U.K. MIDWEEKS: ELBOW GREASES TOWARD #1

Elbow is looking at landing its third straight #1 album in the U.K. as its latest, Giants of All Sizes (Polydor), is outselling its closest competition 5:1. At Singles, Harry Styles is a contender for the top slot.

Elbow’s eighth studio album looks to follow the chart-topping feat of its predecessors, 2014's The Take Off and Landing of Everything and 2017's Little Fictions. Ed Sheeran's No.6 Collaborations Project (Atlantic) sits at #2.

Among the new arrivals are Japanese kawaii metal band Babymetal whose Metal Galaxy (Absolute) sits at #6, ahead of a new Freddie Mercury solo collection, Never Boring (Virgin) at #8. Freddie's remastered debut solo album, Mr. Bad Guy (Virgin), could also return to the Top 40.

Beggars Banquet’s 40th anniversary reissues of Gary Numan’s Replicas and The Pleasure Principle sit at #10 and #11 at the midway point.

Styles’ “Lights Up” (Columbia) is currently #2 behind Tones and I’s “Dance Monkey” (Parlophone), which is eyeing a third week at the top. Punjabi/U.K. rap track “47” (Catalyst) from Steel Banglez, Mist, Stefflon Don and Sidhu Moose Wala is new at #7.

EMI’s Lewis Capaldi is on track for his fourth UK Top 10 single with “Bruises” at #8, while Sheeran could collect his 26th with “South of the Border” featuring Camila Cabello & Cardi B at #9.