Sydney band Gang of Youths has scored its first number one album after debuting in the top spot with sophomore LP Go Farther in Lightness. It’s an impressive debut for the Sydneysiders and the seventh Australian album to go to number one this year.
There are plenty of other contenders for that title though, with Aussies claiming four of the top five spots on the ARIA charts. There’s Paul Kelly of course. Last week’s number one, Life is Fine, has slipped one spot to number two this week. The prolific King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are at number four with Sketches of Brunswick East, their third release of 2017. You might think they deserve a holiday after all that, but we’ll see another two albums from them before the end of the year. Local deathcore outfit Thy Art is Murder round out the top five with Dear Desolation.
Here’s how the top 10 charts look this week.
Top 10 Albums
1. Go Farther in Lightness – Gang of Youths
2. Life is Fine – Paul Kelly
3. ÷ – Ed Sheeran
4. Sketches of Brunswick East – King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
5. Dear Desolation – Thy Art is Murder
6. Science Fiction – Brand New
7. Rainbow – Ke$ha
8. The Peace and the Panic – Neck Deep
9. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2 – Soundtrack
10. Moana – Soundtrack
Top 10 Singles
1. “What About Us” – P!nk
2. “Friends” – Justin Bieber & BloodPop
3. “Glorious” – Macklemore feat. Skylar Grey
4. “Thunder” – Imagine Dragons
5. “Despacito” – Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber
6. “Feels” – Calvin Harris feat. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry, & Big Sean
7. “Unforgettable” – French Montana feat. Swae Lee
8. “Strip That Down” – Liam Payne feat. Quavo
9. “Praying” – Ke$ha
10. “New Rules” – Dua Lipa
Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute
I’ve been a bit lax on reporting Aussie chart news of late. I missed writing about when Grace topped the charts, and when her brother Conrad Sewell followed suit. But as John Farnham clocked up his ninth number one album with Two Strong Hearts, I figured I really needed to make the time. Farnsy’s now scored number ones (whether singles or albums) every decade for the last six decades. And let’s not forget about his partner in crime, Olivia Newton-John, who’s now scored her third number one on the albums charts.