The Veronicas Breaking into U.S. Market

Their first album made little impression on the U.S. charts despite tracks that sounded like they had the potential to call forth Avril Lavigne's fan base. The Veronicas, composed of identical twin sisters Jessica and Lisa Origliasso, were formed in Australia about four years ago. They not only call to mind Russian duo t.A.T.u., but they actually helped write one of t.A.T.u.'s hits, "All About Us." But they certainly aren't marketed as lesbians...yet.

Since being signed, they have released two albums, achieving success primarily in their homeland of Australia and nearby New Zealand. Debut album, The Secret Life of... was certified platinum four times in Australia, but failed to successfully crossover to the States when it was released here four months later. This came as a bit of a surprise to me, considering how catchy some of their first few singles were, being helmed by the likes of Dr. Luke and Max Martin (Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson et al). Indeed, second single, "Everything I'm Not" sounded like their take on Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone."

Follow-up album, Hook Me Up, found them exploring a darker, more dancey, electropop sound, branching off from the pop-rock sound of their debut, giving them their first number one single on Australia's ARIA singles chart when the title track reached the summit. Second single, "Untouched," reached the number 2 position. When released in the U.S., the album fared even worse than its predecessor, completely missing Billboard's Top 200, landing at number 9 on the Top Heatseekers chart. But with the sudden success of "Untouched," the 18,000 copies shifted as of October 3rd is about to warm up.

Debuting at a modest sixteen on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 back in July, the song has since been featured on So You Think You Can Dance and performed by the duo on So You Think You Can Dance in Australia and Canada, as well as on TRL. Come December, the single made a big splash on the Hot 100 at number 62, and has been steadily rising, already breaking the Top 40. This is an important turning point in their career; if the single can sell the album and provide a launching pad for continued success, then the Veronicas can establish themselves in their first big music market.

Now, about an year after the album's initial release, Hook Me Up is expected to surge up Billboard's Top 200.