Tag: Bleachers

My Top 30 Songs for September 6-12, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's10 Comments
Sam Fender & Olivia Dean taken from the “Rein Me In” video

After several weeks of waiting in the wings, the gorgeous “Rein Me In” by English singer-songwriter Sam Fender and English singer-songwriter Olivia Dean (who won the Best New Artist Grammy earlier this year) ascends to the top of my chart. The song is a re-recorded duet version of the original from Fender’s third studio album People Watching. The original version of “Rein Me In” was released in June 2025 as the sixth single from the album and eventually became Fender’s first song to reach #1 on the UK Singles Chart in February 2026, as well as winning the Brit Award for Song of the Year. In addition to Fender and Dean’s great vocals, I love the beautiful piano, jangly guitar and blaring sax.

Fender debuted the new version during a show at London Stadium in June, bringing Dean on stage to perform it with him. Videos of that performance went viral, and the two performed it again nine days later at Fender’s St. James’ Park concert. Fender announced the official release of the new version on June 20th, stating that Dean “added a female perspective to ‘Rein Me In,’ and I think it’s all the better for it“. The original and duet versions ended up spending a combined 23 non-consecutive weeks at number one, making it the longest-running number-one single in UK music history. The song also topped the charts in Australia and Ireland and reached #2 in New Zealand. It became Fender’s first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 45. “Rein Me In” is his second song to reach #1 on my chart, the first being his 2021 single “Seventeen Going Under”.

In other chart developments of note, The Neighbourhood move into second place with “Private”, while Cage the Elephant‘s “Beaches In Tennessee” and Phoebe Bridgers‘ “Lost Boys” enter the top 10. The sole debut this week, entering at #28, is the enthralling “Marianne”, the new single from the always wonderful Irish rock band Fontaines D.C. The song is the lead single from their forthcoming fifth album Dopamine Chamber, set for release October 16th.

  1. REIN ME IN – Sam Fender & Olivia Dean (3)
  2. PRIVATE – The Neighbourhood (4)
  3. RAGING HALLS – Lyia Meta (1)
  4. DOORS – Noah Kahan (2)
  5. ONLINE – Western Jaguar (6)
  6. THE ENDLESS BORDER – Velvet Jesus (7)
  7. HEART STOP – The Revivalists (8)
  8. NO MORE REGRETS – almost monday (10)
  9. BEACHES IN TENNESSEE – Cage the Elephant (11)
  10. LOST BOYS – Phoebe Bridgers (12)
  11. REPEAT OFFENDER – Gloom is Okay (5)
  12. SELF AWARE – Temper City (9)
  13. FREAKING OUT – Michigander (14)
  14. HOLD ME IN THE DARK – Myles Smith (15)
  15. WE MIGHT AS WELL BE STRANGERS – Weezer feat. Wednesday (17)
  16. I CAN TAKE THE SUN OUT OF THE SKY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (19)
  17. STONE OVER WATER – Death Cab for Cutie (20)
  18. PICKING DRAGON’S POCKETS – Modest Mouse (13)
  19. WE SHOULD TALK – Bleachers (18)
  20. I FEEL HOPE COMING – Alabama Shakes (23)
  21. LOVE ME NOT – Grace Potter (16)
  22. EVERGREEN – Young the Giant 24)
  23. EDGE OF THE EARTH – The Beaches (25)
  24. BEHIND THE LINES OF REASON – Hardwicke Circus (26)
  25. LOSER – Tame Impala (27)
  26. WINDOW – Foo Fighters (29)
  27. METASTASIZED – Bealby Point (30)
  28. MARIANNE – Fontaines D.C. (N)
  29. EXIT WOUND – Ships Have Sailed (21)
  30. MARATHONS – Sorry Ghost (22)

My Top 30 Songs for August 30-September 5, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's9 Comments
Photo of Lyia and Cha Cha Girl taken from her Facefook account

“Raging Halls” by Malaysian singer-songwriter extraordinaire Lyia Meta remains atop my chart for a second week, while American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan moves into second place with “Doors”. Entering the top 10 is “no more regrets” by San Diego, California-based indie pop band almost monday.

There are three new additions to my chart this week, starting with “Loser” by Australian act Tame Impala, the music project of singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker. The song, which debuts at #27, was actually released last September (2025) as the second single from Tame Impala’s fifth album Deadbeat, which dropped a month later, but as with The Beaches’ “Edge of the Earth” is currently appearing on various alternative charts (which heavily influence my own chart). His single “Dracula” spent three weeks at the top of my chart at the beginning of this year.

Entering at #29 is “Window” by legendary American rock band the Foo Fighters. The song is from their 12th studio album Your Favorite Toy, released this past April. And coming in at #30 is “Metastasized”, the latest single by Vancouver, Canada-based indie pop-rock band Bealby Point, who currently consist of Jack Armstrong (lead vocals, guitar), Jordan Studer (bass) and Zack Yeager (drums). I’ve been a big fan of theirs since learning about them in 2021, and have featured them several times on this blog. “Metastasized” will be included on their forthcoming debut album Happiness Frontier.

  1. RAGING HALLS – Lyia Meta (1)
  2. DOORS – Noah Kahan (3)
  3. REIN ME IN – Sam Fender & Olivia Dean (4)
  4. PRIVATE – The Neighbourhood (5)
  5. REPEAT OFFENDER – Gloom is Okay (2)
  6. ONLINE – Western Jaguar (7)
  7. THE ENDLESS BORDER – Velvet Jesus (8)
  8. HEART STOP – The Revivalists (10)
  9. SELF AWARE – Temper City (6)
  10. NO MORE REGRETS – almost monday (11)
  11. BEACHES IN TENNESSEE – Cage the Elephant (12)
  12. LOST BOYS – Phoebe Bridgers (13)
  13. PICKING DRAGONS’ POCKETS – Modest Mouse (9)
  14. FREAKING OUT – Michigander (16)
  15. HOLD ME IN THE DARK – Myles Smith (17)
  16. LOVE ME NOT – Grace Potter (18)
  17. WE MIGHT AS WELL BE STRANGERS – Weezer feat. Wednesday (19)
  18. WE SHOULD TALK – Bleachers (20)
  19. I CAN TAKE THE SUN OUT OF THE SKY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (21)
  20. STONE OVER WATER – Death Cab for Cutie (22)
  21. EXIT WOUND – Ships Have Sailed (14)
  22. MARATHONS – Sorry Ghost (15)
  23. I FEEL HOPE COMING – Alabama Shakes (26)
  24. EVERGREEN – Young the Giant 28)
  25. EDGE OF THE EARTH – The Beaches (29)
  26. BEHIND THE LINES OF REASON – Hardwicke Circus (30)
  27. LOSER – Tame Impala (N)
  28. IN THE STARS – The Rolling Stones (25)
  29. WINDOW – Foo Fighters (N)
  30. METASTASIZED – Bealby Point (N)

My Top 30 Songs for August 23-29, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's6 Comments
Photo of Lyia Meta taken from her Facebook account.

Malaysian artist Lyia Meta is a highly accomplished, award-winning and Grammy-nominated Renaissance woman in every sense of the word. She’s not only an insanely talented singer, songwriter and musician, she’s also a writer, teacher, vocal coach and visual artist whose work spans multiple media formats (she surprised me with a pencil-drawn portrait of myself in 2019, which I proudly hang on my bedroom wall).

Possessing a rich contralto singing voice, she’s recorded songs across a wide range of genres including blues, jazz, pop, country, rock and metal. She ranks among my favorite female vocalists, and I’ve featured her numerous times on this blog. We’ve been following each other on social media since 2018, and I finally had the pleasure of meeting Lyia and her husband Zack in person in January when they were in Los Angeles. I’m now thrilled to place her powerful single “Raging Halls” at #1, her first song to top my chart and on the week of my birthday, no less!

The hard-hitting song was co-written by Lyia and E.G. Holmes, who co-produced the track with her longtime Nashville-based collaborator Bob McGilpin (who also played lead and rhythm guitar, bass, drums and synths). Additional contributions on the track include rhythm guitar by Christian Wentz, guitar and synths by John Foster, orchestration and keyboards by Gene Rabbai and backing harmonies by Lisa Brokop. Lyia says the song “explores the tension between desire, risk, and the moment where hesitation transforms into action.” With its soaring melodies and scorching riffs, the song calls to mind some of the great 80s anthems by Journey, Heart and Whitesnake.

Two songs enter the top 10: the captivating “The Endless Border” by Belgian alternative indie rock band Velvet Jesus, advancing three spots to #8, and “Heart Stop” by New Orleans-based alternative roots rock band The Revivalists, which moves up two spots to #10.

There are three new debuts this week, beginning with “Evergreen” by Southern California-based alternative pop rock band Young the Giant. Formed in Irvine, California in 2004, they currently consist of Sameer Gadhia (lead vocals), Jacob Tilley (guitar), Eric Cannata (guitar), Payam Doostzadeh (bass), and Francois Comtois (drums). “Evergreen” is from their sixth album Victory Garden, released on May 1st, and follows “Different Kind of Love”, which peaked at #4 on my chart in early June. It’s hard to believe it’s been seven years since I saw them in concert in 2019.

Entering at #29 is “Edge of the Earth” by Canadian female pop rock band The Beaches. Formed in Toronto in 2009, they’re comprised of sisters Jordan (lead vocals, bass) and Kylie Miller (guitar, backing vocals), Leandra Earl (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals), and Eliza Enman-McDaniel (drums). “Edge of the Earth” was originally released nearly three years ago as the title track of their six-song EP, which also included their marvelous hit single “Blame Brett” that reached #5 on my chart and ranks #46 on my 100 Best Songs of 2024 list. It’s currently moving up the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart (I’m even hearing it played on my local alt-rock station here in Palm Springs), so I’m guessing it went viral on TikTok or similar.

The third new entry is the exuberant “Behind The Lines Of Reason” by the charismatic English alternative indie rock band Hardwicke Circus. Formed in 2015, the band has undergone a few changes in lineup and is now comprised of brothers Jonny (lead vocals, guitar) and Tom Foster (drums, backing vocals), along with Ben Wilde (bass, backing vocals), Zack McDade (lead guitar, backing vocals), Conor Morrissey (keyboards, backing vocals) and Andy Sax (saxophone, backing vocals). I reviewed their marvelous 2023 album Fly the Flag and am happy to see them back with “Behind The Lines Of Reason”, which dropped July 17th.

  1. RAGING HALLS – Lyia Meta (2)
  2. REPEAT OFFENDER – Gloom is Okay (1)
  3. DOORS – Noah Kahan (3)
  4. REIN ME IN – Sam Fender & Olivia Dean (4)
  5. PRIVATE – The Neighbourhood (5)
  6. SELF AWARE – Temper City (6)
  7. ONLINE – Western Jaguar (8)
  8. THE ENDLESS BORDER – Velvet Jesus (11)
  9. PICKING DRAGONS’ POCKETS – Modest Mouse (9)
  10. HEART STOP – The Revivalists (12)
  11. NO MORE REGRETS – almost monday (13)
  12. BEACHES IN TENNESSEE – Cage the Elephant (17)
  13. LOST BOYS – Phoebe Bridgers (18)
  14. EXIT WOUND – Ships Have Sailed (7)
  15. MARATHONS – Sorry Ghost (10)
  16. FREAKING OUT – Michigander (20)
  17. HOLD ME IN THE DARK – Myles Smith (21)
  18. LOVE ME NOT – Grace Potter (22)
  19. WE MIGHT AS WELL BE STRANGERS – Weezer feat. Wednesday (23)
  20. WE SHOULD TALK – Bleachers (24)
  21. I CAN TAKE THE SUN OUT OF THE SKY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (25)
  22. STONE OVER WATER – Death Cab for Cutie (26)
  23. WHO WILL YOU FOLLOW – Evanescence (14)
  24. GO FUCK URSELF – Fat Dog (15)
  25. IN THE STARS – The Rolling Stones (16)
  26. I FEEL HOPE COMING – Alabama Shakes (30)
  27. HOMEWRECKER – sombr (19) 20th week on chart
  28. EVERGREEN – Young the Giant (N)
  29. EDGE OF THE EARTH – The Beaches (N)
  30. BEHIND THE LINES OF REASON – Hardwicke Circus (N)

My Top 30 Songs for August 16-22, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's3 Comments
Photo of Gloom is Okay by Arran Dawson Media

Scottish rock band Gloom is Okay hold the top spot for a second week with their exquisite “Repeat Offender”, while Malaysian artist extraordinaire Lyia Meta moves into second place with her powerful anthem “Raging Halls”. She just released another great single “For You” a week ago. “Doors” by Noah Kahan advances a spot to #3, and “Rein Me In” by English singer-songwriters Sam Fender and Olivia Dean, and “Private” by LA-based alt rock band The Neighbourhood, each move up two spots to #4 and #5, respectively.

After five debut songs last week, I have only one new addition to my chart this week: “I Feel Hope Coming” by Southern blues rock band Alabama Shakes. Fronted by powerhouse vocalist and guitarist Brittany Howard, the group also includes guitarist Heath Fogg and bassist Zac Cockrell. The song is the third in a series of singles they’ve been releasing over the past year that began last August with “Another Life”, which spent two weeks at #1 on my chart last November. All will be included on their forthcoming third album I Must Be Dreaming, to be released August 28th.

  1. REPEAT OFFENDER – Gloom is Okay (1)
  2. RAGING HALLS – Lyia Meta (3)
  3. DOORS – Noah Kahan (4)
  4. REIN ME IN – Sam Fender & Olivia Dean (6)
  5. PRIVATE – The Neighbourhood (7)
  6. SELF AWARE – Temper City (2)
  7. EXIT WOUND – Ships Have Sailed (5)
  8. ONLINE – Western Jaguar (9)
  9. PICKING DRAGONS’ POCKETS – Modest Mouse (8)
  10. MARATHONS – Sorry Ghost (10) 
  11. THE ENDLESS BORDER – Velvet Jesus (14)
  12. HEART STOP – The Revivalists (15)
  13. NO MORE REGRETS – almost monday (17)
  14. WHO WILL YOU FOLLOW – Evanescence (13)
  15. GO FUCK URSELF – Fat Dog (12)
  16. IN THE STARS – The Rolling Stones (16)
  17. BEACHES IN TENNESSEE – Cage the Elephant (21)
  18. LOST BOYS – Phoebe Bridgers (23)
  19. HOMEWRECKER – sombr (11)
  20. FREAKING OUT – Michigander (22)
  21. HOLD ME IN THE DARK – Myles Smith (24)
  22. LOVE ME NOT – Grace Potter (26)
  23. WE MIGHT AS WELL BE STRANGERS – Weezer feat. Wednesday (27)
  24. WE SHOULD TALK – Bleachers (28)
  25. I CAN TAKE THE SUN OUT OF THE SKY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (29)
  26. STONE OVER WATER – Death Cab for Cutie (30)
  27. GOOD2B – Goose (18)
  28. GOING SHOPPING – The Strokes (20)
  29. FREAKIN’ OUT – Dexter and The Moonrocks (19)
  30. I FEEL HOPE COMING – Alabama Shakes (N)

My Top 30 Songs for August 9-15, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's5 Comments
Photo of Gloom is Okay by Arran Dawson Media

It isn’t often I’m blown away the first time I hear a song, but I have to say that’s what I experienced when I first listened to “Repeat Offender” by Scottish alternative metal band Gloom is Okay, as I was immediately stunned by its dramatic beauty, intricate melody and sonic majesty. Based in Glasgow, Gloom is Okay is comprised of frontman Martin Walker (vocals, guitars, synths, programming) Iain MacLeod (bass) and Mark Norris (drums). “Repeat Offender” is the lead single from their forthcoming debut album Nothing Human.

Walker says the song is essentially about dealing with narcissistic people, and the mask worn by Fiona McNeil in the video was sculpted and moulded by his wife. He states “We wanted something that felt human, but not quite. Familiar enough to recognise, uncomfortable enough to remember.” The song also represents a bit of a directional change for the band, in that Walker’s voice takes center stage. He elaborates “I’ve never been a particularly confident singer. In fact, for most of my life I’ve probably thought of myself as a guitarist who happened to sing occasionally. Putting your voice out there is a strange thing. It’s personal in a way that hiding behind a riff or a wall of guitars never is.” I think his commanding vocals are perfect, and the song ascends to the top of my chart this week.

Entering the top 10 are “Online” by Canadian artist Western Jaguar (aka singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jeffrey Trainor) and “Marathons” by the irrepressively charming four-piece Sorry Ghost, who are based in Los Angeles.

After several relatively quiet weeks, I have five new additions to my chart, beginning with “Love Me Not” by singer-songwriter and musician Grace Potter. Born in Vermont and now based near Los Angeles, the beguiling Potter has released five solo albums, as well as four studio albums with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, (a band she formed in 2002 which later disbanded in 2015 upon her divorce from her bandmate and former husband Matt Burr). Boisterous, sexy and raw, “Love Me Not” is the lead single from her forthcoming sixth album Trespasser, set for release August 21st.

Entering at #27 is “We Might as Well Be Strangers” by legendary LA-based alternative power pop band Weezer, featuring added vocals by Karly Hartzman and Xandy Chelmis of North Carolina-based alt rock band Wednesday. Since 2001, Weezer has consisted of Rivers Cuomo (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Patrick Wilson (drums), Brian Bell (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), and Scott Shriner (bass, keyboards, backing vocals). Released on June 3rd, the song is the second single from their forthcoming 20th album Weezer (aka The Gold Album).

Next up is “we should talk” by American alt-rock band Bleachers. Formed in 2013 by singer-songwriter, musician and producer Jack Antonoff, the band since 2023 has included Mikey Freedom Hart, Sean Hutchinson, Evan Smith, Michael Riddleberger, and Zem Audu, all longtime touring musicians who are now official members. “we should talk” is from their sixth album Everyone for Ten Minutes, which dropped in May. I love that nifty little bassline.

The fourth new entry, at #29, is the exuberant “I Can Take the Sun Out of the Sky” by Chicago-based alt rock band Brigitte Calls Me Baby, comprised of Wes Leavins (lead vocals), Jack Fluegel (guitars), Devin Wessels (bass) and Jeremy Benshish (drums). The song is from their second album Irreversible, released this past March, which also features their marvelous single “Slumber Party” that went all the way to #1 on my chart in early June. I’m really liking this band!

Last, but certainly not least, is “Stone Over Water” by indie pop-rock band Death Cab for Cutie. Formed nearly 30 years ago in Bellingham, Washington, the group includes Ben Gibbard (vocals, guitar, piano), Nick Harmer (bass), Dave Depper (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), Zac Rae (keyboards, guitar), and Jason McGerr (drums). The song is from their 11th album I Built You a Tower, which dropped in June and was inspired by band frontman Ben Gibbard’s experiences dealing with the end of his marriage while also constantly being on tour. The song replaces their previous single “Riptides”, which drops off my chart after spending 18 weeks, two of them at #1.

  1. REPEAT OFFENDER – Gloom is Okay (3)
  2. SELF AWARE – Temper City (1)
  3. RAGING HALLS – Lyia Meta (4)
  4. DOORS – Noah Kahan (5)
  5. EXIT WOUND – Ships Have Sailed (2)
  6. REIN ME IN – Sam Fender & Olivia Dean (7)
  7. PRIVATE – The Neighbourhood (8)
  8. PICKING DRAGONS’ POCKETS – Modest Mouse (10)
  9. ONLINE – Western Jaguar (12)
  10. MARATHONS – Sorry Ghost (13) 
  11. HOMEWRECKER – sombr (6)
  12. GO FUCK URSELF – Fat Dog (15)
  13. WHO WILL YOU FOLLOW – Evanescence (16)
  14. THE ENDLESS BORDER – Velvet Jesus (18)
  15. HEART STOP – The Revivalists (19)
  16. IN THE STARS – The Rolling Stones (20)
  17. NO MORE REGRETS – almost monday (21)
  18. GOOD2B – Goose (11)
  19. FREAKIN’ OUT – Dexter and The Moonrocks (9)
  20. GOING SHOPPING – The Strokes (14)
  21. BEACHES IN TENNESSEE – Cage the Elephant (25)
  22. FREAKING OUT – Michigander (24)
  23. LOST BOYS – Phoebe Bridgers (30)
  24. HOLD ME IN THE DARK – Myles Smith (26)
  25. HEADLIGHTS – In Color (17)
  26. LOVE ME NOT – Grace Potter (N)
  27. WE MIGHT AS WELL BE STRANGERS – Weezer feat. Wednesday (N)
  28. WE SHOULD TALK – Bleachers (N)
  29. I CAN TAKE THE SUN OUT OF THE SKY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (N)
  30. STONE OVER WATER – Death Cab for Cutie (N)

My Top 30 Songs for May 17-23, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's8 Comments

Twenty One Pilots maintain a firm grip on the top spot for a third week with their beautiful song “Drag Path”, while Brigitte Calls Me Baby‘s delightfully boisterous “Slumber Party” and Talk in Waves‘ plaintive Americana-tinged “Waiting for Me” move up a notch to #s 2 and 3, respectively. “Riptides” by Death Cab for Cutie moves up three to enter the top 10 at #10, and The Strokes are the biggest upward movers again this week, as “Going Shopping” jumps seven spots to #13.

Four terrific songs enter my chart this week, starting with the infectious “Until The Sun Explodes” by Long Beach, California-based ska punk band Sublime, comprised of founding members Eric Wilson (bass) and Bud Gaugh (drums), as well as vocalist Jakob Newell, son of founding member Bradley Nowell who died in 1996. Their previous single “Ensenada” reached #1 on my chart this past November and has spent nearly eight months and counting at #1 on Billboard‘s Rock/Alternative Airplay chart!

Coming in at #28 is “Self Aware”, the debut single by Israeli alternative rock band Temper City, which consists of musicians Chen Kordova, Aviv Barenholz and Eitan Peled. Released in February, the song quickly went viral on TikTok and has already amassed over 109 million streams on Spotify, and 3.7 million views on YouTube. The track’s style and sound have been compared to acts like Steve Lacy, Hozier, Cage the Elephant and The Neighbourhood, all favorites of mine. I only heard it a few days ago and already love it. I was surprised to learn that it’s the first song by an Israeli band to ever appear on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Next up is “Kill Me Fast” by veteran Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. Formed in the 90s and now based in Toronto, they’re comprised of the original line-up of guitarist and lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer and backing vocalist Neil Sanderson and bassist Brad Walst, plus Barry Stock who joined as lead guitarist in 2003, and Walst’s younger brother Matt, who was a longtime songwriter for the band and became lead singer in 2013 when Gontier left Three Days Grace (he rejoined in 2024). The song is from their eighth studio album Alienation, released in August 2025.

The fourth new entry is “In My Room” by American singer-songwriter and record producer Julia Wolf (born Julia Capello). The song was originally released in March 2024 as the lead single from her second studio album Pressure, which dropped in May 2025, but was re-released as the title track of a five-song EP in late March, at which point it finally charted in the U.S. Wolf states the rather dark song is about missing an ex-partner who’s moved on.

  1. DRAG PATH – Twenty One Pilots (1)
  2. SLUMBER PARTY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (3)
  3. WAITING FOR ME – Talk in Waves (4)
  4. BEDROOM POSTERS – Yellowcard feat. Good Charlotte (7)
  5. LOOK OUT FOR ME – Turnstile (6)
  6. DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE – Young the Giant (9)
  7. I REMEMBER WHEN – MISSIO (2)
  8. YOUR FAVORITE TOY – Foo Fighters (10)
  9. YOU GOT TO LOSE – The Black Keys (5)
  10. RIPTIDES – Death Cab for Cutie (13)
  11. THE GREAT DIVIDE – Noah Kahan (11)
  12. HEAVY FOOT – Mon Rovîa (12)
  13. GOING SHOPPING – The Strokes (20)
  14. BURN FOR YOU RMX – Between Daze (15)
  15. HEADLIGHTS – In Color (18)
  16. HOMEWRECKER – sombr (19)
  17. SITE UNSEEN – Courtney Barnett featuring Waxahatchee (17)
  18. DOUBLETAKE – Edgehill (8)
  19. STARLIGHT – Cannons (14)
  20. FREAKIN’ OUT – Dexter and The Moonrocks (23)
  21. YOU AND FOREVER – Bleachers (21)
  22. DYING TO LOVE – Bad Omens (22)
  23. DROP DEAD – Olivia Rodrigo (25)
  24. BE WITH YOU – Muse (24)
  25. TO LOVE SOMEBODY – Holly Humberstone (27)
  26. HULA GIRL – The Neighbourhood (16) 21st week on chart
  27. UNTIL THE SUN EXPLODES – Sublime (N)
  28. SELF AWARE – Temper City (N)
  29. KILL ME FAST – Three Days Grace (N)
  30. IN MY ROOM – Julia Wolf (N)

My Top 30 Songs for May 10-16, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's8 Comments
Photo of Josh Dun and Tyler Joseph from their Facebook account.

Twenty One Pilots remain at #1 for a second week with “Drag Path”, while MISSIO hold at #2 again after spending a week at #1. Chicago-based Brigitte Calls Me Baby moves up two to #3 with their exhilarating “Slumber Party”, and Northern Virginia singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Talk in Waves also advances two spots to #4 with his heartfelt “Waiting for Me”.

Entering the top 10 are “Different Kind Of Love” by Young the Giant, moving up two spots to #9, and “Your Favorite Toy” by Foo Fighters, also advancing two spots to #10 and still going strong after more than 30 years! The Strokes are the biggest upward movers this week as their delightfully wry “Going Shopping” jumps seven spots to #20. Backed by a lighthearted, bouncy groove, Julian Casablancas muses about materialism, growing older, societal alienation and the push and pull of city vs. country living (all things I’ve wrestled with myself). There are no new additions to my chart this week.

  1. DRAG PATH – Twenty One Pilots (1)
  2. I REMEMBER WHEN – MISSIO (2)
  3. SLUMBER PARTY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (5)
  4. WAITING FOR ME – Talk in Waves (6)
  5. YOU GOT TO LOSE – The Black Keys (4)
  6. LOOK OUT FOR ME – Turnstile (7)
  7. BEDROOM POSTERS – Yellowcard feat. Good Charlotte (10)
  8. DOUBLETAKE – Edgehill (3)
  9. DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE – Young the Giant (11)
  10. YOUR FAVORITE TOY – Foo Fighters (12)
  11. THE GREAT DIVIDE – Noah Kahan (8)
  12. HEAVY FOOT – Mon Rovîa (13)
  13. RIPTIDES – Death Cab for Cutie (16)
  14. STARLIGHT – Cannons (14)
  15. BURN FOR YOU RMX – Between Daze (15)
  16. HULA GIRL – The Neighbourhood (9) 20th week on chart
  17. SITE UNSEEN – Courtney Barnett featuring Waxahatchee (18)
  18. HEADLIGHTS – In Color (23)
  19. HOMEWRECKER – sombr (25)
  20. GOING SHOPPING – The Strokes (27)
  21. YOU AND FOREVER – Bleachers (22)
  22. DYING TO LOVE – Bad Omens (24)
  23. FREAKIN’ OUT – Dexter and The Moonrocks (26)
  24. BE WITH YOU – Muse (28)
  25. DROP DEAD – Olivia Rodrigo (29)
  26. FOOL’S GOLD – Buffalo Traffic Jam (17)
  27. TO LOVE SOMEBODY – Holly Humberstone (30)
  28. SONG OF THE FUTURE – U2 (21)
  29. SWEET LOVE – Stephen Sanchez (19)
  30. THE OLD LAW – Father John Misty (20)

My Top 30 Songs for May 3-9, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's6 Comments
Photo of Josh Dun and Tyler Joseph taken from their Facebook account.

Twenty One Pilots, comprised of singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun, have been my favorite music act for the past ten years. This week, their beautiful song “Drag Path” takes over the #1 spot, marking their 15th song to top my chart. They topped my chart three times last year alone, with “The Line”, “The Contract” and “City Walls”.

“Drag Path” was originally released last September as a bonus track on the Breach (Digital Remains) album bundle on the band’s official online store, with a slightly shorter version released as a single in February of this year, accompanied by a music video featuring scenes from Danish filmmaker and animator Tobias Gundorff Boesen’s 2010 stop-motion short film Out of a Forest. The band states the song is a continuation of the in-universe lore, connecting both to the end of the “City Walls” music video, as well as serving as postlude to the album Breach. “Drag Path” currently also tops the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart and peaked at #57 on the Hot 100. It also became Twenty One Pilots’ third-highest-charting single in the UK, peaking at #23, as well as their highest-charting single in Australia since “Heathens” in 2016.

In other chart developments of note, “LOOK OUT FOR ME” by Turnstile jumps four spots to enter the top 10 at #7, while “Bedroom Posters” by Yellowcard featuring Good Charlotte moves up two spots to enter the top 10 at #10.

I’m aware of the fact that women have been woefully under-represented on my chart of late, so am now remedying that with two new debuts by young female artists this week, starting with “drop dead” by American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo, which debuted last week at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her 2021 song “drivers license” reached #1 on my chart and ranks #8 on my 100 Best Songs of 2021 list. Hard to believe that was five years ago!

The second new entry is the delightfully catchy “To Love Somebody” by English singer-songwriter Holly Humberstone. The song was the lead single from her second studio album Cruel World, which dropped April 10th. From what I can tell, it’s her highest-charting single thus far, and also her first song to appear on my chart.

  1. DRAG PATH – Twenty One Pilots (3)
  2. I REMEMBER WHEN – MISSIO (1)
  3. DOUBLETAKE – Edgehill (2)
  4. YOU GOT TO LOSE – The Black Keys (6)
  5. SLUMBER PARTY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (8)
  6. WAITING FOR ME – Talk in Waves (7)
  7. LOOK OUT FOR ME – Turnstile (11)
  8. THE GREAT DIVIDE – Noah Kahan (5)
  9. HULA GIRL – The Neighbourhood (4)
  10. BEDROOM POSTERS – Yellowcard feat. Good Charlotte (12)
  11. DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE – Young the Giant (13)
  12. YOUR FAVORITE TOY – Foo Fighters (14)
  13. HEAVY FOOT – Mon Rovîa (15)
  14. STARLIGHT – Cannons (16)
  15. BURN FOR YOU RMX – Between Daze (17)
  16. RIPTIDES – Death Cab for Cutie (22)
  17. FOOL’S GOLD – Buffalo Traffic Jam (18)
  18. SITE UNSEEN – Courtney Barnett featuring Waxahatchee (19)
  19. SWEET LOVE – Stephen Sanchez (9)
  20. THE OLD LAW – Father John Misty (10)
  21. SONG OF THE FUTURE – U2 (20)
  22. YOU AND FOREVER – Bleachers (23)
  23. HEADLIGHTS – In Color (24)
  24. DYING TO LOVE – Bad Omens (25)
  25. HOMEWRECKER – sombr (26)
  26. FREAKIN’ OUT – Dexter and The Moonrocks (29)
  27. GOING SHOPPING – The Strokes (30)
  28. BE WITH YOU – Muse (27)
  29. DROP DEAD – Olivia Rodrigo (N)
  30. TO LOVE SOMEBODY – Holly Humberstone (N)

My Top 30 Songs for April 26-May 2, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's4 Comments
Photo of Matthew Brue and David Butler by Rob Martinez

One of my favorite music acts is MISSIO, a hyper-talented and insanely creative duo from Austin, Texas comprised of singer-songwriter, musician and producer Matthew Brue and songwriter/producer and musician David Butler, who record music with the help of their silent partner, producer and frequent collaborator Dwight Baker and drummer Jaydon Bean. I’ve written about them numerous times and have reviewed three of their albums (my review of their magnificent 2019 album The Darker the Weather // The Better the Man has garnered nearly 4,000 views, making it my most-viewed album review ever).

Their boisterous, hard-charging single “I Remember When” takes over the #1 spot on my latest chart, and is their fifth song to top my chart after “I See You” and “Underground” in 2019, “Can You Feel the Sun” in 2021 and “Time” in 2024. About the track, which is the lead single from their forthcoming sixth album Love & Heartbreak, the guys explained: “The world is changing/transitioning at such a rapid pace that it feels impossible to keep up with right now. There’s a general apathy that everyone feels but no one seems to be talking about. We want to talk about it. ‘I Remember When’ reminisces about those nostalgic feelings of growing up when life felt easier, when the summertime made us feel free and alive. Maybe it’s just the natural progression of age but life feels harder to resonate with as we experience some of the harsh realities of the world we all share right now.“

In other chart developments of note, “Doubletake” by Edgehill advances two spots to #2 (the song is currently #1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart), and the stunning “Drag Path” by Twenty One Pilots jumps three spots to #3. The song confirms for me that they remain my current favorite band, a position they’ve held since 2016.

Two songs make their debut this week, the first of which is “Freakin’ Out” by another Texas act, alternative indie/country rock band Dexter and The Moonrocks. Formed in 2021 in Abilene, Texas, the band consists of cousins Ryan and Ty Anderson, James Tuffs and Ryan Fox. It’s their third song to appear on my chart, following “Sad in Carolina”, which reached #1 in late 2024/early 2025, and “Ritalin”.

The second new entry is “Going Shopping” by American rock band The Strokes. Formed in New York City in 1998, they consist of singer Julian Casablancas, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr., bassist Nikolai Fraiture and drummer Fabrizio Moretti. The song is from their forthcoming seventh studio album Reality Awaits, due for release on June 26th. Earlier this month, the band performed at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival, and on the second weekend of the festival they concluded their set with a performance of their 2016 single “Oblivius” accompanied by an onscreen montage of footage accusing the CIA of overthrowing foreign governments, Israeli bombings in Gaza, and condemning US involvement in foreign affairs, including the war in Iran.

  1. I REMEMBER WHEN – MISSIO (2)
  2. DOUBLETAKE – Edgehill (4)
  3. DRAG PATH – Twenty One Pilots (6)
  4. HULA GIRL – The Neighbourhood (1)
  5. THE GREAT DIVIDE – Noah Kahan (3)
  6. YOU GOT TO LOSE – The Black Keys (5)
  7. WAITING FOR ME – Talk in Waves (7)
  8. SLUMBER PARTY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (9)
  9. SWEET LOVE – Stephen Sanchez (8)
  10. THE OLD LAW – Father John Misty (10)
  11. LOOK OUT FOR ME – Turnstile (13)
  12. BEDROOM POSTERS – Yellowcard feat. Good Charlotte (12)
  13. DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE – Young the Giant (14)
  14. YOUR FAVORITE TOY – Foo Fighters (15)
  15. HEAVY FOOT – Mon Rovîa (16)
  16. STARLIGHT – Cannons (17)
  17. BURN FOR YOU RMX – Between Daze (18)
  18. FOOL’S GOLD – Buffalo Traffic Jam (19)
  19. SITE UNSEEN – Courtney Barnett featuring Waxahatchee (20)
  20. SONG OF THE FUTURE – U2 (21)
  21. LOST YOUR GHOST – Two Feet (11)
  22. RIPTIDES – Death Cab for Cutie (27)
  23. YOU AND FOREVER – Bleachers (25)
  24. HEADLIGHTS – In Color (28)
  25. DYING TO LOVE – Bad Omens (29)
  26. HOMEWRECKER – sombr (30)
  27. BE WITH YOU – Muse (26)
  28. WHO’S YOUR BOYFRIEND – Royel Otis (13) 20th week on chart
  29. FREAKIN’ OUT – Dexter and The Moonrocks (N)
  30. GOING SHOPPING – The Strokes (N)

My Top 30 Songs for April 19-25, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's9 Comments
Photo of The Neighbourhood from their Facebook account

It’s a fairly quiet week for my latest chart, as The Neighbourhood remain on top with their charming “Hula Girl” and there are no new entries (though 16 “new” songs entered my chart over the previous five weeks). MISSIO move into second place with their exhilarating “I Remember When”, Twenty One Pilots‘ “Drag Path” jumps four spots to #6 and “The Old Law” by Father John Misty moves up a spot to enter the top 10 at #10. The song is the highest-charting for him, as well as his first to appear on my chart. And because there are no new debuts, nor did I want to drop any songs from my chart, the songs at numbers 25-30 remain stuck in place. That’s certainly no reflection on their quality, as they’ll all be rising in the coming weeks.

  1. HULA GIRL – The Neighbourhood (1)
  2. I REMEMBER WHEN – MISSIO (3)
  3. THE GREAT DIVIDE – Noah Kahan (2)
  4. DOUBLETAKE – Edgehill (4)
  5. YOU GOT TO LOSE – The Black Keys (5)
  6. DRAG PATH – Twenty One Pilots (10)
  7. WAITING FOR ME – Talk in Waves (7)
  8. SWEET LOVE – Stephen Sanchez (8)
  9. SLUMBER PARTY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (9)
  10. THE OLD LAW – Father John Misty (11)
  11. LOST YOUR GHOST – Two Feet (6)
  12. BEDROOM POSTERS – Yellowcard feat. Good Charlotte (15)
  13. LOOK OUT FOR ME – Turnstile (16)
  14. DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE – Young the Giant (17)
  15. YOUR FAVORITE TOY – Foo Fighters (18)
  16. HEAVY FOOT – Mon Rovîa (21)
  17. STARLIGHT – Cannons (19)
  18. BURN FOR YOU RMX – Between Daze (20)
  19. FOOL’S GOLD – Buffalo Traffic Jam (22)
  20. SITE UNSEEN – Courtney Barnett featuring Waxahatchee (23)
  21. SONG OF THE FUTURE – U2 (24)
  22. THE WRECKAGE – Silversun Pickups (12)
  23. WHO’S YOUR BOYFRIEND – Royel Otis (13)
  24. HEATHER – Secret Postal Society (14)
  25. YOU AND FOREVER – Bleachers (25)
  26. BE WITH YOU – Muse (26)
  27. RIPTIDES – Death Cab for Cutie (27)
  28. HEADLIGHTS – In Color (28)
  29. DYING TO LOVE – Bad Omens (29)
  30. HOMEWRECKER – sombr (30)