Last Monday Countdown for 2015, Monday 30 November

20 - The Weeknd - In the Night
19 - Coldplay - Everglow
18 - Birds of Tokyo - I'd Go With You Anywhere
17 - Jess Glynne - Don't Be So Hard on Yourself
16 - Disclosure - Magnets {Feat. Lorde}
15 - Diplo & Sleepy Tom - Be Right There
14 - L D R U - Keeping Score {Feat. Paige IV}
13 - The Weeknd - I Can't Feel My Face
12 - The Rubens - Hoops
11 - Major Lazer - Be Together {Feat. Wild Belle}
10 - The Weeknd - The Hills
9 - Coldplay - Adventure of a Lifetime
8 - Sia - Alive
7 - DJ Snake - Middle {Feat. Bipolar Sunshine}
6 - Drake - Hotline Bling
5 - Vance Joy - Fire & the Flood
4 - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Downtown {Feat. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee & Grandmaster Caz}
3 - Marcus Marr & Chet Faker - The Trouble with Us
2 - Rudimental - Lay it All on Me {Feat. Ed Sheeran}
1 - Duke Dumont - Ocean Drive

Sunday Spotlight: Adele

What can be said about this lady who kills it, Adele's 25 album is the record, record companies have been waiting on all 2015. Her previous album 21 sold a monster 30 million records worldwide, this is unheard of in the world of piracy, streaming and Youtube.

Adele continues to beat the odds, never do a dodgy booty dropping video and be true to the song.

Her album 25 is already breaking records and Hello has been a monster smash hit, so here on Sunday after US Thanksgiving and the Black Friday sales, on the dawn of Australian Summer and December, let's sit back chill and listen to some Adele.

With the rush to Christmas shopping and deadlines on, these songs will really help you relax, get the credit card out and online shop, shop, shop. Maybe grab her new album 25 right NOW!

Dark Night, Sweet Light - The Sounds of Hermitude on a SOLD OUT Friday Night

The Blue Mountains is the home of some terrific music right now, Tuka, the Thundamentals and of course Hermitude.

Hermitude released their biggest album to date in Dark Night Sweet Light. Their fifth album to date and the follow up to their mainstream crossover Hyperparadise in 2012. Helped by fellow NSW man Flume the remix of the title track went nuts. And that is putting it lightly.

This year the single "The Buzz" with Mataya and Young Tapz sent Hermitude into another spin, with the single one of the hottest picks for this years Hottest 100.

Young Tapz also featured on the previous single "Through the Roof" which also generated a fair amount of airplay.

Dark Night Sweet Light is easily one of the biggest and best albums of the year. In terms of Australian albums you would be hard pressed to find a better electronic release this year. Nominated for the ARIA Australian Album of the Year (unfortunately being beaten Tame Impala) the duo are really killing it right now.

Their show at the Hordern Pavillion (sold out, after sold out Enmore Theatre shows earlier in the year) was beyond brilliant. Slaying through all their hits and wonderful guest dancers on easily one of their best cuts "Speak of the Devil". The crowd went nuts for all the hits from their recent release and "The Buzz" in the encore nearly took the roof off.

Of course Flume's remix of "Hyperparadise"was another earlier banger and "Searchlight" was also another highlight. Two of my personal favourites from the record were also great live with a sold out crowd, "Ukiyo" and "Bermuda Bay".

This album is outstanding, their live show is outstanding and the fans are really in love with these local boys.

I am interested to see where the boys from the Mountains pop up next as all I can say right now, is the world is their oyster. So happy after 15 years the boys are selling shit loads of tickets (at a time where lots of artists are struggling to do so) and getting radio play and local love.

Hermitude you are unreal, thanks for 15 years of amazing music.

ARIA's Come Down Countdown - Friday 27 November 2015

20 - Birds of Tokyo - I'd Go With You Anywhere 
19 - ZHU x Skrillex x THEY. - Working for It
18 - RUFUS - Innerbloom
17 - Diplo & Sleepy Tom - Be Right There

16 - Disclosure - Magnets {Feat. Lorde}
15 - Jess Glynne - Don't Be So Hard on Yourself
14 - The Rubens - Hoops
13 - The Weeknd - I Can't Feel My Face
12 - L D R U - Keeping Score {Feat. Paige IV}
11 - The Weeknd - The Hills
10 - Coldplay - Adventure of a Lifetime
9 - Major Lazer - Be Together {Feat. Wild Belle}
8 - DJ Snake - Middle {Feat. Bipolar Sunshine}
7 - Sia - Alive
6 - Vance Joy - Fire & the Flood
5 - Drake - Hotline Bling

4 - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Downtown {Feat. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee & Grandmaster Caz}
3 - Duke Dumont - Ocean Drive
2 - Marcus Marr & Chet Faker - The Trouble with Us
1 - Rudimental - Lay it All on Me {Feat.  Ed Sheeran}

Not only did Matt Okine and Tina Arena speak out last night at the Award Ceremony, but the charts have been impacted by Australia's night of nights. Unfortunately only 461,000 tuned into the mostly excellent Channel 10 broadcast. I predict Channel 11 will broadcast the event next year which also really looked at home at the Event Centre @ the Star.

Here are the top ten tunes which received a benefit in a way from last nights awards. All are Australian all are diverse. Well done to the great Australian acts last night, however as Matt & Tina pointed out, would be great to see more ladies nominated and performing next year please.

10 - Illy - Swear Jar
9 - Sia - Bird Set Free
8 - Vance Joy - Mess is Mine
7 - RUFUS - You Were Right
6 - Flight Facilities - Crave You {Feat. Giselle}
5 - Vance Joy - Riptide
4 - Vance Joy - Georgia
3 - Peking Duk - Take Me Over {Feat. SAFIA}
2 - Hermitude - The Buzz {Feat. Mataya & Young Tapz}

1 - Jarryd James - Do You Remember 

Thursday Album of the Week | Album of Year Edition - Nomination #2 - KENDRICK LAMAR - TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY

Over 52 million views, that is how many times King Kunta, the major breakthrough single from To Pimp a Butterfly has had.

King Kunta has been a worldwide smash from New Zealand (peak chart position #24) to Belgium (peak chart position #2) and even here in Australia (#33) and his US home (#11 - Billboard Hot Rap Songs).

This song has been a huge leg up for Kendrick and admittedly "i" started his rise to stardom however this funk infused track lead the world to love Kendrick for his beats and his to the point lyrics.

This album is beyond brilliant and I am so happy to have this up against Disclosure, Florence, Mark Ronson and The Weeknd for this years Album of the Year. In exactly one month the Album of the Year will be revealed along with the first half of the biggest songs of 2015 (200-101).

Mid Week Album of the Week | Album of Year Edition - Nomination #2 - KENDRICK LAMAR - TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY

Easily one of the best cuts from this amazing record, These Walls is crazy, sexy and very COOL. Kendrick Lamar covers so much ground on this third studio record. Released in March 2015, it has stayed on the airwaves and more importably my iPod since it's release.

The solid tracks started to follow from September 2014 with the original version of "i" followed by the massive track Blacker the Berry in February, the monster commercial smash King Kunta in March and the Pharrell Williams produced Alight in June.

These Walls received a lot of radio love from Triple J and a video has recently surfaced online.



This record is 100% all killer and no filler, easily one of five of the BEST international records of 2015. Check back for more Kendrick all week before we move onto Florence and the Machine next week.

The Australian Album of 2015 is coming in January as all January long I will feature big fat Aussie features (all of which will exclude Reclaim Australia or the United Patron Front style bogan pride).

From December a Sunday Summer Music list will also be published as I list the top 20 Males and Females of 2015, the top 20 songs of Spring and more. So heaps to stay tuned for, until tomorrow and more Kendrick peace out.

Album of the Week | Album of Year Edition - Nomination #2 - KENDRICK LAMAR - TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY

Full Album of the Year Nomination post HERE.