The Drones Claim Top Spot On Aussie Independent Album Chart

Doyens of Aussie alternative rock The Drones have snatched the #1 album spot on debut on the Carlton Dry Independent Music Charts with new full-length Feelin Kinda Free, while ubiquitous songstress Sia claims two top-five showings.

The veteran noise merchants' new LP Feelin Kinda Free edges out last week's #1 The Cat Empire, who move to #2 with Rising With The Sun. Sia's This Is Acting (#3) and 1000 Forms of Fear (#5), and Urthboy's The Past Beats Inside Me Like A Second Heartbeat (#4), finish off the top five. Sia even bags a third chart showing with her Best Of... compilation sneaking in at #20.

The week also sees a top-10 debut for The Murlocs, coming in at #9 with Young Blindness. Chet Faker's Thinking In Textures (#15) and The Smith Street Band's Throw Me In The River (#17) also re-enter this week's album chart.

In singles news, there were no new releases to chart; however, Sia continues her run with four top-20 placings, including #1 for Cheap Thrills, as well as Alive (#6), Elastic Heart (#12) and Chandelier (#13).

Flume's Never Be Like You (feat. Kai) takes #2, while The Temper Trap's Thick As Thieves (#3), The Rubens' Hoops (#4) and troubadour Vance Joy's Fire And The Flood round out a star-studded top five.

Mansfield's grungy favourite sons Violent Soho have also enjoyed a strong week with the re-entries of Viceroy (#13) and Like Soda (#16) to the independent singles chart, while fellow Brisbanites Sheppard also return to the list following their Best Export win at this month's Queensland Music Awards, with 2014's apparently not-forgotten Geronimo taking #18.