Dropping unannounced on August 31, Eminem’s 10th album Kamikaze immediately topped the iTunes rankings in 69 countries later that day, and remains at the apex in 33 countries a week on, while making its first appearance in official chart tabulations.
Despite being initially unavailable in physical form, the album debuts at No.1 in Flanders, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and The UK, at No.3 in Wallonia and at No.4 in Germany. It is likely to add significantly to that tally in the next week and, with CDs being made available from September 7, it will hold up much better elsewhere.
Ariana Grande’s fourth album, Sweetener, debuted at No.1 in nine territories a fortnight ago, and a further 10 last week. It remains at No.1 only in The Czech Republic and Spain, falling from the summit to No.2 in Australia, Finland, Italy, Norway and Slovakia, No.3 in Ireland, No.4 in Canada, Switzerland and The USA and 1-5 in Poland.
Its replacement atop the charts in Canada and The USA is K-pop act BTS’ third album in less than a year, Love Yourself: Answer. The album, whose entry position to 10 other charts was covered here last week, is now in retreat in all of them except (natch) their South Korean homeland, where it remains at No.1. As well as making a big impact in North America, the album also secures new debuts at No.2 in Japan, No.6 in Finland, No.8 in Denmark, No.9 in Australia, No.14 in Austria, No.19 in Switzerland, No.27 in Hungary, No.29 in Spain and No.49 in France.
A brace of Brighton acts unleashed new albums last week, and both are showing up internationally: Runaway is singer/songwriter Mike Rosenberg’s ninth album as Passenger, and debuts at No.6 in The UK, No.11 in Flanders, No.15 in Germany, No.17 in Ireland, No.22 in New Zealand, No.47 in Wallonia and No.57 in Sweden; Meanwhile the Sussex city’s indie darlings The Kooks have served up their fifth album, Let’s Go Sunshine, which instantly earns debuts at No.9 in The UK, No.27 in Flanders, No.41 in Germany, No.50 in Ireland and No.117 in Wallonia.
Bristol post-punk band Idles impressed many but charted nowhere last year with their incendiary debut Brutalism, but follow-up Joy As An Act Of Resistance is off to a flier in The UK, where it opens at No.5. It also charts in Flanders (No.20), Germany (No.49), Ireland (No.56) and Wallonia (No.81).
Pink Floyd’s perennial drummer Nick Mason – the only member of the band to be on every one of their albums – released solo album Fictitious Sports in 1981 and Rick Fenn collaborations Profiles and Body Contact in 1985 and 1987, respectively. Not the most commercial selection – the first album is a jazz set sung by Robert Wyatt, the second almost entirely instrumental and the third a soundtrack – they have been gathered together as Unattended Luggage, under which title they fall short of the published chart in the UK, at No.94, while debuting at a lofty No.10 in Italy, No.33 in Germany, No.54 in Wallonia and No.93 in Flanders.
Finally, the absence of any chart placings from The Netherlands this week is because the Dutch chart, which usually materialises on Friday afternoon, has been delayed.
