U.K. MIDWEEKS: A PRICKLY BUNCH VIES FOR #1

A tight three-way race for #1 is brewing on the U.K. Official Albums Chart, with Porcupine Tree in the lead over Harry Styles and Drake. It’s a two-way race at singles between LF System’s summery dance hit and Kate Bush’s 1985 classic.

Porcupine Tree’s Closure/Continuation (Music for Nations) is not only vying to be the band’s first #1, it will be their first entry in the Official Albums Chart Top 10. Styles’ Harry’s House (Columbia), at #2, and Drake’s Honestly, Nevermind (OVO/Republic), at #3, have enjoyed strong physical sales as well as superb streaming numbers.

Elsewhere in the Top 10, Chris Brown’s Breezy (RCA) is eyeing #6, Luke Combs’ Growin’ Up (River House/Columbia) is one slot behind him, Conan Gray’s second studio album, Superache (Island), comes in at #8 and Eric Clapton’s Nothing But the Blues (Rhino), a collection of 17 previously unreleased live performances from 1994, occupies #10.

A lot could change by Friday, of course, as the charts mirror the impact of performers at the Glastonbury Festival over the weekend. Look for leaps by Billie Eilish, Sam Fender, Wet Leg, Paul McCartney, Kendrick Lamar, Diana Ross and others.

At singles, LF System’s “Afraid to Feel” (Warner) is challenging Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” (Fish People), which has held the top slot the last two weeks.

Beyoncé’s comeback smash “BREAK MY SOUL” (Columbia) is up 17 places to #4, Drake’s “Massive” is up two to a new peak of #6 and Joji’s “Glimpse of Us” (88rising/Warner) peeks in at #11 after climbing three slots.

Charlie Puth & Jungkook’s “Left and Right” (Atlantic) is currently #14 and most likely this week’s highest new entry. Taylor Swift’s new one, “Carolina” (Polydor), is on pace to enter at #17.