So, Rihanna finally bumped Taylor Swift from the top of the US album charts, with the aptly-titled Unapologetic. Could it be that Ke$ha does the same to her Barbadian pop rival, with the release of Warrior, her second studio album?

The 25 year-old Californian has never been afraid of raising a few eyebrows and Warrior sees no change in her artistic determination. Drownedinsound.com reviewed the album describing it as “never dull, always fun and frequently a thrillingly unpredictable ride,” with All Music Guide backing up that theory, calling it a “wall-to-wall party for the freaks, burnouts, outcasts and misfits and if you don’t get it that’s your fault and not hers.” Strong words indeed and certainly a more passionate critical response than Rihanna received for Unapologetic.

Rhi-Rhi’s certainly got more celebrity pull than Ke$ha, but if the public latch on to the enthusiastic response to Warrior, could we see another upset at the top of the charts next week? Her last album, 2010’s Animal, was a US number one so we see no reason why the exuberant club queen shouldn’t be up there again this time next week.

Watch the video for Ke$ha's 'Die Young'

 

Another quirky female artist hoping to grab the attention of the US music-buying public is Paloma Faith. The British artist releases her second album, Fall To Grace, a stylistic departure from her debut and already a success in her native UK, where it reached number two. Her debut, Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful? didn’t chart in the US so this will be her first major foray into breaking her career Stateside, where she’ll soon be gigging in Denver and Minneapolis. Album number two sees a marked ambition in her songwriting, all eyes are on this unique individual to see whether America welcomes her into their arms. 

Read our review of Fall to Grace

Wiz Khalifa returns with O.N.I.F.C. – his second major release since signing with Atlantic Records. The album’s title stands for Only Nigga In First Class or, if he’s feeling polite (or rather, when the record company’s marketing department start freaking out), One Night In First Class and the release date has been stalled since mid-September so we reckon Wiz’ll be glad it’s finally hit the shops. His last release with Atlantic, back in 2011 (Rolling Papers) was a number one hit and thanks to his relationship with Amber Rose (with whom he has a baby on the way), he’s rarely out of the headlines so it could turn out to be a three-way battle for supremacy between Ke$ha, Rihanna and Wiz for that top spot when the chart results are announced.

Watch the video for The Bluff, ft, Cam'ron

 

One album that most definitely won’t be competing for number one glory is Scott Walker’s Bish Bosch. The former Walker Brothers crooner has come a long way since his crooning days in the 1960s and with Bisch Bosch, he is forging new grounds with his experimental compositions. With songtitles such as ‘SDSS1416+13B (Zercon, A Flagpole Sitter)’ it’s hardly an album to file under ‘radio friendly’ but nonetheless, the critical response to Bisch Bosch has been one of adulation. Granted, there has also been confusion and indifference, but overwhelmingly, the critical hats are tipped to Walker on this one. 

Read our interview with Scott Walker's collaborator, Alasdair Molloy