No change at the top of the charts with Dizzee Rascal and Eminem holding on to the top spot.

 

Dizzee Rascal has a second week at number one with Bonkers while Black Eyed Peas also hold their ground at number two.

 

In the week of the final of Britain’s Got Talent, the highest new entry is from a former contestant in a Swedish talent contest. Agnes Carlsson, known simply as Agnes, has had three top ten albums in Sweden (including two number ones) following her success on the programme. She was also a contestant in the search for Sweden’s Eurovision entry this year but only managed eighth place. However, she has now charted higher than the eventual overall Eurovision winner, Alexander Rybak by entering at number three with Release Me. This has the makings of a big summer hit, particularly if we actually get a summer this year. I should also apologise to Mr Rybak for spelling his name incorrectly last week. Incidentally, he crashes to number 38 with his Fairytale. Jade Ewen’s time is up already.

 

The second highest new entry at number eight comes from an Australian band, The Veronicas. Their song Untouched is a fairly typical piece of throwaway pop which should probably have remained untouched. It is surely a sign of things to come that the two highest new entries are both download only releases with no physical release scheduled.

 

As well as Alexander Rybak, Lady GaGa also drops out of the top ten this week. She first entered the top ten with Just Dance in the first chart of the year and, until this week, had had at least one song in the top ten ever sonce.

 

The winner of the BBC’s Sound of 2009, Little Boots (known to her family as Victoria Hesketh), finally makes her chart debut at number 13 with New In Town, a decent piece of electro-pop. Almost inevitably, she’s a former Pop Idol contestant but we shouldn’t hold that (or the fact that she’s from Blackpool) against her.

 

Every so often, I look at the credits of a single from a new band and can’t immediately tell which is the title and which is the name of the band. That’s happened this week with Finders Keepers by You Me At Six. Or is it the other way round? Either way, it’s a pretty nondescript track. If I found it, I’d be perfectly happy not to keep it.

 

The release of Escala’s debut single (and album – see below) was conveniently timed for the final week of BGT, the show in which they made their name last year. Simon Cowell predictably gave them some free publicity with an appearance at one of the semi-finals. It’s worked well as Palladio (one of those tunes which is terribly familiar but most people can’t name) sneaks in at number 39. It was written as a tribute to some architect bloke apparently.

 

There’s a good climb for another Australian band Empire of the Sun who are up 11 places to number 26. We Are The People gets a physical release tomorrow, albeit only on good old-fashioned 7” vinyl so there’s hope that it could continue its ascent next week.

 

Eminem holds on for a second week on top of the albums chart with the closest challenge coming from the aforementioned Escala whose album enters at number two. As well as the single, Palladio, the album features versions of Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir, Ennio Morricone’s Chi Mai (which older readers will remember was the theme tune to a BBC series on the life of David Lloyd George) and, perhaps a little predictably, Barber’s Adagio For Strings.

 

Simple Minds return to the charts at number ten with Graffiti Soul, their first album for nearly four years and their first top ten appearance since 1995 when Good News From The Next World completed a run of five top two albums.

 

While Pink’s Funhouse stays at number nine this week, a collection of four earlier albums enters at number seven. Old CDs can be used as a bid scaring device with the light reflecting from the discs acting as a deterrent. Perhaps we can expect to see these devices spring up across the country courtesy of this bargain. Alternatively, you could just play the albums at full volume but that would probably get you a well-deserved asbo.

 

Meanwhile, Beyoncé continues with her identity crisis, moving up to number eight while insisting that she’s actually Sasha Fierce.

 

Three of last week’s new entries drop straight back out of the top ten – the new albums from Manic Street Preachers and Madness and the not-so-new material from the long-dead Jim Reeves.

 

Iron Maiden return with their fifteenth studio album, Flight 666, at number 15. Somehow I doubt it marks much of a departure from their usual style. At least it doesn’t contain the word death in the title which makes a nice change. There is presumably a similar lack of originality from Marilyn Manson whose seventh album, The High End Of Low is new at number 19 after his two previous albums both made the top ten.

 

Veckatimest is the third album from the Brooklyn-based band Grizzly Bears but it is the first to trouble the chart compilers, making its debut at number 24. I haven’t heard any of it but, if it’s anywhere near as good as the albums from their fellow Brooklyners (Brooklynites?) MGMT and Vampire Weekend, it’ll be pretty good. Meanwhile, Gary Go comes in two places higher at number 22 with his first album which has the stunningly original name of Gary Go.

 

In the 1970s, Michael McDonald worked with Steely Dan and then the Doobie Brothers. He then launched a solo career in the early 1980s. He’s hardly been prolific with only eight studio album in that time. Nevertheless, his fans clearly haven’t forgotten him and The Collectiom is at number 26.

 

Paul van Dyk’s record company have decided that his less than massive career so far merits a Best Of collection. Most record buyers disagree and it limps in at number 34.

 

The Blackout, who hail from Merthyr Tydfil, saw their first album, We Are The Dynamite peak at number 93. However, their second album, Children of the Night, has done rather better and is tis week’s number 38.

 

Friendly Fires’ eponymous debut album spent a single week in the top 40, at number 38, on its release last September. Now it’s back for a well-deserved second chance at this week’s number 37, a new peak. The first single from the album, Jump In The Pool, is also due to be re-released so let’s hope it can improve on its peak of number 57 first time around.

 

There are less welcome returns to the album chart for Ne_yo at 39 and Enrique’s Greatest Drivel at 40.

 

While Pink’s Funhouse stays at number nine this week, a collection of four earlier albums enters at number seven. Old CDs can be used as a bid scaring device with the light reflecting from the discs acting as a deterrent. Perhaps we can expect to see these devices spring up across the country courtesy of this bargain. Alternatively, you could just play the albums at full volume but that would probably get you a well-deserved asbo.

 

Now that is class I probably use them as coasters ;)

 

The first single from the album, Jump In The Pool, is also due to be re-released so let’s hope it can improve on its peak of number 57 first time around.

Minor problem here - #57 is its peak for this time around, it originally peaked at #100. And it seems the re-release was a phoney to get people to buy it again. Worked though!

 

Enrique’s Greatest Drivel at 40.

Brilliant.

 

Great read :D

Now that is class I probably use them as coasters ;)

Coasters was my original idea then I changed it to bird scarers :lol:

I need to add a correction. Since I wrote the commentary this afternoon, the release schedules have been changed. The record company has listened to Agnes' plea to Release Me and there will be a physical release on 8 June.

Well, Boots is only a former Pop Idol contestant to the extent that she got booted off at the second round before anybody actually paid any attention :lol: I don't think she got shown on TV...

Ha! Didn't know Little Boots was a former Pop Idol contestant - thanks for the tip!

I think this has to be on the front page.

Just wondering.

Edited June 1, 200916 yr by FunMaker11