Lavigne is still the chart’s `Best’

IN the battle of the brags, “The Best Damn Thing” beat “There Ain’t Nothing Like Me.”

Avril Lavigne’s “The Best Damn Thing” is the No. 1 album in the country for the second consecutive week on sales of 122,000, although that figure represented a 58% drop from her first week sales, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

At No. 2, R&B singer Joe’s “Ain’t Nothing Like Me” sold 98,000 copies. It’s the Georgia native’s sixth album since his debut in 1993, and it features guests such as Nas, Young Buck and Tony Yayo.

The Arctic Monkeys, which performed at last weekend’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, debuts at No. 7 this week with “Favourite Worst Nightmare,” which sold 44,000 copies. The British indie rock band, which won the Mercury Prize in 2006, is getting strong reviews for its music and first single, “Brainstorm.”

A familiar face arrives at No. 22: Neil Sedaka, who first hit the charts in the 1950s, is back with a new hits package, “The Definitive Collection,” which sold 24,000 copies. “Collection” features singles including “Calendar Girl.”

geoff.boucher@latimes.com