-Jay-

Fully updated! 😇

My highlights are Hello, Pick It Up, Bodega Baddie, Safe, Pretty & Petty, On My Back, Principal and Nice Guy. 23 tracks is bloated for sure, but there's a lot here to like! I don't think Imaginary Playerz was the right song to preview right before this album's release. I don't mind it, but there's so much more here that would have made better choices. Bodega Baddie sounds like a smash even though it's rather short!

The European pressing of The Fame/The Fame Monster vinyl box set was released on Friday! ~~~~ Although #37 is undeniably disappointing for Cardi B, in a way I’m not surprised... she's been very US centric for this album's rollout where she's on track to be #1. It’s by far where she’s done the best on streaming this era, and a push for multiple physical variants is largely restricted to her US store. UK formats: US formats (many of them being signed):

Just to say I’ve not forgotten and will do this asap!

I think the caveat for that fact would have to be that it's regarding solo female artists who are/were members of very successful & well known UK girl groups, and that they became famous because of that girl group. If you consider any girl group, then Claire Richards (TSD in 1996, #64 and #69 chart singles) and Martine McCutcheon (Milan in 1994, #82 charting single) qualify - both of them have #2 charting solo albums in the UK. Of course neither of them became famous through those girl groups, but technically they are former UK girl group members who have peaked top 3 in the album chart with solo projects! When it comes to major UK girl groups then indeed it's highly surprising that up until now Cheryl was the only one to have made the Top 3 album chart, before Jade. A pity that Melanie C - Northern Star didn't manage Top 3 seeing as it was a very successful album, almost 900,000 sales. It didn't peak at #4 until August 2000, 10 months after it was first released! Prior to then it had peaked at #5 as of March 2000, and its initial entry/peak position was #10 in October 1999.

Perhaps a tease of a collaboration between Mariah and SZA? If so, that's exciting!

One performance Dancing on Ice, which I think was a few weeks before the CD came out - crazy!!

That's rather sad for Mimi Webb, after a Top 10 EP and Top 10 debut album (both silver certified). 😔 It's curious that from the very start of this second album era (inclusive of the initial singles which ended up scrapped from the album) there's really been no hype for it, and such a notable drop in support. It charting at #81 also means that it didn't get a mention in Music Week, but I assume it sold about 2,000. I'm pleased that Your Idol has finally managed to nab itself a Top 5 peak. Do we think Nice to Each Other will be able to go Top 5 eventually? Great to see 12 to 12 equalling the peak of Back to Friends, and I love to see the longevity that Back to Friends has had even while on ACR. What a year for sombr! Would really love to see his album outdo its peak of #10 at some point. Booo at The Dead Dance stalling at #13! Wow Breakin' Dishes almost Top 20... hope it can make the Top 20, #21 would be an annoying peak for it. Still feels a little surreal that it's doing so well. Remember playing it a lot in 2007 and thinking it would make a good single. Yaaas KATSEYE's first Top 40 hit!

Gosh just 2k between #1 and #2 with the sales being that high! Another new highest sale for a #2 sale in 2025. Olivia definitely deserves a moment at the top so I will be happy if that actually happens next week. Very please with those sales for Jade

Thrilled for Jade! Top 3 is highly deserved! I don't think I'd commented yet on how I feel about the album, but in short I think it's such a triumph! I don't think there's any weak spots on the album, literally every song holds my attention and I'm still eager to play it from front to back. I will say that Glitch in particular has grown on me so much over the week! That really crept up on me, what a bop. I think the absolute gem of the album is Self Saboteur.

:jonny: Forever and always a cheeseblock to us

Yep this is how I think of it Or if it's something I think is a slay, or I'm shook but in all cases for me it skews positive. Which is funny because the actual character is called Negative Man!

positions the smash that you are

HUNTR/X are smashing it I'll update the thread asap

There's potential that it might be a little different - the version coming on the 20th Anniversary track list is 4:19, but what was uploaded to YouTube a few years ago is 4:35!