We’ve reached the last full week of 2024, and the Cure‘s “A Fragile Thing” remains at #1 on my Top 30 for a second week. Dexter and The Moonrocks also hold at #2 for a second week with “Sad in Carolina, while Beach Weather moves into third place with “Hardcore Romance”. “The Faithful Heart” by Wons Phreely + The Horses climbs four spots to #4, while “Favourite” by Fontaines D.C. moves down two to #5. “A Tear in Space (Airlock)” by Glass Animals moves up three spots to enter the top 10 at #10.

Three songs make their debut this week, beginning with “Detroit” by Los Angeles-based alternative hard rock band Badflower. Released this past summer, the song took a while to fully grow on me, which is weird since it’s a really good, high-energy anthem. It’s their second song to appear on my chart, the first being their 2018 masterpiece “Ghost”, which peaked at #2 and ranks #21 on my 100 Best Songs of 2018 list. Formed in 2015, the band is still comprised of the four original founding members singer/guitarist Josh Katz, lead guitarist Joey Morrow, bassist Alex Espiritu and drummer Anthony Sonetti.

Entering at #29 is another song that’s been out awhile, “Sailor Song” by American singer-songwriter Gigi Perez. (Coincidentally, it was released on July 26, the same day as Badflower’s “Detroit”.) She’s been putting out music since 2021, but “Sailor Song” is her first song to chart after going viral on TikTok a few months ago. It’s reached #1 in the UK, Ireland and Latvia, and the top five in New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the Billboard Hot Rock and Alternative Songs chart. Thus far, it’s reached #22 on the Hot 100. The infectious and endearing song is a love ballad about falling for a woman who looks like the actress Anne Hathaway.

The third debut is “Day & Night”, by London-based singer-songwriter Oli Barton. A supremely talented artist, Barton’s made numerous appearances on my Top 30, most recently this past fall with his previous single “You Just Played My Mind”, which spent 15 weeks on my chart. I’ve loved every single one of his releases, and the ebullient “Day & Night” is no exception!

1. A FRAGILE THING – The Cure (1)
2. SAD IN CAROLINA – Dexter and The Moonrocks (2)
3. HARDCORE ROMANCE – Beach Weather (4)
4. THE FAITHFUL HEART – Wons Phreely + The Horses (8)
5. FAVOURITE – Fontaines D.C. (3)
6. DIE WITH A SMILE – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (5)
7. NOBODY’S SOLDIER – Hozier (6)
8. NEVERENDER – Justice & Tame Impala (9)
9. CAN’T SLOW DOWN – almost monday (7)
10. A TEAR IN SPACE (AIRLOCK) – Glass Animals (13)
11. SUPERSAD – Suki Waterhouse (11)
12. BOBBY SOX – Green Day (12)
13. MIND GAME (3:33) – Collette McLafferty & John Serrano (16)
14. DOPAMINE – Sum 41 (17)
15. IN THE LIVING ROOM – Maggie Rogers (18)
16. ARROW – The Head and the Heart (19)
17. GIVING UP – Michigander (20)
18. BOTHERING ME – Sarah Blasko (10)
19. KINKY – bby (14)
20. AUTUMN LEAVES – Secret Postal Society (22)
21. ROUTINES IN THE NIGHT – twenty one pilots (23)
22. GILD THE LILY – Billy Strings (24)
23. PEACEFUL PLACE – Leon Bridges (15)
24. PEACE SONG – Fat Dog (26)
25. DARKERSIDE – David Kushner (29)
26. YOU’RE MY DRUG – Talk in Waves (30)
27. THAT’S HOW I’M FEELING – Jack White (21)
28. DETROIT – Badflower (N)
29. SAILOR SONG – Gigi Perez (N)
30. DAY & NIGHT – Oli Barton (N)