Category: News

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?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Justice Crew Score Second Number One Single

Justice Crew have stormed to the top of the charts with the debut of their latest single “Que Sera.” This is their second number one, following “Boom Boom” in August 2012.

One of the other local acts to top the charts this year, Sheppard, are still going gangbusters with “Geronimo,” which sits at number four seven weeks after its release.

Also in its seventh week, global smash Iggy Azalea has moved up two places to sit at number seven with “Fancy.”

Sia’s also showing her staying power with “Chandelier,” which is at number nine two months after its first chart appearance.

We’re also seeing some impressive debuts on the albums charts. Thundamentals have debuted at number three with So We Can Remember, the third album from the hip hop group from the Blue Mountains and their first to grace the top 50.

Byron Bay hardcore act In Hearts Wake will also be happy with the number five debut of their sophomore album Earthwalker. This is their first top ten appearance after Divination peaked at number 27.

The Mothers’ Day rush has helped Harrison Craig hold steady at number seven with L.O.V.E. INXS’ The Very Best and Chet Faker’s Built on Glass round out the top 10.

Click below to see all this week’s top 10s.

Continue reading “Justice Crew Score Second Number One Single” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sheppard and Chet Faker Do it Again

For the second week running we’ve got a pair of Aussies sitting on the top of the charts. Both Sheppard and Chet Faker have continued to dominate the singles and albums charts respectively. With their third week at number one, Sheppard’s “Geronimo” becomes the first song since Guy Sebastian’s “Battle Scars” to enjoy a multi-week run at the top of the singles charts. Chet Faker’s also breaking records. Built on Glass is the first Aussie album to enjoy consecutive weeks at number once since the Sapphires soundtrack reigned in August 2012.

But that’s not the only good news. We’re enjoying a real purple patch, with four singles and six albums sitting in the top 10. All but one album in the top five is a local release too!

Sia is breathing down Sheppard’s neck with her song “Chandelier,” which holds steady at number two this week. Jessica Mauboy and Peking Duk have both fallen a little this week, but they’re still selling well to appear in the top ten. “Never Be the Same” has slipped one spot to land at number seven this week, while “High” has dropped three spots to land at number eight.

Somehow I don’t think Jess will be too disappointed though, as her latest album Beautiful has zoomed from number 17 to number four this week. This is the first time the album’s been in the top 10 since October 2013. She’s just behind INXS, whose The Very Best has dropped to number three this week.

Harrison Craig’s proved he’s got real staying power with L.O.V.E., which sits at number five again. I expect it to linger around a little longer too as we head towards Mother’s Day.

The final two Aussie entries in the albums charts come from Russell Morris and Dan Sultan. Van Diemen’s Land and Blackbird are at number seven and eight respectively.

Click below for the complete top tens.

Continue reading “Sheppard and Chet Faker Do it Again” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sheppard & Chet Faker Complete an Aussie Chart Double

It’s so great to see a pair of Aussies sitting at the top of our charts this week. Sheppard are still sitting at number one on the singles charts with “Geronimo.” Meanwhile, Chet Faker has dethroned INXS on the albums charts. His long awaited debut album Built on Glass has debuted at number one.

INXS’ The Very Best is still going gangbusters though. It’s at number two this week.

Russell Morris also has reason to celebrate this week. His new album Van Diemen’s Land has debuted at number four, which is the highest position he’s ever achieved on the album charts.

Russell edged out Harrison Craig, although something tells me he won’t be too upset with his number five debut. The hype around Harrison’s died down a bit as the new season of The Voice is upon us, but with L.O.V.E. it seems he’s still on the minds of music fans.

All those debuts have pushed Dan Sultan down the charts, but his latest album Blackbird is still selling well to land at number six. And it looks like The John Butler Trio’s album Flesh & Blood has plenty of life left in it. It’s actually jumped a spot to sit at number nine this week.

Meanwhile on the singles charts, Sia continues to breathe down Sheppard’s neck. Her song “Chandelier” has bounded up to number two this week. Peking Duk hold steady with “High” celebrating another week at number five. Ahead of her big Eurovision performance, Jessica Mauboy’s shot from number 17 up to number six with “Never Be the Same.” “She Looks So Perfect” by 5 Seconds of Summer seems to be on the way out, slipping to number nine.

Click below for this week’s top tens.

Continue reading “Sheppard & Chet Faker Complete an Aussie Chart Double” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Local Songstresses Unite for I Touch Myself Project

Chrissy Amphlett’s dying wish was that her sexy song “I Touch Myself” would become an anthem for breast cancer awareness. Now it’s happened thanks to some of Australia’s best female vocalists. Sarah McLeod, Deborah Conway, Megan Washington, Olivia Newton-John, Katie Noonan, Kate Ceberano, Sarah Blasko, Suze DeMarchi, Little Pattie, and Connie Mitchell have all stripped down, physically and musically, for a touching rendition of the song.

It’s all part of the I Touch Myself Project, an initiative which encourages people to share how they’ve been touched by breast cancer using the hashtags #itouchmyselfproject or #itouchmyselfie on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Google Plus. You can get involved on the inaugural I Touch Myself Day on April 21, the first anniversary of Chrissy’s tragic passing. Of course the video also reminds us to get in touch with our breasts to detect cancer early.

The video is available for purchase from iTunes and Google Play, with all proceeds benefiting the Cancer Council.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sheppard & INXS Both at Number One

You could have bowled me over with a feather when I saw that Sheppard were sitting at the top of the ARIA singles chart this week. It’s not that the song isn’t stellar, but Australia doesn’t have the best record of supporting local singles. We’re an albums nation, while the singles chart is generally dominated by international fare of the urban variety. It’s even rarer to see an independent local act on the top of the charts. And then consider how unstoppable Pharrell Williams seemed to be and you’ll start to appreciate the enormity of “Geronimo’s” meteoric rise.

“It’s like a dream,” said singer George Sheppard. “You secretly think about having a number one record when you’re in your bedroom writing songs, but you never really believe that it could come true. To have the public embrace us like they have is just such a special feeling and being able to share the success with my siblings and mates just makes it all the sweeter.”

Sheppard’s feat ensures that Aussies are dominating the charts this week. Over on the albums charts we’ve got INXS continuing their reign with “The Very Best,” which notches up its seventh week at number one.

They’re the big guns, but we’ve got plenty of other Aussies threatening to steal their thunder. Last week, Sia had her first every top ten appearance as a solo act with “Chandelier.” Now she’s achieved her first ever top five finish. The song sits at number four this week after jumping six positions.

“High,” by Peking Duk featuring Nicole Millar has also jumped into the top five this week. This betters last week’s position by a couple of spots.
5 Seconds of Summer look to be on the way out with “She Looks So Perfect.” It’s at number seven this week after tumbling three spots. Still, a top ten finish seven weeks after its release is nothing to sneeze at.

Meanwhile on the albums charts, INXS very nearly lost their top spot to Ball Park Music. The Brisbane band’s third album Puddinghead debuted at number two, which is their highest peak on the local charts.

Dan Sultan’s also debuted well at number four with his album Blackbird. It’s amazing to note that with his third release he’s actually achieved his first ever appearance in the ARIA top 50.

The John Butler Trio round out the top 10 with their latest album Flesh & Blood holding steady at number 10.

Click below for more information about this week’s top 10s.

Continue reading “Sheppard & INXS Both at Number One” →