The Civil Wars, the country/folk duo's sophomore release, earns the group its first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, selling 116,000 in its debut week, according to Billboard.

It's the best sales week ever for the much-discussed band, too. Previously, Joy Williams and John Paul White managed a 36,000-selling week for the group's debut disc, Barton Hollow � and that wasn't even in the record's first week on sale.

The Civil Wars triumphs not because of a hot radio single or smash hits that preceded the new release. The strife between the bandmates, who went on a hiatus last November and are not on speaking terms, defines the album, making it a record that's painful, yet powerful.

The Civil Wars' top placement spells a No. 2 debut for the newest installment in the NOW compilation series. NOW 47 debuts with 82,000 copies moved, a 9,000-album decrease from 46, which came out in May.