Human Nature Earn First Number One in 10 Years

I’m properly chuffed to see Human Nature sitting at the top of the albums charts with their latest release, Gimme Some Lovin’: Jukebox Vol. II. This is the first time Human Nature have had a number one album in 10 years. It couldn’t happen to better blokes.

Human Nature’s efforts have kept Flume from the top spot. Skin has jumped 13 spots after Flume’s recent performance at Splendour.

That’s pushed last week’s number two, Wildflower by The Avalanches, down one spot to number three. Wings of the Wild, Delta Goodrem’s latest release, has also fallen one spot to land at number five.

Ripcord is showing real staying power. Keith Urban’s latest album hasn’t left the top 10 since it debuted at number one in May. It’s also rising again, jumping from 10 to seven this week.

Meanwhile on the singles charts, Illy’s track “Papercuts,” featuring Vera Blue, has risen from number eight to number two. Will it topple Major Lazer’s star-studded single “Cold Water” next week?

The Veronicas are also continuing to chart with “In My Blood.” It’s at number eight this week.

Here are this week’s top 10s.

Top 10 Albums
1. Gimme Some Lovin’: Jukebox Vol. II – Human Nature
2. Skin – Flume
3. Wildflower – The Avalanches
4. 25 – Adele
5. Wings of the Wild – Delta Goodrem
6. Lemonade – Beyonce
7. Ripcord – Keith Urban
8. Periphery III – Select Difficulty – Periphery
9. The Getaway – Red Hot Chilli Peppers
10. California – Blink-182

Top 10 Singles
1. “Cold Water” – Major Lazer feat. Justin Bieber and MO
2. “Closer” – The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey
3. “This is What You Came For” – Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna
4. “One Dance” – Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla
5. “Treat You Better” – Shawn Mendes
6. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” – Justin Timberlake
7. “Too Good” – Drake featuring Rihanna
8. “In My Blood” – The Veronicas
9. “Don’t Be So Shy” – Imany
10. “Alarm” – Anne Marie

Temper Trap Score Second Aussie Number One Album

With the passing of another week we’ve got a brand new Aussie act on top of the ARIA charts. Thick as Thieves, the new album from The Temper Trap, sees the band scoring back to back number LPs.

The ARIA charts might state Jimmy BarnesSoul Searchin’ has slipped number three, but it’s worth noting that’s only because the charts consider digital sales. If you’re as old school as me, you might be interested to know Jimmy’s still selling more CDs than anyone else in the country.

Previous number ones Skin by Flume and Ripcord by Keith Urban are at numbers six and seven respectively. Flume’s “Say It” is also the lone Aussie single in the top 10 this week. It’s at number eight.

Here are all this week’s number ones.

Top 10 Albums
1. Thick as Thieves – The Temper Trap
2. 25 – Adele
3. Soul Searchin’ – Jimmy Barnes
4. Lemonade – Beyonce
5. Thank You – Meghan Trainor
6. Skin – Flume
7. Ripcord – Keith Urban
8. Views – Drake
9. Strange Little Birds – Garbage
10. Greatest Hits – Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Top 10 Singles
1. “One Dance” – Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla
2. “This is What You Came For” – Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna
3. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” – Justin Timberlake
4. “Me Too” – Meghan Trainor
5. “Too Good” – Drake featuring Rihanna
6. “Just Like Fire” – Pink!
7. “Don’t Let Me Down” – The Chainsmokers feat. Daya
8. “Say It” – Flume feat. Tove Lo
9. “Panda” – Desiigner
10. “Cake By the Ocean” – DNCE

Jimmy Barnes Equals ARIA Record With New Soul Number One

In a weekend plagued by bad news, it’s great to see something good occurred: Jimmy Barnes earned his eleventh solo number one on the ARIA charts, with Soul Searchin’ hitting the top spot on debut. That draws Barnesy level with U2 and Madonna for the most solo number ones in ARIA charts history. This video gives you a little idea why this album is sitting at the top of the charts.

“I feel blessed to be making music after such a long time in the business and equally I feel privileged that people are still buying our records and coming to the shows – it’s very humbling,” Jimmy said on hearing the news. “As for another #1, it’s an absolute honour to be counted amongst such iconic bands and great artists.”

Soul Searchin’ has pushed last week’s number one, Skin by Flume, into the number two spot. He’s also fallen a little on the singles charts. “Say It” has dropped one to sit at number six. Keith Urban’s Ripcord has also slipped one spot, to number six.

Some Aussie acts are on the rise though. Classic Carpenters by Dami Im is back in the top 10, rising from 11th position to sit at number nine. The Wolfe Brothers round out the top 10 with This Crazy Life.

Here are this week’s complete top tens.

Top 10 Albums
1. Soul Searchin’ – Jimmy Barnes
2. Skin – Flume 
3. Thank You – Meghan Trainor
4. 25 – Adele
5. Lemonade – Beyonce
6. Ripcord – Keith Urban
7. Views – Drake
8. The Very Best of – Prince
9. Classic Carpenters – Dami Im
10. This Crazy Life – The Wolfe Brothers

Top 10 Singles
1. “This is What You Came For” – Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna
2. “One Dance” – Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla
3. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” – Justin Timberlake
4. “Just Like Fire” – Pink!
5. “Me Too” – Meghan Trainor
6. “Say It” – Flume feat. Tove Lo
7. “Don’t Let Me Down” – The Chainsmokers feat. Daya
8. “Cake By the Ocean” – DNCE
9. “Panda” – Desiigner
10. “No Money” – Galantis

Flume Scores Third Number One Album

Flume continues to dominate the albums charts, debuting at number one on the ARIA charts with his new album Skin. It features three top 30 singles and counting, “Never Be Like You,” “Smoke & Retribution,” and “Say It,” which currently sits at number five. This album follows Atlas and Bloom, which also topped the charts.

Keith Urban’s Ripcord has fallen two positions but still sits at a credible fifth spot on the albums chart this week. No doubt we’ll see it rise again when Keith hits our shores later this year.

Here are the other singles and albums in the Aussie top ten.

Top 10 Albums
1. SkinFlume
2. All Our Gods Have Abandoned UsArchitects
3. LemonadeBeyonce
4.  25Adele
5. RipcordKeith Urban
6. The RideCatfish and the Bottlemen
7. Thank YouMeghan Trainor
8. 7/27 – Fifth Harmony
9. Dangerous WomanAriana Grande
10. Views – Drake

Top 10 Singles
1. “This is What You Came For” – Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna
2. “One Dance” – Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla
3. “Just Like Fire” – Pink!
4. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” – Justin Timberlake
5. “Say It” – Flume feat. Tove Lo
6. “Cake By the Ocean” – DNCE
7. “Don’t Let Me Down” – The Chainsmokers feat. Daya
8. “Panda” – Desiigner
9. “Me Too” – Meghan Trainor
10. “No Money” – Galantis

Keith Urban Still on Top of ARIA Charts

After a couple of weeks out of the country, I’m thrilled to return to see an Aussie act on top of the album charts. Keith Urban’s album Ripcord has notched up its second week at the top of the charts, which no doubt bodes well for his upcoming Aussie tour.

The Living End and Paul Dempsey have made respective debuts, with Shift and Strange Loop sitting at numbers four and five respectively. Both are long awaited albums coming five and seven years after their last recordings.

Dami Im’s Eurovision appearance has done her no harm on the charts. “Sound of Silence” sits at number five on the singles charts while her album of Carpenters’ covers is at number ten.

Flume’s collaboration with Tove Lo is also paying dividends. “Say It” sits at number nine this week.

Here are all this week’s top tens.

Top 10 Albums
1. RipcordKeith Urban
2. LemonadeBeyonce
3. Thank YouMeghan Trainor 
4. ShiftThe Living End
5. Strange LoopPaul Dempsey
6. A Moon Shaped PoolRadiohead
7. 25Adele
8. Views – Drake
9. Eurovision Song Contest Stockholm 2016 – Various
10. Classic CarpentersDami Im

Top 10 Singles
1. “One Dance” – Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla
2. “This is What You Came For” – Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna
3. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” – Justin Timberlake
4. “Don’t Let Me Down” – The Chainsmokers feat. Daya
5. “Sound of Silence” – Dami Im
6. “No Money” – Galantis
7. “Just Like Fire” – Pink!
8. “I Hate U, I Love U” – Gnash feat. Olivia O’Brien
9. “Say It” – Flume feat. Tove Lo
10. “Panda” – Desiigner

Matt Corby Tops Albums Charts

Matt Corby fans have sent his long awaited debut album Telluric to the top of the ARIA charts this week. It’s his best chart result to date, after “Brother” peaked at number three and “Resolution” got to number five.

The Molly soundtrack is proving to have more staying power than most. It’s at number three this week, 16 weeks after its release. It’s also gone platinum.

Hilltop Hoods are also lingering in the charts, with Drinking From The Sun, Walking Under Stars Restrung sitting at number five this week. The Adelaide hip hop act is also making their presence felt on the singles chart. “1955,” a track recorded with Montaigne and Tom Thum, is at number three. The Cat Empire’s new album Rising With the Sun, which like all these releases is also a former number one, now sits at number nine.

The singles charts has more of a local flavour than it usually does. “Never Be Like You” by Flume featuring Kai is at number seven, and Sia rounds out the top ten with “Cheap Thrills.”

Top 10 Albums
1. TelluricMatt Corby
2. You and IJeff Buckley
3. MollySoundtrack 
4. 25Adele
5. IncarnateKillswitch
6. Drinking From The Sun, Walking Under Stars RestrungHilltop Hoods
7. This Unruly Mess I’ve Made – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
8. Have It All (Live) – Bethel Music
9. Rising with the SunThe Cat Empire
10. PurposeJustin Bieber 

Top 10 Singles
1. “7 Years” – Lukas Graham
2. “Faded” – Alan Walker
3. “1955” – Hilltop Hoods feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum
4. “Stressed Out” – Twenty One Pilots
5. “One Call Away” – Charlie Puth
6. “Work From Home” – Fifth Harmony feat. Ty Dolla $ign
7. “Never be Like You” – Flume feat. Kai
8. “My House” – Flo Rida
9. “Hide Away” – Daya
10. “Cheap Thrills” – Sia

Molly, Flume Top the Charts

For the first time in a long time, local releases are sitting at the top of the albums and singles charts. As I predicted, the screening of Molly gave the soundtrack a big boost. In its eleventh week in the top 50, the biopic’s soundtrack has jumped from number nine to the top spot. No doubt we’ll see a similarly strong result next week since the show just wrapped up.

Meanwhile on the singles chart, Flume has clawed his way to the top with “Never Be Like You.” The track featuring Kai is Flume’s first number one single.

Molly’s success has pushed Sia’s latest album This is Acting from number one down to number five this week. Another recent number one, Bloom by RÜFÜS, sits at number nine.

Here’s a full run-down of this week’s top tens.

Top 10 Albums
1. MollySoundtrack
2. 25Adele
3. Nothing Has Changed (The Best of David Bowie) – David Bowie
4. PurposeJustin Bieber
5. This is ActingSia
6. A Head Full of DreamsColdplay
7. Blackstar – David Bowie
8. Anti – Rihanna
9. BloomRÜFÜS
10. Nine Track Mind – Charlie Puth

Top 10 Singles
1. “Never be Like You” – Flume feat. Kai
2. “Pillowtalk” – Zayne
3. “Stressed Out” – Twenty One Pilots
4. “One Call Away” – Charlie Puth
5. “Gold” – Kiiara
6. “Love Yourself” – Justin Bieber
7. “Fast Car” – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota
8. “Lush Life” – Zara Larsson
9. “All My Friends” – Snakehips feat. Tinashe & Chance the Rapper
10. “Roses” – The Chainsmokers feat. Rozes

RÜFÜS Tops Albums Charts

After the chart dominance of Adele, Justin Bieber, and the incomparable David Bowie, there hasn’t been a lot of reasons for this Aussie music blog to celebrate local chart acton. However, finally a local act has managed to shift Adele from the top of the albums charts. RÜFÜS has scored a second number one album in as many releases with Bloom.

The soundtrack from the upcoming miniseries “Molly” is the only other local release in the top 10 albums. No doubt we’ll see it improving on its number seven spot when it actually screens.

As far as the singles go Flume is challenging the number one spot with “Never Be Like You.” Can the track featuring Kai, currently at number two, knock that god awful version of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” off the number one spot? I can only hope so!

“Hoops” has benefited from its recent Hottest 100 win. The Rubens song is this week’s highest chart re-entry. It sits at number 10 this week; it peaked at number 25 last October.

Here are the other songs and albums selling well this week.

Top 10 Albums
1. Bloom – RÜFÜS
2. 25Adele
3. Blackstar – David Bowie
4. Nothing Has Changed (The Best of David Bowie) – David Bowie
5. PurposeJustin Bieber
6. DystopiaMegadeth
7. Molly – Soundtrack
8. X – Ed Sheeran
9. 1989Taylor Swift
10. The Complete Greatest Hits – The Eagles

Top 10 Singles
1. “Fast Car” – Jonas Blue feat. Dakota
2. “Never be Like You” – Flume feat. Kai
3. “Love Yourself” – Justin Bieber
4. “One Call Away” – Charlie Puth
5. “All My Friends” – Snakehips feat. Tinashe & Chance the Rapper
6. “Lush Life” – Zara Larsson
7. “Ex’s and Oh’s” – Elle King
8. “Sorry” – Justin Bieber
9. “Middle” – DJ Snake feat. Bipolar Sunshine
10. “Hoops” – The Rubens

Flume Dominates, but 27th Annual ARIAs Underwhelm

I’m a little late on my ARIAs post this year as Australian music’s night of nights coincided with another big night for me: my husband’s birthday. So I’ve spent the morning catching up with all that went down. As these things go, I thought it was pretty average.

It was far from a debacle, polished and professional, but also lacking the wow factor of some of the other ceremonies. Watching the ladies from The Jezabels pay tribute to Chrissy Amphlett so beautifully was a real highlight, as was watching those classy fellows from Air Supply inducted into the Hall of Fame. I was also thrilled to see Matt Corby take home Song of the Year for the stunning “Resolution,” although his “speech” left plenty to be desired. Perhaps he should have taken notes from the eloquent Guy Sebastian.

By and large though, I felt the performances were a bit bland and predictable. Sheppard excited me more from the red carpet than most of the entertainers in the auditorium. I also thought it was odd that Michael Gudinski, as the recipient of the first “icon” award, didn’t take to the stage. Surely he deserved a moment in the spotlight rather than simply waving awkwardly from his seat. The same goes for the winners of the “minor” awards, many of whom weren’t even acknowledged. I miss the days where we at least saw all their names once we returned from commercials, not just the ones the broadcaster thinks we might be interested in. I always sit transfixed to awards shows, but I felt this one dragged. I’m not sure what it was missing, but I was left yawning despite watching the thing when I was well awake.

What was your take on this year’s ARIAs? And what do you think of this year’s winners?

Album of the Year: Lonerism – Tame Impala
Song of the Year: “Resolution” – Matt Corby
Breakthrough Artist (Release): Flume – Flume
Best Male Artist: Flume
Best Female Artist: Jessica Mauboy
Best Group: Tame Impala
Best Independent Release: Push The Sky Away – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Best Adult Contemporary Album: Push The Sky Away – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Best Blues and Roots Album: Sharkmouth – Russell Morris
Best Children’s Album: A Little Day Out with Justine – Justine Clarke
Best Comedy Release: The Bits We’re Least Ashamed Of – Tom & Alex
Best Country Album: Wreck and Ruin – Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson
Best Dance Release: Flume – Flume
Best Pop Release: Armageddon – Guy Sebastian
Best Rock Album: Lonerism – Tame Impala
Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album: Asymmetry – Karnivool
Best Urban Album: Bring it Back – Illy
Best International Artist: One Direction
Best Australian Live Act: Guy Sebastian
Best Video: “Firestarter” – Samantha Jade
Best Cover Art: Dave Homer & Aaron Hayward of Debaser (Ice On The Dune – Empire Of The Sun)
Engineer of the Year: Virginia Read (Sally Whitwell)
Producer of the Year: Harley Streten (Flume)
Best Classical Album: All Imperfect Things: Solo Piano Music of Michael Nyman – Sally Whitwell
ARIAs Best Jazz Album: Smile – The Idea Of North
Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album: Conversations With Ghosts – Paul Kelly, James Ledger, Genevieve Lacey & ANAM Musicians
Best World Music Album: Chameleons of the White Shadow – Joseph Tawadros

Flume Remixes Gurrumul & Yolanda Be Cool Collaboration

I started this blog with the aim of celebrating Australian music inclusively. I don’t care what genre it is, if it’s mainstream or alternative; if it’s good it’s good. So I was excited to find a track that seems to celebrate the same ethos: Flume’s remix of Yolanda Be Cool and Gurrumul’s collaborative effort “A Baru in New York.” Gurrumul and Yolanda Be Cool wrote the song about Gurrumul’s totem animal, a baru or saltwater crocodile. Flume’s treatment has taken it to another level.

These are three acts that come from very different areas of the Australian music industry. Most of us wouldn’t expect any joint effort to work. But then you listen, and it does.

“Gurrumul is so impressed with how his song with Yolanda Be Cool was reinterpreted by Flume,” explained Gurrumul’s friend and collaborator Michael Hohnen. “Gurrumul and I listened together to the remix, sitting on the floor, in front of a huge stereo system. He proclaimed at the end of it – “that sounds like a crocodile movie”.

“Gurrumul has embraced this song ever since he created it with the Yolanda boys, and even appeared in the beautiful music video. Flume’s managed to create almost electro-orchestral backing, while retaining the sense of history and dignity which is such a quality of Gurrumul’s music.”

If ever there was a track to bridge the gap between indigenous music and more mainstream fare, this is it. Wow.

Image used with permission from Stephen Green Consulting