Got stuck in bed, dreams held us higher

Continuing my trip forward in time through the album charts

14/02/25 : Open Wide - Inhaler

Somewhat surprisingly, this is our second visit with Inhaler and last time I noted that the musical apple didn't fall far from the tree with Baby Bono definitely sounding like his dad - and I strongly suspect they're not going to have massively changed things up here.

Ah yes - it's very U2-ish, but in their "not really bringing anything new to the party" phase. There's certainly nothing hateful about it, but nothing essential either - it's not such a common sound these days though so if it introduces the kids to it then it’s not such a bad thing. A bit more variety across the album wouldn’t have hurt though.

We're at #2 with a new entry on the chart this week and the rest of the top five are Taylor Swift (another new entry which we'll talk more about in a bit), Kendrick Lamar (it's fair to say the lad had a good week), The Weeknd and Sabrina (her lowest ever position in 25 weeks). Along with Taylor, there's quite the crop of new entries to discuss this week though..

- Taylor Swift (#1)
This is a live version of Lover, which is why I'm allowed to ignore it - but I couldn't have checked it out anyway because it's not available on streaming service, which at least makes it slightly interesting. And this is her tenth UK #1 album, breaking Madonna's record for most chart topping albums for a female solo artist - you can't fault the lass for her efforts or her fans for their adoration.

- Olly Alexander (#17)
Having had quite a bit to say about the previous album, all I have to say here is that there are absolutely no surprises!

- Dream Theater (#23)
This lot are heavy, aren't they? OK it's heavy-ish, but not unbearably so (prog metal, apparently) - it's not my kind of thing, but I can see it will have its fans. I didn't listen to all of it though - and certainly not the 19:32 length of the final track. Apparently they've been around since '85, so I really should know more about them than I do. 

- Block 33 (#24)
I'd never heard of them, but just from the name I'd decided I wouldn't like it. But actually, there's a lot going for this tight 80s indie sound - it's just a shame I don't like his voice.

- Sharon van Etten And The Attachment Theory (#75)
I've quite liked some of her previous stuff and this is pretty similar - like a more chilled out St Vincent

- Oklou (#83)
Another one I'd never heard of and I had no idea what to expect from the name. But I really like it - she's giving us some chilled out vibes in a Caroline Polachek kinda vein. Some nice sounds!

- Krept & Konan (#86)
This isn't my thing, but I have at lease heard of them and it's always nice to see UK rap acts in the charts as opposed to the US nonsense - it feels like it deserves higher than #86. It also feels weird that they're senior statesmen of the scene - in their mid-thirties.

- Squid (#92)
Never heard of this lot, but it's got to be indie or metal, surely? Yeah, it's art-school indie - I was reminded of Interpol and it's got some interesting sounds on it so I didn't mind it at all. A critic described it as "Pet Sounds, except all of the pets are scorpions, and tarantulas, and maybe some stick insects too" and I can see where's he's coming from.

- The Bracknall (#99)
And one more I'm ignorant of, but they've got to be from the US because no-one from here's going to name themselves after Bracknell, are they? Nope - they're from Essex and they make a kinda Oasis-like sound, but if Oasis were actually decent. I didn't mind this at all!

Last week I said that The Weeknd would hold on to the top spot, but it would depend on the new entries - he was always going to be overtaken by Taylor, but I was surprised Inhaler overhauled him as well. I suspect Inhaler won't be hanging on quite so well, but I"m not expecting them to drop out entirely - let's go for #67. And this week's Taylor stats have received a much needed boost giving her two in the top twenty, three in the top forty and seven in the entire chart.

Wikipedia tells us it's their third album and Elijah (Bono's boy) tells us that it's his way of dealing with his "quarter-live crisis" - which I have to admit made me think "oh - just fuck off". The critics were generally nice about the album though - except for MusicOMH (whoever they are). Commercially, it's done better than I was expecting getting to #8 in Belgium and The Netherlands and #1 in - go on, guess!

"Customers also listened to" Nardo Wick, The Ks, Wunderhorse and Circa Waves - somewhat surprisingly, I've seen two of those acts live. I didn't mind Inhaler - I struggle to imagine any scenario where I'd ever listen to it again but if it's introducing the kids to something new yet old then I'm happy with it. But the albums of the week for me are the somewhat surprising combination of Oklou and The Bracknall both of which are very good examples of something that can be done badly - I'd certainly check the latter out if they're playing a festival set over the summer (assuming I make it to any festivals!).

07/02/25 - Not hitting the heights he can
21/02/25 - Not bad at all