REM's Accelerate races to the top

REM will play in London, Cardiff, Manchester and Southampton this year

REM's first album for four years has shot to the top of the UK chart.

Accelerate replaced Duffy's Rockferry at number one in the album chart. It is their first studio album since 2004's Around The Sun.

Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and Mike Mills recently announced a stadium tour of England and Wales in August.

Estelle, who stays on top of the singles chart with American Boy, saw her album Shine become the second highest new entry, at number six.

TOP FIVE ALBUMS 1) Accelerate - REM 2) Rockferry - Duffy 3) Spirit - Leona Lewis 4) All The Right Reasons - Nickelback 5) Dreaming Out Loud - Onerepublic

James Blunt returned to the top 10 albums with All The Lost Souls rising 10 places to number eight, while Michael Jackson's Thriller 25 compilation rose five places to number nine.

Gnarls Barkley's The Odd Couple was the only other new entry in the top 20, making its debut at number 19.

TOP FIVE SINGLES 1) American Boy - Estelle ft Kanye West 2) Low - Flo Rida ft T-Pain 3) Always Where I Need To Be - Kooks 4) Black & Gold - Sam Sparro 5) Mercy - Duffy Source: Official UK Charts Company

Mariah Carey's Touch My Body was another new entry, at number six.

The same track became her 18th US number one last week, meaning she has now had more American chart-toppers than any other act except the Beatles.

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