Category: News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Taylor Henderson On Top of Albums Charts

Sure it’s a little late in the week to be talking charts, but with Aussie acts claiming the number one and two spots on the albums charts I figured it was better late than never. Taylor Henderson proved he’s got real post-reality show staying power, clocking up his second number one with his sophomore album Burnt Letters.

That’s no mean feat, but when you consider that he beat out Sheppard for the top spot it’s doubly impressive. After all, Sheppard’s Bombs Away album has already spawned a pair of number ones in “Geronimo” and “Let Me Down Easy.” Perhaps the band will be able to claim that coveted spot next week to coincide with their national tour.

These new kids on the block have pushed some previous number ones down the charts. Last week’s chart topper, Sia, has fallen to number five with 1000 Forms of Fear. 5 Seconds of Summer have also dropped a couple of spots to number six with their self-titled album.

No Other Name, Hillsong’s latest effort, rounds out the Aussie top ten.

Justice Crew seem to be on the downwards slide with “Que Sera,” which is at number five this week. It’s now been on the charts for 11 weeks, and gone three-times platinum.

Another stayer, “Geronimo,” is at number nine 17 weeks after its release. Sheppard’s smash has also reached triple platinum status.

Click below for this week’s top tens.
Continue reading “Taylor Henderson On Top of Albums Charts” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kate Ceberano Headlines Royal Flying Doctors Fundraiser

Enjoy a night of great music for a good cause at Altitude. Kate Ceberano, jazz chanteuse Ali Bodycoat, soulful Stratosfunk, and rock-pop string quartet ISQ will provide the entertainment at the swanky event to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service of WA.

Altitude 2014 promises to be the highlight of Perth’s social calendar, with an innovative audio visual display, a recreated airport runway stage, and custom Altitude bar. VIP tables of 10 will also receive premium seating luxury accommodation at Crown Metropol, valet parket, CIP gift bags, priority check-in, and access to pre=show drinks at La Vie Champagne Lounge and the after-party at NOBU.

This glamorous even has a serious purpose though. Your support will ensure every person living, working, or travelling in Western Australia can stay connected to first-class health services at all times.

Altitude will hit the Grand Ballroom at Crown Perth in August 23.

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sia Tops ARIA Albums Chart

The Madden Brothers might have brought Justice Crew’s record-breaking run to an end, but Sia’s given us a reason to smile this week. Her sixth studio album 1000 Forms of Fear has hit number one on debut. This album’s gone one better than her last, We Are Born, which peaked at number two. Her smash single “Chandelier” is also still selling well. It’s at number five.

Sia’s one of four Aussie acts sitting in the ARIA top five this week. Last week’s number one and two, 5 Seconds of Summer and Hillsong’s No Other Name, are at four and five respectively, edged out by the debut of Adelaide-born rapper Allday’s debut LP Startup Cult.

The McClymonts’ fourth album Here’s To You & I is their third to hit the top ten. It’s debuted at number eight this week, just ahead of Chet Faker’s Built on Glass which slipped two to land at number nine.

Click below for this week’s top tens.

Continue reading “Sia Tops ARIA Albums Chart” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Justice Crew Make Chart History

I ordinarily try to write about the ARIA charts whenever an Aussie act’s on top. However, other work commitments have seen me missing a few of the weeks during Justice Crew’s impressive reign. It’d be remiss of me to not publish an article now though, as their song “Que Sera” has broken the record for the most number of weeks an Aussie act’s spent at the top of the ARIA Singles Chart. With nine weeks, they’ve gone one better than Austen Tayshus’ “Australiana,” Savage Garden’s “Truly, Madly, Deeply,” and Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know.” They’re still a few weeks away from equalling the overall record 13 weeks that Coolio spent on top with “Gangsta’s Paradise,” but very close to eclipsing the pre-ARIA record of 10 weeks that Daddy Cool’s “Eagle Rock” spent at number one in 1971.

Justice Crew have got some stiff competition in the form of fellow Aussie Sia, who’s having a comeback with “Chandelier.” After it appeared to be on the downslide, the song’s jumped six spots to land at number two.

Aussies are also seeing joy on the album charts, with 5 Seconds of Summer landing the number one spot with their self-titled album on debut. This album’s already spawned six top 20 hits, including the number one “She Looks so Perfect,” so its dominance was probably inevitable, but it’s still a real victory for the boys. They managed to head off the might of the Hillsong Church, who sit at number two in their first week with No Other Name.

Like Sia, Chet Faker’s also back on the upswing. His former number one album Built on Glass is back in the top ten for the first time since May. Clearly his current national tour is paying dividends!

And as if that wasn’t enough local love in the charts, 360’s also making his presence felt with his album Utopia. It sits at number eight this week.

Click below for all this week’s top 10s.

Continue reading “Justice Crew Make Chart History” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Vale Jim Keays

It’s not a good time to be an Australian music lover right now. It seems like we were all still mourning the loss of Doc Neeson, and now we have to deal with the loss of another of our greats. Today Jim Keays succumbed to multiple myeloma after seven years battling the disease. He was just 67.

It was pretty easy to forget Jim was sick. He seemed permanently on the road with Darryl Cotton and Russell Morris, and he was still putting out albums right to the end. It might be some consolation to fans that there’s another on the way which Jim was apparently really excited for us all to hear.

But it’s no doubt be the music he made with the Masters Apprentices that is his greatest legacy. This song’s not just my favourite Masters Apprentices song, but also one of my favourite songs of all time. We’ll miss you Jim.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Vale Doc Neeson

I didn’t intend to touch my blog today. I’d queued up enough posts on the weekend to allow me to focus on the frantic pace of my other freelance work at the moment. But sometimes things happen that force you to reevaluate your plans and make time that you’re not sure that you have. Sometimes you just have to stop and reflect for a moment. So here I am, writing when I didn’t intend to write because Doc Neeson’s lost his battle with cancer.

Doc was diagnosed with a brain tumour 17 months ago, and he’s been fighting ever since. The end was forecast time and time again and Doc got back up. I remember marvelling at his performance at the RocKwiz Vanda and Young show over the Christmas break, which was televised earlier this year, being so impressed that he still had more fight in him. He wasn’t looking good, but he was still standing. I guess a man can only do that for so long.

And so we take a moment and remember his contributions to the music industry. He split with the Brewster Brothers in 1999, but continued to defiantly sing The Angels hits like “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again,” “Take a Long Line,” and “No Secrets” with his new outfit. When my American husband arrived in this country around a decade ago, he declared The Angels his favourite Aussie act. Even international artists Pearl Jam and Nirvana cited his music as major influences.

He might have been born in Northern Ireland, but he was one of us, and he will be missed. Whatever you’re doing, however busy you are I urge you to stop, take a moment, watch this video, and remember him.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Justice Crew Break 2014 Records with “Que Sera”

Way to go Justice Crew! Their smash single “Que Sera” notches up its fourth consecutive week at number one this week. That’s not just their best chart performance; it also overtakes Sheppard’s “Geronimo” as the longest run at the top by a local artist this year.

Speaking of Sheppard, that song’s still hanging around in the top ten. It’s at number ten this week, ten weeks after its release.

Other Aussie tracks in the top ten are on the way up. Sia’s jumped one spot to land at number four with “Chandelier,” while Iggy Azalea’s jumped three spots. “Fancy” sits at number six.

For the first time in the long time, there are more Aussies on the singles charts than the albums charts. Iggy Azalea claims a spot on both this week. Her album The New Classic is at number seven, just edging out the ever-enduring The Very Best by INXS.

Click below for all this week’s top tens.

Continue reading “Justice Crew Break 2014 Records with “Que Sera”” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Justice Crew Achieve Personal Chart Best with “Que Sera”

Justice Crew have achieved their best chart success to date this week, after “Que Sera” clocked up a third consecutive week at number one.

As I predicted, Sia reaped the benefits of her conversation-starting performance on Ellen. Her current smash “Chandelier” jumped five places, from number ten to number five this week.

Sheppard’s “Geronimo” flagged a little this week, dropping three places to land at number six. Iggy Azalea was back in the top ten this week with “Fancy.” The song climbed two positions to sit at number nine.

In the albums charts our local talents were clustered down the bottom of the top ten. Chet Faker’s Built on Glass climbed three to be our best Aussie performer at number seven. This week’s most improved must go to Rufus though, who climbed from number 50 to number eight with Atlas. INXS have fallen four places, but 41 weeks after its release they won’t complain about sitting at number nine with The Very Best.

Click below for this week’s top tens.

Continue reading “Justice Crew Achieve Personal Chart Best with “Que Sera”” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Justice Crew On Top of ARIA Charts Again

It’s a little belated after a busy week, but I couldn’t resist tipping my proverbial hat to Justice Crew, who’ve clocked up their second week at the top of the ARIA singles charts with “Que Sera.” The achievement matches their previous record of two weeks at number one with “Boom Boom.” Could this song go one better?

Sheppard prove there’s still life in “Geronimo,” with the song moving up one position to number three this week.

Sia rounds out the top ten with “Chandelier.” Will her performance on Ellen that’s got everyone talking this week send it back up the charts?

INXS are the best of the Aussies on the albums charts. Their Very Best Of has also had a resurgence this week, rising from number nine to five.

Harrison Craig’s also up the up with L.O.V.E. It moves up one spot to claim number six.

Chet Faker’s holding steady with Built on Glass at number ten.

Click below for this week’s top tens.

Continue reading “Justice Crew On Top of ARIA Charts Again” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Phia Does Bowie

Prepare to be enchanted by Phia’s cover of “As the World Falls Down.” The Berlin-based Melbourner teamed up with her producer Josh Teicher for this dreamy cover of David Bowie’s song from one of my favourite films, Labyrinth.

This exquisite cover version was recorded for Rolling Stone Germany for a special CD compilation celebrating the music of the Thin White Duke. Isn’t it gorgeous?