I actually think this is one of their best albums yet, maybe even top 3 for me. Glad to see the chart and sales reflect the fans' standing.

This has really grown on me! The singles are amongst the weakest tracks! Very solid album. Shame about the reviews from people who obviously don’t enjoy the type of music they are reviewing!

This has really grown on me! The singles are amongst the weakest tracks! Very solid album. Shame about the reviews from people who obviously don’t enjoy the type of music they are reviewing!

 

I totally agree. The three singles chosen were all one and the same. They are basically the retro '70s Americana vocal harmony tracks.

 

They should have shown the diversity of the album more. It's not that Mark and Howard can't have leads, but like Milly above said, the two Gary led songs, 'Windows' and 'This Life' have charted on the Download Chart. 'Brand New Sun' didn't make the Top 100, and it was released in a less competitive market to 'This Life' single also.

 

'Brand New Sun' is a good track. However, Mark and Howard have to have the exact right song to make an impact. Clearly Gary picks up the ears of the general listener more. 'Where We Are' led by Gary is doing well on downloads also in Germany, Switzerland, Austria after Wetten Dass?

 

I know downloads don't equate to mainstream success (Top 100) these days due to the ridiculous weight put on streaming as opposed to actual purchased content--baffling to me-- However, they are now the best way for them to judge what is actually proving popular.

 

'This Life' has been climbing on the Download Chart the past few weeks, and this Friday I believe it will creep inside the top 20. Just before all the Christmas songs blow it away.

 

Since streaming has had its impact on Take That in the main singles chart after 'Giants' made #13 on the main chart, their last chart placement.

 

The UK Download 100 Chart for them has been as follows:

 

New Day (2017): Did Not Chart.

Pray - Odyssey version (2018): #75.

Out of Our Heads (2018): #25.

Babe - Odyssey version (2018): #76.

Greatest Day (Robin Schulz Rework) (2023): #7

Windows (2023): #3.

Brand New Sun (2023): Did Not Chart.

This Life (2023): #21.

 

I wonder if there will be any videos?

 

Since 2017, Robbie, Gary, and Mark have been in the same position with no singles on the main 100 chart. Placings on Download Chart.

 

Robbie:

 

Mixed Signals (2017): #85.

Time For Change (2019): #87.

Hey Tiger (2020): #89.

Strange Days (with The Struts) (2020): #25.

Can't Stop Christmas (2020): #9.

Angels - XXV version (2022): #71.

Lost - XXV version (2022): #25.

 

Gary:

 

Elita (with Michael Buble & Sebastian Yatra) (2020): #14.

Incredible (2020): #19.

Incredible Christmas (2020): #94.

How Christmas Is Supposed To Be (with Sheridan Smith) (2021): #68.

 

Mark:

 

You Only Want Me (2022): #76.

Magic (2022): #75.

Edited December 1, 20231 yr by nirvanamusic

They definitely took the wrong route with the singles picked as they could have had more variation based on whats on the album and good to see this life (song) getting at least some attention.

Not sure what to feel about this being a departure from the electronic and highly upbeat stuff I enjoyed a lot from their last three albums.

 

It is not bad as a whole though, still more enjoyable than the 2006-2009 eras (which reminded me of when listening to the album).

 

My least favourite is strangely the title track. Lyrics are a bit lacking for the theme.

 

The opening track is great. Made me think of some indie albums/tracks in early 2010s like Bon Iver or Alt-J or Coldplay 'Midnight'. I can't quite pinpoint well what music I am thinking of.

Edited November 29, 20231 yr by All★bySmashMouth

Today's update: 111,413 sales!

 

 

altogether or in one day?

Does anyone has updates from other countries aside the UK?

Today's update: 111,413 sales!

Should come close to 120k now.

‘Where we are’ is my fave so far on this album! The whole album gets better listen by listen and I’d put it in their top 3 easily.

Not up with their best albums but its growing on me with each listen but i still dont like windows' at all.

 

My 3 faves after a few more listens are

 

01 Mind full of madness

02 March of the hopeful

03 Where we are

Have put peaks for all 9 studio albums and 3 Greatest Hits alongside each to show career trajectory. The first figure being Take That & Party and the twelfth This Life. An X denotes that particular album in sequence didn't chart in Top 40/100. I have excluded the live albums.

 

Take That & Party, Everything Changes, Nobody Else, Greatest Hits, Never Forget: The Ultimate Collection, Beautiful World, The Circus, Progress, III, Wonderland, Odyssey, This Life.

 

Ireland#1. / 27-4-1-1-12-1-1-1-6-3-3-1.

UK#1. / 2-1-1-1-2-1-1-1-1-2-1-1.

Germany#8. / 28-4-1-1-91-2-14-1-26-19-18-8.

Spain#10. / X-X-2-1-X-16-27-17-54-18-54-10.

Switzerland#14. / X-9-1-2-73-6-22-2-59-28-45-14.

Belgium (Flanders)#30. / 6-6-1-2-76-62-94-36-84-43-42-30.

Austria#39. / X-7-1-1-X-8-42-2-X-47-55-39.

Italy#47. / X-13-1-1-X-25-32-3-39-36-80-47.

Netherlands#84. / 21-3-1-1-X-33-68-4-64-48-85-84.

Belgium (Wallonia)#140. / X-7-2-4-X-X-X-32-X-75-X-X.

 

I think EMI has done a great job for them. However, I feel they should re-establish themselves in some other European territories, like they did with the Beautiful World release. Netherlands, France, Norway, Sweden, Finland and some promo in Italy would be good for them I think.

 

In Ireland they now have a #1 album as a 5,4 and 3.

In Germany they now have a top 10 album as a 5,4, and 3.

In Spain, 'This Life' is their highest charting album since the 2005 reunion and first top 10 since 'Greatest Hits' (1996).

In Switzerland, 'This Life' is their highest charting album as a 3.

In Belgium (Flanders) it is their higest charting album since the 2005 reunion. *Flanders is the Dutch speaking northern part of Belgium and Wallonia the southern French speaking region of the country.*

In Austria it is their highest charting album as a 3.

Edited December 5, 20231 yr by nirvanamusic

Ireland#1.

Germany#8.

'Wonderland' got to #19 in Germany and #3 in Ireland, so pretty good going already!

Really happy it made number 1 here in Ireland as I wasn't sure if it would, they have promo here tonight which will help week 2.

Great uk sales and it opened higher than wonderland and odyssey.

Take That performed 3 songs on the Late Late Show here in Ireland tonight as well as doing an interview

They performed windows, back for good and this life,

This life was really good as was back for good but windows which they sang first is still meh for me.

Hopefully it will help them have a decent week 2 here in the album chart next Friday.

I enjoyed their performance of Windows. It's a grower ...

With windows it kind of annoys me the more I hear it and its probably my least fave song on the whole album. The album isn't usually the type of music I go for in general but the songs are growing on me all the time and I am enjoying it although in time I'm not sure if it will be an album I will go back to much.

The appetite remains large for new Take That albums based on the opening sales.

They opening sales are great, I hope it can stick around even for a couple of weeks and pick up some casual Christmas sales.

Is there more promotion coming?

Not to bad so far for its second week, its number 9 today.