Nick Cave Beats Safia To #1, Sets New Chart Record

It's been a good year for Australian music

It’s been a solid year for Aussie releases, and the latest local battle for #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart sees Nick Cave & The Seeds’ sixteenth studio album beat out Canberra youngsters Safia for the top spot, setting a new chart record in the process.

Cave’s powerful Skeleton Tree LP debuting on top makes it the 15th Australian #1 this year, breaking the chart’s previous record of 14 in one year set back in 2013.

The new music from Cave has also scored a #2 debut on UK Albums Chart, behind British rockers Bastille's second record, Wild World.

Canberra outfit Safia were close behind Cave, debuting at #2 in Aus with their debut album Internal, which will see them embark on a massive national tour next week.

The My Dear Companion collab between Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris scored #3, with more country rounding out the top five as US star Jason Aldean debuting at #1 with They Don’t Know.

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Bastille reached a new peak on the Aussie charts with Wild World, following on from 2013’s Bad Blood hitting the top 10. Devin Townsend Project round out the top 10 debut with Transcendence.

Jack White’s latest best of, Acoustic Recordings 1998-2016, lands a #13 debut alongside Wilco’s Schmilco (#16), What So Not’s Divide And Conquer (#19) and Grouplove’s Big Mess (#20) all scoring top 20 placings.

Other notable debuts on the Albums Chart come from Aussies Northeast Party House and The Hard Aches, debuting at #38 and #48 respectively for their Dare and I Freak Out releases.

Over on the Singles Chart, The Chainsmokers’ Halsey collab, Closer, holds #1 for its sixth consecutive week, with Sia’s The Greatest feat. Kendrick Lamar, jumping 23 spots to #2, and new music from Lady Gaga and Guy Sebastian appearing.