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.
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
This was a predictable success for Katy Perry worldwide, heck even her critically panned album Witness will be appearing on this list, proving how devoted her fanbase was here in Australia.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Roar #1
Unconditionally #11
Birthday #25
This is how we do #18
This was a flop upon its initial release, mainly because it only came out due to the band finally calling it quits in 2011 after a long and tumultuous career. It became a massive hit here three years later when their biopic became a success on Australia TV.
Peak position #1x7
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Never tear us apart (reissue) #11
Both of Lorde's albums she released this decade will be appearing on this list, this was due to how well loved she was both in the mainstream and especially in the alternative scene (specifically on Triple J) thanks to her seeming wise beyond her years in her music.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Royals #2
Tennis court #20
Team #19
I'm not sure why this fifth album managed to become a massive hit for the Arctic Monkeys this decade, mainly because rock music really took a back seat pop music this decade but also, they're debut album wasn't that big despite that having more buzz than this did for the band.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Do I wanna know #37
This was a flop upon its initial release, likely because it was a folk album released before Ed Sheeran took the world by storm with his second album from earlier on this list. It was given a second chance for some reason when the lead single became a surprise hit worldwide a year after its initial release.
Peak position #2
(#1 digital, #5 physical)
Hit singles
Let her go #1
Holes #20
It was clear that Michael Buble's popularity was beginning to dwindle this decade, I think it's mainly due to his Christmas album always popping up during every holiday season which is a surefire way to get his audience to be sick of him.
Peak position #1x5
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
It's a beautiful day #33
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
This was a massive debut album for Avicii here in Australia, mainly because of how inescapable the singles were over here back in the day for the Swedish DJ which promised him a long and fruitful career that sadly wouldn't be the case for reasons I won't get into here.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #6 physical)
Hit singles
Wake me up #1
You make me #12
Hey brother #2
Addicted to you #5
Lay me down #34
This was only a minor success upon its initial release for Flume, it became a best seller for him when the lead single ranked very high on the 2012 yearend list according to listeners of Triple J which set the DJ up for massive success with his second album.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #7 physical)
Hit singles
Holding on #17
This is an album that time hasn't been kind to due to it winning acclaim over Kendrick Lamar back in the day, although at the time, it felt like this was the future for hip hop due to the subject matter that Macklemore raps about throughout the runtime.
Peak position #2
(#1 digital, #7 physical)
Hit singles
Thrift shop #1
Same love #1
Can't hold us #1
Wing$ #17
White walls #34
Given how few rock artists managed to make it big throughout the decade, it may shock you to learn that statistically, these guys are the most successful rock band of the decade given how big their debut was thanks to the singles being used in every commercial in existence.
Peak position #4
(#2 digital)
Hit singles
It's time #27
Radioactive #6
On top of the world #10
Demons #11
This was originally released back in 1992 which was indeed the 25th anniversary from when the band first got together, it was a hit twenty years after the fact due to the rise in popularity that Fleetwood Mac has had in the mainstream in the 2010's which makes this the perfect place to begin one's journey in discovering their entire back catalogue.
Peak position #2
(#1 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
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
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)
This is the sequel to Eminem's breakthrough album from the start of the century, it wasn't quite as successful as that album was, but it was a massive success regardless due to the rapper's winning streak this decade.
Peak position #1x2
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Berzerk #5
Rap god #15
Survival #18
The monster #1
Headlights #21
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)
This is an album that was released in this band's native Iceland in 2011, it didn't see an international released until a year later when the lead single became huge hit here in Australia and NZ thanks to heavy endorsement on Triple J. It remains their only successful album internationally likely due to them being an indie band during the height of the club boom.
Peak position #1x1
(#2 digital, #4 physical)
Hit singles
Little talks #7
Mountain sound #29
There was a ton of hype going into this debut album from Rudimental here in Australia, the hype was effortlessly met when it was released given how it was one of the first albums to be released after all of the singles came out, a trend that would become very common during the height of streaming.
Peak position #2
(#1 digital, #9 physical)
Hit singles
Feel the love #3
Not giving in #12
Waiting all night #6
Right here #29
Free #5
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 is the final successful album that James Blunt had in his career, it proved to be equally as successful as his earlier entry on this list even though this had a much higher peak than that did.
Peak position #2
(#2 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Bonfire heart #3
Heart to heart #26
This is the final album on this list to win album of the year at the Grammys, although given how we've looked at entries from Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Adele, Bruno Mars and Mumford and sons, this feels like an outlier given how it was an EDM album compared to the rest of them being pop albums from the biggest names of the decade. This would also qualify for my comeback list due to the duo's absence on our charts since the start of the millennium.
Peak position #1x2
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Get lucky #1
There have been many popular covers albums over the years meant to cash in on nostalgia, this is by far the most prominent album to cash in on country nostalgia (at least here in Australia) given how it came from two country legends from our country scene despite this being both of their respective mainstream breakthroughs down under.
Peak position #2
(#7 digital, #1 physical)
This is an album that didn't receive any promotion prior to its release, it was able to reveal how audiences don't care much for hype going into an album given how it was an immediate success for Beyonce worldwide.
Peak position #1x3
(#1 digital, #2 physical)
Hit singles
XO #16
Drunk in love #22
Pretty hurts #47
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
Although it has a polarised reception to this day, the Baz Lurhman adaptation of the Great Gatsby was such a crowd pleaser largely thanks to its soundtrack that said soundtrack naturally wound up being one of the biggest hits of the decade here in Australia.
Peak position #2
(#1 digital, #4 physical)
Hit singles
Young and beautiful #8
A little party never killed nobody #43
Well, this is certainly a surprise, I wasn't expecting to feature a studio album from 60's legend Russell Morris on this list that's for sure. I honestly couldn't tell you how this became a hit for the aging rock and roll legend when it did.
Peak position #6
(#3 physical)
Here's the other entry from the Pitch perfect franchise that was a success here in Australia, it had a bit of a slow start despite the film being a critical and commercial success, however it eventually gained steam when "Cups" from Anna Kendrick became a surprise hit for her in America.
Peak position #9
(#2 digital)
Hit singles
Cups #44
It had been a while since Tiny Tina last troubled the charts here in Australia, so much so that this is a bit of a surprise hit for the aging pop star given how it wasn't a greatest hits package from her. This isn't even her only appearance on this list as we still have one more entry to look at.
Peak position #4
(#4 digital, #3 physical)
Hit singles
You set fire to my life #38
Only lonely #32
While this third album from 1D wasn't as successful as their other three entries on this list, it was nonetheless a huge success for the boy band and further proof that they were unstoppable during their time together.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Best song ever #4
Story of my life #3
Midnight memories #45
You and I #23
Given how Keith Urban managed to achieve massive success with his greatest hits package from earlier on this list, he no longer had any issues with finding success with his studio albums which began with this album but would peak with his earlier entries on this list.
Peak position #1x1
(#2 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Little bit of everything #40
Shame #35
If you're wondering why a seemingly random release from Ricky Martin from 2013 managed to become a huge hit here in Australia, that's because he replaced Keith Urban as one of the judges on the Voice Australia which briefly reignited his popularity in our music scene that year.
Peak position #2
(#2 physical)
Another film that's become divisive over the years is Tom Hooper's adaptation of Les Miserables, mainly due to the catastrophe that was his adaptation of Cats from the end of the decade which many feel was a disaster due to him copying elements from this film into that film. The singing was also a mixed bag which didn't prevent the soundtrack from being a huge success at the time.
Peak position #2
(#3 digital, #3 physical)
This was the only successful album to come from the Lumineers, even then, it took its sweet time in finding success due to how long it took for the lead single to take off internationally despite its more immediate success in their native America.
Peak position #7
(#3 digital)
Hit singles
Ho hey #3
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)
While he didn't win his season of X factor Australia, this "victory" album from Taylor Henderson proved to be more of a success for him than the actual winner Dami Im, although we'll be looking at her victory album in a little bit.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Borrow my heart #1
This was far less successful than Bliss n Eso's earlier entry on this list, even so it did prove that they were a hip-hop group to look out for in a genre that was quickly blowing up as the decade went on thanks to the success they and their rivals the Hilltop hoods were achieving with their entries on this list. Sadly, this was the final successful album from the trio as they would fade into obscurity after this.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #2 physical)
Hit singles
House of dreams #45
Home is where the heart is #31
Act your age #31
My life #26
Much like the first winner of the Voice Australia, Harrison Craig managed to win the second season thanks to skillful coaching from Seal which unlike Karise Eden, led to him having minor success in the music industry once his star faded from the show in the music industry.
Peak position #1x2
(#1 physical)
Hit singles
Unconditional #15
You'd think this album would've been more of a success for JT given how much hype went into its release, I guess it was in his native America even if his fellow Americans found this to be a bit of a disappointment compared to his work from the 00's.
Peak position #1x2
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
Suit and tie #9
Mirrors #10
This was the first of two greatest hits albums to come from the 12th man this decade, we'll be looking at the other in a big which goes to show how well loved the 12th man's comedy routine was given how he hasn't released a new album since 2006.
Peak position #3
(#4 digital, #2 physical)
Given how she won her season of X factor Australia, it only makes sense that Dami Im would find success with her victory album from the series even if it proved to be less popular than Taylor Henderson's entry from earlier on this list.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 physical)
Hit singles
Alive #1
This is another album that was a success multiple times this decade due to being a Christmas album, again I'm only ranking it by its initial run which was strong enough to qualify on this list despite only having a two-month window to achieve its success.
Peak position #4
(#3 digital, #4 physical)
While this paled in comparison to their earlier entry on this list in terms of success, it made up for that by spawning Birds of Tokyo's biggest hit in the form of its second single. They've yet to have another successful album in their catalogue, however they did score another hit at the end of the decade.
Peak position #1x1
(#1 digital, #1 physical)
Hit singles
This fire #32
Lanterns #3
When the night falls quiet #43
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