This is my first post in a week, the longest stretch I’ve gone without writing a post in my blog’s nearly seven-year history, as I’ve been hit with another crippling bout of writer’s block. But I cannot miss sharing my latest Weekly Top 30, and this week brings a few exciting new developments. First of all, “Deception”, the stunning collaboration between soulful-voiced British singer-songwriter Hannah Reem and producer-composer Noodle Beard, takes over the top spot. The dramatic song is a dark and twisted love story about infidelity and the complexities surrounding painful choices, set to a smoldering, cinematic trip hop soundscape. Hannah explained her inspiration for writing the song: “I’ve felt fury and been forced to lose, I’ve been homeless and broke, felt like a joke, and cheated on by those that I choose. But I’ll get through.” As I’ve mentioned on previous posts, “Deception” would make a great James Bond theme song, and even after having it on repeat for the past month and a half, it still has the power to cover me with chills. It’s an incredible song that deserves to be a huge worldwide hit.

In other chart highlights this week, The Black Keys‘ “Wild Child” leaps eight spots to #8, and the hauntingly beautiful “My Love” by Florence + the Machine jumps seven spots to #15. As always, there’s so much great music out now, with about 10 songs I wanted to add to my list. Alas, I had room for only three new ones: Harry Styles‘ delightful “As It Was” enters high up the chart at #10 (it debuted at #1 last week on the Billboard Hot 100), while Weezer‘s “A Little Bit of Love” and Foals‘ “2am” enter at #29 and #30.

1. DECEPTION – Hannah Reem & Noodle Beard (3)
2. WHAT, ME WORRY? – Portugal. The Man (1)
3. JUST LIKE ALWAYS – Oli Barton & the Movement with Maella (2)
4. BROKEN HEARTS – Ships Have Sailed (5)
5. I’LL CALL YOU MINE – girl in red (4)
6. BLACK SUMMER – Red Hot Chili Peppers (8)
7. LOVE BRAND NEW – Bob Moses (9)
8. WILD CHILD – The Black Keys (16)
9. GIVE A LITTLE LOVIN’ – Jamie Alimorad (10)
10. AS IT WAS – Harry Styles (N)
11. BROKEN HORSES – Brandi Carlisle (12)
12. CAVIAR – Two Feet (6)
13. THE ONLY HEARTBREAKER – Mitski (7)
14. CHEER UP BABY – Inhaler (14)
15. MY LOVE – Florence + the Machine (22)
16. SLEEP – Gooseberry (17)
17. CHASING TRAINS – HULLAH (18)
18. WILD – Spoon (21)
19. I LOVE YOU – Fontaines D.C. (15)
20. B-SIDE – Khruangbin & Leon Bridges (11)
21. REDCHURCH STREET BLUES – Philip Morgan Lewis (13)
22. LA CIENEGA – Chief Springs (25)
23. ON MY KNEES – RÜFÜS DU SOL (26)
24. THE HURT WITHIN – Holy Coves (27)
25. VIRGINIA (WIND IN THE NIGHT) – The Head and the Heart (28)
26. DISTANCE – Mount Famine (29)
27. BLOODRUSH – The Amazons (30)
28. LOVE DIES YOUNG – Foo Fighters (20)
29. A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE – Weezer (N)
30. 2am – Foals (N)