Last week’s top ten songs remain in place again this week, with a bit of shuffling here and there. The Black Keys top my chart for a second week with “No Rain, No Flowers”, while “The Contract” by Twenty One Pilots holds at #2 again after a two-week run at #1. “Feels Right” by northern Virginia singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Talk in Waves moves up a spot to secure the third place ranking.

We have three new debuts, two of which are by legendary alt-rock favorites, and another by one of my favorite Canadian indie artists. Entering at #28 is “Ensenada” by American ska punk band Sublime, who originally formed way back in 1988 in Long Beach, California and consisted of Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Bud Gaugh (drums) and Eric Wilson (bass). Over their eight-year run, Sublime released three studio albums, a live album, five compilation albums, three EPs, one box set and six singles, three of which – “What I Got”, “Santeria” and “Wrong Way” – have remained longtime alt-rock radio staples. The band disbanded after singer Bradley Nowell’s death from a heroin overdose in 1996 but subsequently reformed in 2023 with Bradley’s son Jakob Nowell singing lead vocals alongside original band members Wilson and Gaugh. Their latest single “Ensenada”, released July 18th, carries on with the band’s original signature sound, almost as if no time has passed.

Coming in at #29 is “my mind is a mountain” by American alternative metal band Deftones. Also formed in 1988, in Sacramento, California (where I lived from 1989-1994), they originally consisted of frontman Chino Moreno (lead vocals), Stephen Carpenter (lead guitar), Abe Cunningham (drums) and Chi Cheng (bass). Frank Delgado later joined the band as keyboardist and turntablist in 1999. Cheng, who was seriously injured in an auto accident in 2008 and subsequently died in 2013, was replaced on bass by Sergio Vega, who remained with the band until early 2021. Deftones have released 10 studio albums, four EPs, three compilation albums, five demo albums, 32 music videos and 25 singles. Though none of their songs have ever made the Billboard Hot 100, several have appeared on the Alternative and Rock charts. On July 10th, they released “my mind is a mountain”, the lead single from their 10th and latest album private music (which dropped this past Friday, August 22nd), their first new music since their 2020 album Ohms. With the intensely heavy and melodic “my mind is a mountain”, it’s clear Deftones haven’t lost a step and I’m really liking the new album as well.

Last but certainly not least is “Hornets” by British Columbia-based Western Jaguar, the music project of the personable and talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jeffrey Trainor. I’ve been a fan of his for over seven years, and two of his songs – “Disappear” (2019) and “Darling” (2023) have reached #1 on my chart. His latest single “Hornets” represents a somewhat edgier, more rock-oriented sound from him and I like it!

1. NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (1)
2. THE CONTRACT – Twenty One Pilots (2)
3. FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (4)
4. MOODY – Royel Otis (3)
5. RIPPLE – Good Neighbours (6)
6. BETTER OFF EVENTUALLY – Bealby Point (7)
7. LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (8)
8. LONDON TOWN – Healer (9)
9. SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (10)
10. BACK TO FRIENDS – sombr (5)
11. BLOOM BABY BLOOM – Wolf Alice (12)
12. JUPITER – almost monday ft. Jordana (13)
13. UNDRESSED – sombr (14)
14. ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (15)
15. BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (19)
16. POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost (20)
17. TODAY’S SONG – Foo Fighters (21)
18. FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall (22)
19. BETTER DAYS – Yellowcard (24)
20. BASIC BEING BASIC – Djo (11)
21. NOTHING I NEED – Lord Huron (17)
22. INCOMPREHENSIBLE – Big Thief (25)
23. LIGHT YEARS APART – Unobliterated (26)
24. UNRAVELLING – Muse (27)
25. PORCELAIN (LOSING ALL MY PATIENCE) – Somebody’s Child (16)
26. AFTERLIFE – Alex G (29)
27. AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE – Nine Inch Nails (30)
28. ENSENADA – Sublime (N)
29. MY MIND IS A MOUNTAIN – Deftones (N)
30. HORNETS – Western Jaguar (N)