Tame Impala’s ’Currents’ gets highest US debut for Aus act in 2015
A chart re-run by Billboard has placed Tame Impala’s third LP Currents in the Top 5 of the Billboard 200, the highest album debut for an Australian artist on the chart this year.
Coming in at #4, between Tyrese’s Black Rose at #2 and Alan Jackson’s Angels and Alcohol at #5, the Modular/Universal album originally charted at #7 prior to a re-running of the charts. Billboard told TMN its data authorityNielsen Music revised the chart's data after its initial release this week and that many unit and sales figures as well as rankings changed. Neilsen reported Currents sold around45,000 copiesin the week endingJuly 23.
A Billboard.comemployee told TMN a chart re-run in 2012 saw Kimbra gaina placing on the Billboard 200; her debut LP Vows went from #14 up to #13.
A #7 placing would have still marked their highest US debut to date; 2012 sophomore record Lonerism sold 12,000 in its first week in the US, debuting at #34 and 2010 debut album Innerspeaker wasn’t included.
Frontman Kevin Parker's record label Spinning Top told TMN it was Lonerism's release in October 2012 that kicked off the US' interest in Tame Impala.
"Tame Impala have toured the USincessantly since the release of their first album in 2010 gaining loyal fans organically, but it wasn't until Lonerism hit in 2012 that things took an upward turn. A Top 10 song at commercial radio saw new fans discovering Tame Impala right up until the release of this new record. That was a real breakthrough. Then we basically hand picked our new USteams (PR, label, radio) to work on this album, who have been so supportive of exactly how we want to do things and it really shows in the results."
Mike Taylor, Managing Director at Universal Music Australia told TMN he puts Tame Impala’s success down to"magical basics".
"I think Tame Impala’s success is due to those unique, magical basics;a great album, and an awesome live show. While all the releasing Universal labels (Universal Australia, Interscope, Caroline) have done top marketing work, the music is simply stunning – and that’s the true driver of it’s success," said Taylor. "10 out of 10 and 9 out of 10 reviews from The Guardian, Pitchfork, Spin, and Paste."
Currents also sits at #2 on Billboard's Top Rock Albums chart and #1 on the Alternative Albums chart.Locally, the albumdebuted at #1 this week, making it the fifth Australian ARIA #1 in 2015 and their highest album placing to date – both LonerismandInnerspeakerpeaked at #4.
Currents bowed at #3 in the UK, #7 in New Zealand, #11 in both Belgium and France and #1 in the Netherlands.
Today, the band perform US festival juggernaut Lollapalooza in Chicago, before a tour through the US and Europe which will take them right through to October 9, when they'll perform Austin City Limits. The band were briefly in Australia last week for Splendour In The Grass festival in Byron Bay.
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