Kanye West, sorry, Ye has released the extended edition of his tenth studio album Donda, treating listeners to two hours and eleven minutes of an album that was initially already an hour and forty-eight minutes. Apparently, he had more to say.
Donda (Deluxe) finds the official release of “Life of the Party”, which was leaked by Drake in the midst of their Donda vs Certified Lover Boy back and forth. The original was supposedly removed from the initial album release due to Andre 3000’s explicit verse. Still, none of the songs on the album are marked as being explicit.
There’s also a slate of new tracks, including “Up From the Ashes,” “Never Abandon Your Family,” “Remote Control 2” with Young Thug, and a new feature from Kid Cudi that didn’t make it onto the original for one reason or another.
West tacked on part two renditions of “Ok Ok,” “Junya,” “Jail,” and “Keep My Spirit Alive” to the end of the tracklist as well.
“Life of the Party” is now the only Donda track with a credited feature in its title — the rest of the album’s appearances are a guessing game, or a round of roulette, depending on how you think of it. Have fun.
London four piece Keo are on course to land their first UK Number 1 album with Put A Smile On For Me. After building a loyal audience over the past two years, the London band now lead this week’s Official Albums Chart update. Their debut record explores love, guilt, and self destruction.
Nothing But Thieves are close behind at Number 2 with their fifth album, Stray Dogs. The Southend band are hoping for a second straight Number 1 after Dead Club City reached the top in 2023. Taylor Swift is at Number 3 with The Life Of A Showgirl, helped by the expanded The Encore edition. Olivia Rodrigo’s You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In sits at Number 4, while Soft Cell’s Danceteria opens at Number 5. It is the synth pop duo’s final album together following Dave Ball’s death last year.
Europe could reach Number 9 with Come This Madness, giving the Swedish rock band its first UK Top 10 album in four decades. A 30th anniversary reissue of Alice In Chains’ MTV Unplugged is at Number 13 in the midweek update, with Orbital’s Glastonbury 1994 set at Number 14. Julia Jacklin is heading for her first Top 40 album as The Gem reaches Number 18, while Suede’s Coming Up returns at Number 23 after its 30th anniversary physical release.
Also on track for Top 40 places are Nessa Barrett’s Tough Love at Number 29, the companion soundtrack to LINKIN PARK: UNSHATTER at Number 30, and Dublin band Gurriers’ Nobody’s Coming To Save You at Number 31. Blondshell, Kneecap, Tina Turner, and Leon Bridges also appear in the lower half of the midweek chart.
The official positions will be announced when the final Albums Chart is published on Friday.