Have I ever mentioned that I like tracking SoundScan numbers? No? Well I do, in part because they’re so very helpful in illustrating how quickly an Idol’s “status in the industry,” whether real or imagined, can change.

These days, fangirls love to blame the economy for diminishing sales, but the fact remains, if one album — say, Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” — can still sell more than 4 million copies in this weak economy, any album could theoretically do the same, as long as the demand is there.

The problem is, of course, that interest in the vast majority of American Idol finalists tends to fade faster than an eight dollar dye job…but enough about Katharine McPhee.

Case in point, the faux rawker’s sophomoric album has been sliding down the SoundScan 200 at a satisfyingly brisk pace. Consider the following:

After 1 week, “daughtry” had sold 303,800
After 1 week, “leave this town” had sold 269,920, or roughly 89% of the crappy first album’s first week sales.

I know what you’re thinking, “That’s not bad,” but hang in there, it gets worse. Delightfully worse.

After 2 weeks, “daughtry” had sold 459,310
After 2 weeks, “leave this town” had sold 370,746

After 3 weeks, “daughtry” had sold 614,331
After 3 weeks, “leave this town” had sold 432,424

After 4 weeks, “daughtry” had sold 795,234
After 4 weeks, “leave this town” had sold 476,294

After 5 weeks, “daughtry” had sold 1,044,771
After 5 weeks, “leave this town” had sold 514,076

After 6 weeks, “daughtry” had sold 1,121,033
After 6 weeks, “leave this town” had sold 547,387

After 7 weeks, “daughtry” had sold 1,176,949
After 7 weeks, “leave this town” had sold 579,998

After 8 weeks, “daughtry” had sold 1,227,332
After 8 weeks, “leave this town” had sold 606,224

After 9 weeks, “daughtry” had sold 1,292,730
After 9 weeks, “leave this town” had sold 627,309

After 10 weeks, “daughtry” had sold 1,372,877
After 10 weeks, “leave this town” had sold 645,371

After 11 weeks, “daughtry” had sold 1,449,760
After 11 weeks, “leave this town” had sold 661,160

After 12 weeks, “daughtry” had sold 1,525,628
After 12 weeks, “leave this town” had sold 675,431

After 13 weeks, “daughtry” had sold 1,627,518
After 13 weeks, “leave this town” had sold 686,926

After 14 weeks, “daughtry” had sold 1,711,810
After 14 weeks, “leave this town” had sold 697,782

After 15 weeks, “daughtry” had sold 1,801,771
After 15 weeks, “leave this town” had sold 707,453

After 16 weeks, “daughtry” had sold 1,883,497
After 16 weeks, “leave this town” had sold 715,868

After 17 weeks, “daughtry” had sold 1,963,106
After 17 weeks, “leave this town” had sold 724,082

After 18 weeks, “daughtry” had sold 2,039,337
After 18 weeks, “leave this town” had sold 737,207, or roughly 36% of the crappy first album’s sales.

Here another way to look at it and it’s just as much fun:

In Week 1, “daughtry” sold 303,677
In Week 1, “leave this town” sold 269,299

In Week 2, “daughtry” sold 155,510
In Week 2, “leave this town” sold 100,826

In Week 3, “daughtry” sold 155,021
In Week 3, “leave this town” sold 62,040

In Week 4, “daughtry” sold 180,903
In Week 4, “leave this town” sold 43,870

In Week 5, “daughtry” sold 249,537
In Week 5, “leave this town” sold 37,782

In Week 6, “daughtry” sold 76,262
In Week 6, “leave this town” sold 33,311

In Week 7, “daughtry” sold 55,916
In Week 7, “leave this town” sold 32,692

In Week 8, “daughtry” sold 50,383
In Week 8, “leave this town” sold 26,348

In Week 9, “daughtry” sold 65,398
In Week 9, “leave this town” sold 21,148

In Week 10, “daughtry” sold 80,147
In Week 10, “leave this town” sold 18,062

In Week 11, “daughtry” sold 76,883
In Week 11, “leave this town” sold 15,789

In Week 12, “daughtry” sold 75,868
In Week 12, “leave this town” sold 14,439

In Week 13, “daughtry” sold 101,890
In Week 13, “leave this town” sold 11,523

In Week 14, “daughtry” sold 84,292
In Week 14, “leave this town” sold 10,856

In Week 15, “daughtry” sold 89,901
In Week 15, “leave this town” sold 9,770

In Week 16, “daughtry” sold 81,786
In Week 16, “leave this town” sold 8,415

In Week 17, “daughtry” sold 79,609
In Week 17, “leave this town” sold 8,214

In Week 18, “daughtry” sold 76,231
In Week 18, “leave this town” sold 13,125, or roughly 17% of the first crappy album’s sales.

Ah, I enjoyed that!

We’re on the eve of Black Friday, which typically results in increased album sales, and the bald mutant will probably benefit from the gift-giving atrocities committed by his fangirls, but it seems increasingly unlikely that he’ll be able to overcome his sophomore slump.

Tsk tsk.