The Academic top Irish Album Charts on opening week

The Academic are a Westmeath-based four piece indie rock band made up of Craig Fitzgerald (Lead vocals + Guitar), Matt Murtagh (Guitar), Stephen Murtagh (Bass) and Dean Gavin (Drums).

Their LP, Tales From The Backseat, was given two thumbs up in the album review section of the new issue of Hot Press. Reviewing it, Pat Carty said: "The hooks on 'Tales From The Backseat' lodge in the brain like a hungry tick that won’t take no for an answer: the chorus of ‘Permanent Vacation’; the “Ay! Ohh!” bit in ‘Bear Claws’; the whole of ‘Why Can’t We Be Friends?’ The lyrics also resolutely stay on message, dealing with either the trials of being young (the lads can’t get into the club because they look about 12 in ‘Fake ID’), or girls (everything else). Is a song called ‘Northern Boys’ a comment on the potential return to a hard border post Brexit? Is it balls, it’s about not being afraid to love, or something.
"Overall, a triumphant pop record that even the DUP couldn’t vote against."

Elsewhere in the Charts, The Greatest Showman soundtrack sits at No. 2 for the second week, while Camila Cabello - the Cuban-American pop star behind 'Havana', (aka that-worm-you've-had-in-your-ear-these-past-few-months) - enters in at No. 3 with her debut album Camila.

Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Eminem all remain high in the top 10, while three Cranberries album enter into the top 30 following the sudden death of Dolores O'Riordan. No Need To Argue, Everybody Else and Dreams - The Collection all chart this week, as music fans across Ireland continue to reel at the death of an Irish legend.