Kasabian on track for fourth UK Number 1 album with 48:13

Kasabian's 48:13 leading the race to Number 1 on today's Official Albums Chart midweeks.

Kasabian look set to score their fourth Number 1 album this weekend with the critically-acclaimed 48:13. The album, which takes its moniker from its running time, features latest single Eez-eh, and is a cool 26,000 copies ahead of its closest rival (Ghost Stories by Coldplay) at this mid-way stage.

The Leicester band first hit the top spot in 2006 with Empire, while its follow-up, West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, also hit the top spot in 2009. Their fourth album, Velociraptor!, also debuted at Number 1 in 2011.

Former White Stripes frontman Jack White enters at 3 with his second solo album, Lazaretto, while Brighton-based singer/songwriter Michael Rosenberg, AKA Passenger, is new in at Number 4 today with his fifth album, Whispers. And finally, reigning chart king Sam Smith falls four places to Number 5 with In The Lonely Hour.

New Entries

Currently on a UK arena tour and heading for Glastonbury later this month, Dolly Parton’s new Best Of collection, Blue Smoke (Number 6), is just outside the Top 5 on today’s Official Albums Chart Update, while Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit are one place behind her at Number 7 with their third album, Stay Gold. California band Rival Sons are also Top 10-bound with their new album, Great Western Valkyrie (10).

Liverpool progressive rockers Anathema are on track for their highest charting album to date this weekend. Distant Satellites, their tenth full-length, is at Number 16 midweek. The Who’s new live album, Quadrophenia - Live In London enters at 17 today. The double disc collection sees the veteran band performing their classic 1973 album in full during their 2013 UK tour.

Janet Devlin, who came fifth on the X Factor in 2011, is on track for her first Top 40 album this weekend with the fan-funded Running With Scissors (18 today), while The Pretenders’ frontwoman Chrissie Hynde is at 19 with her debut solo outing, Stockholm. Heather Peace’s The Thin Line (32) and Charlotte Jaconelli’s Solitaire (35) complete the midweek new entries.

The Official Albums Chart Update Top 40 is as follows. The Official Albums Chart Top 100 will be posted in full, here, on Sunday at 7pm.

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