Lily Allen rises again as comeback album, Sheezus, eyes Number 1

Lily Allen looks set for a second chart-topping album with Sheezus out in front in this week’s Official Albums Chart race.

It’s the comeback some of us thought would never happen, but Lily Allen’s return to pop glory is definitely on track.

The outspoken star, who came out of retirement as a solo artist after a four-year break with the Number 1 single Somewhere Only We Know in late 2013, looks set to debut at the top of the Official Albums Chart this Sunday with third album Sheezus.

The album is Lily’s third, following Alright Still (2006) and It’s Not Me, It’s You (2009) – both of which have sold over a million copies.

Sheezus has already spawned two Top 10 singles, Hard Out Here and Air Balloon, and is over 12,000 copies in front of nearest rival, last week’s Number 1– Paolo Nutini’s Caustic Love. Yes, after three weeks atop the Official Albums Chart, it seems Paolo’s reign will be coming to an end when the final whistle blows this Sunday.

Thanks to BBC 1’s bank holiday documentary When Corden Met Barlow, Take That frontman Gary Barlow sees his solo album Since I Saw You Last rocket 35 places to Number 3. Gary’s third solo effort previously reached Number 2 on release in December 2013, and in the space of just one month went on to become one of the Top 10 biggest selling albums of the year.

American rockers Black Stone Cherry look set for their highest chart placing to date – Magic Mountain is new at Number 4 and will be their third album to make the Top 40.
Paloma Faith’s A Perfect Contradiction slips one place to round off the midweek Top 5.

New Entries and High Climbers

Apart from Lily Allen’s Sheezus (1) and Black Stone Cherry (4), there are nine more new entries.

Indie rockers Horrors are set to return to the Official Albums Chart this Sunday, with Luminous going in at Number 6 at this midway stage. The Horrors’ last album Skying peaked at Number 5 in July 2011.

After an absence of five years, Anastacia, the American diva with the big voice, returns to the chart with new album Resurrection at Number 8. If Anastacia can hold on to her current position into the weekend, it will be her fifth Top 10 album, and her first since Pieces Of A Dream reached Number 6 in 2005.

Ray Lamontagne is on track for his fifth Top 40 album in the UK – Supernova is new at Number 12. Super Furry Animals’ Gruff Rhys looks set to score his highest solo chart position this week with latest release American Interior – his fourth solo album is new at Number 18. Also on course for a personal best is Natalie Merchant. The American singer’s eponymous new album is new at Number 24.

Michael Bolton is on course for his 14th Top 40 album – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough is new at Number 26. Over eight years after its original release, Take That’s hits collection Never Forget also feels the When Corden Met Barlow effect – it’s a re-entry at Number 26.

In with a chance of making their Official Albums Chart debut this Sunday are Dutch metal band Epica. The Quantum Enigma is new at Number 33.

Legendary producer Brian Eno and Underworld vocalist Karl Hyde round off the new entries week, with Someday World debuting at Number 36 as things stand.

Katy B’s former chart-topping album Little Red whizzes back up the Top 40, jumping 23 places to land at Number 7.

Aloe Blacc also enjoys a lift, as Lift Your Spirit bounds back up 18 places to Number 11, but the biggest climber midweek is legendary singer Meat Loaf, whose classic album Bat Out Of Hell rockets 131 places to Number 16. Swedish singer-songwriter Lykke Li also scores a big gain this week, zooming 100 places to Number 19 with new release I Never Learn.

Check out the Official Albums Chart Update Top 40 below. The Official Albums Chart Top 100 will be posted in full, here, on Sunday at 7pm.

© 2014 The Official Charts Company. All rights reserved.