I guess you never know someone you think you know

Continuing my trip forward in time through the album charts

09/05/25 : You'll Be Alright Kid (Chapter 1) - Alex Warren 

Skipping over a new entry at #1 (mostly because it's very much not new), we come to this that I'm pleased we've caught up because it's been hanging around for some time now. I've no idea what it's going to be like though...

You know what - it's perfectly fine. It's quite Tom Grennanish in a way that I don't exactly need, but I don't object to (although it does get a bit too Jack Johnsonesque for comfort at times, which I very much do object to). I only recognised and quite liked "Carry You Home" but Isobel told me she didn't know any of it and then proceeded to sing along to most of the tracks, so I guess it's got in there with the kids. I assumed he was British but I learned that he's obviously American, Dad because he's one of the founding members of the Hype House - that's me told, eh?

We're at #9 in the chart this week on the eighteenth week of a run which has seen him slowly climbing to his highest position so far. The top five this week are Pink Floyd (a new entry), Sabrina, the Ed Sheeran live album and best-ofs from Fleetwood Mac (why?) and The Weeknd (ditto). So why didn't we listen to that new entry then?

- Pink Floyd (#1)
This is a recording of their '72 live "concert" (quotes because there was no audience) recorded in Pompeii, which has been available in film form since back then but they've gone and fancy remastered it and all that. It's fine if you like that sort of thing (and I don't mind this era Floyd, without loving it) and it's their seventh #1 album - but I can assure you it's not going to convert anyone. However, if you fancy a good laugh though (because everyone knows Floyd love a good laugh), ask Alexa for "Pink Floyd's latest album" and listen to how she pronounces it.

- Andy Bell (#14)
I wasn't expecting too much from the lead singer of Erasure - which is lucky really because it's all very Eurovisiony. Or maybe as if Years & Years's dad had decided to show he's still got it, baby - but I'm afraid he doesn't. I didn't recognise Debbie Harry's voice either.

- James (#24)
It's a good week for recordings made at historical sites, because here with James live at the Acropolis. And they've gone all orchestral as well, which I was a bit concerned about - but I'm pleased to report they've done it well. I only knew three of the (count 'em) 26 tracks but they're nicely different without being ruined and the other ones sounded decent as well - it's not going to be where anyone would start with for the band, but if you like them then I suspect you'll like this...

- Andrew Cushin (#35)
This is another male singer-songerwriter kinda thing I don't massively feel the need for, but it all feels well put together to me. It's aimed at a slightly older audience than Alex (he is 26, after all) so if you like the utter tosh that Noel Gallagher throws out then maybe check this out because it seems better to me - you really can't do worse that Noel, but I didn't mind this at all.

- Suzanne Vega (#78)
I've a lot of time for Ms Vega, so was looking forward to this. But having heard it I'm going to be nice, just say this isn't her finest work and leave it at that.

There are no particularly weird re-entries, so let's just go for the repeat offering of best-ofs from Dire Straits (#96) and Mark Knopfler (#100) - you can't help but feel if they just had the one out there then it would be doing better. Last week I said that Stereophonics would drop to #47 and I was overly optimistic because they are at #88 - I'm gonna say that Pink Floyd are a "one and done" album, even if I suspect it might just about hang in there. And this week's Taylor stats are her usual one in the top thirty and six in the entire chart, with the lowest being at #72, so she's safe for a bit yet.

Back to Alex, Wikipedia doesn't have an entry for the album which seems peculiar given that "Ordinary" spent eight weeks at #1 in the singles chart here and also got to #2 in the US. The album's done well commercially globally as well, including getting to #1 in Norway. His entry tells me he's 24, he's very big on the socials (I know all about the Hype House now) and he's  married to Kouvr Annon (who I'm sure you'll know was also in the Hype House). But I haven't learned why there's no Wikipedia entry for the album.

"Customers also listened to" Myles Smith (I'd like to catch up with him some time), Michael Sanzone, Sofia Camora and Mark Ambor - I suspect we might have some more Hype House people there, but can't be arsed checking them out. I'm pleased I caught up with Alex - I'm not sure I understand the popularity, but I feel it's not aimed at me so we can all be perfectly fine with that state of affairs. He's in with a shout for album of the week from me but I think it's a four way tie between him, Andrew, Floyd and James - none of them are exactly essential, but none of them are terrible either.

02/05/25 - Fine, if not exactly earth-shattering
16/05/25 - Mystifyingly popular

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