A while ago, this column suggested that the fact that Adele’s 25 was No.1 on iTunes in more territories than any other album that week was evidence that there was a lull in the schedule. That litmus test applies again this week, with a snapshot of the countries where iTunes trades at 6pm on May 4 showing that 25 – now two-and-a-half years old - is No.1 in eight countries, with the new Rae Sremmurd release SR3MM next with top billing in six countries.
There are, of course, some other popular acts with albums out this week, including Frank Turner, Shinedown, Royce Da 5”9’, Plan B, Reef, Gaz Coombs and Leon Bridges, but none is likely command the level of interest sparked by rappers Cardi B, J Cole and Post Malone in the last month.
Malone, you may recall, was No.1 on iTunes in 27 countries a week ago, with his second album Beerbongs & Bentleys looking set to be a smash. Although it is now No.1 only in three iTunes rankings, it has made a great start in official chart tabulations, opening at No.1 in Ireland, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the UK, No.2 in Flanders, No.4 in Germany, No.6 in Italy and No.10 in Wallonia. It is certain to debut at No.1 in The USA and Canada, and will make high debuts in many more countries a week hence.
It has made a better start than J Cole’s KOD, which was No.1 in Ireland and New Zealand, No.2 in Flanders, The Netherlands, Norway and The UK, No.5 in Sweden, No.16 in Germany and No.30 in Wallonia a week ago. Cole’s album is now in decline in all of the above, but debuts at No.1 in Australia, Canada and The USA, No.4 in Austria and Denmark, No.6 in Switzerland, No.9 in Finland, No.37 in France and Italy, No.38 in Slovakia and No.66 in The Czech Republic.
Sting & Shaggy’s 44/876 collaboration charted in six countries last week, most notably in Germany, where it opened at No.1. It now adds debuts in Switzerland (No.5), Austria (No.6), The Czech Republic (No.11), France (No.13), Canada (No.19), Hungary (No.27), Spain (No.35), Australia (No.38) and The USA (No.40).
Born in London to parents who hail from the Glasgow area of Bishopbriggs, Sarah McLauughlin decided to avoid confusion with already established Canadian singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan by adopting and adapting her parents birthplace to provide her recording identity of Bishop Briggs. After a series of well-received tracks, her debut album Church Of Scars has just been released – and although it falls short of the Top 200 in The UK, it opens in The USA – where she now lives – at No.20. It also charts in Canada (No.54), Switzerland (No.90) and Australia (No.91).
Finally, Buckinghamshire prog.rock band Tesseract’s fourth album, Sonder became their second chart album in The UK last week, debuting at No.62. It has since secured a further raft of debuts, charting in Austria (No.31), Australia (No.47), Germany (No.48), Switzerland (No.51), Wallonia (No.112), Flanders (No.174) and The USA (No.198).
