SATURDAY NEWS WRAP #155

• Can lightning strike twice for Brisbane outfit Sheppard? They’ll certainly be hoping so with their new single ‘Something’s Missing’, which plays the role of the all-important follow-up to their No.1 chart smash ‘Geronimo’. The track was serviced to Aussie media on Thursday ahead of the release of their debut album ‘Bombs Away’, which hits retail on Friday July 11.
• Also new this week is Hilltop Hoods’ new single ‘Won’t Let You Down’. As of late this morning, the band is already in the top ten on iTunes with the new single, which features guest vocals from British soul singer Maverick Sabre. It’s the lead single from the band’s upcoming album release ‘Walking Under Stars’.
• James Reyne will release his ‘Anthology’ in early August. The double CD set will encompass the Aussie singer’s extraordinary career, from the beginnings with ‘Fall Of Rome’ and ‘Hammerhead’ to some later, rarer pieces which the singer admits, “many would never have heard”. ‘Anthology’ will be released on Friday August 01.

• Bonnie Anderson has released her ‘Blackout’ EP (cover image above). The five tracker dropped at both physical and digital retailers yesterday and includes the single version of her top 30 hit, along with an acoustic version and three remixes. Check out our interview with the Melbourne-based pop starlet, which went live yesterday, HERE.
• Canberra natives Peking Duk have this week been celebrating a double platinum accreditation for their recent chart hit ‘High’. But they’re also set for their next release, a track called ‘Take Me Over’, recorded in conjunction with fellow Canberran Ben Woolner-Kirkham from band Safia. The band will hit the road in August for a series of live dates, many of which have already sold out.
• Canadian songstress Grimes has dropped a brand new track called ‘Go’. Grimes, aka Claire Boucher, said of the track “it’s our summer jam, so we figured we should put it out cuz I am very bored of waiting to finish my album b4 releasing new music”. And better still, it’s available for free download. Hear it, download it HERE.

• Iggy Azalea continues her chart reign in the United States this week, with ‘Fancy’ notching up a fifth successive week atop the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. As revealed on-site earlier in the week (HERE), she’s equalled a chart record held by Ashanti. Nico & Vinz’ current Aussie chart hit ‘Am I Wrong?’ makes waves in the States too, improving another three spots to No.4, while British solo star Sam Smith also bullets with ‘Stay With Me’, up from No.10 to No.5. Maroon 5 score the week’s highest debut with their new single ‘Maps’. It’s in at No.14.
• It’s a big week on the Billboard 200 Albums chart, with four of the top five made up of debuts. Top of the pops, however, is Lana Del Rey, who debuts in the No.1 position with ‘Ultraviolence’. Sam Smith certainly won’t be too upset, however, with his debut album ‘In The Lonely Hour’ debuting at a very respectable No.2, ahead of Linkin Park’s new album ‘The Hunting Party’ in No.3. The other top five debut is at No.5 and comes courtesy of the new Willie Nelson album ‘Band Of Brothers’. The ‘Frozen’ soundtrack remains as the only non-debuting album in the top five (No.4). J-Lo’s ‘A.K.A.’ debuts at No.8 and the new deadmau5 album is in at No.9.
• Don’t forget that we’ll have a wrap up of all the chart shenanigans back here in Australia with our weekly Chart Watch, live at 7pm on the East Coast.

 Australia's first stop for pop!