Courtney Barnett Makes Top Five ARIA Albums Chart Debut

28 March 2015 | 6:07 pm | Staff Writer

There's good news afoot for Alison Wonderland, too

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Ubiquitous Aussie slacker-rock poster child Courtney Barnett has earned the highest local debut on this week's ARIA Charts — and a top-five placing, at that — with her debut album Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit, entering the rankings at #4.

Barnett's acclaimed LP was just pipped to the title of overall highest new entry by Chaos And The Calm, from lusciously maned British singer-songwriter James Bay, which steps out at #3. Fellow ascendant Aussie Alison Wonderland also sees a high-placing debut, as Run hits the mix at #6  the only other top-10-charting full-length debut for the week.

Multi-talented Brit Mark Knopfler isn't far off, though, as Tracker makes its debut at #12, while US rapper Action Bronson enters the pack just outside the top 20, with Mr Wonderful at #26.

Other debuts of note for the week include Laura Marling (Short Movie, #30), Little River Band (The Definitive Collection, #31), Earl Sweatshirt (I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside: An Album By Earl Sweatshirt, #33) and the Furious 7 soundtrack (#36).

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Last week's top two remain the same, albeit reversed, as the country outpaces the streets: Lee Kernaghan earns his highest-ever chart position by claiming the throne from Kendrick Lamar, the former's Spirit Of The Anzacs now atop the list while the latter's To Pimp A Butterfly drops to #2. Somewhat unsurprisingly, Lamar's previous album, Good Kid, m.A.A.d City, has re-entered the charts this week; it's at #89. 

On the Singles Chart, the week's highest newcomer doesn't appear until outside the top 30 — Natalie La Rose (feat. Jeremih) enters at #32, with Somebody —  but there's solid movement afoot higher up the ladder, as young up-and-comer Jarryd James climbs six spots to #2 with Do You RememberMajor Lazer (with MO & DJ Snake) make the same-size leap up to #4 with Lean OnJason Derulo's Want To Want Me steps up 17 spots to #10; Pitbull and Ne-Yo's Time Of Our Lives rises six places to #12; and Skrillex & Diplo (featuring Justin Beiber) see Where Are U Now lift 11 placs to #13.

Despite To Pimp A Butterfly's strong performance, Kendrick Lamar's King Kunta is the next-highest debut on the singles list — he's in at #43, and the only other new face in the top 50.

Kylie Minogue debuts at number one on the Music DVD Chart with her Kiss Me Once Live At The SSE Hydro set while Timmy Trumpet & Chardy celebrate a second week on top of the Club Chart with Hipsta. On the Compilation Chart triple j's Hottest 100 set gives way to the latest So Fresh: The Hits Of Autumn 2015.