Story of the Year’s new CD “The Black Swan” debuts at a very impressive No. 18 on the Billboard 200 this week after selling 21,000 copies its first week out - something that was hard to see coming.

The St. Louis rock band’s profile doesn’t feel as high as it had been, but it goes to show you good music can break through when you least expect it.

Now let’s crunch-up those first week numbers for a moment.

The band’s 2005 CD, “In the Wake of Determination,” was good for 42,000 copies its first week out, which at the time landed the band at No. 19. That means the band landed a better chart position with much fewer sales. That’s explained away by the fact record sales just aren’t what they used to be for hardly anyone, allowing acts to sell fewer records and still maintain impressive chart standings.

“The Black Swan” is the group’s first disc on the Epitaph label.

Way to go guys. Keep telling your Story.

Mariah Carey’s “E=MC2″ remains the top-selling CD.