News 20 June 2020

Debut #1 album for Vika & Linda

Also debuts by Spacey Jane, The McClymonts and more!

Debut #1 album for Vika & Linda

Also debuts by Spacey Jane, The McClymonts and more!

Australian music industry icons Vika & Linda Bull become the eighth Australian act to top the ARIA Albums Chart in 2020 as they take out the #1 spot this week with the compilation 'Akilotoa (Anthology 1994-2006). They're the first Australian sister-duo to top the ARIA Albums Chart.
 
Vika And Linda said: “We’re so rapt to reach number one with our anthology. Our first ever! A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years, and to our team. We love you all. Vika & Linda xx”
 
ARIA CEO Dan Rosen said, “Congratulations to Vika and Linda Bull, who have been enduring and unique voices in Australian music for over 30 years. For a career that has covered so many styles, collaborations and albums, it seems long overdue for them to be rewarded with ARIA #1 Album.
 
“I also want to congratulate Spacey Jane and The McClymonts, who make up our all Aussie top 3 In this week’s Album Chart. What an incredible week for new Australian music. The three artists are from different backgrounds, different generations and play different styles. It highlights the diversity of our local music scene, a scene that continues to create incredible music that resonates with fans around the country.”

This week marks the first time since 1 August 2016 that we’ve had three Australian acts in the top three positions on the ARIA Albums Chart; back then Human Nature were #1 with Gimme Some Lovin': Jukebox Vol. II, Flume was #2 with Skin and The Avalanches held #3 with Wildflower.

The last time three Australian albums debuted in the top three was 11 August 2014, with Angus And Julia Stone (self-titled, #1), One Day Crew (Mainline, #2) and Sticky Fingers (Land Of Pleasure, #3).
 
After dropping out of the Top 50 for two weeks, The 1975’s former #1 album Notes On A Conditional Form returns to the chart this week at #16.
 
The Seekers’ rarities collection Hidden Treasures - Volume 1 re-enters the Top 50 for a third week at #37.
 
Debuts:
 
#1: Vika & Linda ‘'Akilotoa (Anthology 1994-2006)’ – Acclaimed Melbourne sisters Vika & Linda Bull take out their first ever #1 on the ARIA Charts as they release the career retrospective 'Akilotoa (Anthology 1994-2006). Across two discs, the collection brings together tracks from five studio and two live albums the pair have released together, as well as The Black Sorrows’ single ‘Never Let Me Go’ (#30 Apr. ’91), on which Vika performed lead vocals. Many of the songs were written specifically for the Bull sisters by the likes of Paul Kelly, Archie Roach, Stephen Cummings, Mark Seymour and more. Vika & Linda have previously appeared on the Albums Chart with Vika & Linda (#7 Jun. ’94), Princess Tabu (#30 Aug. 96) and Two Wings (#34 Aug. ’99).
 
#2: Spacey Jane ‘Sunlight’ – Fremantle indie rockers Spacey Jane makes their ARIA Albums Chart debut with Sunlight. Formed in 2016, the band released three EPs in 2017/18 and were the winners of the Triple J Unearthed competition in 2018, resulting in them playing the Falls Festival. The single ‘Good For You’ was #80 in this year’s Triple J Hottest 100. Sunlight is also #1 on this week’s ARIA Vinyl Albums Chart.
 
Spacey Jane said: “We're so stoked with this result, it's definitely something we never expected! Massive thanks to everyone who's been spinning the record this week, & to AWAL for the hard yards on the release - it's a dream debut for us”
 
#3: The McClymonts ‘Mayhem To Madness’ – Grafton sisters The McClymonts return with their sixth studio album Mayhem To Madness. The follow-up to Endless (#3 Jan. ’17) is the trio’s fifth Top Ten on the ARIA Albums Chart. It’s also their fourth album to top the ARIA Country Albums Chart. Between McClymonts albums, eldest sister Brooke teamed up with husband Adam Eckersley for the Adam & Brooke album (#16 Feb. ’18).

The McClymonts said: “We are proud to be part of a diverse group of Australian artists in the top three of the ARIA Album chart this week. We want to send a big congratulations to Vika & Linda who we have been fans of since we were kids. We used to practice our harmonies by singing along to their songs and it’s inspiring to see them at the top of the chart.”

#18: Justice For The Damned ‘Pain Is Power’ – Sydney hardcore band Justice For The Damned score a new Albums Chart peak as they release their second album, Pain Is Power. It’s the follow-up to the quintet’s debut album Dragged Through The Dirt (#37 Aug. ’17). Pain Is Power has debuted at #2 on this week’s ARIA Vinyl Albums Chart.
 
#21: Norah Jones ‘Pick Me Up Off The Floor’ – Singer-songwriter Norah Jones releases Pick Me Up Off The Floor, her eighth studio release. The album comes just over a year on from Begin Again (#14 Apr. ’19) and features several songs recorded in collaboration with Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy. At the start of 2020, Jones’ alt-country side project Puss n Boots released their second album Sister.
 
#50: Liam Gallagher ‘MTV Unplugged (Live At Hull City Hall)’ – Former Oasis front man Liam Gallagher takes out his third solo Top 50 entry with MTV Unplugged (Live At Hull City Hall). Recorded in September 2019 as part of the iconic MTV live music series Unplugged, it features tracks from both of Gallagher’s solo albums – As You Were (#9 Oct. ’17) and Why Me? Why Not. (#7 Sept. ’19) – as well as Oasis classics including ‘Some Might Say’, ‘Champagne Supernova’ and ‘Sad Song’.