Ever since learning about them nearly 10 years ago, twenty one pilots have ranked among my all-time favorite music acts. Their 2015 masterpiece Blurryface is one of my top 10 favorite albums of all time. Still based in their hometown of Columbus, Ohio, the dynamic duo consists of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun. Joseph is a brilliant and imaginative songwriter, as well as a damn fine rapper, and Dun is one of the best drummers around today. Their eclectic sound is a blend of alternative rock, hip hop, synth-pop, bedroom pop, emo rap, indie and garage rock.

This past May, they released their seventh album Clancy, the final installment of their nearly decade-long series of conceptual albums. Clancy concludes the storyline of the character Clancy, who resides in the fictional dystopian city of Dema in the metaphysical world of Trench we were introduced to on their 2018 album Trench. The album was co-produced by Joseph and his frequent collaborator Paul Meany, a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music director and producer who’s also front man of alt-rock act Mutemath. One of the album’s tracks, “The Craving”, was released in two different versions, one being the album cut featuring a stripped-down acoustic arrangement subtitled “Jenna’s Version”, and the other the single version featuring a fuller arrangement. Joseph wrote the song as a dedication to his wife Jenna. The beautiful single version is my new #1 song this week, making it twenty one pilots’ 11th song to reach #1 on my chart (their previous single “Overcompensate” recently peaked at #2).

In other chart news of note, Sabrina Carpenter‘s breezy dance-pop gem “Espresso” climbs six spots to enter the top 10 at #10, and Lola Young‘s powerfully defiant “Messy” moves up six spots to #21. Two songs make their debut this week: entering at #29 is the hauntingly beautiful “Into Gold” by English indie pop trio London Grammar. Formed in 2009 the band consists of Hannah Reid, Dan Rothman and Dominic “Dot” Major. They’ve released three albums thus far, with a fourth, The Greatest Love, due for release later this year. Though their albums have been quite successful in the UK, many European countries and Australia, some reaching #1 in those countries, they’ve had only limited success in the U.S. “Into Gold” was released on June 21st as the third single from The Greatest Love, and marks London Grammar’s first appearance on my chart. Entering at #30 is the topically relevant and captivating “Permanent Record” by Welsh singer-songwriter GG Fearn, which I reviewed last month. The talented artist just released her album “Scopophobia”, a soundtrack to the independent Welsh horror film of the same name, featuring “Permanent Record”, along with previously-released songs and new ones written especially for the film.

1. THE CRAVING – twenty one pilots (2)
2. STARBURSTER – Fontaines D.C. (1)
3. PANORAMIC VIEW – AWOLNATION (4)
4. HIGH IN LOW PLACES – Beach Weather (3)
5. A FORETOLD ECSTASY – Mayflower Madame (5)
6. LIKE YOU DO – The Frontier (7)
7. LOST IN SPACE – Foster the People (8)
8. OH NO! – The Decemberists (10)
9. LUNCH – Billie Eilish (6)
10. ESPRESSO – Sabrina Carpenter (16)
11. WHAT IF I FEEL LIKE THIS MY WHOLE LIFE? – HULLAH (14)
12. I HAD SOME HELP – Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen (12)
13. RUN YOUR MOUTH – The Marías (13)
14. WRECKAGE – Pearl Jam (9)
15. RAINBOW – Cage the Elephant (17)
16. END OF BEGINNING – Djo (11)
17. PAYBACK – Aaron Frazer (15)
18. WAKING LIFE – Nicholas a. Milillo feat. Dee Wolf, Bobby Jasso, Gabrielle Marella and the voice of Tony Milillo (20)
19. STARGAZING – Myles Smith (21)
20. YOU JUST PLAYED MY MIND – Oli Barton (23)
21. MESSY – Lola Young (27)
22. WAR – Healer (24)
23. HONEY – Mr Bewlay (26)
24. BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish (29)
25. GOOD LUCK, BABE! – Chappell Roan (30)
26. BABY BLUE MOVIE – Cigarettes After Six (25)
27. CREATURES IN HEAVEN – Glass Animals (18)
28. TOO SWEET – Hozier (19) 20th week on chart
29. INTO GOLD – London Grammar (N)
30. PERMANENT RECORD – GG Fearn (N)