Late July is generally the hottest time of year for many locations in the Northern Hemisphere, and that’s definitely true for my part of the world in the Southwestern U.S. desert, where we’re experiencing our hottest temperatures so far in 2026 – 115-118 degrees Fahrenheit (46-48 C). (Which begs the question, why the fuck do I live here?!?) Needless to say, that means spending much of our time indoors, where listening to music helps to pass the time and cool tempers.

Speaking of tempers, after sombr’s three-week run at #1with “Homewrecker”, Israeli-American alternative rock band Temper City take over the top spot with their monster debut single “Self Aware”. Released in February, the earworm quickly went viral on TikTok and has now amassed over 324 million streams on Spotify, and nearly 20 million views on YouTube. I liked it at first listen, as that chorus is so damned catchy!

The song has become a worldwide hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart and the top 10 in Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK. The track’s style and sound have been compared to acts like Steve Lacy, Hozier, Cage the Elephant and The Neighbourhood. Temper City was founded in Los Angeles in 2021 by singer-songwriter Eytan Peled together with the producer duo Sync, consisting of Aviv Barenholtz and Chen Kordova, who’ve known each other since they were 12 years old. The three friends had previously worked together writing songs for pop and EDM artists, including Zeds Dead, Dimitri Vegas and Barns Courtney, and now have their very own hit single.

In other chart developments of note, two songs enter the top 10: “Doors” by Vermont-based singer-songwriter Noah Kahan and “Picking Dragons’ Pockets” by the always zany and edgy Portland, Oregon band Modest Mouse, at #s 8 & 10, respectively.

There’s only one new debut again the week: “Beaches In Tennessee” by the aforementioned Cage the Elephant. Formed in 2006 in Bowling Green, Kentucky and based in Nashville since 2009 (after two years spent in London, England) the band is comprised of frontman Matt Shultz (vocals), his older brother Brad Shultz (rhythm guitar), Nick Bockrath (lead guitar), Matthan Minster (guitar, keyboards), Daniel Tichenor (bass), and Jared Champion (drums). “Beaches In Tennessee” has debuted quite high on the various alternative charts, and while I’ve loved many Cage the Elephant songs, I’m still lukewarm about it.

1. SELF AWARE – Temper City (3)
2. HOMEWRECKER – sombr (1)
3. EXIT WOUND – Ships Have Sailed (5)
4. FREAKIN’ OUT – Dexter and The Moonrocks (2)
5. GOOD2B – Goose (4)
6. REPEAT OFFENDER – Gloom Is Okay (8)
7. RAGING HALLS – Lyia Meta (10)
8. DOORS – Noah Kahan (12)
9. GOING SHOPPING – The Strokes (6)
10. PICKING DRAGONS’ POCKETS – Modest Mouse (11)
11. PRIVATE – The Neighbourhood (13)
12. REIN ME IN – Sam Fender & Olivia Dean (14)
13. HEADLIGHTS – In Color (7)
14. ONLINE – Western Jaguar (16)
15. MARATHONS – Sorry Ghost (15)
16. DROP DEAD – Olivia Rodrigo (9)
17. RIDE LONESOME – Beck (17)
18. GO FUCK URSELF – Fat Dog (22)
19. WHO WILL YOU FOLLOW – Evanescence (21)
20. RIPTIDES – Death Cab for Cutie (18)
21. UNTIL THE SUN EXPLODES – Sublime (19)
22. THE ENDLESS BORDER – Velvet Jesus (24)
23. HEART STOP – The Revivalists (26)
24. IN THE STARS – The Rolling Stones (27)
25. NO MORE REGRETS – almost monday (28)
26. HERE – Mumford & Sons with Sierra Ferrell (25)
27. FREAKING OUT – Michigander (29)
28. HOLD ME IN THE DARK – Myles Smith (30)
29. BEACHES IN TENNESSEE – Cage the Elephant (N)
30. BACK IN LOVE – Suki Waterhouse (20)