The Strokes are challenging Dua Lipa for the U.K. chart crown.
The New York City rockers are flying high on the Official Albums Chart title with The New Abnormal (Cult), which trails Dua Lipa’s leader Future Nostalgia (Warner Records) by just 250 chart sales.
Brits have a long love affair with the Strokes, which goes right back to the beginning. The band’s debut 2001 single “The Modern Age” was signed to and released by the U.K.’s Rough Trade Records, triggering a wave of interest from major labels in their homeland. Its parent album This Is It peaked at No. 2 in the U.K.
The Strokes’ last five studio albums (all through Rough Trade) all cracked the Official Albums Chart top 10, and they led the survey with 2006’s First Impressions of Earth.
Future Nostalgia leads the midweek chart, with an advantage on streams, while the Strokes have bagged the most sales (physical and downloads) on the latest sales flash.
Also enjoying a fast start is Canadian rapper Tory Lanez, whose fifth studio album The New Toronto 3 (Virgin) is at No. 4 on the Official Chart Update and is on track for his U.K. chart best.
British grime artist Cadet is currently at No. 10 with his posthumous debut album The Rated Legend (Underrated Legends). The rapper (real name Blaine Johnson) died in a car accident last year on the way to a gig, at the age of 28.
Over on the U.K. singles chart, The Weeknd is ahead of the pack at the midway stage with “Blinding Lights” (Republic Records), ahead of SAINt JHN’s “Roses” (B1/HitCo/Ministry Of Sound) and Drake’s “Toosie Slide” (OVO/Republic), respectively.
The Official U.K. Singles and Albums Charts are published late Friday, local time.