Tag: Beck

Top 30 Songs for August 27-September 2, 2023

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's19 Comments

Frequent readers of this blog know that over the past year, American pop-rock trio Beach Weather have become one of my favorite bands on the strength of their breezy, melodic sound and charming and colorful personalities. Their music just makes me feel happy! Originally formed in 2015, the band released two excellent EPs, then went on hiatus in 2017. Thankfully, they reformed in early 2022, and now consist of founding members Nick Santino (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Reeve Powers (bass, backing vocals), and relative newcomer Sean Silverman (lead guitar). This past March, they released their debut album Pineapple Sunrise, which is so good, I can honestly state that I love every track. The summery title track “Pineapple Sunrise” is my new #1 song this week, becoming the third Beach Weather song to top my Weekly Top 30 chart (the previous were “Sex, Drugs, Etc.” and “Trouble With This Bed”). All their videos are delightful, and the one for “Pineapple Sunrise” is no exception!

In other noteworthy chart developments, “Say Yes To Heaven” by Lana Del Rey advances three spots to #3, “Overrated” by brilliant Canadian artist dwi jumps five spots to #4, and “Call Me What You Like” by British indie rock band Lovejoy leaps six spots to #5. Debuting this week are “Running Out of Time” by American alt-rock band Paramore, at #28, and “When We Were Close” by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, at #30.

  1. PINEAPPLE SUNRISE – Beach Weather (2)
  2. THE NARCISSIST – Blur (1)
  3. SAY YES TO HEAVEN – Lana Del Rey (6)
  4. OVERRATED – dwi (9)
  5. CALL ME WHAT YOU LIKE – Lovejoy (11)
  6. PSYCHOS – Jenny Lewis (4)
  7. VAMPIRE – Olivia Rodrigo (5)
  8. WHY – Future Theory (3)
  9. STUCK – 30 Seconds to Mars (7)
  10. PUPPET SHOW – Beck Black (8)
  11. BONES – HEALER (12)
  12. WALK THROUGH THE FIRE – The Frontier (13)
  13. ORBIT – Gooseberry (14)
  14. LAST TIME EVERY TIME FOREVER – Grian Chatten (15)
  15. RESCUE ME – Dirty Heads (10) 20th week on chart
  16. GOOD VIBRATIONS – MISSIO (17)
  17. DAYLIGHT – David Kushner (18)
  18. KISSES – Slowdive (20)
  19. DIAL DRUNK – Noah Kahan (21)
  20. ODYSSEY – Beck & Phoenix (22)
  21. FRANCESCA – Hozier (23)
  22. DAYDREAMS AND ALGORITHMS – Eleanor Collides (24)
  23. CANNONBALLERS – Colony House (25)
  24. FORGIVING TIES – Deer Tick (26)
  25. WHAT WAS I MADE FOR? – Billie Eilish (27)
  26. RESCUED – Foo Fighters (16)
  27. LOVING YOU – Cannons (30)
  28. RUNNING OUT OF TIME – Paramore (N)
  29. ESSENCE – Refeci & Shimmer Johnson (19) 22nd week on chart
  30. WHEN WE WERE CLOSE – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (N)

Top 30 Songs for August 20-26, 2023

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's15 Comments

“The Narcissist” by British rock band Blur maintains its grip on the #1 spot for a second week on my latest Top 30, while American pop-rock trio Beach Weather slide into second place with their charming “Pineapple Sunrise”. Entering the top 10 are the deliriously zany “Overrated” by Canadian singer-songwriter dwi, at #9, and “Rescue Me” by L.A. ska band Dirty Heads, re-entering at #10 after spending two weeks at #12. The song peaked at #3 a month ago on my chart, and is currently #1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart. The biggest upward mover this week is “Call Me What You Like” by British indie rock band Lovejoy, jumping six spots to #11.

Two beautiful songs make their debut this week; the first is the ethereal “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish, which enters at #27. Written by Eilish and her brother Finneas for the motion picture Barbie, the melancholy but hopeful song has already topped the music charts in the UK, Australia, Ireland and Switzerland. The second new entry is the captivating “Loving You” by L.A. dream pop band Cannons, at #30. I can’t believe it’s nearly been a year since I saw them in concert.

  1. THE NARCISSIST – Blur (1)
  2. PINEAPPLE SUNRISE – Beach Weather (3)
  3. WHY – Future Theory (2)
  4. PSYCHOS – Jenny Lewis (4)
  5. VAMPIRE – Olivia Rodrigo (5)
  6. SAY YES TO HEAVEN – Lana Del Rey (6)
  7. STUCK – 30 Seconds to Mars (7)
  8. PUPPET SHOW – Beck Black (8)
  9. OVERRATED – dwi (11)
  10. RESCUE ME – Dirty Heads (12)
  11. CALL ME WHAT YOU LIKE – Lovejoy (17)
  12. BONES – HEALER (13)
  13. WALK THROUGH THE FIRE – The Frontier (14)
  14. ORBIT – Gooseberry (15)
  15. LAST TIME EVERY TIME FOREVER – Grian Chatten (16)
  16. RESCUED – Foo Fighters (10)
  17. GOOD VIBRATIONS – MISSIO (19)
  18. DAYLIGHT – David Kushner (20)
  19. ESSENCE – Refeci & Shimmer Johnson (9) 21st week on chart
  20. KISSES – Slowdive (22)
  21. DIAL DRUNK – Noah Kahan (23)
  22. ODYSSEY – Beck & Phoenix (24)
  23. FRANCESCA – Hozier (25)
  24. DAYDREAMS AND ALGORITHMS – Eleanor Collides (27)
  25. CANNONBALLERS – Colony House (29)
  26. FORGIVING TIES – Deer Tick (30)
  27. WHAT WAS I MADE FOR? – Billie Eilish (N)
  28. LEAVING – Au Gres (18)
  29. NOT STRONG ENOUGH – boygenius (21) 21st week on chart
  30. LOVING YOU – Cannons (N)

Top 30 Songs for August 13-19, 2023

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's14 Comments

Formed in 1988, British rock band Blur went on to become one of the most successful bands of the 1990s, releasing six albums in that decade alone. They were far more popular in the UK than in the U.S., and though a few of their singles made the top 10 on the Billboard Alternative chart, I’m embarrassed to admit that I never heard of them until only a few years ago. Over the course of their career, they’ve released nine studio albums (seven of which reached #1 in the UK), five live albums, five compilation albums, one remix album, four EPs, 35 singles, 10 promotional singles and 37 music videos.

Though they disbanded in 2003, reunited in 2009, then went on a hiatus in 2015 that lasted seven years, Blur has always consisted of their original lineup of singer-songwriter Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Their sound started out as a blend of Madchester (a musical and cultural scene that developed in Manchester in the late 1980s) and shoegaze, evidenced by their debut album Leisure, but for their next three albums, they transitioned to Britpop, a style influenced by English guitar pop acts like the Kinks, the Beatles and XTC. Their self-titled fifth album Blur, released in 1997, saw another stylistic shift toward the lo-fi styles of American indie rock groups, whereas their sixth album 13 (1999) saw them experimenting with electronic and gospel music. Their seventh album Think Tank (2003) continued their experimentation with electronic sounds and was shaped by Albarn’s growing interest in hip hop and world music. After they disbanded, he focused on his very successful virtual band Gorillaz, which he’d created in 1998 and with whom he would release eight studio albums, three compilation albums, 11 EPs, one remix album, and 46 singles. (Gorillaz’ recent single “New Gold”, a wonderful collaboration with Tame Impala and Bootie Brown, spent three weeks at #1 on my Weekly Top 30 earlier this year,)

After Blur reunited in 2009, they released a series of live albums in quick succession, but it wasn’t until 2015 that they would release a new studio album The Magic Whip, which went to #1 in the UK, and became their highest-charting album in the U.S., peaking at #24 on the Billboard 200 Album chart. The band went on yet another hiatus after touring for The Magic Whip, only to reunite for a second time in 2022. They went on to record their ninth album The Ballad of Darren, which they released on July 21. The album’s beautiful lead single “The Narcissist”, which Albarn describes as “an aftershock record, a reflection and comment on where we find ourselves now“, is my new #1 song this week.

Two fine songs make their debut this week: “Cannonballers” by Tennessee-based indie rock four-piece Colony House, at #29, and “Forgiving Ties” by Rhode Island-based alternative rock-folk band Deer Tick, at #30. It’s the first appearance on my Weekly Top 30 for both bands.

  1. THE NARCISSIST – Blur (2)
  2. WHY – Future Theory (1)
  3. PINEAPPLE SUNRISE – Beach Weather (3)
  4. PSYCHOS – Jenny Lewis (6)
  5. VAMPIRE – Olivia Rodrigo (7)
  6. SAY YES TO HEAVEN – Lana Del Rey (8)
  7. STUCK – 30 Seconds to Mars (9)
  8. PUPPET SHOW – Beck Black (10)
  9. ESSENCE – Refeci & Shimmer Johnson (3)
  10. RESCUED – Foo Fighters (4)
  11. OVERRATED – dwi (14)
  12. RESCUE ME – Dirty Heads (12)
  13. BONES – HEALER (15)
  14. WALK THROUGH THE FIRE – The Frontier (16)
  15. ORBIT – Gooseberry (17)
  16. LAST TIME EVERY TIME FOREVER – Grian Chatten (18)
  17. CALL ME WHAT YOU LIKE – Lovejoy (19)
  18. LEAVING – Au Gres (11)
  19. GOOD VIBRATIONS – MISSIO (22)
  20. DAYLIGHT – David Kushner (23)
  21. NOT STRONG ENOUGH – boygenius (13) 20th week on chart
  22. KISSES – Slowdive (26)
  23. DIAL DRUNK – Noah Kahan (27)
  24. ODYSSEY – Beck & Phoenix (28)
  25. FRANCESCA – Hozier (29)
  26. WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE – Joy Oladokun & Noah Kahan (20)
  27. DAYDREAMS AND ALGORITHMS – Eleanor Collides (30)
  28. HELLO – GROUPLOVE (21)
  29. CANNONBALLERS – Colony House (N)
  30. FORGIVING TIES – Deer Tick (N)

Top 30 Songs for August 6-12, 2023

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's4 Comments

British alternative psychedelic rock band Future Theory remain at #1 for a second week with their exquisite song “Why”, while fellow longtime British rockers Blur slide into second place with “The Narcissist”. Beach Weather‘s title track from their wonderful album Pineapple Sunrise moves up two spots to #3. Entering the top 10 this week are “Say Yes To Heaven” by Lana Del Rey, at #8, “Stuck” by 30 Seconds to Mars, at #9, and “Puppet Show” by Beck Black at #10. This puts five women in my top 10 for the first time in recent memory. The biggest upward mover this week is “Overrated” by brilliant Canadian artist dwi, climbing seven spots to #14.

Three songs make their debut: “Odyssey”, a duet by American singer-songwriter Beck and French alternative pop rock band Phoenix, at #28 (the song is already #1 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay chart), “Francesca” by Irish singer-songwriter Hozier, (replacing his previous single “Eat Your Young” that drops off my chart this week), at #29, and “Daydreams and Algorithms” by British singer-songwriter Eleanor Collides (which I recently reviewed) at #30.

  1. WHY – Future Theory (1)
  2. THE NARCISSIST – Blur (4)
  3. PINEAPPLE SUNRISE – Beach Weather (5)
  4. ESSENCE – Refeci & Shimmer Johnson (2)
  5. RESCUED – Foo Fighters (3)
  6. PSYCHOS – Jenny Lewis (6)
  7. VAMPIRE – Olivia Rodrigo (7)
  8. SAY YES TO HEAVEN – Lana Del Rey (11)
  9. STUCK – 30 Seconds to Mars (12)
  10. PUPPET SHOW – Beck Black (13)
  11. LEAVING – Au Gres (8)
  12. RESCUE ME – Dirty Heads (9)
  13. NOT STRONG ENOUGH – boygenius (10)
  14. OVERRATED – dwi (21)
  15. BONES – HEALER (18)
  16. WALK THROUGH THE FIRE – The Frontier (19)
  17. ORBIT – Gooseberry (20)
  18. LAST TIME EVERY TIME FOREVER – Grian Chatten (22)
  19. CALL ME WHAT YOU LIKE – Lovejoy (23)
  20. WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE – Joy Oladokun & Noah Kahan (14)
  21. HELLO – GROUPLOVE (16)
  22. GOOD VIBRATIONS – MISSIO (24)
  23. DAYLIGHT – David Kushner (25)
  24. IN MY HEAD – Mike Shinoda & Kailee Morgue (15)
  25. SPELLBINDING – The Smashing Pumpkins (17)
  26. KISSES – Slowdive (29)
  27. DIAL DRUNK – Noah Kahan (30)
  28. ODYSSEY – Beck & Phoenix (N)
  29. FRANCESCA – Hozier (N)
  30. DAYDREAMS AND ALGORITHMS – Eleanor Collides (N)

100 Best Songs of the 2010s – #94: “Dreams” by Beck

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Favorite Songs, Song Lists4 Comments

The song at #94 on my list of 100 Best Songs of the 2010s is “Dreams” by Beck. Born Bek David Campbell in Los Angeles in 1970, the eternally youthful singer-songwriter, musician and producer has been making great music ever since the unexpected success of his breakout single “Loser” in 1994. Over his long, innovative and prolific career, he’s recorded and released an astonishing 14 studio albums, continually experimenting with an eclectic myriad of genres including alternative rock, folk, country, hip hop, soul, funk and electronic.

“Dreams” was released in June 2015, a few months after his Album of the Year Grammy win for Morning Phase. Beck stated he wanted to make a record that “would be good to play live“, and did he ever! The song is exhilarating, with a fantastic guitar-driven groove, cool psychedelic synths and the kind of strong thumping drum beat that I adore. The song was ultimately included on his 2017 album Colors.

Top 30 Songs for March 8-14, 2020

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's2 Comments

1. EVERYTHING I WANTED – Billie Eilish (1)
2. NOVOCAINE – The Unlikely Candidates (3) 20th week on list
3. WARS – Of Monsters and Men (4)
4. THE BEST – AWOLNATION (5)
5. MIGHT BE RIGHT – White Reaper (2)
6. USED TO LIKE – Neon Trees (7)
7. DON’T START NOW – Dua Lipa (8)
8. DANCE OF THE CLAIRVOYANTS – Pearl Jam (9)
9. LIFE IN THE CITY – The Lumineers (10)
10. LOVE YOU FOR A LONG TIME – Maggie Rogers (18)
11. HOW WE LIVE – Mandalan featuring Cadence XYZ (14)
12. VAN HORN – Saint Motel (15)
13. MARINERS APARTMENT COMPLEX – Lana Del Rey (16)
14. ADORE YOU – Harry Styles (17)
15. YOU? – Two Feet (13) 21st week on list
16. ORPHANS – Coldplay (6)
17. UNCHAINED – Devon Gilfillian (21)
18. CAN’T STOP – Vox Eagle (20)
19. BLACK MADONNA – Cage the Elephant (22)
20. LOST IN YESTERDAY – Tame Impala (23)
21. COLORS – Black Pumas (24)
22. TEXAS SUN – Khruangbin & Leon Bridges (25)
23. HERO – Michael Kiwanuka (26)
24. UNEVENTFUL DAYS – Beck (11)
25. 2ALL – Catfish and the Bottlemen (12)
26. REASONS I DRINK – Alanis Morissette (28)
27. SHINE A LITTLE LIGHT – The Black Keys (29)
28. OH YEAH! – Green Day (30)
29. WHITE LIES & PALM TREES – The Lovepools (19) 22nd week on list
30. OVER AND OVER – Amongst Liars (N)

Top 30 Songs for March 1-7, 2020

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's2 Comments

1. EVERYTHING I WANTED – Billie Eilish (2)
2. MIGHT BE RIGHT – White Reaper (1)
3. NOVOCAINE – The Unlikely Candidates (3)
4. WARS – Of Monsters and Men (5)
5. THE BEST – AWOLNATION (6)
6. ORPHANS – Coldplay (4)
7. USED TO LIKE – Neon Trees (9)
8. DON’T START NOW – Dua Lipa (12)
9. DANCE OF THE CLAIRVOYANTS – Pearl Jam (13)
10. LIFE IN THE CITY – The Lumineers (14)
11. UNEVENTFUL DAYS – Beck (8)
12. 2ALL – Catfish and the Bottlemen (7)
13. YOU? – Two Feet (10) 20th week on list
14. HOW WE LIVE – Mandalan featuring Cadence XYZ (15)
15. VAN HORN – Saint Motel (16)
16. MARINERS APARTMENT COMPLEX – Lana Del Rey (17)
17. ADORE YOU – Harry Styles (19)
18. LOVE YOU FOR A LONG TIME – Maggie Rogers (20)
19. WHITE LIES & PALM TREES – The Lovepools (11) 21st week on list
20. CAN’T STOP – Vox Eagle (21)
21. UNCHAINED – Devon Gilfillian (22)
22. BLACK MADONNA – Cage the Elephant (23)
23. LOST IN YESTERDAY – Tame Impala (26)
24. COLORS – Black Pumas (27)
25. TEXAS SUN – Khruangbin & Leon Bridges (28)
26. HERO – Michael Kiwanuka (29)
27. THE RUNNER – Foals (18)
28. REASONS I DRINK – Alanis Morissette (N)
29. SHINE A LITTLE LIGHT – The Black Keys (N)
30. OH YEAH! – Green Day (N)

Top 30 Songs for February 23-29, 2020

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's2 Comments

1. MIGHT BE RIGHT – White Reaper (1)
2. EVERYTHING I WANTED – Billie Eilish (4)
3. NOVOCAINE – The Unlikely Candidates (3)
4. ORPHANS – Coldplay (2)
5. WARS – Of Monsters and Men (6)
6. THE BEST – AWOLNATION (9)
7. 2ALL – Catfish and the Bottlemen (8)
8. UNEVENTFUL DAYS – Beck (10)
9. USED TO LIKE – Neon Trees (12)
10. YOU? – Two Feet (7) 19th week on list
11. WHITE LIES & PALM TREES – The Lovepools (5) 20th week on list
12. DON’T START NOW – Dua Lipa (19)
13. DANCE OF THE CLAIRVOYANTS – Pearl Jam (20)
14. LIFE IN THE CITY – The Lumineers (15)
15. HOW WE LIVE – Mandalan featuring Cadence XYZ (16)
16. VAN HORN – Saint Motel (17)
17. MARINERS APARTMENT COMPLEX – Lana Del Rey (18)
18. THE RUNNER – Foals (11)
19. ADORE YOU – Harry Styles (21)
20. LOVE YOU FOR A LONG TIME – Maggie Rogers (22)
21. CAN’T STOP – Vox Eagle (24)
22. UNCHAINED – Devon Gilfillian (25)
23. BLACK MADONNA – Cage the Elephant (26)
24. REWARD – Paul Iwan (13)
25. BLIND LEADING THE BLIND – Mumford & Sons (14)
26. LOST IN YESTERDAY – Tame Impala (28)
27. COLORS – Black Pumas (29)
28. TEXAS SUN – Khruangbin & Leon Bridges (30)
29. HERO – Michael Kiwanuka (N)
30. NIGHT TIME – Isolda (23)

Top 30 Songs for February 16-22, 2020

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30'sLeave a comment

1. MIGHT BE RIGHT – White Reaper (2)
2. ORPHANS – Coldplay (1)
3. NOVOCAINE – The Unlikely Candidates (4)
4. EVERYTHING I WANTED – Billie Eilish (14)
5. WHITE LIES & PALM TREES – The Lovepools (3)
6. WARS – Of Monsters and Men (8)
7. YOU? – Two Feet (5)
8. 2ALL – Catfish and the Bottlemen (10)
9. THE BEST – AWOLNATION (11)
10. UNEVENTFUL DAYS – Beck (12)
11. THE RUNNER – Foals (7)
12. USED TO LIKE – Neon Trees (13)
13. REWARD – Paul Iwan (6)
14. BLIND LEADING THE BLIND – Mumford & Sons (9)
15. LIFE IN THE CITY – The Lumineers (16)
16. HOW WE LIVE – Mandalan featuring Cadence XYZ (18)
17. VAN HORN – Saint Motel (19)
18. MARINERS APARTMENT COMPLEX – Lana Del Rey (20)
19. DON’T START NOW – Dua Lipa (21)
20. DANCE OF THE CLAIRVOYANTS – Pearl Jam (24)
21. ADORE YOU – Harry Styles (22)
22. LOVE YOU FOR A LONG TIME – Maggie Rogers (23)
23. NIGHT TIME – Isolda (15)
24. CAN’T STOP – Vox Eagle (25)
25. UNCHAINED – Devon Gilfillian (27)
26. BLACK MADONNA – Cage the Elephant (28)
27. DISSOLVE – Absofacto (17) 25th week on list
28. LOST IN YESTERDAY – Tame Impala (30)
29. COLORS – Black Pumas (N)
30. TEXAS SUN – Khruangbin & Leon Bridges (N)

Top 30 Songs for February 9-15, 2020

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's3 Comments

1. ORPHANS – Coldplay (2)
2. MIGHT BE RIGHT – White Reaper (3)
3. WHITE LIES & PALM TREES – The Lovepools (1)
4. NOVOCAINE – The Unlikely Candidates (5)
5. YOU? – Two Feet (4)
6. REWARD – Paul Iwan (6)
7. THE RUNNER – Foals (7)
8. WARS – Of Monsters and Men (9)
9. BLIND LEADING THE BLIND – Mumford & Sons (8)
10. 2ALL – Catfish and the Bottlemen (11)
11. THE BEST – AWOLNATION (12)
12. UNEVENTFUL DAYS – Beck (13)
13. USED TO LIKE – Neon Trees (15)
14. EVERYTHING I WANTED – Billie Eilish (18)
15. NIGHT TIME – Isolda (16)
16. LIFE IN THE CITY – The Lumineers (17)
17. DISSOLVE – Absofacto (10) 24th week on list
18. HOW WE LIVE – Mandalan featuring Cadence XYZ (20)
19. VAN HORN – Saint Motel (21)
20. MARINERS APARTMENT COMPLEX – Lana Del Rey (22)
21. DON’T START NOW – Dua Lipa (24)
22. ADORE YOU – Harry Styles (23)
23. LOVE YOU FOR A LONG TIME – Maggie Rogers (25)
24. DANCE OF THE CLAIRVOYANTS – Pearl Jam (30)
25. CAN’T STOP – Vox Eagle (26)
26. MAN ON THE MOON – The Common View (14)
27. UNCHAINED – Devon Gilfillian (28)
28. BLACK MADONNA – Cage the Elephant (29)
29. CIRCLES – Post Malone (19)
30. LOST IN YESTERDAY – Tame Impala (N)