Down the Way – Sounds of Oz

Posted on 09/08/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Bliss N Eso Top ARIA Albums Chart

Many acts have tried, but local hip hop act Bliss N Eso have ended Eminem’s six-week reign at the top of the ARIA Albums Charts. The band’s fourth studio album Running on Air is their first to achieve the top spot. Congrats to them!

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 23: Jonathan Notley, Max MacKinnon, and Tarik Ejjamai of Australian hip hop group Bliss n Eso arrive for the APRA Music Awards (Australasian Performing Right Association) at the Peninsula Shed on June 23, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Lucas Dawson/Getty Images)

It’s been a great week for Aussie albums. Washington is enjoying her first top 10 record, with I Believe You Liar taking out the third possie. She’s just ahead of Birds of Tokyo, who have fallen two positions to sit at number 4 with their self-titled album. Kylie Minogue has also dropped this week. Her album Aphrodite now sits at number 7, down three places. Rounding out the top 10 is Angus & Julia Stone with their unstoppable sophomore effort Down the Way.

Eminem has retained the top spot on the singles chart though. “Love the Way You Lie,” featuring Barbados beauty Rihanna has now held the top spot for four weeks. A few Aussie acts including Michael Paynter, Birds of Tokyo, and Yolanda Be Cool & Dcup are hovering in the top 30 though, so hopefully it won’t be too long before we see some local talent in the top 10.

Click below for this week’s top 10 charts!

Continue reading “Bliss N Eso Top ARIA Albums Chart” →

Posted on 09/06/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Angus & Julia Stone Outsell the Rest with “Down the Way”

We all knew Angus & Julia Stone’s latest album Down the Way was selling truckloads, but what you might not realise is that the album is this year’s highest selling local release.

The disc has notched up platinum sales since it debuted at number one in March, a position it held for two consecutive weeks. Several months after its release, it’s just reentered the top ten.

With the duo such hot property at the moment, it’s no wonder that extra shows have been added to their upcoming tour. Here’s the revised schedule; if you still haven’t organized your tickets I suggest doing so ASAP!

18 August 2010 – Moncreif Theatre, Bundaberg
19 August 2010 – Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton
20 August 2010 – Andergrove Tavern, Mackay
21 August 2010 – Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville
22 August 2010 – Botanic Gardens, Cairns
25 August 2010 – Civic Theatre, Newcastle
26 August 2010 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (SOLD OUT)
27 August 2010 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (NEW SHOW)
1 September 2010 – Llewellyn Hall ANU, Canberra
2 September 2010 – University Hall, Wollongong
3 September 2010 – Grandstand Hall @ Showgrounds, Hobart
4 September 2010 – The Saloon, Launceston
8 September 2010 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne (NEW SHOW)
9 September 2010 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
10 September 2010 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
11 September 2010 – Town Hall, Meeniyan (SOLD OUT)
12 September 2010 – Town Hall, Meeniyan (SOLD OUT)
17 September 2010 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
18 September 2010 – Fremantle Arts Centre, Perth
24 September 2010 – Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane (NEW SHOW)
25 September 2010 – Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane (SOLD OUT)
26 September 2010 – Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane (SOLD OUT)

Image used with permission from Original Matters

Posted on 29/04/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Angus & Julia Stone Announce Massive Aussie Tour

Following the release of their number one album Down The Way, Angus & Julia Stone will embark on their biggest Australian tour later this year.

The disc isn’t just doing big business at home. It came in at number 19 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart in America, and reached number 40 in France. The duo recently sold out dates around the United Kingdom, and they’re about to play Europe, including a slot at The Great Escape, and a handful of dates in North America.

Angus & Julia Stone will return home to play Splendour in the Grass in July, followed by their national tour through August/September.

Tickets go on sale from May 7. Fans can purchase theirs with the new single “Big Jet Plane” for a discounted package price. The single includes three previously unreleased tracks: “Living on a Radio,” “My Malakai,” and the unexpected cover of “You’re the One That I Want.”

Angus & Julia Stone will play the following intimate shows around the country.

Image used with permission from Original Matters

Posted on 20/04/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Brian McFadden Tops Singles Charts

Just as I was bemoaning the lack of Aussie talent on the singles chart comes the number one debut of Brian McFadden’s newie “Just Say So.” I know he was born in Ireland and all that, but now that he’s living here and marrying our Delta we’ve adopted him right? At any rate, Brian’s new tune is the only local release in the top 30, so I think it’s something to be celebrated.

Maria Sharapova Open's TAG Heuer Melbourne

While the Aussies have finally bowed to the pressure of Lady Gaga’s Fame Monster, they still have a strong presence in the album charts. John Butler Trio is breathing down Gaga’s neck with April Uprising, which holds steady at number two this week. Gyroscope enjoyed a great first week with Cohesion, which comes in at number three. And after five weeks on the charts, Angus & Julia Stone are still going strong with Down the Way, which sits at number 8.

Click below to see all the ARIA chart action!

Continue reading “Brian McFadden Tops Singles Charts” →

Posted on 05/04/2010 by Lauren Katulka

John Butler Trio Take ARIA Album Top Spot

The brand new week sees another Aussie act sitting on top of the ARIA album charts. John Butler Trio have ended the reign of Angus & Julie Stone with the release of their new album April Uprising.

Angus & Julie Stone haven’t slipped too far though. Their latest album Down the Way is in third position, just below Lady Gaga’s The Fame Monster.

It’s disappointing to see that there’s still no local talent in the top 10 singles charts though. With Gabriella Cilmi’s single “On a Mission” slipping three places to 19th spot this week, that’s not likely to change any time soon!

Click below to see this week’s chart action!

Continue reading “John Butler Trio Take ARIA Album Top Spot” →

Posted on 01/04/201001/04/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Angus & Julia Stone Go Gold with Number One album

Did you notice that Angus & Julia Stone are still sitting pretty at the top of the ARIA charts? Their latest album Down the Way has retained the number one position for the second week, and achieved gold status to boot. The album has already sold more than 40, 000 units, and counting!

The siblings will wrap up their current Australian tour at this weekend’s Bluesfest. From there it’s off to the United Kingdom, Europe, and North America for tours to support the album’s international release. Many shows have already sold out, so if you’re abroad I’d pick up your tickets soon!

10 April 2010 – Schouwburg Motel Mozaique, Rotterdam
12 April 2010 – Duke of York’s Picture House, Brighton (SOLD OUT)
14 April 2010 – Pavilion, Falmouth (SOLD OUT)
15 April 2010 – Cooler, Bristol (SOLD OUT)
16 April 2010 – Brudenell, Leeds
17 April 2010 – King Tuts, Glasgow
18 April 2010 – Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh
20 April 2010 – Glee Club, Birmingham
21 April 2010 – Ruby Lounge, Manchester
22 April 2010 – Shepherds Bush Empire, London
26 April 2010 – Gebäude 9, Cologne
27 April 2010 – Atomic Cafe, Munich (SOLD OUT)
28 April 2010 – Lido, Berlin
29 April 2010 – Molotow, Hamburg (SOLD OUT)
30 April 2010 – Vega, Copenhagen
2 May 2010 – Debaser, Stockholm
3 May 2010 – John Dee, Oslo
5 May 2010 – Paradiso, Amsterdam
6 May 2010 – Oosterpoort, Groningen
7 May 2010 – Café de la Danse, Paris
26 May 2010 – Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Hollywood
30 May 2010 – L’Astral, Montreal
2 June 2010 – Revival, Toronto
8 June 2010 – Union Hall, Brooklyn

Posted on 11/03/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Down the Way – Angus & Julia Stone

One of the best things about writing this blog is the music I have access to. Angus & Julia Stone’s sophomore effort Down the Way hits stores tomorrow, but I’ve already had a week or so to let this beautiful music wash over me.

Beautiful is the word that I keep coming back to with this album. It truly is a thing of beauty, whether the tracks are delicate and unadorned or lush tapestries of sound. Down the Way has both kinds of songs and they help to support one another, taking us on a journey that’s been two years in the making.

It’s an easy journey, relaxed and comforting. The songs are gentle but passionate, obviously crafted with love. They sneak up on you too, easing underneath your skin with every listen. There are no obvious singles, although the gorgeous “And The Boys” has been selected as the album’s first. That’s a strength though; rather than an album mixed with show ponies and fillers we have a record that’s a truly cohesive body of work. That’s surprising considering songs were recorded everywhere from Cornwall to Coolangatta, but it’s a credit to the band.

“For You” is my favourite song at the moment, although with an album like this that’s always subject to change. Right now though, the understated piano and deeply emotive lyrics are striking a chord. “Black Crow” feels like it could have been written thirty years earlier, with Angus’ easy folk voice and its mellow grooves. “Draw Your Swords” is an epic number, and I can’t imagine a more perfect conclusion than the gorgeous “The Devil’s Tears.”

Down The Way is the ideal soundtrack for lazy Sundays and quiet nights in. It will hit Australian record stores tomorrow ahead of the UK and European release on March 15 and the North American release on March 30.