News 1 April 2017

Week four at #1 for Sheeran's ÷

Debuts for Lee Kernaghan, Northlane, James Blunt and more!

Week four at #1 for Sheeran's ÷

Debuts for Lee Kernaghan, Northlane, James Blunt and more!

For the fourth week in succession, Ed Sheeran tops the ARIA Albums Chart with ÷. Both of Sheeran’s other studio albums, X and +, have slipped out of the top ten this week, they’re at #11 and #13, respectively.

After dropping to #9 last week, the soundtrack to Beauty And The Beast scores a new peak this week with a jump to #4.

The Moana soundtrack has moved back into the top ten, jumping from #12 to #8. The Sing soundtrack has also jumped back up the chart, it’s gone from #20 to #12

Currently on tour, the Dixie Chicks have two entries in the top 50 this week. The highest entry comes from compilation The Essential, which re-enters at #21. They’ve also picked up a debut (see below).

Twenty One Pilots, also on tour, have re-entered at #23 with Blurryface (#7 Aug. ’16).

American country star Kip Moore returns to the top 50 at #29 with Wild Ones on the back of his national tour.

Debuts:

#2: Lee Kernaghan ‘The 25th Anniversary Album’ – Australian country star Lee Kernaghan celebrates a quarter of a century since the release of his debut album The Outback Club (#58 May. ’94) with The 25th Anniversary Album. Kernaghan’s thirteenth studio album features collaborations with James Blundell, Adam Brand, Adam Harvey, The McClymonts, Kasey Chambers and more. He last charted with Spirit Of The Anzacs (#1 Mar. ’15).

#3: Northlane ‘Mesmer’ – Sydney metalcore band Northlane return with fourth studio album Mesmer. The album was released on 24 March with no prior warning. It’s the follow-up to Node (#1 Aug. ’15).

#7: James Blunt ‘The Afterlove’ – Singer-songwriter James Blunt releases his fifth studio album, The Afterlove. It comes four years on from his previous album, Moon Landing (#2 Oct. ’13). In between studio albums, Blunt charted with the box set I'll Take Everything (#5 Oct. ’15).

#10: Steel Panther ‘Lower The Bar’ – The fourth studio album from Steel Panther gives the American glam rockers their second appearance in the ARIA top ten. Lower The Bar is the follow-up to All You Can Eat (#2 Apr. ’14). Steel Panther last charted with the live release Live From Lexxi's Mom's Garage (#19 Mar. ’16).

#15: sleepmakeswaves ‘Made Of Breath Only’ – Sydney post-rock band sleepmakeswaves snare a second top 50 debut on the ARIA Albums Chart with Made Of Breath Only. The band’s third album is the follow-up to Love Of Cartography (#31 Jul. ’14).

#17: Ali Barter ‘A Suitable Girl’ – Ali Barter makes her ARIA Albums Chart debut with A Suitable Girl. The Melbourne singer-songwriter’s debut album features the track ‘Girlie Bits’, which was #58 in this year’s Triple J Hottest 100.

#24: Trey Songz ‘Tremaine The Album’ – Album seven from Trey Songz gives the American R&B artist a third top 50 appearance on the ARIA Albums Chart. Tremaine The Album comes three years on from Trigga (#21 Jul. ’14)

#28: Take That ‘Wonderland’ – Veteran British boy band Take That score their first top 50 appearance in a decade with Wonderland. It’s the group’s eighth studio album and second as a trio. They last appeared in the top 50 with Beautiful World (#32 Mar. ‘07).

#33: Mindsnare ‘Unholy Rush’ – With their fifth studio album Mindsnare crack the ARIA top 50 for the first time. Unholy Rush is the Melbourne hardcore band’s fifth album and first since 2007’s Disturb The Hive.

#35: Dixie Chicks ‘The Classic Albums Collection’ – Currently on tour in Australia, the Dixie Chicks pick up a new ARIA Albums Chart entry with this box set. It includes the trio’s studio albums: Wide Open Spaces (#35 Mar. ’99), Fly (#16 Sept. ’99), Home (#4 May ’03) and Taking The Long Way (#2 May ’06).