This Week In Pop – 12 March 2021

Welcome to This Week In Pop.

This week, Architects score their first ARIA #1 album while Glass Animals retain their #1 on the Singles Chart.

This week's album chartifacts

#1: Architects ‘For Those That Wish To Exist’ – British metalcore band Architects score their first #1 album on the ARIA Charts as they debut in the top spot with 'For Those That Wish To Exist'. The Brighton five-piece’s ninth album is the follow-up to 'Holy Hell' (#8 November ’18) and takes over from 'All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us' (#2 June ’16) as their highest chart peak. It’s their third straight album to hit the Top Ten. 'For Those That Wish To Exist' also tops this week’s ARIA Vinyl Albums Chart.
#2: Sheppard ‘Kaleidoscope Eyes’ – Three years after hitting #1 with 'Watching The Sky' (#1 June ’18), Sheppard returns to the chart with their third album, 'Kaleidoscope Eyes'. 2020 was a big year for the Brisbane band: they released a single every month between February and December and they also performed at the AFL Grand Final when it was held for the first time in their hometown. 'Kaleidoscope Eyes' is Sheppard’s third straight Top Two album, having also hit #2 with debut album 'Bombs Away' (#2 July ’14).
#3: Alice Cooper ‘Detroit Stories’ – Alice Cooper claims his highest-charting album on the ARIA Charts with 'Detroit Stories'. It matches the peak he hit in the pre-ARIA era with 1977’s Lace And Whiskey which also peaked at #3. It becomes the legendary shock rocker’s eighth Top Ten album in Australia and second Top Ten studio album in a row. The follow-up to 'Paranormal' (#4 August ’17) is Cooper’s 21st solo album and pays tribute to his hometown. It includes covers of tracks by Bob Seger and the MC5, as well as performances by original Alice Cooper band members Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway and Neal Smith.

This week's single chartifacts

#1: Glass Animals ‘Heat Waves’ – British band Glass Animals hold #1 on the ARIA Singles Chart for a second week with ‘Heat Waves’. Since topping the chart last week, it’s moved up to #4 in New Zealand and #23 in the UK; both new peaks.
#10: P!nk + Willow Sage Hart ‘Cover Me In Sunshine’ – In its third week in the Top 50, ‘Cover Me In Sunshine’ climbs up six spots to hit a new peak at #10. The duet with her 9-year-old daughter becomes P!nk’s 27th Top Ten single in Australia. She first hit the Top Ten with ‘There You Go’ (#2 June ’00).

Top 10 Albums

1. 'For Those That Wish To Exist' – Architects
2. 'Kaleidoscope Eyes' – Sheppard
3. 'Detroit Stories' – Alice Cooper
4. 'Future Nostalgia' – Dua Lipa
5. 'F*ck Love (Savage)' – The Kid Laroi
6. 'The Highlights' – The Weeknd
7. 'Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon' – Pop Smoke
8. 'Fine Line' – Harry Styles
9. 'Positions' – Ariana Grande
10. 'When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?' – Billie Eilish

Top 10 Singles

1. 'Heat Waves' – Glass Animals
2. 'Drivers License' – Olivia Rodrigo
3. 'Without You' – The Kid Laroi
4. 'The Business' – Tiesto
5. 'Calling My Phone' – Lil Tjay & 6lack
6. 'Goosebumps (Remix)' – Travis Scott & HVME
7. 'Save Your Tears' – The Weeknd
8. 'Mood' – 24kGoldn featuring Iann Dior
9. 'Levitating' – Dua Lipa
10. 'Cover Me In Sunshine' – P!nk + Willow Sage Hart