U.K.MIDWEEKS: NEW ARRIVALS IN A BATTLE

The Top 5 of the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart at midweek spans a mere 2,500 in chart sales. Olivia Rodrigo's “drivers license” eyes an eighth week at #1 at singles.

Maximo Park’s Nature Always Wins (Prolifica) holds the top slot on the album chart, with seven new titles in the Top 10. Nature Always Wins is on course to be the Newcastle upon Tyne band’s first Top 10 album in seven years and their highest charting since 2007’s Our Monthly Pleasures peaked at #2.

Sitting 1,500 in sales behind it at #2 is Alice Cooper’s first new studio album in four years, Detroit Stories (earMusic), and Metalcore group Architects could claim their first U.K. Top 10 album with For Those Who Wish to Exist (Epitaph) at #3.

London rapper Digga D’s second mixtape, Made in the Pyrex (CGM), is the most-streamed collection of the week; it sits at #4, with his track “Bluuwuu” being the highest new midweek entry at #19. Buxton singer-songwriter Lucy Spraggan has Choices at #5.

The White Stripes’ Greatest Hits (CMG) commandeers #6, while Neil Young and Crazy Horse’s visit to the vault Way Down in the Rust Bucket (Warner) rocks #7 and the reissue of PJ Harvey’s Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea (Island) lands at #8 midweek. Demos, the accompanying collection of unreleased demos and rarities from Harvey, is #19.

Julien Baker’s Little Oblivions (Matador) is #14; it will become her first charting album in the U.K. The 30th-anniversary edition of The Black Crowes’ Shake Your Money Maker is #18.

Rodrigo’s “drivers license” (Polydor) remains at #1, while the viral sea shanty “Wellerman” by TikTok star Nathan Evans with 220Kid and Billen Ted climbs to #2.

Riton & Nightcrawlers f/Mufasa & Hypeman’s party anthem “Friday” (Ministry of Sound) makes its first trip into the Top 5 at #3. ATB, Topic and A7S’s “Your Love (9pm)” (Virgin) is up four places to #11 midweek.