Lil Nas X on course for Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart with debut album Montero

Lil Nas X is in pole position for Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart as his debut album Montero leads the midweek Official Chart Update.

The US rapper’s first full-length album was the most downloaded and streamed album of the past weekend. The collection, which follows his 2019 EP 7 features the Number 1 single Montero (Call Me By Your Name) and Top 5 hit Industry Baby.

But with less than 2,500 chart sales separating the Top 5, the Number 1 result is far from a foregone conclusion.

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Less than 400 sales behind at Number 2 is Bob Dylan with Springtime in New York – Bootleg 16. The collection is leading on physical sales, and is on track to be the legendary performer’s 41st Top 10 album.

Drake holds firm at Number 3 with former chart topper Certified Lover Boy, while iconic rock group Genesis start out at Number 4 with hits collection The Last Domino, on the cusp of becoming their first Top 10 album in seven years. Rounding out the Top 5 is rising British rapper Tion Wayne with his debut album Green With Envy.

Canadian metal band Spiritbox could also score a Top 10 entry with their debut album Eternal Blue (8), former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham is pacing towards the Top 10 with his new self-titled album (10), and Birmingham drill rapper M1llionz is just outside the top flight with his debut mixtape Provisional License (11).

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Further down, K-pop boyband NCT 127 are in line for their first UK Top 40 album with their third Korean-language album Sticker at 19; a 30th anniversary reissue of Scottish rock band Primal Scream’s Mercury Prize-winning album Screamadelica lands at 22 midweek; Liverpudlian metal band Carcass could secure their first UK Top 40 album with Torn Arteries at 24; a 25th anniversary edition of Cuban group Buena Vista Social Club’s self-titled album is currently at 27.

Australian musician Jordan Rakei’s fourth album What We Call Life could well become his commercial breakthrough at Number 28, Irish alt-folk singer James Vincent McMorrow is on course for his second Top 40 album with Grapefruit Season at 31, and finally, Anne-Marie’s second album Therapy may return to the Top 40 at 34 following her performance on Saturday’s Strictly Come Dancing.

See the full Official Albums Chart Update Top 100 (from 5:45pm)

View this week's Top 100 Official Singles Chart Update (from 5:45pm)