R.E.M. Rock to Top of British Album Charts

R.E.M.`s album made its debut on the social networking application iLike on March 24, allowing fans to stream and share it.

American rockers R.E.M.'s 14th studio album "Accelerate" went straight to number one and Estelle stayed at the top of the singles charts, the Official Charts Company said on Sunday.

R.E.M's follow-up to their 2004 long-player "Around the Sun" ended Welsh newcomer Duffy's four-week reign at the top of the album charts with "Rockferry".

R.E.M 's album made its debut on the social networking application iLike on March 24, allowing fans to stream and share "Accelerate" in its entirety.

The roll-out, the first of its kind for a major act, made the 11-song set freely available to anyone using iLike.com, Facebook, iTunes or any of the other social networks and sites that offer an iLike application for their platforms.

Former X-Factor winner Leona Lewis and "Spirit" climbed one to number three, while British New York-based hip-hop singer Estelle and "Shine" was the only other new entry in the album charts, entering at number six.

Estelle's single "American Boy", featuring hip-hop star Kanye West, was the top-selling single for a third week running, with rapper Flo Rida's "Low" featuring T-Pain Low" a non-mover at two.

There were no new entries in the top 10 of the singles charts, though Brighton rock band the Kooks and "Always Where I Need To Be" rose from 71 to number three, while pop diva Mariah Carey's "Touch my Body" shot to six after climbing 93 places.