Mad one duit, a tharla aréir

Continuing my trip forward in time through the album charts

08/05/26 : Fenian - Kneecap 

Our second visit with Kneecap and I'm expecting this to be the same load of chaotic nonsense as we had last time.

Yeah - that's pretty much where we are. I'm still unnecessarily confused by use of two languages, but there's enough English there to make it understandable enough on at least some of the tracks. There's a lot to be impressed about it, certainly the composition of the tracks and the speed of delivery (when they decide to go for it) but I can't say I found it loveable - it's just a bit of a mess really. However, I did like "Irish Farewell" with Kae Tempest - it's all very well done with a powerful message. I'd also say that if you've not seen the film it's well worth your time checking it out.

We're at #2 in the charts this week with a new entry with the rest of the top five being a Michael Jackson best-of (shame!), Melanie C (another new entry), Noah Kahan and Olivia Dean. So what are the lovely Mel and the other new entries like this week? (spoiler alert - it's not a week for shy retiring ladies)

Melanie C (#3)
Hmmm - I like a bit of Mel, but here she's trying to do a Kylie and go all disco. She doesn't do a bad job, but it all got a bit too much for me in the end. 

Kacey Musgraves (#7)
I also like a bit of Kacey and this feels to have got her back on track after the wishywashyness of Deeper Well - it's got some decent lyrics set against country-but-not-too-country music. The lyrics are, as usual, very frank - the girl has had issues with the men in her life, but she's also happy to accept some of the blame is on her. I enjoyed this a lot.

Tori Amos (#13)
And a hat-trick of ladies who don't take no shit is completed by Tori delivering her usual musically complex nonsense. And I mean that in the nicest possibly way - I liked this. 

Asake (#27)
This really isn't my thing but it sounds well done, so if you like Afro-rap then I'm sure there's something here to interest you.

Billie Eilish (#29)
I didn't listen to this because it's the live album for her tour which I was lucky enough to get to see - I'm sure this is good, but I suspect it's better experienced as part of the documentary/concert film which is out now.

Black Keys (#33)
Another "not my thing but done well" album - I'm sure those of you that like this sort of thing have already listened to it. 

The highest re-entry is, for deluxe reasons, Zara Larsson (#36) - there are a few more, but nothing of any interest. Last week, I said that Noah would hang on to the #1 spot and I am surprised how wrong I was - I guess I can understand Michael beating him, but I'm surprised Kneecap and Melanie also managed it. It's hard to say where Kneecap will end up - I think there will be just enough interest to keep them in the chart, so let's guess #85. And this week's Taylor stats are one in the top forty (just) and three in the entire chart - Folklore is a re-entry at #97.

Wikipedia has a reasonable amount on the album, but most of it is about the slight spot of bother they found themselves in around various Israel/Palestine pronouncements they made and how this is intended to draw a line under it and focus more on Irish related business. Critically, it was well received, although some people stated their humour could be "annoying or immature" - say it ain't so! Commercially, it got to #1 in Ireland - no-one expected that now, did they? It also managed #7 in Australia, #27 in New Zealand and #39 in The Netherlands (huh?).

discogs.com tells us you can pick up a CD for £12 but if you want the red and black coloured vinyl it's going to set you back £100 - very revolutionary of them, I'm sure. All the albums this week seemed well done if that's what you were looking for, but my tolerance for them varied wildly depending upon the genre. Kacey gets the album of the week for me because it's nice to see her back doing what she does best, but Tori's offering was also pretty decent and feels like it would benefit from multiple listens.

01/04/26 - A decent album hiding a good one


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