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 debut album from Ed Sheeran was another entry that charted on multiple occasions throughout the decade, again its ranking is based purely on its initial release as opposed to when it became a success when he released his earlier entries on this list as is the case with several of these albums from successful artists.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #3 physical)
Hit singles
The a team #2
Lego house #4
Drunk #9
Give me love #9
Small bump #14
It may divide fans to this day, however this sixth album from P!nk became the first to top the year end list here in Australia for two consecutive years, the second being Adele's first entry on this list.
Peak position #1x10
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Blow me #1
Try #6
Just give me a reason #1
True love #5
While it wasn't as inescapable as his earlier entry on this list (let alone it forever clinging on our charts) this second album from Bruno Mars was nonetheless a huge success for him worldwide thanks to him looking to the past for his ever-expanding sound in music.
Peak position #1x3
(#2 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Locked out of heaven #4
When I was your man #6
Treasure #10
Gorilla #41
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
There won't be many rock album to appear on this list, one of the lucky entries came from this breakthrough album from the Black Keys due to the lead single becoming a surprise hit here due to it being voted high as among the best songs of 2011 according to listeners of Triple J.
Peak position #3
(#2 digital, #3 physical)
Hit singles
Lonely boy #2
Gold on the ceiling #34
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
These guys were on a roll this decade when they released their second album, it's an album that won album of the year at the Grammys which meant that the British band had found crossover success in America in addition to this being a massive worldwide hit for them.
Peak position #2
(#1 digital, #2 physical)
Hit singles
I will wait #23
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 initially a modest success for rapper 360 upon its release, this was impressive given how Australian hip hop was largely limited to the Hilltop hoods when it came to commercial success. It became a surprise success shortly after its release due to the lead single ranking very high the list of best songs of 2011 according to listeners of Triple J.
Peak position #4
(#2 digital, #5 physical)
Hit singles
Boys like you #3
Child #24
Run alone #24
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
Speak now was a bit of a commercial stumble for Taylor Swift (it's still to come on this list) which is perhaps the reasoning for her moving in a more pop friendly direction with this album which restored her popularity she had on Fearless from earlier on this.
Peak position #1x3
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
We are never ever getting back together #3
Begin again #20
Red #30
I knew you were trouble #3
State of grace #44
22 #21
Everything has changed #28
This is a greatest hits package that initially came out to deafening silence for the brothers Gibb, however it didn't take long for it to be a worldwide success for the band as it was the album that charted when Robin Gibb tragically passed away a mere two years after its initial release.
Peak position #3
(#1 physical)
The Sapphires was a film based on a real-life girl group from the 60's who tried and failed to find success back in the day (given how none of the girl groups who were successful were Australian) it was a massive success largely thanks to the soundtrack which contains the songs that were performed in the film.
Peak position #1x2
(#4 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Gotcha #42
It feels weird that both the single and E.P managed to be a success for Skrillex here in Australia, mainly because the title track was never released as a single and was merely the song that promoted the E.P for the American DJ. That didn't prevent this from charting on both the singles and albums charts back in the day.
Peak position #4
(#1 digital, #7 physical)
Hit singles
Bangarang #4
Kyoto #50
Before Lorde, there was Lana Del Rey who was considered to be the queen of indie pop with her first album as Lana Del Rey (she previously released albums under her real name Lizzie Grant.) It was a massive success worldwide thanks to the songs being featured in many commercials on the internet, although it was also a success here in Australia due to it being heavily promoted by Triple J.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Born to die #34
Video games #23
Summertime sadness (remix) #3
This was originally released in 2011 to deafening silence here in Australia, it was given a second chance when someone used one of the tracks on the album in an audition which led to Birdy finding massive success with the album a year after its initial release. For a while, she was hailed as the new Adele given this was when Ms. Adkins had considered retirement; she changed her mind which left Birdy in obscurity.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #3 physical)
Hit singles
People help the people #10
Skinny love #2
This is the last successful album that Guy Sebastian has had in his career, granted he's released new music since, however like many other Australian artists, he's been pushed aside in the music industry in favour of many international artists making it big through streaming.
Peak position #1x1
(#3 digital, #2 physical)
Hit singles
Don't worry be happy #5
Gold #10
Battle scars #1
Get along #5
This was the album that began the internet's hatred of Maroon 5 throughout the decade, mainly because it feels more like a solo project for Adam Levine than their work from the 00's which of course caused people to cry sellout to their work. This is also another album on this list that would qualify for my biggest comebacks list from a few months back.
Peak position #4
(#2 digital, #5 physical)
Hit singles
Payphone #2
One more night #2
Daylight #19
This was the point where Keith Urban became a household name here in Australia, granted he released this greatest hits album in promotion of his appearance on the Voice Australia where he was a coach along the likes of Delta Goodrem, Seal and Joel Madden from Good Charlotte.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Without you #39
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)
Given how it spawned two of the biggest hits of the decade worldwide during the height of the indie boom, it makes sense that this second and final album from Fun managed to be a massive success during a time where rock music (even indie rock) was struggling to retain mainstream relevancy throughout the world.
Peak position #2
(#1 digital, #5 physical)
Hit singles
We are young #1
Some nights #1
Carry on #44
It took a while for Missy Higgins to release her third album, in fact this came out around the same time as her rival Delta Goodrem's fourth album where this proved to be far more popular due to Missy remaining uncontroversial in the music industry where Delta wasn't for various reasons.
Peak position #1x2
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Everyone's waiting #11
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
Given how inescapable the Voice Australia was for the first few years of its existence, it was inevitable that the winners of the show would find success with their albums which of course began with Karise Eden who won her season of the show thanks to skillful coaching from Seal as well as already having a powerful voice when she first auditioned for the show.
Peak position #1x6
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
You won't let me #5
This was the sophomore album for 1D, it's an album that even their diehard fans would tell you isn't very good due to how rushed it was compared to their debut given how it came out less than a year after their breakthrough in their native UK.
Peak position #1x2
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Live while we're young #2
Little things #9
Kiss you #13
This wasn't as big a hit for Hilltop hoods as their 2009 effort, however the tradeoff was that it spawned a massive hit even if it was a success due to the presence of Sia on its chorus. This feels like a placeholder in their catalogue given how much more popular their earlier studio albums and even the restrung album were on this list.
Peak position #1x2
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
I love it #6
This technically should be bundled with her earlier entry on this list; however, ARIA was kind enough to count this separately from that entry which allows me to determine where this deluxe edition of her album would place on this list. This of course came out when she divorced Russell Brand which coincided with her biopic of the same name.
Peak position #5
(#4 digital, #6 physical)
Hit singles
Part of me #5
Wide awake #4
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
I'm not sure why this became a hit for Bob Seger given how he hasn't had a hit since 1987 and his 1994 greatest hits package was a huge failure for him here in Australia, this album was a success regardless which I'm sure helped many younger audiences discover his back catalogue.
Peak position #5
(#3 physical)
This is to date the final album from Matchbox 20, it was a huge hit here in Australia due to how popular Rob Thomas's solo career was despite it being the first album the band released in a decade. The band has been on indefinite hiatus since this came out due to Rob pursuing his solo career to diminishing returns.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
She's so mean #26
Put your hands up #40
This second album wasn't quite as successful for JB as his earlier entries were, mainly because it was panned by critics (much like the rest of his catalogue) for being a poor imitation of a Justin Timberlake album which I suppose was a step up from his kiddy pop from earlier in his career.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Boyfriend #5
Turn to you #25
Die in your arms #31
All around the world #34
As long as you love me #8
Beauty and a beat #9
This came ten years after the release of the Rolling Stones previous greatest hits package 40 licks, suffice to say, it wasn't as big as that album due to the band not releasing any new material in that decade anyone cares about.
Peak position #7
(#6 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)
Much like they're debut album, this stuck around for quite some time on our charts even though it was more of a sleeper hit for Temper trap. Unlike their earlier entry however there wasn't a surprise hit that it spawned on this album like there was on that album.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #2 physical)
Hit singles
Need your love #39
Trembling hands #38
I'm surprised it took so long for Rod Stewart to release a Christmas album, though this was a success upon its initial release, it doesn't reappear on every Christmas season like so many other albums like this have done over the years.
Peak position #3
(#2 digital, #4 physical)
This is the final entry from Susan Boyle on this list, it appears the public’s patience for the reality show star had finally worn off by the time she released her fifth album given how much of a failure that was.
Peak position #6
(#5 physical)
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