I’ve decided to rank each album that appeared on the ARIA top 50 for this year based on how well they did on my albums of the 2010’s list from last year, although I should point out that I’ve included albums on this list that were a hit earlier in the decade to show just how reductive the year end lists and indeed the ARIA charts had become throughout the decade here in Australia.
If we're going by album sales, this was the most successful album of the decade worldwide thanks to Adele's vocals being able to unite many demographics in a way few others have been able to do in recent memory.
Peak position #1x32
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Rolling in the deep #3
Someone like you #1
Set fire to the rain #11
Turning tables #34
This is another album that refused to die on our charts, as such, I've only included the success it had on its initial release as otherwise this debut album from Bruno Mars would have to be updated every few months to accommodate its success on this list.
Peak position #2
(#3 digital, #3 physical)
Hit singles
Just the way you are #1
Grenade #1
The lazy song #6
Marry you #8
Count on me #19
This is one of the very few alternative albums to make it big this decade as the 2010's seemed to have an allergic reaction to artists not from major labels outside of the pop sphere, it was a huge victory for Angus and Julia Stone following the buzz they had from their debut album in 2007 which set them up for massive success this decade thanks to heavy promotion on Triple J.
Peak position #1x2
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
And the boys #44
Big jet plane #21
This is where it all began for 1D, one of the most divisive groups to make it big this decade (even compared to many of the entries on this list) thanks to them cultivating the most fiercely loyal fanbase outside of a K-pop group and non-fans finding them irritating.
Peak position #1x5
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
What makes you beautiful #7
One thing #3
More than this #49
This is one of only two albums to spawn five Billboard chart toppers in existence, the other was Bad from MJ which achieved that due to the 80's having a different chart topper every other week which wasn't the case in the 2010's.
Peak position #1x2
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
California gurls #1
Teenage dream #2
Firework #3
E.T #5
Last Friday night #5
The one that got away #27
This was one of the last albums to be released in the 00's that qualified for my 2009 list, naturally it would see most of its success the following year which makes it more than eligible for this list.
Peak position #1x6
(#2 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Haven't met you yet #9
This was released in 2009 to deafening silence worldwide, likely because it lacked that mainstream crossover single that many other indie bands and artists usually have that allow them to have a massive hit from the indie sphere. It eventually spawned a hit for them worldwide which allowed this to be one of the first albums to be a massive success this decade that wasn't already in the 00's.
Peak position #3
(#1 digital, #3 physical)
Hit singles
You've got the love #9
Given how they had two of the biggest hits of the decade worldwide, it makes sense that the second and final album from LMFAO would be a huge success upon its initial release, although the success did cause the two to have a massive falling out a year after its release.
Peak position #2
(#1 digital, #2 physical)
Hit singles
Party rock anthem #1
Champagne showers #9
Sexy and I know it #1
Sorry for party rocking #32
This was all set to be a modest success at best for Florence + the Machine here in Australia, it became a best seller when one of the singles was chosen to play in a pivotal moment in the TV series the Vampire diaries which proved to be such a compelling scene that the song became a massive hit for the band.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Shake it out #36
What the water gave me #35
Never let me go #3
Spectrum #4
This was the first two albums from JB that he released as a two for one deal, as such, it became a massive success for him at the start of the decade much to the chagrin of everyone who wasn't a part of his target audience.
Peak position #1x2
(#2 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
One time #23
Baby #3
Eenie meenie #11
Never say never #17
Somebody to love #20
David Guetta was on a roll when he released his first album of the decade during the height of the club boom, so much so that it makes you wonder why his next album was a huge flop for him even if it came out after the club boom died out.
Peak position #3
(#3 digital, #3 physical)
Hit singles
Sweat #1
Where them girls at #6
Little bad girl #15
Titanium #5
Without you #6
Turn me on #3
Night of your life #37
Crank it up #49
Although Good girl gone bad was the biggest hit of Rihanna's career here in Australia, this comes in a close second due to spawning multiple singles that were inescapable throughout the world during the early stretch of the decade.
Peak position #2
(#2 digital, #2 physical)
Hit singles
Only girl #1
What's my name #18
S&M #1
California king bed #4
Cheers #6
To date, this second album from Gotye is the final album he's released in his career, I'm not sure why because this was one of the last Australian albums to see massive worldwide success even though it's an indie album.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Somebody that I used to know #1
This was a return to form for Eminem given how this was more positively received than his previous two albums, it doesn't quite live up to his early material but is a sign that he was back on his A-game which revitalised his career for the 2010's.
Peak position #1x9
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Not afraid #4
Love the way you lie #1
No love #21
One of the very few rock bands to find success in the mainstream this decade was the Foo Fighters, this won't be their last appearance on this list even if their next entry on this list is still a long way off from coming.
Peak position #1x2
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
This was the debut album from Adele that I mentioned from earlier on this list, it didn't live up to the standards of her earlier entries but was necessary for her evolution for those to win album of the year at the Grammys.
Peak position #3
(#4 digital, #2 physical)
This greatest hits package became a massive success multiple times throughout the decade here in Australia, had I bundled all of its success together, it easily would've been the most successful greatest hits album of the decade and arguably of all time.
Peak position #1x13
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Raise your glass #1
Fucking perfect #10
While many people feel this is a sellout from Coldplay (me included) it's interesting that this wasn't more of a success here in Australia given how their previous three albums managed to be more successful over here back in the day than this was.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Every teardrop is a waterfall #14
Paradise #3
Princess of China #16
Even though these guys haven't had any success with their original material since 2005, the nostalgic love that Bon Jovi have had over the years has allowed this to be a massive success for them upon its initial release as well as it being another album that keeps charting since its release.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #2 physical)
Well, this was released quite late in the 00's, naturally it would find most of its success this decade which ensured that it would have its place on this list.
Peak position #1x1
(#4 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Wheels #21
Although this album was a massive hit for Lady Gaga upon its initial release, it received a polarising reception due to people growing tired of her style over substance approach to music that she had with her earlier appearance on this list. She would return to the spotlight later in the decade with her other entry on this list.
Peak position #1x2
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Born this way #1
Judas #6
The edge of glory #2
Hair #20
You and I #14
This is one of four albums from Triple J to make the list, this was due to the rising popularity of their segment on the show where they find cover songs of indie artists (usually local artists) and present them as "like a version" (nice shout out to Madonna) which took our mainstream by storm this decade.
Peak position #5
(#2 digital, #6 physical)
This is the final successful album to come from Damien Leith, naturally it was a covers album where the Irish born singer put his stamp on many Roy Orbison tracks which connected with us Aussies upon its initial release.
Peak position #2
(#2 physical)
This is the only successful album to come from Jessie J, it would've appeared higher on this list had it not being more of a sleeper hit which suggests that we Aussies were a bit on the fence in making this a success from an artist that's often described as the British equivalent of Katy Perry.
Peak position #4
(#7 digital, #3 physical)
Hit singles
Price tag #2
Nobody's perfect #9
Domino #5
Laserlight #48
This will be the only appearance from Kanye West on this list, this was back before his presence in the mainstream became toxic throughout the decade for reasons I won't be going to on this list. Sure, he had the occasional slip up prior to this album (usually at the MTV awards) however after this album was where people found him to be insufferable as a human being.
Peak position #6
(#1 digital, #10 physical)
Hit singles
Runaway #46
All of the lights #24
This was initially a flop for Lady Antebellum here in Australia (now known as Lady A due to their original name having racist connotations they somehow didn't know about back then) however it was given a second chance a year after its initial release likely due to how many accolades the title track received at the Grammys.
Peak position #5
(#3 digital, #5 physical)
Hit singles
Need you now #27
It worked for Frank Sinatra back in the 90's, so why not allow Tony Bennet to release a duets album consisting of him working with artists way younger than he is? This is a sequel to his 2006 effort which wasn't very successful for him that year, I guess the nostalgia circuit hadn't truly kicked in back then like it did when this came out.
Peak position #2
(#4 digital, #2 physical)
This was a greatest hits album that became a success multiple times this decade, again we're only looking at how well it did initially given how much nostalgic love there's been for the band and its lead singer Jimmy Barnes.
Peak position #2
(#1 digital, #2 physical)
I'm not sure why the lead single to this album flopped here initially in Australia given how it was a fan favourite on Triple J, however it became a hit twice a year after its release which I already mentioned when I talked about it on the singles list. Naturally this found its popularity once the song became a hit the second time for reasons I can't seem to fathom.
Peak position #1x1
(#3 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Pumped up kicks #7 (originally)
Pumped up kicks #1
Call it want you want #39
This is another album that became a hit twice throughout its run, the first time was upon its initial release whilst the second was when their signature track "Feeding line" ranked high on Triple J's annual list for 2011 which naturally boosted the album's popularity.
Peak position #2
(#1 digital, #2 physical)
Hit singles
Feeding line #46
This will be the only appearance of one of Pitbull's albums on this list, mainly because of its ability to spawn multiple hits given how Pitbull has never been known to be an album artist. I feel this album's popularity mainly came from the Zumba craze given how each of these songs have appeared on every playlist that instructors used at the time.
Peak position #5
(#7 digital, #5 physical)
Hit singles
Hey baby #10
Give me everything #2
Rain over me #9
International love #15
I guess Nickelback were able to score one more entry on this site of mine given how the internet hadn't completely convinced the general public the band weren't deserving of their success with this album, again it's an album that should be higher on this list due to appearing in the lower half of the charts for most of its run.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
When we stand together #20
Seeker Lover Keeper are a supergroup consisting of indie darlings Sarah Blasko, Sally Seltmann and Holly Throsby who scored a massive hit with their first album together towards the start of the decade. Only Sarah managed to achieve any success outside of this group with her album As day follows night.
Peak position #3
(#2 digital, #4 physical)
Although this was more of a sleeper hit for Beyonce compared to her other two entries on this list, it nonetheless proved to be a massive hit for her here in Australia even if the singles didn't reach the dizzying heights of success here they did internationally.
Peak position #2
(#2 digital, #2 physical)
Hit singles
Run the world #10
Best thing I never had #17
Love on top #20
Eminem was so inescapable this decade that his side project Bad Meets Evil was able to achieve a huge hit with their E.P thanks to the notoriety of its lead single back in the day becoming a massive hit for the duo in their native America.
Peak position #3
(#3 digital, #4 physical)
Hit singles
Lighters #17
This is the only other successful album that Gurrumul managed to achieve in his career as a solo artist following his solo debut from three years prior, it was also the final album he released during his lifetime as he would tragically pass away in 2017.
Peak position #3
(#3 physical)
This is an album that will forever come back during every Christmas season due to it getting pulled from shelves (both digital and physical) at the start of every year, it's the album of choice that audiences tend to play during the holiday season.
Peak position #1x5 (original run)
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
(will forever continue to rechart during each Christmas season)
We have another entry from Susan Boyle on this list, again it wasn't as inescapable as her top entry on this list, however it was still a massive success for the Scottish opera singer due to her notoriety on reality TV.
Peak position #1x2
(#1 physical)
This is the only notable success that British indie group the Wombats had here in Australia, it was a decent success upon its initial release and stuck around for quite some time thanks to heavy promotion from Triple J it and its singles received.
Peak position #2
(#1 digital, #4 physical)
Hit singles
Tokyo #33
We have one final entry from the Glee franchise, it's the most recent entry on this list given how the franchise would begin to see a decline in popularity after this album likely due to fatigue that its fans were suffering from their quantity over quality approach to music.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Don't you want me #44
Get it right #34
Landslide #38
Loser like me #15
Need you now #46
Thriller #17
This was the victory album of Reece Mastin following his win on the third season of X factor Australia, it was so popular here (despite its low ranking on this list) that it managed to crossover to NZ for him before he inevitably faded into obscurity in both countries.
Peak position #2
(#2 digital, #2 physical)
Hit singles
Good night #1
Burlesque has gone down as a camp classic due to it borrowing elements from films such as Cabaret, Moulin Rouge, Chicago and Coyote Ugly of all things. I personally enjoy it, although that might be due to be being huge fans of both of the films leads as were many other people which would explain the success of the soundtrack.
Peak position #2
(#1 digital, #4 physical)
Hit singles
Show me how you burlesque #29
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