film Alvin & The Chipmunks round out the top five, while Van Morrison scores his first ever U.S. top 10 hit with Keep It Simple, which debuts at 10.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)