There was really only going to be one winner this week.
As expected, the ARIA Albums Chart this week has been topped by US megastar Lady Gaga with her latest LP, Mayhem.
It’s the fifth-straight #1 Australian record for the pop artist and the 13th to reach the top 50, which includes an 11-week run by the A Star Is Born soundtrack in 2019-2020. No doubt Australian Gaga fans are clamouring for the rumoured local tour announce.
Meanwhile, Blackpink’s Jennie has debuted at #2 with her first solo effort, Ruby, making it two straight weeks that a member of the girl group has debuted in the top five.
The Australian debuts this week come from Sydney outfit The Cruel Sea’s seventh album, Straight into the Sun, at #18 and The Wiggles’ country record, Wiggle Up, Giddy Up!, at #40.
The Cruel Sea’s latest LP is their first since 2001’s Where There’s Smoke. They’ve previously scored two top ten albums: The Honeymoon Is Over landed at #4 in 1993 and Three Legged Dog hit #1 in 1995.
Meanwhile, speaking to Rolling Stone AU/NZ, The Wiggles’ Anthony Field said he hopes the children’s group foray into country will grow their audience globally.
“It’s a different world now from when we started – we’re on Sky Channel in the UK, YouTube in the US, and a few other channels internationally,” he said.
“The Wiggles have really grown in the UK recently, and our tour there is almost sold out. Parts of America have sold out, and some parts aren’t as selling as fast, but they’re still selling. This album will give us a bit of impetus, I’m sure.”
Unfortunately however, The Cruel Sea and The Wiggles are the only two local acts to have cracked the Albums chart this week.
Over the on the Singles chart, Rosé and Bruno Mars’ “APT” sits at #1 for a staggering 14th non-consecutive week, while Grammy Award-winning track, “Die with a Smile,” has jumped up from #7 last week to land at #2 on the back of Gaga’s Mayhem storming the charts.
The top five is rounded out by Gracie Abrams’ “That’s So True,” “Messy” by Lola Young and Kendrick Lamar’s “Luther.”
The highest debut comes from Grammy Award winner Doechii with “Anxiety” which has come in at #9.
