British four-piece The Zangwills are an immensely-talented indie band who make exceptional melodic pop-rock with a maturity of songwriting and musicianship as fine as many top big-name bands around today. Based in Cheshire, they consist of Jake Vickers (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Ed Dowling (bass), Sam Davies (lead guitar) and Adam Spence (drums). They’ve been actively making music since 2017, when they were all still in their teens, and have released a total of 13 singles and two EPs. Listening to their back catalog, I can emphatically state that every one of their songs is outstanding.

I didn’t learn about them until summer 2021, when I was blown away by their magnificent single “Never Looked Back”. I loved it so much that it went all the way to #1 on my Weekly Top 30, and ended up at #24 on my Top 100 Songs of 2021 list. Now, after a long 15-week climb, they once again reach the top of my chart with their latest single “Backpatters and Shooters”. It’s a gorgeous track, with a haunting piano-driven melody, cinematic orchestration and achingly beautiful guitar work that make it one of their most impactful songs yet. Then there are Jake’s powerfully emotive vocals, which convey an incredible vulnerability as he croons the lyrics addressing the pursuit of love and how it far outweighs the importance of anything else: “You know that I’d be the first to plant roses in your face, and frame beauty with beauty. And though I’m dying of thirst, I’m still running in your race with the men who pat my back, and the men who would shoot me. And when I look up, if I squint I see love. But it’s never that much, and no it’s never enough.” 

In other chart developments, “Transmitter” by Sea Power and “Tropic Morning News” by The National move up to #3 and #4, respectively. Entering the top 10 are “New Gold” by Gorillaz featuring Tame Impala and Bootie Brown, at #9, and “Ghosts Again” by Depeche Mode, at #10. The biggest upward mover this week is “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus, leaping eight spots to #14. The two debut songs this week are by artists making their first appearance on my chart: “Wolf” by New York indie/art rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, at #28, and “the perfect pair” by sweet-voiced Filipino-British singer-songwriter beabadoobee (born Beatrice Kristi Ilejay Laus), at #30. The song’s been out a while, and finally clicked with me.

1. BACKPATTERS AND SHOOTERS – The Zangwills (2)
2. LOVE FROM THE OTHER SIDE – Fall Out Boy (1)
3. TRANSMITTER – Sea Power (5)
4. TROPIC MORNING NEWS – The National (6)
5. TROUBLE WITH THIS BED – Beach Weather (3)
6. PAGES – White Reaper (4)
7. JUST BEFORE THE MORNING – Local Natives (7)
8. PEPPER – Death Cab for Cutie (10)
9. NEW GOLD – Gorillaz featuring Tame Impala and Bootie Brown (12)
10. GHOSTS AGAIN – Depeche Mode (13)
11. SUREFIRE – Wilderado (11)
12. YOU GOTTA DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO – Darksoft (9)
13. SOFTEN – Alex Southey (18)
14. FLOWERS – Miley Cyrus (22)
15. NIGHT BUS – Caitlin Lavagna (8) 19th week on chart
16. EYEZ – The Arcs (20)
17. WEIGHTLESS – Arlo Parks (21)
18. THE WALK HOME – Young the Giant (24)
19. BLUEBELL WOOD – Frank Joshua (25)
20. I WANT YOU DEAD – Two Feet & Allie Cabal (26)
21. MODERNISE – Slow Readers Club (23)
22. SLEEPWALKING – All Time Low (17)
23. KID – The Revivalists (29)
24. WILD AS THE WIND – HULLAH (14)
25. MAYFLY – Callum Pitt (15)
26. THE LONELIEST – Måneskin (16)
27. PAID OFF – Oli Barton & the Movement (30)
28. WOLF – Yeah Yeah Yeahs (N)
29. EVERGREEN – Mt. Joy (19)
30. THE PERFECT PAIR – beabadoobee (N)