CHART WATCH

Is it? Could it possibly be another new No.1 over on the albums chart? You bet your buns it is. But with albums by Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, The Script, Bob Dylan, The Amity Affliction, The Presets and The xx all debuting in the top ten, which of the six has premiered on top? Find out in this week’s Chart Watch…

SINGLES
There’s seemingly no slowing down Guy Sebastian’s ‘Battle Scars’ in the No.1 spot on the ARIA singles chart. He debuted in top position five weeks ago now and has so far held off all comers to maintain the edge.
The top three are unchanged this week, though Birdy’s ‘Skinny Love’ hits platinum and Flo Rida’s ‘I Cry’ goes gold, showing just how well Guy must be doing out in front. Other accreditation improvements include Taylor Swift’s ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’, which hits platinum and Justice Crew’s ‘Boom Boom’, which achieves triple platinum this week.
Highest new entry of the week comes courtesy of Psy’s K-Pop single ‘Gangnam Style’, which enters the countdown at No.7.
Ne-Yo’s ‘Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)’ moves into the top 20 at No.17, Rita Ora’s ‘R.I.P.’ follows, improving to No.18 and Birdy’s ‘People Help The People’ follows the lead of ‘Skinny Love’ in achieving platinum sales this week.
The Wanted’s ‘Chasing The Sun’ hits platinum too, Marina & The Diamonds’ ‘Primadonna’ is up to No.22, the new Alicia Keys track ‘Girl On Fire’ becomes one of her highest charting singles in years (a No.25 debut) and Timomatic’s ‘Incredible’ premieres at No.27.
The former UK No.1 single from Sam And The Womp (‘Bom Bom’) improves from No.46 to No.34, Michael Andrews & Gary Jules’ ‘Mad World’ re-enters at No.39, The Veronicas’ ‘Lolita’ hits gold and Of Monsters And Men hit the top 50 with ‘Little Talks’ – up from No.66 to No.42.
Outside the top 50, Rizzle Kicks’ single ‘Down With The Trumpets’ premieres at No.52, Kanye West & Big Sean ftg. Jay-Z’s ‘Clique’ is in at No.58 and Icona Pop’s ‘I Love It’ is making waves – up from No.96 on debut to No.61.
Parkway Drive’s ‘Dark Days’ enters the top 100 at No.71, Reece Mastin’s ‘Shout It Out’ hits platinum, Conor Maynard’s ‘Vegas Girl’ re-enters at No.83 and there’s a new entry for Bat For Lashes! ‘Laura’ premieres at No.90.

ALBUMS
So which of those aforementioned six artists saw their album debut in the No.1 spot this week? Why that would be Queensland’s The Amity Affliction, who saw off challenges from Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, The Presets, Bob Dylan, The Script AND The xx to debut in the top spot with their new album ‘Chasing Ghosts’.
As mentioned, there are six new entries in the top ten this week – with The xx’s ‘Coexist’ debuting at No.2, The Presets’ ‘Pacifica’ coming in at No.3, Kasey & Shane’s ‘Wreck & Ruin’ in at No.6, Bob Dylan’s ‘Tempest’ at No.8 and The Script’s ‘#3’ at No.9.
Last week’s No.1 from Matchbox Twenty (‘North’) drops from No.1 to No.5, James Morrison’s ‘The Awakening’ has finally hit gold and The Temper Trap’s self-titled set improves 20 places to No.19.
More debuts come from Rita Ora (‘Ora’ at No.24) and David Guetta (‘Nothing But The Beat 2.0’ at No.25), while Two Door Cinema Club’s album ‘Beacon’ slumps from No.4 to No.27 in its second week.
Ronan Keating’s album ‘Fires’ also falls (No.12 to No.28); so too Timomatic’s eponymous LP (No.13 to No.30) and ‘Elvis By Request’ (No.14 to No.33).
Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra is in at No.34 with ‘Theatre Is Evil’, Billy Talent’s ‘Dead Silence’ makes sweet chart music at No.36 and Marina Prior’s ‘Both Sides Now’ debuts at No.43.
Of Monsters And Men’s album ‘My Head Is An Animal’ moves into the top 50 (up from No.82 to No.47) and the Pet Shop Boys’ ‘Elysium’ debuts at No.50.
Further down the list, Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Stronger’ is up from No.74 to No.54, Pitbull’s ‘Planet Pit’ is imploding – down from No.36 to No.55, but Usher’s ‘Looking 4 Myself’ improves from No.80 to No.57. Darren Percival’s ‘Happy Home’ slides 30 spots to No.60.
New at No.61 is Propagandhi’s ‘Failed States’, The Angels’ ‘Take It To The Streets’ plummets from No.24 to No.69 and In Hearts Wake’s ‘Divination’ is in freefall – down from No.27 to No.76 (ditto Alanis Morissette’s ‘Havoc And Bright Lights’ which slides from No.22 to No.84 in just its second week on sale).
Also plummeting is The Beach Boys’ ‘That’s Why God Made The Radio’ (No.31 to No.88) and The Vaccines’ ‘Come Of Age’ (No.43 to No.97).

For a full run down of the ARIA top 50s, head over to www.ariacharts.com.au each and every Sunday from 6:30pm AEST.

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