Blur and Ghost are currently going head-to-head in the battle for this week’s UK Number One album.
READ MORE: Director of Blur’s new film To The End: “This is about friendship and brotherhood”
Both bands released live records last Friday (July 26). Damon Albarn and co’s ‘Blur: Live At Wembley Stadium’ precedes the Britpop group’s upcoming concert film of the same name, with Ghost’s ‘Rite Here Rite Now’ serving as the soundtrack to the Swedish metal outfit’s recent movie.
According to the latest Official Charts update, Blur are ahead in the race to the top spot. Should they achieve the feat, it will mark their eighth UK Number One album; ‘The
Ballad Of Darren’ (2023), ‘The Magic Whip’ (2015), ‘Parklife’ (1994), ‘The Great Escape’ (1995), ‘Blur’ (1997), ’13’ (1999) and ‘Think Tank’ (2003) all topped the chart previously.
It is expected that Ghost will land at Number Two – giving them their fourth UK top 10 album following ‘Prequelle’ (2018), ‘Impera’ (2022) and ‘Phantomime’ (2023).
The rest of the top five is currently occupied Eminem‘s ‘The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)’ (Number Three), Taylor Swift‘s ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ (Number Four) and Sam Tompkins’ ‘Hi, My Name Is Insecure’ (Number Five).
The latter would earn the Eastbourne singer-songwriter his first UK top five entry.
This week’s official UK albums chart will be announced at 5:45pm BST on Friday (August 2) – you’ll be able to see it here.
The Blur: Live At Wembley Stadium concert film is set to be released in UK and Irish cinemas on September 6 – you can find ticket information here. The project was directed by Toby L, who also helmed the new Blur documentary To The End.
An official synopsis reads: “Blur: Live At Wembley Stadium, the new cinematic two-hour concert film immortalising the band’s historic 2023 show which saw Blur perform their iconic and much-loved songs for 150,000 fans across a transcendent, once-in-a-generation performance weekend that delivered a sweep of ecstatic 5 star reviews.
“Directed by Toby L, Blur: Live At Wembley Stadium captures the band in full flight at the biggest show of their career, featuring electrifying performances of hits from across their celebrated songbook, including tracks from 2023’s acclaimed, chart-topping album ‘The Ballad Of Darren’.”
In a five-star review of Blur’s first Wembley concert, NME wrote: “This two-hour performance shows that Blur have soundtracked the audience’s lives with real emotional impact.”
NME recently spoke to director and Transgressive Records founder Toby L about the To The End documentary, which he said captures Blur’s “friendship dynamics and brotherhood”.
Recalling how he got involved with the group’s comeback, L explained: “[…] I said to Damon, ‘If you want anyone to film and capture the concert then I would love to throw my hat in the ring’.
“I wrote a treatment in any event for if we could document what was to be this album-in-secret up to the Wembley show. As I got deeper, I realised it wasn’t just about a reunion – I realised it was about friendship, maturing, reconciliation and some splashes of mortality!”
Blur perform live at Wembley Stadium. CREDIT: Tom Pallant
NME gave To The End a full five stars, calling the film a “spiritual sequel” to 2010’s No Distance Left To Run that “shows a band simply supporting each other”. It added: “Whether they return again or not remains to be seen. But even if they don’t, this was one hell of a final fling.”
Last month Ghost spoke to NME about ‘Rite Here Rite Now’, and how they combined the band’s extensive lore with a more typical concert film. The movie was recently given a global online premiere, ahead of two new animated music videos being released.
NME gave Rite Here Right Now a four-star rating, writing: “If you’re a casual fan, Rite Here Rite Now makes for a fun, enjoyable experience that should tide you over until their next album or tour. But if you’re a die-hard, this is essential viewing – not just for its exhilarating live moments, but for the next part of the gripping Ghost saga.”
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