Irish alt-rock band Fontaines D.C. are one of the most exciting and interesting acts making music today, and while they’d been gaining critical acclaim and popularity since the release of their debut album Dogrel in 2019, it was their spectacular fourth album Romance, released in summer 2024, that really put them over the top. I love their intelligent songwriting and arresting sound, as well as charismatic lead vocalist Grian Chatten’s distinctive baritone Irish brogue, and they’ve become one of my favorite bands. Formed in Dublin in 2014, the band includes the aforementioned Grian Chatten (lead vocals), Conor Curley (guitar), Conor “Deego” Deegan III (bass), Tom Coll (drums), and Carlos O’Connell (guitar).

“Marianne”, the lead single from their fifth album Dopamine Chamber, which dropped this past Friday, October 16th, is my new #1 song this week. It’s their fourth song to top my chart, after “Starburster” (my #1 song of 2024) and “Favorite” in 2024 and “It’s Amazing to Be Young” from 2025. Incredulously, none of their singles have ever made the Billboard Hot 100, and only Romance has appeared on the Billboard 200 Album chart, where it peaked at only #97. Dopamine Chamber also features “Where Is Gone?, an enthralling duet with Spanish singer-songwriter Rosalía.

According to band frontman Chatten, the darkly beautiful and cinematic “Marianne” was partially inspired by the 2024 American psychological thriller miniseries Ripley, starring Andrew Scott, (which is based on the 1955 novel The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith). And both Chatten and band bassist Conor Deegan have stated that both the single “Marianne” and the album itself ask the question about where is one to escape to when the act of escaping becomes more difficult. The eerie, surreal video, directed by Dave Meyers & Cam Erickson, attempts to convey the character of Marianne trying to numb herself through substances and destructive behavior, and exploring the tension between wanting to find peace and falling deeper into oblivion.

In other chart news of note, Canadian all-female band The Beaches finally enter the top 10 with their wonderful “Edge of the Earth”. And for the sixth consecutive week, I’ve added two new songs to my chart, the first of which is “BedHead” by alt-rock act Balu Brigada. Originally from Auckland, New Zealand and now based in New York City, they consist of brothers Henry and Pierre Beasley, both vocalists and multi-instrumentalists, as well as Harper Finn on keyboards and Jacob Stockman on drums. Their single “So Cold” reached #1 on my chart as well as the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in early 2025, and ranks #3 on my list of the 100 Best Songs of 2025.

The second new entry is “New Aesthetic” by American pop-rock band Beach Weather, comprised of vocalist/guitarist Nick Santino, lead guitarist Sean Silverman and bassist/backing vocalist Reeve Powers. Originally formed in 2015 by Santino and Powers along with two other members, the band released three EPs then later went on an indefinite hiatus in 2017. Beach Weather reunited in 2021 with Santino and Powers, as well as longtime collaborator Silverman, who joined as an official member. Their song “Sex, Drugs, Etc.”, which was originally included on their 2016 EP Chit Chat, went viral on Tik Tok in 2022, ultimately becoming a #1 hit on Alternative radio and charts. It ended up ranking #3 on my 100 Best Songs of 2022 list. To date, four of their songs have reached #1 on my chart – “Sex, Drugs, Etc.”, “Trouble With This Bed” and “Pineapple Sunrise” in 2023, and “High in Low Places” in 2024. It’s good to have them back on my chart.

Fun fact: This week’s chart is bookended by the acts who have my top two songs of 2024 – “Starburster” by Fontaines D.C. and “High in Low Places” by Beach Weather. Also, Beach Weather’s “Trouble With This Bed” is my top song of 2023.

1. MARIANNE – Fontaines D.C. (3)
2. PRIVATE – The Neighbourhood (1)
3. LOST BOYS – Phoebe Bridgers (2)
4. STONE OVER WATER – Death Cab for Cutie (5)
5. I FEEL HOPE COMING – Alabama Shakes (6)
6. LOSER – Tame Impala (7)
7. BEACHES IN TENNESSEE – Cage the Elephant (4)
8. WE MIGHT AS WELL BE STRANGERS – Weezer feat. Wednesday (9)
9. I CAN TAKE THE SUN OUT OF THE SKY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (10)
10. EDGE OF THE EARTH – The Beaches (12)
11. WINDOW – Foo Fighters (14)
12. METASTASIZED – Bealby Point (16)
13. EVERGREEN – Young the Giant (13)
14. BEHIND THE LINES OF REASON – Hardwicke Circus (15)
15. REIN ME IN – Sam Fender & Olivia Dean (8)
16. LOVE TO GO – Edgehill (18)
17. YOUNG AGAIN – Shinedown (19)
18. HIGH HOPES 3000 – ROLE MODEL (21)
19. BLACK DOG RABBIT HOLE – Devon Gilfillian (22)
20. GOOD TIMES // END TIMES – Goose (23)
21. ALREADY GONE – Orville Peck (24)
22. I KINDA LIKE THAT – The Paradox (25)
23. OH YEAH? – Steve Lacy (26)
24. HEART STOP – The Revivalists (11)
25. NO MORE REGRETS – almost monday (17)
26. EXIT SIGNS – LEAP (29)
27. BOTTLE – Remi Wolf (30)
28. ONLINE – Western Jaguar (20) 19th week on chart
29. BEDHEAD – Balu Brigada (N)
30. NEW AESTHETIC – Beach Weather (N)