The xx lead albums chart race with the hotly anticipated Coexist

Led by The xx, The Script and Bob Dylan, this week’s Official Albums Chart Update sees a staggering 12 new releases enter the Top 40.

The xx’s hotly anticipated second album, Coexist, is on course to debut at Number 1 on Sunday, currently outselling its closest competitor - The Script’s #3 (2) - by 6,500 copies at this mid-way stage. If it can maintain its lead, Coexist will be the London-based indie trio’s band’s highest charting release to date; their eponymous debut peaked at Number 3 on the Official Albums Chart in 2009.

After scoring a Number 2 single with Hall Of Fame FT Will.I.Am on the Official Singles Chart on Sunday, The Script looks set to repeat their performance on this week’s Official Albums Chart with their third studio full-length, #3.

Speaking to OfficialCharts.com, Danny O'Donoghue, The Script’s frontman and coach on the BBC’s hit reality TV show The Voice, revealed that long-time fans of his band will be pleasantly surprised by the album’s direction:

“People were probably listening to us missing their lost love, and wanting to slit their wrists!” laughed the singer. “But this is a record that you’ll be able to play in pubs and clubs. We’re loud and proud about what we do now!”

Watch the full interview below:

Awarded maximum marks by the likes of Rolling Stone, MOJO and Uncut,veteran US singer/songwriter Bob Dylan is set to crash into the Top 3 this weekend with new album Tempest. Tempest is Dylan’s 35th studio album, critics have hailed it his best work in years.

Ground-breaking British electronic duo Pet Shop Boys are new in at Number 5 with their eleventh studio album Elysium, and former X Factor and Popstar To Operastar winner Joe McElderry is at Number 9 with his fourth studio album, Here’s What I Believe.

Meanwhile, Billy Talent are set to debut at Number 14 with Dead Silence, while the new 2.0 edition of David Guetta’s Nothing But The Beat Album is one place behind at 15.

Veteran US rockers ZZ Top are at 21 with La Futura, Spice Girl Melanie C is at 27 with her latest solo album, Stages, and Watford punks Gallows are at 29 with their self-titled third album.  

Love This Giant, the new collaboration from Talking Heads’ David Byrne and The Polyphonic Spree’s St. Vincent, is at Number 32, while alt country outfit Calexico complete this week’s new entries with Algiers (34).

The Official Albums Chart Update Top 40 is as follows:

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