U.K. MIDWEEKS: RETURN OF THE LIBERTINES

The Libertines are heading for their first U.K. Official Albums #1 in 20 years, and a whopping seven other new releases occupy the midweek Top 10. Over on singles, Benson Boone, Beyoncé and Hozier are battling for the top spot.

All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade (EMI), The Libertines’ fourth set, could become their first #1 album since 2004.

The debut by indie rock band The K’s, I Wonder If the World Knows? (LAB), could hit #2 on Friday. Conan Gray’s Found Heaven (Island) is also new, at #3. Feeder could score an 11th Top 10 album; Black / Red (Big Teeth Music) sits at #4. The Black Keys’ Ohio Players (Nonesuch Records) is #6.

J. Cole’s Might Delete Later (Interscope) is #7, while Khruangbin’s A LA SALA (Dead Oceans) starts at #8 and Vampire Weekend’s Only God Was Above Us (Columbia) is #9.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, Boone’s “Beautiful Things” (Warner Records) is fixin' to return to #1, though “TEXAS HOLD 'EM” (Columbia/Parkwood), by Beyoncé, and “Too Sweet” (Island), by Hozier, are both less than 1k in chart sales behind, at #2 and #3, respectively.

Artemas’ “i like the way you kiss me” (Parlophone) is up one to #5, while “Austin” (Warner Records), by Dasha, is expected to rise seven to #8. “Alibi” (Atlantic), by Ella Henderson and Rudimental, is up to #9 from #14 thanks to a new remix featuring Natasha Bedingfield.