Debuting at Number 1 on the 100% Indie Album Charts
Debuting at Number 2 on the Indei Label Album Charts

They can't decide if they're more like The Travelling Wilburys, The Highwaymen or The Three Tenors, but one thing is sure - they're none of those. They're Basement Birds, a unique teaming of four of Australia's premier singer/songwriters within the one group.

It would be easy to say that their debut album came together during an idyllic, boozy, long, lost weekend on the coast. But with Kevin Mitchell's highly successful Bob Evans guise, Josh Pyke's ongoing solo triumph, Kav Temperley's tenure as Eskimo Joe frontman and Steve Parkin headed towards a long-awaited debut solo album, it would take three years for this quartet to start its roll.
"Steve and I have a gazillion hair-brained schemes," says Kav. "And I was determined that this hair-brained scheme would actually see itself to its end."

So, hair-brained or not, we've now been gifted with an Australian Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, stars in their own right combining to be well and truly equal to the sum of their parts. It's beautiful stuff. Basement Birds are here for a limited time only. One album and one national tour. We'll hear a lot more from these guys under various guises in the future but for now this is the end of the road for Basement Birds. A number one debut in the independent charts... Short and sweet. The end.

Number 11 in the Independent Label Album Charts

Lowrider, Australia's kings of nu-soul have forged a reputation as one of the most mesmerising live acts in the country. No need for pyrotchnics, just a rich voice, great songs and one of the tightest rhythm sections you're even likely to hear.

Since forming in Adelaide in 2004,  Lowrider have supported some of the biggest acts in Australia and the world (Christina Aguilera, Lupe Fiasco, Alicia Keys). Also performing countless festivals including Big Day Out, Blues and Roots, Pyramid Rock and A Day On The Green. The lead single off debut album "Be Bad" was a growling, dark soul number that was one of the most underrated siongs of the year.

Lowrider's smooth and spontaneous live sound is what they tried to capture on the album, embellished with the almost limitless possibilities the studio can bring. The stunning result combines echoes of Motown and Stax, Latin tinges and slinky funk to create a compelling catalogue of love songs, haunting ballads, party jams and even socio-political comment.

Lowrider haven't yet received the recognition that they deserve, but new album "Around The World" might signal the beginning of the end of the band flying under the radar.

Debuting at number 1 on the 100% Indie Album Charts
Debuting at number 1 on the Indie Label Album Charts

For Australian Hardcore music, the past month has been amazing. 2 weeks ago, the Amity Affliction's brilliant Young Bloods debuted at number to on the AIR charts and number 6 on the ARIA Charts. It was the highest debut by a band of that genre in Australia's history. Until now...

Byron Bay's Parkway Drive's new album, Deep Blue has now debuted at Number two on the ARIA charts. Outselling The Cat Empire and Miley Syrus on debut weeks. It's a serious accomplishment and a testament to their reputation as one of the biggest heavy bands in the world at the moment.

The hotly anticipated follow-up to 2007’s AIR Award nominated Horizons, Deep Blue raises the bar in every conceivable way.
“It’s basically about the search for truth in a world that seems to be devoid of that,” says vocalist and lyricist Winston McCall, explaining the narrative running through Deep Blue. “The story is told through the eyes of a man who wakes up and realises that his life is a lie and nothing he believes in is real. So he tries to find the truth within himself and his journey takes him to the bottom of the ocean and back again.”

Having recorded their first two albums with Adam Dutkiewicz of Killswitch Engage, Deep Blue was tracked and mixed in Los Angeles, CA by Joe Barresi (Bad Religion, Queens Of The Stone Age, Tool), and mastered by legendary mastering engineer Brian Gardner.
 
Already one of the most anticipated heavy releases of 2010, Deep Blue represents an exciting new chapter in the story of Australia’s most successful hardcore band.

Ash Grunwald, along with CW Stoneking is one of Australia's shining lights of Blues. But while CW harks back to 1930's New Orleans , imersing himself in authenticity, Ash is taking the blues well and truly into the 21st Century dabbling with electronic production and hip hop. Together they're a compelling argument for the longevity of the genre's Australian mainstream rebirth.

Hot Mama Vibes continues Grunwald's collaborations with hip hop producer Count Bounce, but this time he's also called Mr. Trials (Hilltop Hoods, Draught, Funkoars) and Chasm (Astronomy Class). The resulting fusion of Hip Hop and Blues is unique and infectious. Ash won an APRA Award for his awesome track Break Out, earlier this week. He showed me his trophy and I felt special.
 
The first single, Walking, is a genuine stomping fuzzed out, blues boogie. When Ash plays the blues, it's not sad, it's joyous.

The Gin Club - Death Wish

How does a band maintain any sense of cohesion when there's somewhere between 8 and 12 members and about 10 songwriters? When it comes the Gin Club, the more they embrace their collective creativity, the more beguiling and intriguing they become. They've never heard of spoiling the broth.

Deathwish is a follow up to their critically acclaimed, sprawling double album "junk" and while that album was damned good it lacked the focus of Deathwish, a 40 minute, 10 song romp through the bands newest ouvre. They just keep getting better,taming their excessive dimensions, embracing the art of songwriting and steadily becoming one of our Australia's more loveable and uniqe bands.

Anyway, the Ginners are loved in Brisbane, released on the awesome label +1 records through Shock and ready for the rest of the country take a LOT more notice of them. Another Australian independent gem.

Debuting at Number 2 On the Indie Labels Chart

I've got to say that after hearing the gorgeous track "Gold Canary" on the radio a few weeks ago I wondered to myself if the title of the album was aspirational. A blissful release? You'd better believe it.

Bliss Release’ was recorded through 2009 and early 2010 and has offered two sublime singles, ‘Gold Canary’ and ‘This Is What I Said’. It took just four days to lay the bed tracks for the majority of the album, then eight long months of stolen evenings crafting the pop skeletons into the ethereal psych-pop that make Cloud Control one of the countries most exciting acts.

Add AIR to the growing number of people who've given the album 4 or 5 stars. We agree with seemingly every music publication in the country, one of the albums of the year.

Number 1 on the Independent Label Singles Charts

We Speak No Americano is ubiquitous at the moment, or so AIR found out during a set by Yacht Club DJ's over the weekend. The 'indie' kids were going bananas when those spanish vocals boomed out of the Prince Of Wales speaker, but then so did the serious dance heads. Indeed, it's a rare thing that a dance specialist label like Central Station finds a cross-over hit on their hands. Makes for a breath of fresh air in charts dominated by pop, rock, hip hop and the occasional hardcore band.

Yolanda Be Cool's bouncy, latin tinged track debuted last week at number one and this week stays entrenched, selling magnificently. It's been hovering the radio charts for a couple months now, turning up unannounced and hanging around without any sign of going away.

Yolanda Be Cools attitude towards dance says it all:

Debuting at Number 1 in the 100% Independent Label Album Charts
Debuting at Number 2 in the Independent Label Album Charts

They one an AIR Award for their precocious debut Guillotine and followed it up shortly with thieves. Hook laden rock and roll, ripe for radio, perfect for high intensity gigs, how could they fail? 

Jam packed with brilliant pop melodies, high-octane rock & roll, and the lyrical sensitivity and ruminations of the rather bookish Declan Melia. Yes, he looks like a librarian but dammit he knows how to yell. It's invigorating.

Avalanche takes the garage pop, which has characterised British India’s initial success to new heights. ‘Vanilla’ released exclusively to triple j became the station’s most popular download in November 2009 and gave the boys their 3rd in triple J's Hottest 100. The new single ‘Beneath The Satellite’ has been added to high rotation on both Triple j and Nova FM across Australia.‘

They've been near top of the AIR radio and singles charts for some time and this debut at number one shows just how far British India have come. Their rise will continue in 2010.

Number 7 on the 100% Independent Album Charts

Mantra’s history speaks for itself. He was the firecracking MC that used to be out the front of Illzilla. An underrated and undervalued group who got some Triple J attention a few years ago but never got the recognition they deserved. He was voted ‘Best Freestyle Artist of 2008’ OzHipHop.com and he's featured on dozens of collaborations over the years with Australian hip hop's biggest names and coolest of the underground.

With an album’s worth of material produced by noted beatmakers M-Phazes, Count Bounce (TZU), and Mista Savona, Mantra’s debut is titled Power of the Spoken. It's Thematically diverse but 100% hip hop, it is Mantra’s impeccable on-stage ability distilled onto recorded form.

It's great to see one of the true stalwarts of Australian Hip Hop enjoying his time in the sun. 

Number 12 on the 100% Independent Album Charts

It's pretty exciting when musicians of this pedigree get together and follow their artistic whims. The Break's Church Of The Open Sky is the result of four incredible musicians indulging their passions... it's a sound to behold.

The band is three parts Midnight Oil (Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie and Martin Rotsey) and one part Violent Femmes (Brian Ritchie), it's an unlikely mix of two significant bands and although those who know the Oil's oeuvre mightn't be so suprised that the guitars and drums of one of our legendary political rock bands feel most confortable playing Surf Rock, for many it'll be shock. An album of rockin, vintage instrumental surf music for your listening pleasure.

When this band talks of being inspired by surf they're not speaking of Quicksilver branded pro-tours, they're reminiscing about smooth glassy waves at dawn, salty hair, vanilla milk-shakes, the sunburn and the wax of their upbringing on Sydney's northern beaches. It's an album of romance.

Number 2 on the 100% Independent Album Charts
Number 5 on the Independent Label Album Charts

Knoxville Sentinel News called Sally Seltmann 'an emotional vampire'... I don't really get it but it sounds profound. 

The Age said 'Sally Seltmann is an unsung national treasure, one of Australia's most gifted songwriters'... I get that. It's true. Sally Seltmann's album will surely go down as one of the years very best.

The album's bright-eyed feel is inspired by life changes. "I had a baby in late 2008 [with husband Darren Seltmann, from The Avalanches], and this was a dream come true for me. I think that's the reason why the album is so uplifting. I also had success as a songwriter with Feist's 1234 and that has made me believe in myself more as a songwriter," says Sally.

There’s also a love of timeless pop that is captured in Heart That's Pounding. While creating the album, Sally was listening to songs like Eternal Flame, and Manic Monday. "I wanted to create songs with a classic radio sing-a-long feel," she says. Sally also draws inspiration from the David Lynch classic Twin Peaks, and from the soulful live performances of Nina Simone. "I wanted to marry the classic pop song with a darker, more complicated feel". Tracks like Dream About Changing and Harmony To My Heartbeat, have a bounding life-force, whereas On The Borderline and Heart That's Pounding have complex shades of darkness, hiding behind what first appears to be ordinary and everyday.

 Number 6 On the 100% Independent Radio Charts

The brilliantly titled first single, Bindi Irwin Apocalypse Jam is a typically sunny and subversive ditty from a master of sunny subversive ditties. It's had a bit of Love on community radio and triple J and has thus found itself debuting nicely on the independent radio charts.

Anyway, Dan tells us that he's lived has lived a pretty good life recently:

"i just wake up every day, put on Fela Kuti on my itunes, Bryan Ferry on my tape recorder, Santo and Johnny on the record player and the Kinks on my ipod then try and play along to all at the same time on my heavily delayed Japanese Jaguar while my secretary takes notes and makes me fiber heavy vegan treats. Then i go and beg on the streets of footscray for change to buy internet connection. It's a sweet life really but i know it can't last". 

 Anyway, Bindi Irwin Apocalypse Jam... It bodes excellently for the album. 

Number 1 on the 100% Independent Charts
Number 1 on the Independent Label Charts

• Last week 9 of the John Butler Trio's tracks made the top 20 independent tracks on radio.
• Earlier this year, the first single from the album, One Way Road debuted at number 1 on both the the 100% Independent and Independent Label Singles Charts
• Late last year One Way Road also debuted at number 1 on both the the 100% Independent and Independent Label Radio Charts
• Close To You, the second single to radio from the album debuted last month at number 1 on both the 100% Independent and Independent Label Radio Charts.
• This week, April Uprising is number one on both our album charts, Close to you is number one on both radio play charts and One Way Road is number one on the 100% Independent Single charts, pipped in the final chart by The Temper Trap.

So, now that The John Butler Trio have added another milestone to their a formidable record on the independent charts the question is how long will they remain there? Sunrise Over Sea has so far spent 168 weeks in the AIR Charts and Grand National is only just behind with 156 weeks. April Uprising has a long way to go but I'd be suprised if we don't marvel at it's longevity in the independent charts at least 150 weeks from now.

Debuting at Number 2 on the Independent Label Albums Chart 

Chairman of the Country Music Association of Australia since 2003, 32 Albums, 10 Videos, 5 DVD's, 23 Golden Guitar Awards, ARIA's APRA Awards and more than 2 million albums sold.  John Williamson is a gigantic figure in Australian country music.

Call him what you want, 'Mallee Boy', 'True Blue' or just plain 'Fair Dinkum', there is no denying that after 40 years in the music industry, John Williamson is an Australian icon.

After Slim Dusty, who else has had such an impact on our own self-image and perceptions of Australia through song? It's fitting that John's career be celebrated after 40 years of making music in Australia, he's one of the old guard, singing folk and country songs of old world values, pride in country and love of land.

This album, through his own label Gum Leaf and Universal is a retrospective of John's greatest hits and his debut at number 2 in the indie charts says something about the timelessness of his music and the way Australians identify to it. An incredible achievement from a career that will have legs for decades to come.

Number 1 - Independent Label through Independent Distrbution
Number 5 -  Independent Label through any Distribution


It pays to practice and it pays to put on a good live show.

People tell me that Calling All Cars were whipped into shape by their manager Tom Larkin (Shihad). Tom's a guy who knows and appeciates masculine Rock n Roll and the story goes that as their manager, he insisted that Calling All Cars put in months and months at rehearsal studios perfecting their stagecraft before hitting the road. That sort of hardworking and honest rock philosophy almost seems a bit old fashioned these days, we're in a time where the most effective marketing is often done via social networks by technerds and that sort of stuff can negate the need to build a following from relentless touring.

That said, it couldn't have prepared them better for a tour with one of the biggest Rock bands on the planet... Yep. AC/DC played 11 gigs in Australia to a combines total of almost half a million people and Calling All Cars were there every step of the way in support.

The debut album ‘Hold, Hold, Fire’ is Number 1 on the AIR charts this week having had three singles from the album on triple j high-rotation prior to the release. With the help of Larkin's production (he's also worked Shihad, Getaway Plan, Young & Restless) calling all cars is energetic, loud and rough. They're about to embark on a comprehensive tour of the country and if you like your punk rock chorus's catchy and your live shows consistently awesome then you'd best attend!

Debuted at Number 2 on the 100% Indie Album Charts
Debuted at Number 6 on the Indie Label Album Charts

Enjoying your indian summer? Want something a to darken it a little? Well why don't you join thousands of others and get a load of House Vs. Hurrican's debut album, Perspectives.

Only two years into their existence, House Vs. Hurricane  have grown from a promising local talent to one of the most rapidly rising acts in Australian heavy music today. The last 12 months have seen gigs at Soundwave (what? Australian content at Soundwave? The organisers must have felt sick that day!) and supports for Bullet For My Valentine, Misery Signals, The Devil Wears Prada and Australia's own Parkway Drive.

2009 also saw the band headline two of their own sold out national tours before departing for the US to record with famed producer Brian McTernan, who has worked with everyone from Thrice and Hot Water Music to Circa Survive and Darkest Hour.

The end result is House VS Hurricane’s stunning debut full-length, Perspectives. Hardcore kids have done it again. 

Number 1 on the 100% Independent Albums Chart
Number 4 on the Independent Label Albums Chart

Its good to see Obese Records back on top. After a quiet 12 months, One of Australia's formative Hip Hop labels has come out with a killer album from one of their killer stable of producers, M-Phazes. On the strength of some solid air-play, guest MC's and some classic, deep, groovy and complex production, M-Phazes debut album Good Gracious has usurped Eddy Current Suppression Ring and Birds of Tokyo to hit number 1 on the 100% indie label charts in just its second week.

One of the strengths of Good Gracious is it's cohesiveness. An album which never loses site of it's overarching structure from first beat to last which is no small feat when your featuring a different MC on every track. That said, M-Phazes is used to working with different artists, it's the lot of an in-demand producer and apart from work with a myriad of Australian MC's (big names and small), his growing CV includes production credits with Jest and Pharoah Monche, Amerie in the UK and US.

From the humorous to the gritty and the soulful, the album covers some serious ground in the musical spectrum. Showcasing the ridiculously talented future of Australian hip hop (Mantra and Dialectrix) alongside some of the biggest names Australian Hip Hop (Muph and Plutonic, Phraze, Pez and Drapht) there is no doubting M-Phazes' career trajectory is rocketing skyward.

M-Phazes has work with Kimbra and Bertie Blackman already on the books and along with the success of Plutonic Lab (who produced much of Speach Debelle's Mercury Prize winning album in the UK) is taking Australian production to the word stage.

Debuted at number 1 on the independent label charts

Over a two night stand late last year, Triple J bought together a bunch of their favorite artists and put them on a beautiful stage in Melbourne. They then directed them to pay homage to the one of Australia's greatest men of song. Paul Kelly.

The line-up was formidable, John Butler, Missy Higgins, Katy Steele, Bob Evans, Megan Washington, Ozi Batla, Dan Sultan, Paul Dempsey, Claire Bowditch, Adalita and more.

By all accounts the night transcended the caliber of the musicians, the beautiful venue and the majesty of the songs. Triple J have done a great service to a whole new generation of listeners to Australia's youth network. They've taken stars of today and used them to teach a group of young listeners about a musical icon. Someone who's peak popularity in the 80's and 90's might have just passed them by, despite the timelessness of his music.

The fact that this disc debuted at number one on the charts says a lot about the success of the night. I sincerely hope that Triple J make this a tradition. Honor a new artist every year, put on an incredible production and then unleash it on the music buying public.

It's as good a Hall of Fame as we're ever likely to get. What a way to pay tribute.

Debuting at Number 8 in te 100% Indie Album Charts

It seems like the success of Eddy Current Supression Ring has occured despite themselves.

To listen to an ECSR album is to hear a band that just doesn't care. Doesn't care about shifts in tempo, bung notes or out of tune singing, doesn't care for sophistication, marketing or publicity, doesn't even really care if you buy their album.

It always struck me as  ironic and cruel that a band like Eddy Current Suppression Ring, despite their self conscious warts and all approach seemed to be predestined for critical success with a fiercely loyal fanbase of thousands while another 20,000 bands fight it out on Triple J's unearthed website unlikely to ever get signed. It seems that despite an apparet lack of care, ECSR have hit on something that speaks to fans all over the world. Maybe its the lack of pretense, the simplicity of the songs or maybe it's the energy and fragility of their frontman leading their undeniably brilliant live show.

(A friend once told me never to take a girl on a date to an ECSR gig because they all fall in love with the lead singer, masculine, gentle, fragile, caring and good looking, there's no way any other guy in the room can measure up when he spasms and sings "I cooked you dinners/coz you like to eat/with lots of vegies/coz you don't eat meat/we watch scary movies and i cover you eyes..." sigh).

Anyway, the music on 'Rush To Relax" is more of the same with a little more ambition than previous albums. Catchy songs, solid but unpolished rhythm section and brilliant course guitar. Long riffs, instrumental breakdowns and a few pop hits. If ECSR keep churning out albums like this then I won't be complaining. Uniquely Australian, effortless garage punk... and I love it.

Debuting at Bumber 4 on the 100% Indie Radio Charts
Debuting at Number 13 in the Indie Labels Radio Charts

It's an odd name Finabah, but as the band themselves explain, it's a Swedish slang, 'fina' meaning cool, hip, or fine.. 'bah' meaning yeah? ... Cool yeah?

Yeah.

While there's still not much chart action in terms of new release sales and high charting debuts it is great to see bands with a big future making their first splash on the independent charts through radio play. Bands like Melodics and Direct Influence have all debuted in recent weeks with love from Triple J and Community Radio while Finabah, Mojada and Emma Donavan were all winners of Commercial Radio Australia's NA2R competition.

Combining the voice and angst of some of Australia's cross-over emo and 'scene' bands (Kisschasy, Gyroscope come to mind) with some fine balladry and an overt pop sensibility, Finabah is ripe for a huge audience. Big chorus's and hooks abound. Yep, Finabah... coming to a teen drama near you.

Having played alongside acts like The Used, Rise Against, Wolfmother and Spiderbait, as well as playing 300 shows since the release of their first E.P, Finabah already have a wealth of live experience under their belt. Their latest release is available for download off iTunes.

The boys won the Rock category of NA2R last year -  check this out www.na2r.com.au which is a Commercial Radio Australia initiative guaranteeing ATB radio airplay for the winners & a share in $150,000 worth of radio advertising amongst other things, see attached.  NA2R is aimed at unsigned Independent Australian artists and the competition is now in its 9th year.
 

Number 3 on the 100% Indie Radio Charts
Number 12 on the Indie Label Radio Charts

The belligerent riffage and yelping of Eddy Current Supression Ring is features in one of the most played independent songs on Australian radio right now.

This week, we didn't see any new entries in the independent sales charts but all the movement has been in our radio charts. Indeed the former AIR Award and AMP winners have been played across the country on community radio and Triple J for the last couple of weeks, gradually climbing up the top 20. For a cult favorite like ECRS to achieve this sort of penetration is a hell of an achievement.  Indeed, alternative radio have ensured a tangible buzz a month for their smartly titled album third album "rush to relax". Expect to see them on this page when the full length album comes out too.

Anxiety has a glorious bouncy riff and Brendan Suppression's voice rings high and blissfully ignorant of the usual radio protocols demanding audible, understandable lyrics and an in tune voice. It's classic ECSR who've never tried to get famous, never sought radio airplay, never tried to do anything but play the best music that they could, music that they'd love and music that we'd love.

Debuted at Number 1 on the 100% Indie Album Charts
Debuted at Number 3 on the Indie Label Album Charts

The Jagermeister AIR Charts had an interesting look about them this week. You'd have to call it the Tamworth effect, with 7 of our top 20 100% independent albums all performing at Australia's home of country music it's the biggest domination of the charts by one genre we've seen.

The Sunny Cowgirls with two albums in the charts (#1 and #20) head a list of artists that includes perennial country favorite Adam Brand who's also in the charts with two albums (#5 and #13),  Amber Lawrence, Diana Corcoran and Tania Kernaghan.

The Sunny Cowgirls story is a classic. Something that could only happen in Tamworth:

The sisters who had worked as Jillaroos, fruit pickers, roustabouts, cattle ranch hands and even enrolled in a wool classing course, while playing country music at agricultural shows, rodeos, anywhere that would have them, landed themselves in the CMAA College of Country Music in Tamworth and at seminar on marketing and networking conducted by singer Adam Brand (AIR Award winner) early in 2005. How they listened intently, took him at his word and handed over a copy of their independent album of covers and originals, Little Bit Rusty. As Sophie recalls: “I walked up to him and gave him a copy – He looked at it and he was like, oh yeah. He goes ‘I’m going to play it in my ute when I leave here’ and we were like, ‘yeah, right, he’s not going to listen to it’.” He listened, Compass Brothers Records head Graham Thompson listened... and the rest they say is history. Their second album Summer is set to be around for a long time to come.

Number 3 on the 100% Independent Singles Charts
Number 4 on the Independent Label Singles Charts

If you don't watch neighbours then the name Ringo Brown probably won't mean much to you. So just to fill you in, Ringo Brown's a bit of a heart throb on Ramsay St. His tumultuous love life has featured in more than 350 episodes of the show since 2007.

Ringo is played by Sam Clark, a logie nominated actor who, in the tradition of dozens of soap stars before him is beginning his career as a performing artist. Sam's about to release his first full length album and this week his single "Broken" reaches it's highest point on the independent charts yet.

Broken is a power ballad. It's slick, with a soaring chorus and a couple of interesting musical twists. It's been in the independent charts for near on 10 weeks now and has gathered reasonable amount of attention on commercial radio across the country. 

Debuting at Number 4 on the 100% Indie Singles Charts

About 2 months ago, just before an extended tour back to her home country (Australia), Sia tweeted the following:

"Here is my verson of "you've changed" from the forthcoming album WE ARE BORN.leaking! http://www.zshare.net/audio/686504271b8b8938/"

And then "feel free to share with abandon"

Cyberspace went nuts, 20,000 Twitter followers disseminated the track though blogs and retweets. The song featured in Sia's live Australian concerts and then hit the radio. 'You've Changed' has been hovering near the top of our radio charts ever since that tweet and now it's for sale. It's interesting that it's selling so well in it's first week even after she so willingly gave it away to 10's of thousands of fans for free... what does that say about the promotion of music online? Draw your own conclusions.

Anyway, the song was originally recorded as a sprawling House track by  Detroit DJ extraordinaire Lauren Flax. It was a catchy number featuring Sia's layered vocals and a driving synth but it didn't hold a torch to the warmth, bounciness and fun of Sia's own disco influenced band version right here.
 

We've just had a whole year without a single classical album entering the top 20 and now ABC Classics have 3 compilation albums debuting simultaneously?

No. 8: A Night At The Proms
No. 9: A Night At The Opera
No. 11: A Night At The Ballet

Yes, it's stirring, nicely packaged, popular classical music. And yes, ABC Classics continue to dominate sales of Australian Classical music. But it doesn't explain why it was all bought en masse by classic music lovers the week after Christmas. Why not before Christmas?

I was looking for complex answers to the buying habits of classical music fans. Why do they buy their albums after christmas? Huh? Crazy Classical Music Critters!

Then I went to the ABC Shop online. The albums are selling for $5 each. It's a bargain! You can't argue with that.

If you want to get some classical music in your collection then this is they way to start. A cheap, great quality introduction to some of the worlds greatest music. Sure, it's the pop music of the classical world but everyone loves Elgar's Nimrod and Holst's Jupiter. And if you don't think you do, trust me, you just don't know it yet!

According to The Wellingtons,  "Life's Too Short To Listen To Bad Power Pop". So  they've taken it upon themselves to write some of the most infectious  pop-rock this side of Supergrass and Weezer.

For a band that is relatively unknown in this country, The Wellingtons have achieved remarkable success worldwide. In their 5 years together they’ve released 3 albums through labels in Japan, Spain, U.K, and U.S.A. and Australia. Touring all those countries and more, they’ve founded a loyal fan base world wide that includes members of some of their most influential bands like Motion City Soundtrack, Fountains of Wayne, Jellyfish, The Muffs and The Posies to name a few.

Relentlessly happy and hooky (in their own words they're "glistening and saccharine"), their latest album "Heading North For The Winter" was released in Spain, Japan, UK and USA long before it saw the light of day in this country. A shame because a cursery listen through their back-catalogue shows a band that should have been a mainstay on commercial radio in this country long ago. It's also reviewed it's pants off in the UK and USA with publications on both sides of the Atlantic heaping praise on the band.

So now, it's their turn to break the Australian market, with the first single from "Head North For The Winter" debuting on the radio charts at number 15 this week, they're set to put some of their less worldy and younger upstarts (cough... Shortstack cough...) back in their place.

Debuting at Number 18 on the DStar Independent Radio Charts

We noted a few months ago that we were experiencing a purple patch of independent hardcore bands achieving great success. Hardcore bands hit the top of the AIR Charts time and time again this year despite the polarising heaviness of the music.

On the other side of the coin, success has come over and over again with Australian Idol 'rejects'. Artists that have left Sony and by choice, or necessity become independent. Ricki-Lee is the obvious one, but we can also add Jacob Butler, Bobby Flynn and Lisa Mitchell to the list of artists that have used Australian Idol as a springboard to success despite the stigma attached to the manufactured feel of reality talent contests.

The latest development is the comeback of Paulini, who after surviving a very public relationship breakdown with an NRL player due to abuse has released a song drawing attention to White Ribbon day and the heinous behavior of those that perpetrate domestic violence. It's a brave and public move for the singer but it serves the dual function of re-invigorating her career and leading the fight against domestic violence by shining example.

See Paulini's Press Release Below.

“What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger. Losing you means I live longer.”

Paulini was barely in her 20’s as we watched her shine through the lens of the first series of Australian Idol, thrust into the spotlight as the competition reached fever like pitch. She left the competition at the final four stage and went on to carve out a successful solo career, complete with number one single “Angel Eyes” and album “One Determined Heart”, and a highly successful turn with vocal group “Young Divas”.

It was during this time, at the height of her career three years ago, she was involved in a violent relationship where physical abuse would be followed by declarations of love and promises that it would never happen again.

“I believed him. At the time I couldn’t see there was nothing left in me. I was dry. I was scared of him, scared of the impact on my career and scared of the shame. I couldn’t see it wasn’t my fault. I just wanted it to go away and didn’t want any questions. Thank goodness my friends and family were there for me. They gave me the strength and power to finally leave.”

Two months later Paulini wrote “Scarless”, her soul-felt acknowledgement of the past and overwhelming optimism to look positively to the future. The lyrics tell of the brutal emotional and mental damage of domestic violence with the song having an even greater impact as it comes from Paulini’s own personal experience.

“I want women to take action. I want people to actually do something. If you know someone who is a victim, speak out. Break The Silence. Those who are doing this need to know it’s wrong. I really regret I didn’t stand up for myself. I hope people will hear my song and be inspired.”

She says she’s developed both musically and personally in the last few years, the songwriting process and development of “Scarless” proving cathartic, enabling her to emerge defiant, strong, courageous.

Paulini is now moving her career forward in a fresh and positive manner, having just finished a sell-out tour with the Ladies of Jazz, and inking a publishing deal with Alberts Music (home of ACDC and Vanda and Young).

“I’m spending all my spare time in the studio writing and producing all my own work. “Scarless” is only one of a number of songs I’m preparing for my album next year. I can’t wait!” she enthuses. “I’m at the happiest point in my life. Words from my new single say it all – ‘No need to put my make up on to cover the scars coz the scars are gone. Now I’m scarless. It’s true.”

Paulini’s new single “Scarless” will be released on 23rd November to help raise awareness for White Ribbon Day, and the White Ribbon Campaign. ...  

In it's first week of sales "One Way Road" is number one on the Jagermeister 100% Indie Singles Chart, Indie Label Singles Chart, 100% Indie Radio Chart and Indie Label Radio Chart. That's 4 out of 6 of our weekly charts... It's never happened before! Just wait til the full album "April Rising" comes out next year, he'll be gunning for all 6 charts!

John Butler's story is unique. His 10 year development from street musician to bonafide superstar has spawned a thousand copys but his music, his musicianship and his history can't and won't be replicated. He's a true jewell of Australian music.

John and his label Jarrah Records are figureheads of Australian music (not just Australian independent music). The John Butler Trio may well have been lucky enough to come at a time when Australian music is crying out for a social conscience and some blues riffs, but it takes skill, persistence, patience and an incredible team (management, label staff and family) to remain at the top of your game for a decade.

December is a rough time for chart watchers. New releases get less and less  coverage while the charts become a tad predictable and uninspiring. Established artists reignite their sales and larger labels ramp up their marketing campaigns to take advantage of the Christmas dollar. It's no surprise that artists like Powderfinger, John Butler Trio, The Waifs and Hilltop Hoods increase their stranglehold over the indie sales charts when the mainstream music buying public come out to play in order to fill some stockings. Meanwhile, award winners like CW Stoneking (AIR and ARIA Awards), Bertie Blackman (AIR and ARIA Awards), Sarah Blasco (ARIA and J Award) are getting more entries in the top 20.

So it's refreshing to see a new, 100% indie band who've engaged with AIR plenty of times before, climb the sales charts to their highest point so far. Tin Alley have been hanging around the airplay and singles charts for about a month now but a spike in sales of "Out Of Control" has made them mover of the week.

Produced by the perplexingly named Stuart Stuart (Veronicas, Small Mercies) "Out Of Control" features an anthemic FM Rock chorus exploring the "excesses of youth, rock stardom and fame". Woah, i mean it's a good start but you're you're not there yet boys! 

Debuted at Number 8 on the 100% Indie Albums

Charts They call him the black Elvis. He's got great hair, he can shake his hips and he's one of the most handsome men I've ever met but still, wasn't Elvis a white guy trying to BE Black? Dan's proud of his indigenous heritage an he certainly ain't a black guy trying to be a white guy trying to be a black guy. Nope, he's a soul machine and he's the real deal. An unstoppable performing force. A charming man and a consumate performer.

 Dan started gigging life in the The Roys. Playing the Gershwin Room in Melbourne, the highlight of a Roy's set was where Dan took his shirt off (he wasn't quite as buff in those days) and the band sung a sleazy, stomping, swinging number called Sexy Man. It was hilarious, verging on ludicrous and certainly didn't point to his potential as one of the country's most charismatic frontmen.

The title track was inspired by a tale of a couple soon to be separated by war. Their lifeline, someone who these days would be referred to as a people smuggler. Themes range from drug addiction, prison and domestic violence to skydiving accidents and goddess worship, while musically leaping from big band soul to outback country and rockabilly and beyond… ‘Get Out While You Can' has some special guest performers including Ella Hooper and the legendary Vika and Linda Bull. Dan Sultan and Scott Wilson are artists who make full strength albums that unashamedly cross boundaries and genres and take the listener on a memorable journey.

Debuting at Number 8 on the AIR 100% Indie Albums Charts


Who discovered Bridezilla? Who was the person that found a band of teenage multi-instrumentalists and saw that in four years time, they'd have potential to become one of the most intriguing and beguiling bands in the country?  I need to shake their hand!

Bridezilla's music is a lush rock n' roll. The subtlety in the vocal delivery, the effortless dark harmonies, string textures and short stabs of saxaphone make for a moody soundscapes. But amidst the meloncholy atmospherics there's songwriting prowess that shines through. It's dramatic but never overought, you can sing along to these songs or sit on a windswept shoreline and reflect on better days. Beautiful stuff.

Calling these guys wunderkinds just doesn't do justice to the quality of the debut album. 'The First Dance'  lives to up the favoritism shown them by artists like Nick Cave and all the other critical darlings that tour the world under the guise of the All Tomorrow's Parties festivals (The Drones, The Dirty Three, PJ Harvey to name a few). This band can hold their own. Produced by KRAMER (LOW, PALACE SONGS) & mastered by GREG CALBI (GRIZZLY BEAR, MODEST MOUSE) Bridezilla boasts a unique blend of fragile folk, twisted jazz, & wandering pop and although it's an amazing start, music fans in this country must be licking their lips at what this band may serve up in the future.

Debuting at Number One on the Indie Labels Charts

Wofmother's debut self titled album was occasionally dismissed as just another niche fulfilled in the retro rock revival that we've been subjected to over the last half a decade. It was Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin lite. That said,  it's damned hard to deny the guilty pleasure of listening songs like Woman, White Unicorn and Minds Eye. Millions of people bought into their monstrous riffs, soaring chorus' and thunderous rhythm section, in fact the album went 5 times platinum in Australia, Gold in the US, UK and Canada. It picked up a swag of awards including Grammy a bunch of APRA's and ARIAs. It's hard to argue with success like that!

But backstage at Spendour in The Grass 2008, with rumours rife about the impending split of the headlining act, I'm sure I wasn't the only person who thought I was watching the end of Wolfmother. It seemed like their flame had burned brightly before extinguishing itself under the weight of it's own success. The band weren't even talking, it's said the Andrew Stockdale's a hard dude to get along with. It was over.

Fast forward 18 months and Stockdale has pulled off a remarkable feat. Rebuilt his band, written another epic album and jumped back on the horse. Wolfmother 2.0 is about to embark on another couple of years of hard touring, gigging and promotional work, it's a rock n' roll juggernaut that has unstoppable momentum. Maybe it's down to Stockdale's audacious songwriting and maybe it's because there's a lack of quality balls-to-the-wall guitar Rock N Roll these days but whatever it is, punters are set to lap up the new album just like the last one.

Musically, all the ingredients remain, lyrical content, song structures and performances remain on par with the debut, with perhaps just a little more sophistication. Cosmic Egg (again released by Modular through EMI) is a natural progression, nothing too surprising, it's appeal is immediate and the guilty pleasure of turning it up and rocking out to it remains. It's going to stay on top of the charts for a long time to come!

Debuting at Number 4 on the 100% Indie Charts
Debuting at Number 11 on the Indie Label Charts

The hardcore kids have spoken again. Byron Bay hardcore act 50 Lions' new album 'When Life Expires' has debuted at number 4 on the 100% indie charts and is Mover Of The Week

It's been a notable week for new indie releases. The legendary Necks, released another epic, slow-burning improvisation and have debuted at 15 on the 100% indie charts. The Necks, live or recorded remain both the most exhausting and most blissful band in the world, 'Silverwater' is typically spellbinding in it's conception and development. Meanwhile number one on the Indie Label Charts has been snatched by Matt Tilleys disc 'The Gotcha Calls - The Final Call'. Not bad for a comedy album with no music whatsoever!

But it's 50 Lions, released through Resist Records who've made the biggest surprise entry on the charts. The band have been around the traps for almost 5 years now, propelled by a tireless work ethic and multiple Australian, New Zealand and European tours, 50 Lions are a global force in their genre.

As many of their hardcore peers head into more melodic or metal territory on, this five-piece insist on taking an authentic heavy approach, spurred on by the likes of New York greats Cro Mags and Madball, they approach a more traditional sound.

“Instead of sounding like a band that was influenced by bands who were influenced by them, we’ve really taken it back to the source of the inspiration,” frontman Oscar McCall insists Inline with this attitude, recording of the bands sophomore album titled “Where Life Expires” took place once again with Sam Johnson at Melbourne’s 3 Phase Studios. Armed with a new album, they’re now itching to return to stages across the globe in the coming months, starting this November with a national tour of Australia where they will be joined by US band Trapped Under Ice.

Also, it should be noted that homegrown label, Resist Records are quite frankly smashing it right now. With an enviable roster, the last couple of moths have seen release after release of great Australian Punk and Hardcore has strike a chord with punters. Great Stuff

Debuting at Number 1 on the Jagermeister 100% Indie Album Charts

Debuting at Number 6 on the Jagermeister Indie Label Album Charts

2 years ago, Megan Washington performed a half hour recital with young jazz pianist Sean Foran (Misinterprotato). The reason? Megan's 2nd year recital at Melbourne Conservatory. It was recorded and later released as an album called Nighlight by Jazz label Newmarket music, it made a tiny splash upon release but we've not seen or heard of it since.

These days Megan Washington known simply as Washington. Musically,  she's made a shift from jazz to intricate and uplifting chamber pop. Check out her myspace, buy her 'How To Tame Lions' or 'Clementine', it's beautiful stuff. There's been a groundswell building for months now, she's got an incredible voice and she's a gifted songwriter. Her clips are gorgeous and she's made grown men cry with an improvised/televised performance on Spics and Specs.

The buzz around Washington's latest activity goes a long way to to explaining why a forgotten gem, a jazz album by a quartet recorded live in a recital hall in Melbourne by a bunch of performers still at university made it's way this week to number one on the Jagermeister AIR Album charts. It seems that Nightlight has finally been discovered by the music buying public. There's no frills here and no production tricks. It's just bass, drums, piano and voice. Raw but beautiful. This album paints Washington as a sophisticate's Norah Jones. Or maybe you could treat it like a folk-lover's foray into jazz. Whatever. When you get to their spellbinding cover of Radioheads 'No Surprises' you could just call it great.

Debuting at Number 1 on the 100% Indie Album Charts

Debuting at Number 6 on the Indie Label Album Charts

In Australia, kids like hardcore.
In the recent AIR Awards voting, Punk/Hardcore and Hard Rock had the strongest field of all genres. The depth keenly fought category was a result of literally dozens of top notch albums released by labels like Resist, Stomp, Boomtown, Taperjean and BNM over the past year. They're certainly keeping themselves busy.

That said, these weekly charts aren't genre specific and the fact that 'Cancer' has debuted at number one (beating out bands with a much higher mainstream following, releasing far more radio friendly music) is made all the more remarkable knowing that:  1. They are a hardcore band (there aint many singalong melodies in this one!) and 2. they play half their gigs to an all ages teenage audience that more than likely haven't bought music since their older brothers showed them how to use BitTorrent.

Confession spent the last five months working on the the follow up to 2008's EP "Can't Live Can't Breathe" (which featuring cracking songs with highly original names like "let's talk about sex" and "ice ice baby"), recording the bands debut album  at Adelaide's Sound House Studio's and mixed with DW Norton in Melbourne. It's heavy stuff but the musicianship is stunning. Awesome riffage, tempo changes and pounding double kicks drive the music underneath some scintillating vocal delivery. It's struck a note with fans prior to an extensive nationwide tour which is sure to see them in the charts for weeks, possibly months to come. Check them out.

Debuting at Number 2 on the 100% Indie Album Charts
Debuting at Number 17 on the Indie Label Album Charts

If there's criticism to be leveled at a lot of the Australian hip hop we hear on the radio, it's that the prominent style of half rap/half yell delivery lacks subtlety. Sure many artists know how to make you bounce around and heaps more know how to use a sweet soul sample, but these days real Australian hip hop audiences are looking for more lyrical and musical depth.

You need to travel off the beaten path or look to a few seasoned MC's like Urthboy, Hau or Nfa to hear people that can make you nod knowingly at their lyrics or smile inwardly at their turn of phrase and nuanced delivery. That's why Horrorshow are a pleasure to listen to. At just 22, MC Solo and Producer Adit aren't trying to knock your block off. They've released bona fide creeper. Get ready for one of the most rewarding hip hop listens of 2009, a few listens and you're hooked.
HORRORSHOW bring the energetic optimism and anxiousness of post-school pre-mortgage times to life. The lyrical and musical sophistication defy their youthfulness – but they play it humble and earnest, stripping away any pretension.

Horrorshow’s extended crew SPIT SYNDICATE guest on one track while THE HERD’s JANE TYRRELL drops a sweet duet with Solo on another. They're in the midst of an epic national tour with Urthboy and Polo Club (they've been selling out everywhere they've played) and it if they're debut week in the charts is anything to go by, they've got a big part to play in the future of Australian hip hop."

"This is Australia's youngest, most conscious, ego-free hip hop crew, and they're building some very strong foundations" - The Brag

"As a pair, they're certified dynamite...Horrorshow is the tumult of exuberant and irrepressible youth" - Martin Kingsley, Wonderbread Blog

Philadelphia Grand Jury - Hope Is For Hopers

Number 1 On the 100% Indie Albums Chart
Number 3 on the Indie Label Albums Chart

Broken Leg: Number 2 on the Indie Label Singles Charts

Head Of The Hawk: Number 3 on the Indie Label Albums Charts

Did you know that Bluejuice formed a skipping team and jumped off against Team Shimmer in the World Skipping Championship final? Check out their myspace, check out their website. It's true. No sh*t!

Two years ago at the East Brunswick Hotel in Melbourne, Bluejuice treated me and a packed house to one of the years most lovingly shambolic live shows.  They've come a long way but they still retain a chaotic charm.

Amidst the comedy, low cut tracksuit pants (pubes visible!), skipping videos and jokes about religious sects it's clear that these guys know how to write a catchy song. The harmonies are powerful and fresh... the gents just  their heads back and sing with handfuls of classic rock organ arpeggios and power chords to back them up.

The album retains the choatic, dancable feel of their debut, balancing tongue-in-cheek style with (their words, not mine) "brutal levels of aggression, self-hatred and misery. FUN!" It's like a house party in a maximum security prison!

Number 4 on the 100% Indie Singles Charts

Number 12 on the Indie Label Singles Charts

If you’ve had your eyes on the AIR charts over the last couple of months you’ll be aware that Adam Brand is fast becoming one of Australia’s biggest independent artists. It’s all got to do with the fact that he’s a fantastic country artist with a long history of independent success on the Compass Brothers Label…

…that and the fact the fact that he’s been tearing up the dancefloor on Dancing With The Stars to an television audience of millions.

After releasing ‘Greatest Hits 1998 – 2008’ last year to massive sales, his next album ‘Hell Of A Ride’ made an impact on the AIR charts immediately. Now months after it’s release, on the back of his primetime fleetfootedness he’s made a resurgence.

Adams latest single “Ready For Love” has hit number 4 on the 100% indie single charts this week but if you’re quick you get free MP3 of the song at http://adambrand.squarespace.com/

The song itself is funky country, with a touch of gosepel too. It features Adam’s distinctive country and some seriously classy guitar work between dabs of the ole wurlitzer. A rockin mover of the week from an artist who's musical output and commercial success is going from strength to strength.

Number 3 on the 100% Indie Singles Charts
Number 10 on the indie Label Singles Charts

Radio loves him, Glenn Wheatley loves him, Molly Meldrum loves him and now it seems that the buying public have jumped on the bandwagon.
After being picked up on radio (making an impact in AIR's Radio Charts) a month ago, Marc's single "I Miss Everything" has made the transition from radio play to sales. With a slick film clip and a massive tour supporting John Farnham under way we'll be seeing plenty more of him.

It's always interesting when an artist like Marc Collis shoots up the independent charts. At AIR we're used to the charts being the domain of triple j favorites with commercial crossover (Temper Trap, Bluejuice, Hilltop Hoods and John Butler are are case and point). But here and now, Marc joins Samantha Jade, J Wess and Ricki-Lee as this years 100% indie releases who've cracked the commercial radio market alone and seen it translate to significant sales.

It's easy to leave radio friendly ballads to the majors but the fact is that there's some mighty fine commercial pop being released on indies Australia wide. "I Miss Everything" is a classic rock ballad complete with melancholy piano and a voice cracking with emotion during the verses before launching into wave after wave of soaring chorus. I was quivering with anticipation, where's the key change? Where's the scorching guitar solo? Oh well, I'm going to  hazard a guess that I'll be able to lose myself in plenty more classic rock moments when the full album is released.  Bon Jovi, Nickelback and Rob Thomas, look over your shoulder because we've got an artist that's doing his damndest to beat you at your own game.

Number 1 on the Jagermeister AIR 100% Indie Charts
Number 7 on the Jagermeister AIR Indie Label Charts


We've featured Urthboy a fair bit over the past couple of Months in the AIR charts. We don't like to play favorites but the fact is that if you have a single debuting at number 1 on the 100% indie  single charts a month before your album debuts at number 1 on the 100% indie album charts, then you've achieved something worth shouting about.

Urthboy's been a busy man. He gave away a rad free single for download about 6 months ago, released a slamming electro-hip-hop gem of a single a few months later, wrote an entertaining blog and announced a national tour. The momentum heading into the release of this album was unstoppable.
The whole process would have digital marketing strategists licking their lips, but the fact is, you can't build a groundswell if the music is crap. And frankly, the music's wicked! With the festival season soon to begin, a national tour starting in a couple of weeks it's time get down and watch Urthboy tear it up on stage.

Debuting at Number 5 on The Jagermeister 100% Indie Charts

What to say about Oh Mercy? In the end, it all boils down to great, classic songwriting. Sure the performances are great, there's some sweet harmonica, the odd twinkling glockenspiel and moments of lush detail but when you can write songs like this, with such sweet melancholy, there's no need for gimmicks. These guys write great songs, it's "intelligent pop music the envelops the listener, leaving a glorious and indelible mark on the soul".
Oh Mercy have produced a follow up to their wildly acclaimed debut EP (most excellently titled "In The Nude For Love" ) that recalls the halcyon days of Australian songwriting, the similarities to The Go Betweens and The Triffids are unmistakeable. Stripped back sound, subtle embellishments and melodies abound. It's a treat for the listener.

Recorded in a spare room in the bands house, the size of a single bed, by Myles Wootton (The Panics) - the band literally had to put the mattress against the wall to record. The album was then mixed by Matt Voigt (Cat Power, The Dirty Three, Paul Kelly) and mastered by Steve Fallone at Sterling Sound (TV on The Radio, The Strokes)

The Band will head across the country in October to launch the tour. Check out tour dates and other info at www.myspace.com/ohmercyband

Number 1 on the Jagermeister AIR 100% Indie Charts

Dappled Cities have been around for 10 years releasing a rock/pop of increasing quality and sophistication, but this is something else. As their label says, " It is their masterpiece; a sophisticated, grown-up opus epic."

After two years of intense international touring and songwriting, they've teamed up with a world class production team to create an album as good as anything released this year on the world stage. Produced by Chris Cody (TV On The Radio) and mixed by Wayne Connolly (Silverchair) the album is full of synth textures, sweeping orchestral lines, a pulsing rhythm section and commanding vocal performances. It's stirring stuff.

It takes a special album to knock Geoffrey Gurmul Yunupingu off the top of the AIR Charts. He's been there for almost 2 years now, but if this sudden rise to the top of AIR's 100% indie charts is the sign of things to come then Zounds may well be the album we all look back on as the moment Dappled Cities Flew.

Obese Records

Debuting at Number 4 on the 100% Indie Album Charts



MC Pegz's solo albums are notable for their old school production and the man's broad delivery and direct flow. There's no denying that he was a bit of a traditionalist.  Those albums were hot stuff at the time but in the pantheon of Australian hip hop they'll be looked at as albums that further solidified the popularity of a burgeoning scene and it's biggest label, not something that pushed it along in leaps and bounds.

Anyway, Pegz already has a huge legacy as a true pioneer of Australian hip hop... his largest contribution was as Tiren Staaf, the on-running, long term role as head honcho of the genre's most successful Australian label, Obese Records. Right?

Well, that might be about to change. Returning from a recording hiatus, Pegz has re-emerged with the formation of Gully Platoon, a three-pronged attack from three of Australian hip hop’s most formidable talents. Forging a brand new path and sound, Gully Platoon features the voice of Pegz alongside new breed MCs Dialectrix and former Down Under Beats co-member Joe New. This is the sound of the Obese Crew banding together. Pooling their creative talents and creating a new flagship act for the label. It's something new, something that will make a serious dent in the Australian hop hop landscape. Something that's been missing from the Obese roster since the Hilltop Hoods decided leave the label to go it alone.

This is Gully Platoon:

"The group set forth to release Australian hip hop’s most challenging record, one that is boundless, bold, and unafraid to venture into different musical realms. Titled The Great Divide, the 13 tracks fight the restrictive nature of genres with songs that meld the worlds of old school hip hop with ominous undertones, soulful rhythm & blues, minimalist electronica, and some hard hitting rock."

"With production duties handled by Plutonic Lab, Jase and J.Squared to name a few, The Great Divide is the pinnacle of razor sharp musical textures crashing together with 3 of the most talented rhymesmiths in the business, all underlined by the surgically precision of DJ 2buck. Flow after flow, Gully Platoon’s three-wave assault ignites the senses, tackling issues with unmatched urgency from unseen angles. In “Bank Job”, they take the role of modern day Robin Hoods, taking down the crumbling economic monopolies to feed the struggles of their chosen causes."

Ricki-Lee - Don't Miss You

Debuting at number 1 one the 100% Indie charts and Number 2 on the independent label charts

The winner of Australian Idol gets a contract with Sony. Riding on a post idol wave of momentum, they'll release a debut album that hits the top of the ARIA charts for a week or so before fading into the ether. You may have had your 15 minutes but you ain't gonna make a lasting impression. No, longevity within an industry as brutal as the commercial pop business takes something special, something very different from winning TV singing contest.

Ricki-Lee was cast into the wilderness as a surprise early exit from idol years ago now, she attacked a pop career with vigor, started her own label "Public Opinion" and has ever since, released commercial pop gems with relentless regularity. She may not fit the archetype of an 'indie' artist, but she's doing it herself and she's just debuted at Number 1 on the 100% indie singles chart. It ain't the first time she's been there.

Don’t Miss You is the middle fingered solute of a debut single from Ricki-Lee’s third studio album. Apparently it's directed her ex-husband... ouch! It's an anthemic track dedicated to "those who have found higher ground, post a painful relationship break-up. This song is about overcoming a meltdown and wanting to take on the world"

“Being free to write exactly what I was feeling at that time, after a personally challenging year in 2008 was the most healing experience I could have been offered – music has the power to transcend and I know that more than anyone after writing these songs” says Ricki-Lee about the material from the new album.
 

Number 4 on the Jagermeister 100% Independent Charts


"One morning I woke up and I was a country singer. You can't be a proper country singer until your looks have gone. I checked in the mirror, and that confirmed it... Some people claim that I must have met the devil at the crossroads, Robert Johnson-style. Well, I did, actually. It was the corner of Springvale and Cheltenham Rds at the local Bunnings."

And that was it. The one time sh*t stirrer with TISM had taken off his balaclava, donned a cowboy hat and started a country rock band.

When Root! released it's eloquently titled debut album "Root Supposed He Was Out Of The Question" featuring the lead song "I wish I was Tex Perkins" it was easy to laugh. But it was clear that  DC Root is this country’s most original, articulate, angry, funny singer/songwriter/spoken word artist. He is joined in the band by two former members of Ice Cream Hands, a German-born movie soundtrack composer and a keyboard prodigy who has played with the likes of Eric Burdon and Crowded House.

Root!’s new album is called “Surface Paradise” – an epic, hour-long “song cycle” that weaves a theme of modern life’s sinister subtext through a collection of tragicomic stories and characters, and a genre-busting mix of bar-band rock, lush pop, electro, roots and musique concrete.

It’s the smartest dumb rock ‘n roll album you’ll hear this year.

Number 17 on the Jagermeister 100% Indie Singles Chart


Tim Levinson aka Urthboy has been an Australian independent music stalwart for more than a decade now. Running the awesome Elefant Traks label, out the front of The Herd and releasing some truly exceptional solo material. Urthboy's last album 'The Signal' still rates as one of the most underrated Australian hip hop albums on our record store shelves while 'Hellboy', the first single from the forthcoming album 'Spitshine' was released free to punters worldwide 6 months ago. It's the most downloaded track from the Triple J website this year.

'Ready To Go' is the second single from 'Spitshine' and it combines some cranking synth lines, breakneck breakbeats and Nat Dunn's rockin chorus to embrace a more commercial style for Urthboy. It's catchy, it's groovy, it's energetic and it'll continue to climb these charts. Mark our words!
 

Debuting at Number 1 On The Jagermeister Independent Label Charts

In a week where Decoder Ring (# 3 in the 100% Indie Charts) released a gorgeous, intricate double album, Sugar Army (#2 In the 100% Indie Charts) made a smashing debut and Jen Cloher climbed immediately  to #6, new indie music has a had a good time of it in Australia. That said, nothing was ever going to trump Sarah Blasko's long awaited first week entry of # 1 on the Independent Labels Chart.

'As Day Follows Night', recorded in Sweden with Bjorn (of Peter Bjorn and John fame) has received glowing review after glowing review. It's  melancholic lead single 'All I Want' is still feauring heavily on AIR's radio play charts while her blog documenting the recording process has made for entertaining reading in the months leading up to the albums release. The music itself is beautifully orchestrated; all tinking pianos, deftly played saws, strings, whistles, baroque flourishes on the guitar and little woodblocks...  and always Sarah's idiosyncratic voice rising above. A beautiful album worth waiting for.
 

Debuting at Number 6 On the Jagermeister 100% Indie Charts

 Infusion, veterans of Australia's dance music scene are this weeks Jagermeister Mover Of the Week.  All Night Sunlight is the bands 3rd full length album and their first released independently. The change in label homes is accompanied by a shift in musical focus as dance music maestros have put together an album comprising 11 concise, shimmering exemplary displays of machine pop. Infusion's brand of dance has always dabbled in the pop world, but on All Night Sun Light they've wholeheartedly plunged in, while still engineering a sound completely at home in the dark world of strobes and sweat.

The lead song from the album, '2 Player Game' has been featuring on AIR's radio charts for a couple of weeks now and after making such an impact this week, we're tipping that this album with give bands like The Presets and Grafton Primary a run for their money in Australia's booming elctro-pop scene.

BREAK EVEN - THE BRIGHT SIDE

#13 - Jagermeister AIR 100% Indie Albums Chart

 
After releasing an EP of their own in 2006 and a split EP in 2007, Perth punks Break Even have shot into the AIR Album charts to place at lucky 13 with their debut full length. The album title is inspired by the band's ethos of positivity, they're trying "to find the bright side in everything, whether it be in life, in dreams, or in loss". The sound is raw and passionate and with cracking tracks like 'November 18th' and 'A Long Drive Home' this album set to make an impact.

Jayne Denham - Shake This Town (Shock Country/SHK)

#6 Jagermeister AIR 100% Indie Album Charts

Jayne Denham struck a chord with country music fans, especially the Ute fraternity. ‘Chick Ute’ was followed by album ‘Sudden Change in Weather’ which was touted as ‘a superb debut album’ in Capital News Magazine. The new album is a reflection of Jayne’s country rock style with a blend of reflective ballads and will be welcomed by her growing fan base. Shake This Town Debuts at #6 on the Jagermeister AIR 100% Indie Albums chart this week.

Karnivool - Sound Awake

#1 Jagermeister AIR Indie Label Albums Chart

Karnivool are back with their second album Sound Awake, an album so epic it's been four years in the making. With as many soaring vocals as there are complex time signatures, this is prog-rock that's crammed with sonic depth. Sound Awake is also more of a collaborative effort for Karnivool, with all of the band involved in the writing process. It Debuts at the top of the pack this week in the Jagermeister AIR Indie Label Albums Chart.

Brad Strut - Fallout Shelter (Crookneck Records/SGN)

#4 Jagermeister AIR 100% Indie Albums Chart

#18 Jagermeister AIR Independent Label Albums Chart

Fallout Shelter is the new EP from Melbourne-bred, North London-based MC Brad Strut. In a radical departure from his acclaimed 2007 sophomore Legend: Official, the core member of Australia's pioneering Lyrical Commission has crafted a stunning narrative that runs through six hard hitting tracks by Beat Butcha, whose work with the likes of Braintax and Jehst has put him in the ranks of the UK's finest contemporary hip hop producers. The EP comes with all the instrumentals, plus a second CD in the form of the Rejuvenation LP – remixes of Strut classics by leading producers from the UK and Australia, including M-Phazes, Jehst, Chemo, Trials, Dazastah and more. It debuts in the Jagermeister AIR Independent Album charts at #4 this week.

Closure In Moscow - First Temple (Independent/SHK)

#5 Jagermeister AIR Album 100% Indie Chart

First Temple is the debut full-length from Closure In Moscow. It follows an impressive EP, over one million MySpace plays, and a mention in Alternative Press as one of the "100 Bands You Need To Know In 2009". It debuts at #5 on the Jagermeister AIR Albums 100% Indie chart this week.

 The Getaway Plan - 2004-2009 (Boomtown Records/SHK)

#4 Jagermeister AIR 100% Indie Album Chart

#14 Jagermeister AIR Indie Labels Album Chart

This weeks Jagermeister AIR Charts "Mover Of The Week" comes from The Getway Plan. The group decided to call it quits earlier this year and 2004-2009 is (you guest it) a best of that includes The Getaway Plan’s EP, Demos and Singles. All up it's 21 tracks that defined this bands short career. It debuts at #4 on the 100% indie charts this week.

The Red Shore - Lost Verses

#4 - Jagermeister AIR 100% indie Albums Chart

#11 - Jagermeister AIR Indie Label Albums Chart

After their big release last year of "UNCONSECRATED" The Red Shore now find themselves looking to their past to light the way forward. With little down time in-between tours The Red Shore decided to spend theirs jamming on songs from their past and the outcome was just too inspiring to go undocumented. LOST VERSES is more than a trip down memory lane for the Melbourne based extreme metal crew, its honouring their fallen brothers, celebrating their early works and most importantly, its TRS regrouping and having fun doing what they do best...shredding , grinding and pummelling your senses with a sonic assault of biblical proportions. LOST VERSES was recorded & mixed on the fly by guitarist Roman Koester at Complex Studios and while this was not meant to be anything more than the band jamming on some old tunes for fun..... the result is nothing short of jaw dropping. Lost Verses debuts at #4 on the Jagermeister AIR 100% Indie Albums Chart.

#3 Jagermeister AIR 100% Indie Album Charts

#6 Jagermeister AIR Indie Label Album Charts

Debuting in the Jagermeister AIR Album chart at #3 is the latest long player from Bertie Blackman, SECRETS AND LIES. This time round Bertie has traded her guitars for keyboards as she explores the electronic world. The first single, HEART, has taken the Australian airwaves by storm as one of the most played singles on radio and praised in the press as "Single of the Week". SECRETS AND LIES is produced by Lee Groves (Goldfrapp, Gwen Stefani) and Francois Tetaz (Gotye, Architecture In Helsinki).

Delta - The Second Story (Nuffsaid/SGN)

#3  Jagermeister AIR 100% Indie Album Chart

#9 Jagermeister AIR Indie Label Album Chart

 DELTA is one of very few Australian hip hop artists to receive international recognition, with praise from HHC (UK), VIBE (US) and URB (US). "The Second Story" is the latest offering from one of this countries highest regarded solo MCs. The lead single “The Lines” features core members of THE DAP-KINGS. The album also features hip hop luminaries MILANO (Diggin in the Crates crew) and Psycho Les of The Beatnuts and more. "The Second Story" makes an impressive debut at #3 in the Jagermeister AIR 100% Indie Album chart this week.

Wolf & Cub - Science And Sorcery (Dot Dash/INR)

#4 on the Jagermeister 100% Indie Albums Chart

#15 on the Jagermeister Indie Label Albums Chart

WOLF & CUB return with their second album ‘Science and Sorcery’; a dizzying mix of deep grooves, psychedelic journeying, motoric propulsions and straight out effects-pedal-mangling riff rock.

Produced by BUMBLEBEEZ genius Chris Colonna, ‘Science and Sorcery’ is (in the words of guitarists/vocalist Joel Byrne) “Still Wolf & Cub, but a new piece in the puzzle.” Lead track “Seven Sevens” has been one of TRIPLE J’s most played tracks for the past four months!! Remixes of the track have been widely blogged and played at indie clubs nationwide.

Wolf & Cub will embark on their most extensive national tour EVER this June/July!! Dates will be announced soon. Science and Sorcery comes in at #4 on the Jagermeister AIR 100% Indie albums chart.

Artist: Juke Kartel - Nowhere Left To Hide
Label: (Emporium)

"Nowhere Left To Hide" debuts at
#4 on the 100% Indie Albums Chart
#7 on the Indie Label Albums Chart