Coldplay straight in at #1 on Irish Album Chart

It's not all doom and gloom for Chris Martin as Ghost Stories, Coldplay's brooding new album, storms to the top of Irish Album Chart mountain, taking this week's #1 spot at the first time of asking.

Ghost Stories has been described as a "break-up album" by many, coming as it does in the wake of Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow's "conscious uncoupling". Melancholic and wistful, it's also proving quite divisive among both critics and fans. Check out Craig Fitzpatrick's take here.

Meanwhile, the ever-electric Imelda May retains second place this week with the arresting Tribal. Look out for an in-depth interview with Ms May in a forthcoming issue of Hot Press...

Elsewhere, Mick Flannery's By The Rule relinquishes the top spot and drops to third place, while One Direction climb to #4 with Midnight Memories and Paolo Nutini holds firm in fifth with Caustic Love.

Michael Jackson, Black Keys, Oasis, Kodaline and REM round off the top 10. The full chart can be viewed at [link]www.irma.ie/aucharts.asp[/link]