Cage the Elephant remain on top for a second week with “Neon Pill”, while The Lemon Twigs‘ delightful “My Golden Years” moves up another notch to #2. I just love those vibrant jangly guitars and Beach Boys-esque harmonies, and it’s hard to fathom why this song hasn’t appeared on any charts that I’m aware of. Far and away the biggest upward mover this week is the achingly beautiful “Time” by Texas-based duo MISSIO, which leaps 17 spots to #5. I had the opportunity to interview Matthew and David over Zoom last week, which was a thrill for me. The song will be included on their monumental 26-track album I AM CINCO, planned for release in early May. “Overcompensate” by another favorite duo of mine, twenty one pilots, climbs three spots to #6. These four songs, along with The Black Keys‘ “Beautiful People (Stay High)” and Green Day‘s “Dilemma”, will likely control the top six spots on my chart for many weeks to come.

Two songs make their debut this week, the first of which is “Murder on the Dance Floor ” by Australian guitar-pop duo Royel Otis (comprised of Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovi), entering at #28. The song is a wonderful cover of the 2001 hit “Murder on the Dancefloor” by British singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor, which Royel Otis performed on the Australian radio station Triple J for their Like a Version program. Interestingly, the song does not appear on their debut album PRATTS & PAIN that was just released in February. The two have been putting out music since 2021, and I really like their sound! Also interesting is that Ellis-Bextor’s original gained renewed popularity earlier this year after appearing in the 2023 black comedy thriller film Saltburn, causing it to re-enter the UK Dance Singles Chart where it reached #1. It also peaked at #51 on the US Billboard Hot 100, her first song to ever appear on that chart.

Entering at #30 is “Don’t Forget Me” by immensely talented American singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers. Citing artists like Carrie Brownstein, Patti Smith, Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth, Björk, Brandi Carlile and Sharon Van Etten as her musical inspirations, the latter two who’ve also become her mentors — I think she’s one of the finest female singer-songwriters making music today. Her thoughtful lyrics and heartfelt vocals always make for a pleasing, deeply moving and compelling listen.

1. NEON PILL – Cage the Elephant (1)
2. MY GOLDEN YEARS – The Lemon Twigs (3)
3. BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE (STAY HIGH) – The Black Keys (2)
4. DILEMMA – Green Day (4)
5. TIME – MISSIO (22)
6. OVERCOMPENSATE – twenty one pilots (9)
7. LOVIN ON ME – Jack Harlow (8)
8. WINTER COWBOY – Frank Joshua (5)
9. THE TOWER – Future Islands (6)
10. BLUSH – Vazum (12)
11. MOTHER NATURE – MGMT (7)
12. LUNAR ECLIPSE – The Vaccines (13)
13. DIAMOND AND THE MISSING SON – Unquiet Nights (14)
14. KOOL AID BLUE – The Sylvia Platters (16)
15. I’M IN LOVE – Jelani Aryeh (17)
16. NORTHERN ATTITUDE – Noah Kahan feat. Hozier (10)
17. FIND MY WAY – Ships Have Sailed (19)
18. EVERYTHING WE NEED – Mojave Grey (20)
19. BICYCLE AWAY – Sam Rappaport (15)
20. GOOD PEOPLE – Mumford & Sons, Pharrell Williams (23)
21. WATER UNDERGROUND – Real Estate (24)
22. LANDMINES – Sum 41 (25)
23. ICE CREAM (PAY PHONE) – Black Pumas (27)
24. DARK MATTER – Pearl Jam (28)
25. WANTING AND WAITING – The Black Crowes (30)
26. BLAME BRETT – The Beaches (11)
27. NICE TO KNOW YOU – lovelytheband (18)
28. MURDER ON THE DANCE FLOOR – Royel Otis (N)
29. ALIVE! – Bakar (21)
30. DON’T FORGET ME – Maggie Rogers (N)