Tag: Balu Brigada

My Top 30 Songs for November 16-22, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's6 Comments
Photo of Alabama Shakes by Brantley Gutierrez

It’s a new song at #1 this week, as well as four terrific new debuts. Alabama blues rock band Alabama Shakes ascends to the top spot with their gorgeous and explosive single “Another Life”. Formed in 2009, they’re comprised of powerhouse singer-songwriter Brittany Howard (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Heath Fogg (lead guitar and vocals) and Zac Cockrell (bass). From 2011 to 2015, they released two albums, three EPs and numerous singles, including their big 2015 hit “Don’t Wanna Fight”, before going on hiatus in 2018 so that Howard could focus on her solo career. She released two critically acclaimed albums, Jaime in 2019 (which earned her two Grammy nominations), and What Now in 2024 (also nominated for a Grammy). Fogg also released his own solo LP under the name Sun on Shade in 2020. Alabama Shakes reunited this past December, and on August 29th, released “Another Life”, their first new music as a band in ten years. They spent much of the summer on a 30-city tour that concluded in late September. Here’s a live performance of the song from their Red Rocks show that nicely captures Howard’s electrifying stage and musical presence:

Entering the top 10 are “Dracula” by Tame Impala, at #8, and “Everybody Scream” by Florence + The Machine, at #10. As I noted above, four songs make their debut on this week’s chart, beginning with the anthemic and heartfelt “Zombie” by English singer-songwriter and actor YUNGBLUD (born Dominic Richard Harrison), entering at #27. The song is from his fourth studio album Idols, released this past June.

Next up is “Tanana”, the latest offering by American rock band Portugal. The Man, who are no strangers to my chart. Three of their songs – “Feel It Still”, “Live in the Moment” and ” What, Me Worry?” – have reached #1, with “Feel It Still” being my top song of 2017 and ranking #6 on my Top 100 of the 2010s. Originally from Wasilla, Alaska and now based in Portland, Oregon, the group currently consists of founding member John Gourley and his wife Zoe Manville, joined by a group of touring musicians. I had the pleasure of seeing them in concert in February 2024. Named for a small Alaska town near Fairbanks, “Tanana” is from their tenth studio album Shish, which dropped November 7th. Gourley said the song “voices a generational sadness, searching for fleeting meaning in a world on edge.“

Entering at #29 is the beautiful “By Your Side”, the latest single by Vancouver, Canada-based alternative psychedelic dream rock band Meltt. Comprised of Chris Smith (lead vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards), Jamie Turner (drums, percussion), James Porter (guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals), and Ian Winkler (keyboards, bass, guitar), they’ve released quite a bit of music since 2017, including their marvelous 2023 album Eternal Embers, one of my favorites that year which featured their gorgeous single “Within You, Within Me”. With acts like Tame Impala, Foals, Radiohead and Glass Animals among their major influences, it’s no wonder I love their sound.

My fourth new entry is “Remember Us?” by Brooklyn, New York-based singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer Two Feet (born Zachary William “Bill” Dess). A longtime favorite of mine, ten of his songs have reached #1 on my chart, with “Fire” being my top song of 2021, and “I Feel Like I’m Drowning” my #2 song of 2018. Released October 31st, “Remember Us?” is included on his new EP Drunken Fits of a Modern Age, which dropped this past Friday, November 14th. One of his best songs in a while, “Remember Us?” replaces his previous single “Lingerie”, which spent four weeks on my chart.

  1. ANOTHER LIFE – Alabama Shakes (2)
  2. ENSENDADA – Sublime (1)
  3. SUSHI AND COCA-COLA – St. Paul & The Broken Bones (3)
  4. THE WEATHER – All Time Low (5)
  5. ELEGANTLY WASTED – Hermanos Gutiérrez feat. Leon Bridges (6)
  6. MISTAKES – Caamp (4)
  7. CITY WALLS – Twenty One Pilots (10)
  8. DRACULA – Tame Impala (12)
  9. DOWNSTAIRS – Matt Maeson (9)
  10. EVERYBODY SCREAM – Florence + The Machine (11)
  11. THE FATE OF OPHELIA – Taylor Swift (13)
  12. ORDINARY CREATURE – Of Monsters and Men (14)
  13. SPECTER – Bad Omens (15)
  14. FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall (7)
  15. AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE – Nine Inch Nails (8)
  16. 12 TO 12 – sombr (22)
  17. SO FAR SO FAKE – Pierce the Veil (21)
  18. WRECK – Neko Case (16)
  19. ENOUGH – Jeff Tweedy (17)
  20. THE FEAR – Future Theory (23)
  21. LUCY – Mt. Joy (24)
  22. GET THE MESSAGE – The Paradox (25)
  23. WATCH ME GO – Lord Huron (26)
  24. UNDRESSED – sombr (18)
  25. BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (19)
  26. DANG – Rainbow Kitten Surprise (27)
  27. ZOMBIE – YUNGBLUD (N)
  28. TANANA – Portugal. The Man (N)
  29. BY YOUR SIDE – Meltt (N)
  30. REMEMBER US? – Two Feet (N)

My Top 30 Songs for November 9-15, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's8 Comments
Photo by Joshua Kim

There aren’t any significant changes to my chart, as Sublime‘s “Ensenada” holds at #1 for a second week. Alabama Shakes moves up two notches to #2 with “Another Life”, while “Downstairs” by Matt Maeson and “City Walls” by Twenty One Pilots enter the top 10. There are no new additions this week.

  1. ENSENADA – Sublime (1)
  2. ANOTHER LIFE – Alabama Shakes (4)
  3. SUSHI AND COCA-COLA – St. Paul & The Broken Bones (3)
  4. MISTAKES – Caamp (6)
  5. THE WEATHER – All Time Low (7)
  6. ELEGANTLY WASTED – Hermanos Gutiérrez feat. Leon Bridges (8)
  7. FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall (2)
  8. AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE – Nine Inch Nails (4)
  9. DOWNSTAIRS – Matt Maeson (12)
  10. CITY WALLS – Twenty One Pilots (14)
  11. EVERYBODY SCREAM – Florence + The Machine (13)
  12. DRACULA – Tame Impala (18)
  13. THE FATE OF OPHELIA – Taylor Swift (15)
  14. ORDINARY CREATURE – Of Monsters and Men (16)
  15. SPECTER – Bad Omens (17)
  16. WRECK – Neko Case (11)
  17. ENOUGH – Jeff Tweedy (19)
  18. UNDRESSED – sombr (9)
  19. BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (10)
  20. LINGERIE – Two Feet (23)
  21. SO FAR SO FAKE – Pierce the Veil (24)
  22. 12 TO 12 – sombr (25)
  23. THE FEAR – Future Theory (26)
  24. LUCY – Mt. Joy (27)
  25. GET THE MESSAGE – The Paradox (28)
  26. WATCH ME GO – Lord Huron (29)
  27. DANG – Rainbow Kitten Surprise (30)
  28. LIGHT YEARS APART – Unobliterated (21)
  29. HORNETS – Western Jaguar (22)
  30. BETTER DAYS – Yellowcard (20)

My Top 30 Songs for November 2-8, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's13 Comments
Photo of Sublime by Joshua Kim

It’s a new song at #1 this week, as “Ensenada” by legendary Southern California ska punk band Sublime takes over the top spot. Originally formed in Long Beach way back in 1988 by Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Bud Gaugh (drums) and Eric Wilson (bass), they 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. Sadly, they disbanded after Bradley Nowell’s untimely death from a heroin overdose in 1996 but subsequently reformed in 2023 with Nowell’s son Jakob singing lead vocals alongside original band members Wilson and Gaugh.

Released this past July, “Ensenada” carries on with the band’s original signature sound, almost as if no time has passed. The song lyrics speak to the joys of time spent with prostitutes in Ensenada, Mexico, with Jakob admitting “if I was the motherfuckin’ President, I’d hire twenty strippers for my cabinet” (which seems ironic, as at least two members of President Trump’s cabinet look like aging strippers). I must add it annoys me that the words “whore” and “motherfuckin'” have been bleeped out of the video.

There are four new entries to my chart again this week, starting with “Lucy” by Los Angeles-based indie rock band Mt. Joy. Formed in 2016, the band consists of Matt Quinn (vocals, guitar), Sam Cooper (guitar), Sotiris Eliopoulos (drums), Jackie Miclau (keyboards) and Michael Byrnes (bass). The song is from their fourth studio album Hope We Have Fun, and is their seventh song to appear on my chart.

Coming in at #28 is “Get The Message” by Atlanta-based pop-punk band The Paradox, comprised of Eric Dangerfield (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Donald Bryant (bass), Christopher “Xelan” Bernard (lead guitar and background vocals), and Percy “PC3” Crews (drums). Formed only a little more than a year ago in June 2024, they quickly made waves in the music industry; just three weeks after launching their social media presence, they amassed over 730k followers and have already opened for Green Day and Jack White. “Get The Message” is featured on their debut EP NSFW, which dropped September 19th.

Next up is “Watch Me Go” by folk rock band Lord Huron, another Los Angeles-based act who’ve been a longtime favorite of mine. Originally formed as a solo act by singer-songwriter/guitarist Ben Schneider in 2010 after he relocated from Michigan to Los Angeles, Lord Huron eventually became a four-piece that now includes Miguel Briseño on bass, keyboards & theremin, Tom Renaud on guitar, and Mark Barry on drums & percussion. Their uniquely beautiful music is a glorious mash-up of folk, western, rock and roll, pop, surf rock and new age. “Watch Me Go” is from their fifth and latest album The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1, released in July. A previous single from that album, “Nothing I Need”, spent two weeks at #1 on my chart in June.

The fourth new entry is “Dang” by North Carolina-based alternative indie rock band Rainbow Kitten Surprise, whose sound has been influenced by such artists as Modest Mouse, Kings of Leon, Frank Ocean, and Schoolboy Q. Formed in 2013 by Darrick “Bozzy” Keller (guitar, backup vocals) and Sam Melo (lead vocalist who transitioned to Ela in 2022), they were joined a year later by Ethan Goodpaster (electric guitar) and Jess Haney (drums). “Dang” is from their fifth studio album Bones, which dropped September 26th, and their second song to appear on my chart after “Fever Pitch” in 2018.

  1. ENSENADA – Sublime (2)
  2. FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall (1)
  3. SUSHI AND COCA-COLA – St. Paul & The Broken Bones (5)
  4. ANOTHER LIFE – Alabama Shakes (9)
  5. AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE – Nine Inch Nails (4)
  6. MISTAKES – Caamp (7)
  7. THE WEATHER – All Time Low (8)
  8. ELEGANTLY WASTED – Hermanos Gutiérrez feat. Leon Bridges (10)
  9. UNDRESSED – sombr (3)
  10. BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (6)
  11. WRECK – Neko Case (14)
  12. DOWNSTAIRS – Matt Maeson (15)
  13. EVERYBODY SCREAM – Florence + The Machine (16)
  14. CITY WALLS – Twenty One Pilots (17)
  15. THE FATE OF OPHELIA – Taylor Swift (18)
  16. ORDINARY CREATURE – Of Monsters and Men (19)
  17. SPECTER – Bad Omens (20)
  18. DRACULA – Tame Impala (24)
  19. ENOUGH – Jeff Tweedy (21)
  20. BETTER DAYS – Yellowcard (11)
  21. LIGHT YEARS APART – Unobliterated (12)
  22. HORNETS – Western Jaguar (13)
  23. LINGERIE – Two Feet (27)
  24. SO FAR SO FAKE – Pierce the Veil (28)
  25. 12 TO 12 – sombr (29)
  26. THE FEAR – Future Theory (30)
  27. LUCY – Mt. Joy (N)
  28. GET THE MESSAGE – The Paradox (N)
  29. WATCH ME GO – Lord Huron (N)
  30. DANG – Rainbow Kitten Surprise (N)

My Top 30 Songs for October 26-November 1, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's3 Comments

English folk-rock duo Seafret and Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall remain at #1 for a second week with their exuberant collaboration “Five More Seconds”, while “Ensenada”, by Southern California ska punk band Sublime, moves into second place. Entering the top 10 are “The Weather” by All Time Low, “Another Life” by Alabama Shakes and “Elegantly Wasted”, the lovely collaboration by Hermanos Gutiérrez and Leon Bridges.

It’s another big week for debuts, with four excellent new songs entering my chart. Entering at #24 is “Dracula” by Australian psychedelic pop-rock band Tame Impala, a longtime favorite act of mine headed by the brilliant singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Kevin Parker. The song is from their fifth and latest album Deadbeat, which dropped October 17th.

The second debut, entering at #28, is “So Far So Fake” by San Diego-based post-hardcore band Pierce the Veil. Formed in 2006, the band now consists of Vic Fuentes (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, programming), Jaime Preciado (bass, backing vocals) and Tony Perry (lead guitar). Loniel Robinson plays drums for live performances. The song is from their fifth album The Jaws of Life, originally released in 2023.

Coming in at #29 is “12 to 12”, the latest single by Los Angeles-based sombr (the musical moniker of 20-year-old singer-songwriter and producer Shane Michael Boose). The exciting and dynamic song is featured on his debut album I Barely Know Her, which dropped August 22nd and also includes his monster hits “back to friends” and “undressed”, both of which reached #1 on my chart. Along with “undressed”, which currently sits at #3, “12 to 12” gives sombr two songs on this week’s chart. In fact, he’s had at least one song on my chart every week since May 18th.

Last, but certainly not least, is “The Fear” by English alternative psychedelic rock band Future Theory, another longtime favorite act of mine whose music I’ve written about many times. The exceptionally talented four-piece is comprised of Max Sander (rhythm guitar and vocals), Chris Moore (lead guitar), Jacob Brookes (bass) and Rohan Parrett (drums). Their magnificent single “Why” reached #1 on my chart and ranks #18 on my 100 Best Songs of 2023 list, while their single “One and the Same” peaked at #3 and ranks #42 on my list of 100 Best Songs of 2022. “The Fear” is the latest of three outstanding singles they’ve released over the past four months.

  1. FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall (1)
  2. ENSENADA – Sublime (3)
  3. UNDRESSED – sombr (2)
  4. AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE – Nine Inch Nails (5)
  5. SUSHI AND COCA-COLA – St. Paul & The Broken Bones (8)
  6. BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (4)
  7. MISTAKES – Caamp (10)
  8. THE WEATHER – All Time Low (11)
  9. ANOTHER LIFE – Alabama Shakes (16)
  10. ELEGANTLY WASTED – Hermanos Gutiérrez feat. Leon Bridges (15)
  11. BETTER DAYS – Yellowcard (6)
  12. LIGHT YEARS APART – Unobliterated (7)
  13. HORNETS – Western Jaguar (9)
  14. WRECK – Neko Case (14)
  15. DOWNSTAIRS – Matt Maeson (17)
  16. EVERYBODY SCREAM – Florence + The Machine (18)
  17. CITY WALLS – Twenty One Pilots (22)
  18. THE FATE OF OPHELIA – Taylor Swift (23)
  19. ORDINARY CREATURE – Of Monsters and Men (21)
  20. SPECTER – Bad Omens (14)
  21. ENOUGH – Jeff Tweedy (27)
  22. JUPITER – almost monday feat. Jordana (12)
  23. SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (13)
  24. DRACULA – Tame Impala (N)
  25. POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost (19)
  26. ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (20)
  27. LINGERIE – Two Feet (30)
  28. SO FAR SO FAKE – Pierce the Veil (N)
  29. 12 TO 12 – sombr (N)
  30. THE FEAR – Future Theory (N)

My Top 30 Songs for October 19-25, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's10 Comments

This is one of those weeks in which nearly every music chart has a different song at #1: Taylor Swift‘s “The Fate of Ophelia” is #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (in fact, she holds all top 12 spots with every track from her latest album The Life of a Showgirl), sombr‘s “Back to Friends” tops the Hot Rock Songs chart (though I don’t consider it a rock song, it topped my own chart in July), Bad Omens‘ “Specter” tops the Mainstream Rock chart, Sleep Token‘s “Caramel” tops the Hard Rock chart, Sublime‘s “Ensenada” tops the Alternative Airplay chart, St. Paul & The Broken Bones‘ “Sushi and Coca-Cola” tops the Adult Alternative Airplay chart, and Justin Bieber‘s “Daisy” tops the Pop Airplay chart.

Though several of these songs are included on my latest chart, my top song this week is “Five More Seconds”, a wonderful collaboration by English folk-rock duo Seafret and Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall. I love its exuberant melody, stomping beat and their glorious harmonies, plus the video’s brilliant. The song has not appeared on any charts in the US, UK or anywhere else as far as I can tell, which is a travesty.

Seafret, based in Yorkshire and comprised of singer Jack Sedman and guitarist Harry Draper, released three albums and a number of singles from 2015-2023 and saw their debut 2015 single “Atlantis” go viral on TikTok over the past three years, eventually racking up over 1.2 billion streams on Spotify alone. KT Tunstall burst onto the British music scene in 2004 with her debut album Eye to the Telescope, which spawned the hit singles “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” and “Suddenly I See”, which won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song in 2006.

Speaking about their collaboration for the webzine Litehouse Media, Seafret commented “When we set out making this record we knew we wanted to bring in some incredible people and collaborate. When we found out KT Tunstall was in town and up for it, we were so happy! We had no idea how it would go or what we’d write but this idea started circling in the room and suddenly it was there in front of us like it was meant to be. We have always loved KT’s voice and her songwriting so bringing this song to life with her has been a real privilege.” KT Tunstall added, “I met Jack and Harry quite a few years back and loved their vibe and songwriting. Real players and songcraft with an old school, troubadour attitude to touring where they put the hours in and got really great at what they do. Authentic and righteous dudes!“

And speaking of “Sushi and Coca-Cola”, the song is the biggest upward mover on my chart again this week, jumping eight spots to #8. Also entering the top 10 are “Hornets” by Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Western Jaguar, and “Mistakes” by Ohio folk band Caamp, at #s 9 and 10, respectively. Three songs make their debut, starting with Taylor Swift’s aforementioned “The Fate of Ophelia”, entering at #23. While I’m not overly excited with the entirety of The Life of a Showgirl, I do like this song.

Coming in at #27 is “Enough” by Jeff Tweedy, who’s released music both as a solo artist and as lead vocalist and guitarist of Chicago-based alternative country-rock band Wilco. Featuring an opening guitar riff that reminds me of the one from The Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset”, “Enough” is featured on Tweedy’s ambitious new triple album Twilight Override, which dropped September 26th.

And entering at #30 is the sultry “Lingerie” by Two Feet (aka Brooklyn, New York-based singer-songwriter and guitarist extraordinaire Zachary William “Bill” Dess). One of my favorite artists since 2018, I’ve seen Two Feet in concert three times. Ten of his songs reached #1 on my chart between 2018 and 2022, beginning with “I Feel Like I’m Drowning”, which also reached #1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart and remains his biggest hit to date.

  1. FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall (2)
  2. UNDRESSED – sombr (1)
  3. ENSENADA – Sublime (3)
  4. BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (6)
  5. AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE – Nine Inch Nails (9)
  6. BETTER DAYS – Yellowcard (7)
  7. LIGHT YEARS APART – Unobliterated (8)
  8. SUSHI AND COCA-COLA – St. Paul & The Broken Bones (16)
  9. HORNETS – Western Jaguar (11)
  10. MISTAKES – Caamp (12)
  11. THE WEATHER – All Time Low (13)
  12. JUPITER – almost monday feat. Jordana (4)
  13. SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (5)
  14. WRECK – Neko Case (15)
  15. ELEGANTLY WASTED – Hermanos Gutiérrez feat. Leon Bridges (20)
  16. ANOTHER LIFE – Alabama Shakes (21)
  17. DOWNSTAIRS – Matt Maeson (18)
  18. EVERYBODY SCREAM – Florence + The Machine (19)
  19. POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost (10)
  20. ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (14)
  21. ORDINARY CREATURE – Of Monsters and Men (26)
  22. CITY WALLS – Twenty One Pilots (29)
  23. THE FATE OF OPHELIA – Taylor Swift (N)
  24. SPECTER – Bad Omens (30)
  25. MY MIND IS A MOUNTAIN – Deftones (17)
  26. MOODY – Royel Otis (22) 20th Week on Chart
  27. ENOUGH – Jeff Tweedy (N)
  28. METAL – The Beths (23)
  29. EVERYDAY MAGIC – My Morning Jacket (24)
  30. LINGERIE – Two Feet (N)

My Top 30 Songs for October 12-18, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's6 Comments

“undressed” by charismatic young artist sombr remains at #1 for a second week, while “Five More Seconds” by English duo Seafret and Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall moves up two spots to #2, and “Ensenada” by Southern California ska punk band Sublime also advances two spots, to #3. Nine Inch Nails‘ “As Alive As You Need Me To Be” enters the top 10 at #9, and “Sushi and Coca-Cola” by Alabama soul band St. Paul & The Broken Bones leaps 10 spots to #16, making it the biggest upward mover on this week’s chart.

Two songs make their debut, the first of which is “City Walls” by my longtime favorite band Twenty One Pilots, consisting of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun. The song replaces their previous single “The Contract”, which falls off my chart after its 14-week run. Both songs are from their eighth and latest album Breach, which dropped September 12th.

The second debut is the hauntingly beautiful “Specter” by American alternative melodic metalcore band Bad Omens. Formed in 2015, the band now consists of Noah Sebastian (lead vocals, programming), Nicholas Ruffilo (bass, backing vocals), Joakim “Jolly” Karlsson (guitars, programming) Nick Folio (drums, percussion). Their magnificent song “THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND” spent four weeks at #7 on my chart in late 2023 and finished the year at #56.

  1. UNDRESSED – sombr (1)
  2. FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall (4)
  3. ENSENADA – Sublime (5)
  4. JUPITER – almost monday feat. Jordana (2)
  5. SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (3)
  6. BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (7)
  7. BETTER DAYS – Yellowcard (9)
  8. LIGHT YEARS APART – Unobliterated (10)
  9. AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE – Nine Inch Nails (11)
  10. POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost (6)
  11. HORNETS – Western Jaguar (14)
  12. MISTAKES – Caamp (15)
  13. THE WEATHER – All Time Low (16)
  14. ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (8)
  15. WRECK – Neko Case (22)
  16. SUSHI AND COCA-COLA – St. Paul & The Broken Bones (26)
  17. MY MIND IS A MOUNTAIN – Deftones (13)
  18. DOWNSTAIRS – Matt Maeson (24)
  19. EVERYBODY SCREAM – Florence + The Machine (25)
  20. ELEGANTLY WASTED – Hermanos Gutiérrez feat. Leon Bridges (28)
  21. ANOTHER LIFE – Alabama Shakes (29)
  22. MOODY – Royel Otis (17)
  23. METAL – The Beths (18)
  24. EVERYDAY MAGIC – My Morning Jacket (19)
  25. FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (12) 20th week on chart
  26. ORDINARY CREATURE – Of Monsters and Men (30)
  27. LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (20)
  28. NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (21)
  29. CITY WALLS – Twenty One Pilots (N)
  30. SPECTER – Bad Omens (N)

My Top 30 Songs for October 5-11, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's10 Comments
A still photo of sombr from his YouTube video.

There are some major changes to my chart this week, with a great new #1 song and four terrific new debuts. New York City born and now Los Angeles based sombr (the musical moniker of 20-year-old singer-songwriter and producer Shane Michael Boose) scores his second #1 song on my chart with “undressed” (“back to friends” spent three weeks at #1 in July). Both songs are featured on his debut album I Barely Know Her, which dropped August 22nd. I think the 6-foot, 7-inch tall young man is one of the finest new artists to emerge on the music scene this year.

“Light Years Apart” by Unobliterated, the music project of England-born and now Portugal-based singer-songwriter and musician Gary Taylor, enters the top 10 at #10. And “Mistakes” by Columbus, Ohio-based bluegrass-folk band Caamp, and The Weather” by Maryland pop-punk/rock band All Time Low are the biggest upward movers this week, each climbing eight spots to #15 and #16, respectively.

There were at least seven songs I wanted to add to this week’s chart, but not ready to drop that many off in order to accommodate them all, I had to limit my new additions to only four, the first of which is the delightful “Sushi and Coca-Cola” by soul band St. Paul & The Broken Bones, entering at #26. Formed in Birmingham, Alabama in 2012, the eight-piece consists of Paul Janeway (vocals), Browan Lollar (guitar), Jesse Phillips (bass), Kevin Leon (drums), Al Gamble (keys), Allen Branstetter (trumpet), Amari Ansari (saxophone), and Chad Fisher (trombone). Though they’ve released five albums, two EPs and numerous singles, I’ve somehow never heard of them until recently, when I saw “Sushi and Coca-Cola” rise up the Billboard AAA chart, where it currently sits at #2. I’m loving their soulful jazz-infused sound.

The second debut, coming in at #28, is the enchanting “Elegantly Wasted” by Hermanos Gutiérrez, featuring vocals by one of my favorite singers Leon Bridges. Hermanos Gutiérrez (Spanish for “Gutiérrez Brothers”) is a Latin instrumental band formed in 2015 in Zürich by Ecuadorian-Swiss brothers Alejandro Gutiérrez (guitar and lap steel) and Estevan Gutiérrez (guitar and percussion). The talented duo is totally new to me despite the fact they’ve released seven albums since 2017. One of them, El Bueno y el Malo, was recorded in Nashville in collaboration with Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys and released on his label Easy Eye Sound in 2022.

Next up is “Another Life” from another Alabama act, Alabama Shakes, a blues rock band comprised of Brittany Howard (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Heath Fogg (lead guitar and vocals) and Zac Cockrell (bass). Formed in 2009, they released two albums, three EPs and numerous singles, including their big 2015 hit “Don’t Wanna Fight”, before going on hiatus in 2018 so that Howard could focus on her solo career (under which she’s released two critically acclaimed albums). They reunited this past December, and on August 29th, released “Another Life”, their first new music as a band in ten years. It’s great having them back!

Last but certainly not least is “Ordinary Creature” by Icelandic folk/rock band Of Monsters and Men, another act I’m happy has released new music, as I’ve been a fan since hearing their debut single “Little Talks” back in early 2012. Formed in 2010, the five-piece consists of lead singer and guitarist Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir (guitar and lead vocals) Ragnar “Raggi” Þórhallsson (guitar and vocals), Brynjar Leifsson (lead guitar), Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson (drums), and Kristján Páll Kristjánsson (bass). “Ordinary Creature” will be featured on their forthcoming fourth studio album All Is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade, due for release on October 17th.

  1. UNDRESSED – sombr (2)
  2. JUPITER – almost monday feat. Jordana (1)
  3. SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (3)
  4. FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall (4)
  5. ENSENADA – Sublime (6)
  6. POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost (5)
  7. BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (8)
  8. ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (9)
  9. BETTER DAYS – Yellowcard (10)
  10. LIGHT YEARS APART – Unobliterated (11)
  11. AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE – Nine Inch Nails (14)
  12. FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (7)
  13. MY MIND IS A MOUNTAIN – Deftones (17)
  14. HORNETS – Western Jaguar (19)
  15. MISTAKES – Caamp (23)
  16. THE WEATHER – All Time Low (24)
  17. MOODY – Royel Otis (18)
  18. METAL – The Beths (20)
  19. EVERYDAY MAGIC – My Morning Jacket (21)
  20. LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (12)
  21. NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (14)
  22. WRECK – Neko Case (25)
  23. LONDON TOWN – HEALER (15)
  24. DOWNSTAIRS – Matt Maeson (27)
  25. EVERYBODY SCREAM – Florence + The Machine (30)
  26. SUSHI AND COCA-COLA – St. Paul & The Broken Bones (N)
  27. THE CONTRACT – Twenty One Pilots (22)
  28. ELEGANTLY WASTED – Hermanos Gutiérrez feat. Leon Bridges (N)
  29. ANOTHER LIFE – Alabama Shakes (N)
  30. ORDINARY CREATURE – Of Monsters and Men (N)

My Top 30 Songs for September 28-October 4, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's22 Comments

Given that America is now an idiocracy that’s also descending into full-blown authoritarianism under our brazenly corrupt and cruel lunatic of a president, his evil, sycophantic cabinet, a completely spineless Congress and an unethical shadow docket-loving Supreme Court (not to mention the recent loss of our beloved cat), it’s been difficult for me to feel positive about anything these days, including music. That said, I can’t not compile my weekly list of favorite current songs, therefore will continue to bore my readers with my Weekly Top 30 charts.

Furthermore, though I’m now a tired old man, I’ve never lost my love for pop music, which is reflected in quite a few songs on this week’s list, starting with my new #1 song “jupiter” by San Diego-based indie pop band almost monday (comprised of Dawson Daugherty on vocals, Cole Clisby on guitar, and Luke Fabry on bass), featuring added vocals by L.A.-based indie pop singer-songwriter Jordana. The song was originally included on almost monday’s 2014 album DIVE as a recording by only the band, but a newer version with Jordana singing backing vocals, released in January on a deluxe version of DIVE, has become a big hit for them both.

More great pop abounds with “undressed” by sombr, which moves into second place, the rousing “Five More Seconds” by English duo Seafret and Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall at #4, and “polyester (yes sir)” by Los Angeles-based pop-rock band Sorry Ghost at #5. Three songs – “Ensenada” by Southern California ska punk band Sublime, “Asshole” by Denver, Colorado-based duo The Lumineers, and “Better Days” by Los Angeles-based pop punk band Yellowcard – enter the top 10 at #s 6, 9 and 10, respectively. “Better Days” recently spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart.

The lone new debut this week is “Everybody Scream” by English indie rock act Florence + the Machine, a longtime favorite of mine who’s previously topped my chart with “Hunger” in 2018 and “My Love” in 2022, which ranks #2 on my 100 Best Songs of 2022 list (I can’t believe it’s already been three years!). Released on August 20th, “Everybody Scream” is the title track from their forthcoming sixth studio album, set to drop October 31st.

  1. JUPITER – almost monday feat. Jordana (2)
  2. UNDRESSED – sombr (3)
  3. SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (1)
  4. FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall (5)
  5. POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost (6)
  6. ENSENADA – Sublime (12)
  7. FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (4)
  8. BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (10)
  9. ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (11)
  10. BETTER DAYS – Yellowcard (14)
  11. LIGHT YEARS APART – Unobliterated (15)
  12. LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (7)
  13. NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (8)
  14. AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE – Nine Inch Nails (16)
  15. LONDON TOWN – HEALER (9)
  16. TODAY’S SONG – Foo Fighters (13)
  17. MY MIND IS A MOUNTAIN – Deftones (20)
  18. MOODY – Royel Otis (18)
  19. HORNETS – Western Jaguar (21)
  20. METAL – The Beths (23)
  21. EVERYDAY MAGIC – My Morning Jacket (24)
  22. THE CONTRACT – Twenty One Pilots (17)
  23. MISTAKES – Caamp (26)
  24. THE WEATHER – All Time Low (27)
  25. WRECK – Neko Case (28)
  26. BACK TO FRIENDS – sombr (25) 20th week on chart
  27. DOWNSTAIRS – Matt Maeson (29)
  28. AFTERLIFE – Alex G (19)
  29. UNRAVELLING – Muse (22)
  30. EVERYBODY SCREAM – Florence + The Machine (N)

My Top 30 Songs for September 14-20, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's7 Comments

Talk in Waves holds onto the top spot for a second week with his exuberant ear worm “Feels Right”, while ROLE MODEL moves up two spots into second place this week with his delightful “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out”. London singer-songwriter Art Block remains at #3 with his darkly beautiful “Love Is A Fire”. The prolific artist has released three more singles since “Love Is A Fire”, and in fact, numerous acts have since dropped newer singles than their songs on this chart, including Healer, almost monday, sombr, Sorry Ghost, Twenty One Pilots, Royel Otis, Unobliterated, Western Jaguar, Caamp and Matt Maeson, and I simply cannot keep up with them all! “Five More Seconds” by English duo Seafret and Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall enters the top 10 at #9.

There are two new debuts again this week, the first of which is “”Wreck” by American singer-songwriter Neko Case, who since the late 1990s has released music both as a solo artist (including with her backing band Her Boyfriends) and as a member and lead singer of Canadian indie rock band The New Pornographers. “Wreck” is the lead single from her forthcoming eighth studio album Neon Grey Midnight Green, to be released on September 26. The second debut, entering at #30, is “Downstairs” by American singer-songwriter and musician Matt Maeson. The song is featured on his third and latest album A Quiet and Harmless Living, which dropped this past Friday, September 12th. Matt’s great single “Hallucinogenics” ranks #5 on my 100 Best Songs of 2020 list.

  1. FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (1)
  2. SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (4)
  3. LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (3)
  4. NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (2)
  5. LONDON TOWN – Healer (5)
  6. JUPITER – almost monday ft. Jordana (8)
  7. UNDRESSED – sombr (9)
  8. POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost (10)
  9. FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall (11)
  10. THE CONTRACT – Twenty One Pilots (6)
  11. MOODY – Royel Otis (7)
  12. BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (12)
  13. ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (14)
  14. TODAY’S SONG – Foo Fighters (15)
  15. BETTER DAYS – Yellowcard (16)
  16. LIGHT YEARS APART – Unobliterated (18)
  17. UNRAVELLING – Muse (20)
  18. AFTERLIFE – Alex G (21)
  19. AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE – Nine Inch Nails (22)
  20. BACK TO FRIENDS – sombr (17)
  21. ENSENADA – Sublime (23)
  22. MY MIND IS A MOUNTAIN – Deftones (24)
  23. HORNETS – Western Jaguar (25)
  24. METAL – The Beths (26)
  25. EVERYDAY MAGIC – My Morning Jacket (27)
  26. BETTER OFF EVENTUALLY – Bealby Point (13)
  27. MISTAKES – Caamp (29)
  28. THE WEATHER – All Time Low (30)
  29. WRECK – Neko Case (N)
  30. DOWNSTAIRS – Matt Maeson (N)

My Top 30 Songs for September 7-13, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's14 Comments

It’s been a rough week at my house, as we had to say goodbye to our beloved cat Panda, who was part of our family for almost 19 years and finally lost his battle with kidney disease. Feeling heartbroken, I’m not much in the frame of mind to write about music. But given that the new top song on my chart this week is by an artist I’m particularly fond of, I felt I needed to soldier on for his sake, as well as the other indie artists who follow me that have songs on my chart.

After a long, steady climb, the ebullient “Feels Right” by Talk in Waves, the music project of northern Virginia-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jake Mimikos, ascends to #1. It’s his sixth song to top my chart, the previous being “Dark Places” (2019), “Can We Go Back” (2021), “Closer” (2022), “Walk Through the Fire” (2023), and last year’s “Like You Do”, which also holds the honor of being my #1 indie song of 2024. And two more of his singles – “Sleep” in 2020 and “You’re My Drug” from earlier this year – have reached #2. Several of those outstanding songs are featured on his debut album Medicine for the Apocalypse, which he released on July 18th.

Entering the top 10 this week are three great songs all spelled in lower case letters – “jupiter” by San Diego-based indie pop band almost monday, featuring added vocals by L.A.-based indie pop singer-songwriter Jordana, “undressed” by New York City-based sombr (whose single “back to friends” recently spent three weeks at #1 and now sits at #17), and “polyester (yes sir)” by L.A. indie pop-rock band Sorry Ghost, at #s 8, 9 & 10, respectively.

Two songs make their debut this week, starting with “Mistakes” by Columbus, Ohio-based bluegrass-folk band Caamp, whose single “Let Things Go” reached #8 on my chart in early July. Formed in 2012 by childhood friends Taylor Meier and Evan Westfall, Caamp was later joined by Matt Vinson on bass, Joseph Kavalec on keyboards, and NIck Falk on drums. Many of their songs have done well on the Billboard AAA (Adult Alternative Airplay) chart, with four, including “Let Things Go” reaching #1. “Mistakes” is from their sixth and latest album Copper Changes Color, which dropped June 6th.

Entering at #30 is “The Weather” by American pop-punk/rock band All Time Low. Formed in Towson, Maryland, in 2003, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Alex Gaskarth, lead guitarist Jack Barakat, bassist/backing vocalist Zack Merrick, and drummer Rian Dawson. They’ve released a total of nine studio albums, six EPs, two live albums and thirty-seven singles. “The Weather” is the second single from their forthcoming tenth album Everyone’s Talking!, set for release on October 17th. Their single “Sleepwalking” spent 11 weeks on my chart in 2023.

  1. FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (2)
  2. NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (1)
  3. LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (5)
  4. SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (7)
  5. LONDON TOWN – Healer (6)
  6. THE CONTRACT – Twenty One Pilots (3)
  7. MOODY – Royel Otis (4)
  8. JUPITER – almost monday ft. Jordana (11)
  9. UNDRESSED – sombr (12)
  10. POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost (15)
  11. FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall (17)
  12. BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (14)
  13. BETTER OFF EVENTUALLY – Bealby Point (8)
  14. ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (13)
  15. TODAY’S SONG – Foo Fighters (16)
  16. BETTER DAYS – Yellowcard (18)
  17. BACK TO FRIENDS – sombr (10)
  18. LIGHT YEARS APART – Unobliterated (20)
  19. RIPPLE – Good Neighbours (9)
  20. UNRAVELLING – Muse (21)
  21. AFTERLIFE – Alex G (22)
  22. AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE – Nine Inch Nails (23)
  23. ENSENADA – Sublime (24)
  24. MY MIND IS A MOUNTAIN – Deftones (25)
  25. HORNETS – Western Jaguar (26)
  26. METAL – The Beths (29)
  27. EVERYDAY MAGIC – My Morning Jacket (30)
  28. BLOOM BABY BLOOM – Wolf Alice (19)
  29. MISTAKES – Caamp (N)
  30. THE WEATHER – All Time Low (N)