New Zealand folk parodists Flight of the Conchords have scored a top three hit on the US album charts.

Atlhough Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie play struggling musicians in their HBO sitcom, figures show they have sold 52,000 copies of their self-titled album, outstripping Ashlee Simpson.

Only Mariah Carey and Leona Lewis did better in the Billboard 200, released yesterday.

It means the duo are the most successful New Zealand act ever to hit the Billboard charts; easily surpassing Crowded House's 1986 No 12 hit.

The 15-track Flight of the Conchords album, released on April 22, contains new studio versions of some of their old songs, including Hiphopopotamus vs Rhymenoceros, Business Time and Mutha'uckas..

Earlier this year, the duo won the comedy Grammy award for their EP The Distant Future, which only reached No 116 on the Billboard chart.

The album will be released on Warner Records in the UK on May 12. Click here to preorder it for £7.98.

Meanwhile, here’s Business Time: