UK Chart: OMD Return + Bruno Mars Should Really Do Lines More Often

Bruno Mars should really just go slap down some cash for a giant bucket of coke and snort the shit like it's going out of style every time he throws a new record out. Because his Las Vegas arrest last Sunday for drug possession has led to his debut solo single "Just The Way You Are" topping both the U.S. and UK charts this week.

The rest of the Brit tally is a bit quiet, with minor blips coming in from Enrique Iglesias and Nicole Scherzinger's "Heartbeat" (#13), Glee Season 2 star Charice's "Pyramid" (#17), Mark Ronson & The Business Intl's "The Bike Song" (#21) and The Saturdays' "Higher" (#22).

Over on the UK album chart, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark return after 14 years with History Of Modern (peek at my snazzy non-review), which enters at #28. The synth band's last studio album Universal hit #24 back in 1996, while the compilation The OMD Singles peaked at #16 in 1998.

The U.K. Top 10:

1. "Just The Way You Are" - Bruno Mars *new* *1 week*
2. "Dynamite" - Taio Cruz
3. "Teenage Dream" - Katy Perry
4. "For The First Time" - The Script
5. "Start Without You" - Alexandra Burke
6. "Love The Way You Lie" - Eminem feat. Rihanna
7. "Focus" - Emma's Imagination *new*
8. "Katy On A Mission" - Katy B
9. "Impossible" - Shontelle
10. "I'm In Love (I Wanna Do It)" - Alex Gaudino *new*

The New OMD Album 'History Of Modern' Is Pretty Good

I recently reviewed History Of Modern, the new Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark album—their first in 14 years—for an upcoming issue of Instinct. It's not mindblowing right off the bat, but it's a definitely a grower if given the chance. The LP, with its cover designed by Factory Records alum Peter Saville, is out in the States on September 28 via Warner Bros. imprint Bright Antenna.

My friend Becky is going to be so excited—in addition to Pet Shop Boys' "Domino Dancing," we used to request "Dreaming" at all our junior high dances. Now that singer Andy McCluskey has gotten managing hooker troupes like Atomic Kitten out of his system and made nice with Paul Humphreys again, they re-teamed with their "Souvenir"/"Joan Of Arc"-era band members (smart move).

To paraphrase a line from my writeup, tracks like “Green,” “The Right Side?” and the aptly-titled “The Future, The Past And Forever After,” will have you hoping OMD doesn’t take another decade+ off. (The latter sound tres 1990-era PSB, BTW).

Here's the music video for new jam "If You Want It":



Incidentally, while the band's first greatest hits (1988) and 1991 album Sugar Tax were staples of my mid-teen years, their '98 collection The OMD Singles has been steadily rocking my stereo for the past decade.