Tag: Foo Fighters

My Top 30 Songs for August 24-30, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's8 Comments
Photo of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney by Larry Niehues

Last week’s top ten songs remain in place again this week, with a bit of shuffling here and there. The Black Keys top my chart for a second week with “No Rain, No Flowers”, while “The Contract” by Twenty One Pilots holds at #2 again after a two-week run at #1. “Feels Right” by northern Virginia singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Talk in Waves moves up a spot to secure the third place ranking.

We have three new debuts, two of which are by legendary alt-rock favorites, and another by one of my favorite Canadian indie artists. Entering at #28 is “Ensenada” by American ska punk band Sublime, who originally formed way back in 1988 in Long Beach, California and consisted of Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Bud Gaugh (drums) and Eric Wilson (bass). Over their eight-year run, Sublime 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. The band disbanded after singer Bradley Nowell’s death from a heroin overdose in 1996 but subsequently reformed in 2023 with Bradley’s son Jakob Nowell singing lead vocals alongside original band members Wilson and Gaugh. Their latest single “Ensenada”, released July 18th, carries on with the band’s original signature sound, almost as if no time has passed.

Coming in at #29 is “my mind is a mountain” by American alternative metal band Deftones. Also formed in 1988, in Sacramento, California (where I lived from 1989-1994), they originally consisted of frontman Chino Moreno (lead vocals), Stephen Carpenter (lead guitar), Abe Cunningham (drums) and Chi Cheng (bass). Frank Delgado later joined the band as keyboardist and turntablist in 1999. Cheng, who was seriously injured in an auto accident in 2008 and subsequently died in 2013, was replaced on bass by Sergio Vega, who remained with the band until early 2021. Deftones have released 10 studio albums, four EPs, three compilation albums, five demo albums, 32 music videos and 25 singles. Though none of their songs have ever made the Billboard Hot 100, several have appeared on the Alternative and Rock charts. On July 10th, they released “my mind is a mountain”, the lead single from their 10th and latest album private music (which dropped this past Friday, August 22nd), their first new music since their 2020 album Ohms. With the intensely heavy and melodic “my mind is a mountain”, it’s clear Deftones haven’t lost a step and I’m really liking the new album as well.

Last but certainly not least is “Hornets” by British Columbia-based Western Jaguar, the music project of the personable and talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jeffrey Trainor. I’ve been a fan of his for over seven years, and two of his songs – “Disappear” (2019) and “Darling” (2023) have reached #1 on my chart. His latest single “Hornets” represents a somewhat edgier, more rock-oriented sound from him and I like it!

  1. NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (1)
  2. THE CONTRACT – Twenty One Pilots (2)
  3. FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (4)
  4. MOODY – Royel Otis (3)
  5. RIPPLE – Good Neighbours (6)
  6. BETTER OFF EVENTUALLY – Bealby Point (7)
  7. LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (8)
  8. LONDON TOWN – Healer (9)
  9. SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (10)
  10. BACK TO FRIENDS – sombr (5)
  11. BLOOM BABY BLOOM – Wolf Alice (12)
  12. JUPITER – almost monday ft. Jordana (13)
  13. UNDRESSED – sombr (14)
  14. ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (15)
  15. BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (19)
  16. POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost (20)
  17. TODAY’S SONG – Foo Fighters (21)
  18. FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall (22)
  19. BETTER DAYS – Yellowcard (24)
  20. BASIC BEING BASIC – Djo (11)
  21. NOTHING I NEED – Lord Huron (17)
  22. INCOMPREHENSIBLE – Big Thief (25)
  23. LIGHT YEARS APART – Unobliterated (26)
  24. UNRAVELLING – Muse (27)
  25. PORCELAIN (LOSING ALL MY PATIENCE) – Somebody’s Child (16)
  26. AFTERLIFE – Alex G (29)
  27. AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE – Nine Inch Nails (30)
  28. ENSENADA – Sublime (N)
  29. MY MIND IS A MOUNTAIN – Deftones (N)
  30. HORNETS – Western Jaguar (N)

My Top 30 Songs for August 17-23, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's11 Comments
Photo of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney by Larry Niehues

“No Rain, No Flowers”, the title track from Nashville-based blues rock duo The Black Keys‘ 13th and latest album No Rain, No Flowers, is my new #1 song this week. Though the song, along with many of the other tracks on the album, has a decidedly more polished, poppy sound than their usual musical fare, I really like it. I love its smooth head-bopping dance groove, twangy guitars and Dan Auerbach’s always-cool vocals, plus it’s catchy as hell. The song and album have received mostly positive reviews, though some have criticized it for being too pop-oriented, overly produced or simply veering too far away from their blues rock roots. That said, the album’s lead single “The Night Before” spent two weeks at #1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart this past May, whereas “No Rain, No Flowers” peaked at only #28 and is now falling. The song did recently peak at #2 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart, however.

In other chart news of note, “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out” by Los Angeles-based ROLE MODEL (the music project of singer-songwriter Tucker Harrington Pillsbury), advances six spots to enter the top 10 at #10. And curiously, the songs at numbers 11 and 12 both have three-word titles in all B’s – “Basic Being Basic” and Bloom Baby Bloom”.

There are two new debuts again this week, the first of which is the delightful “Afterlife” by American musician, producer, and singer-songwriter Alex G (born Alexander Giannascoli in Havertown, Pennsylvania). Since 2011, the prolific musician has released ten studio albums, four EPs, three live albums, two soundtrack albums and 30 singles. The lead single from his 10th and latest album Headlights, “Afterlife” has become Alex G’s highest charting single in the U.S., currently sitting at #8 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay chart. That ukelele is utterly charming.

The second new entry is “As Alive As You Need Me To Be” by American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, their first new music release in four years since “ISN’T EVERYONE”, a collaborative single with Los Angeles-based industrial/noise rock band Health. Formed in 1988 as a solo act by singer-songwriter, musician, and composer Trent Reznor (who was inspired by Prince to play all instruments himself except drums, which he programmed electronically), Nine Inch Nails for many years consisted of Reznor as the only official member, aided by an ever-changing group of backing musicians for live performances. He finally added English musician and long-time collaborator Atticus Ross as the act’s second permanent member in 2016. Released on July 17th, “As Alive As You Need Me To Be” is from the forthcoming soundtrack album Tron: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), to be released September 19th. Nine Inch Nails composed the score for the film Tron: Ares, the third installment in the Tron series scheduled for release October 10th. At the age of 60, Reznor sounds as good as ever.

  1. NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (3)
  2. THE CONTRACT – Twenty One Pilots (1)
  3. MOODY – Royel Otis (2)
  4. FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (5)
  5. BACK TO FRIENDS – sombr (4)
  6. RIPPLE – Good Neighbours (7)
  7. BETTER OFF EVENTUALLY – Bealby Point (8)
  8. LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (9)
  9. LONDON TOWN – Healer (10)
  10. SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (16)
  11. BASIC BEING BASIC – Djo (6)
  12. BLOOM BABY BLOOM – Wolf Alice (15)
  13. JUPITER – almost monday ft. Jordana (17)
  14. UNDRESSED – sombr (18)
  15. ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (20)
  16. PORCELAIN (LOSING ALL MY PATIENCE) – Somebody’s Child (11)
  17. NOTHING I NEED – Lord Huron (12)
  18. SCARS – Secret Postal Society (13)
  19. BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (21)
  20. POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost (22)
  21. TODAY’S SONG – Foo Fighters (23)
  22. FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall (24)
  23. WHAT WAS THAT – Lorde (14)
  24. BETTER DAYS – Yellowcard (29)
  25. INCOMPREHENSIBLE – Big Thief (26)
  26. LIGHT YEARS APART – Unobliterated (28)
  27. UNRAVELLING – Muse (30)
  28. BONNET OF PINS – Matt Berninger (19)
  29. AFTERLIFE – Alex G (N)
  30. AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE – Nine Inch Nails (N)

My Top 30 Songs for August 10-16, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's6 Comments

It’s a second week on top for “The Contract” by Twenty One Pilots, with “moody” by Royel Otis holding onto second place for a second week after two weeks at #1. The Black Keys move up two to #3 with “No Rain, No Flowers”, the title track to their 13th and latest album No Rain, No Flowers, which dropped this past Friday, while Talk in Waves moves up a spot to #5 with his jubilant ear worm “Feels Right”. Entering the top 10 are “Ripple” by English indie rock duo Good Neighbours, “Better Off Eventually” by Canadian alt-rock band Bealby Point, “Love Is A Fire” by English singer-songwriter Art Block and “London Town” by English rock band Healer.

Making their debut this week are songs by two legendary bands, the first of which is “Better Days” by pop punk band Yellowcard, who formed in 1997, broke up in 2017, then reunited in 2022. Their lineup has changed over the years, and now consists of Ryan Key (lead vocals), Ryan Mendez (lead guitar), Josh Portman (bass) and Sean Mackin (violin). Their music is notable for its distinct and unique sound due to their prominent use of Mackin’s violin. The song is the lead single and title track from their forthcoming eleventh studio album Better Days, due for release on October 10. The album was produced by blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, who played drums on every song.

The second debut, coming in at #30, is “Unravelling” by English alternative space rock band Muse, who since forming in 1994 have consisted of Matt Bellamy (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Chris Wolstenholme (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Dominic Howard (drums, percussion). Though I’m a pretty big fan of Muse, I find it always takes several listens for many of their songs to grab me, which was the case with “Unravelling”. But grab me it did, and I now like it a lot.

  1. THE CONTRACT – Twenty One Pilots (1)
  2. MOODY – Royel Otis (2)
  3. NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (5)
  4. BACK TO FRIENDS – sombr (3)
  5. FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (6)
  6. BASIC BEING BASIC – Djo (4)
  7. RIPPLE – Good Neighbours (11)
  8. BETTER OFF EVENTUALLY – Bealby Point (13)
  9. LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (14)
  10. LONDON TOWN – Healer (15)
  11. PORCELAIN (LOSING ALL MY PATIENCE) – Somebody’s Child (7)
  12. NOTHING I NEED – Lord Huron (8)
  13. SCARS – Secret Postal Society (9)
  14. WHAT WAS THAT – Lorde (10)
  15. BLOOM BABY BLOOM – Wolf Alice (16)
  16. SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (18)
  17. JUPITER – almost monday ft. Jordana (19)
  18. UNDRESSED – sombr (20)
  19. BONNET OF PINS – Matt Berninger (12)
  20. ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (22)
  21. BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (23)
  22. POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost (24)
  23. TODAY’S SONG – Foo Fighters (27)
  24. FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall (29)
  25. CATCH THESE FISTS – Wet Leg (17)
  26. INCOMPREHENSIBLE – Big Thief (28)
  27. EMERGENCE – Sleep Token (21)
  28. LIGHT YEARS APART – Unobliterated (30)
  29. BETTER DAYS – Yellowcard (N)
  30. UNRAVELLING – Muse (N)

My Top 30 Songs for August 3-9, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's8 Comments
Photo of Twenty One Pilots from their Facebook account

One of my favorite music acts for the past ten years is Twenty One Pilots, comprised of the dynamic duo of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tyler Joseph and power drummer Josh Dun. Their latest single “The Contract” is my new #1 song this week, marking their 13th song to reach the top of my chart, and their third in just the past year, following “The Craving” last September and “The Line” this past March. The lead single from their forthcoming eighth studio album Breach, to be released September 12th, “The Contract” starts the final act of the narrative begun on their 2015 album Blurryface and continued through Trench, Scaled And Icy, and last year’s Clancy.

The song is a frenetic and electrifying mash-up of music styles, something Twenty One Pilots have incorporated into many of their songs over the years. As Kory Grow observed in his article about the single for Rolling Stone, the song “ping-pongs between pop, rap, emo, and drumline practice.” While I love that about the song and their music in general, some do not. Paulo Ragusa, a writer who’s obviously not a Twenty One Pilots fan, trashed the song in his article for Consequence Sound, calling it “a complete mess, a sloppy hodge-podge of genres and styles that directly compete with one another from moment to moment.” Well, to each their own I say, as “The Contract” takes its place among a long line of songs I love by this talented duo.

In other chart news, Lorde enters the top 10 with “What Was That”, and we have two new debuts. The first is “Five More Seconds”, a wonderfully exuberant collaboration by English duo Seafret and Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, which enters at #29. 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 1.1 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. “Five More Seconds” marks both Seafret and KT Tunstall’s first new music in two years.

The second debut is “light years apart” by Unobliterated, the music project of England-born and now Portugal-based singer-songwriter and musician Gary Taylor. In my review of the song upon its July 11 release, I described it as “majestic”, with a haunting melody driven forward by a strong pulsating groove and layered with swirling atmospheric synths and warm guitar notes to create a mesmerizing backdrop for Taylor’s arresting vocals that masterfully convey a sense of both despair and hopeful optimism.

  1. THE CONTRACT – Twenty One Pilots (3)
  2. MOODY – Royel Otis (1)
  3. BACK TO FRIENDS – sombr (2)
  4. BASIC BEING BASIC – Djo (4)
  5. NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (7)
  6. FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (9)
  7. PORCELAIN (LOSING ALL MY PATIENCE) – Somebody’s Child (5)
  8. NOTHING I NEED – Lord Huron (6)
  9. SCARS – Secret Postal Society (10)
  10. WHAT WAS THAT – Lorde (11)
  11. RIPPLE – Good Neighbours (13)
  12. BONNET OF PINS – Matt Berninger (8)
  13. BETTER OFF EVENTUALLY – Bealby Point (15)
  14. LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (17)
  15. LONDON TOWN – HEALER (18)
  16. BLOOM BABY BLOOM – Wolf Alice (19)
  17. CATCH THESE FISTS – Wet Leg (12)
  18. SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (21)
  19. JUPITER – almost monday ft. Jordana (22)
  20. UNDRESSED – sombr (23)
  21. EMERGENCE – Sleep Token (16)
  22. ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (25)
  23. BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (26)
  24. POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost (27)
  25. RITALIN – Dexter and The Moonrocks (14)
  26. RELATIONSHIPS – HAIM (20)
  27. TODAY’S SONG – Foo Fighters (29)
  28. INCOMPREHENSIBLE – Big Thief (30)
  29. FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall (N)
  30. LIGHT YEARS APART – Unobliterated (N)

My Top 30 Songs for July 27-August 2, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's5 Comments
Photo of Otis Pavlovic and Royel Maddell by Shervin Lainez

I’m still loving “moody” by Royel Otis a lot, thus it remains at #1 for a second week, while sombr‘s “back to friends” holds at #2 for a second week after spending three weeks at #1. Twenty One Pilots and Djo move up one spot each to #s 3 and 4 with “The Contract” and “Basic Being Basic”. Entering the top 10 are “No Rain, No Flowers” by The Black Keys, jumping seven spots to #7, and “Scars” by my favorite Welsh artist Secret Postal Society, moving up a notch to #10.

Two songs make their debut on my chart this week, the first of which is “Today’s Song” by rock legends the Foo Fighters, entering at #29. In a note accompanying the single’s release, band frontman Dave Grohl stated it’s a tribute to former band members including recently fired drummer Josh Freese, founding drummer William Goldsmith, guitarist Franz Stahl and late drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died in 2022. The second debut is the quite lovely “Incomprehensible” by Brooklyn, New York-based indie folk band Big Thief. Formed in 2015, the band now consists of vocalist-guitarist Adrianne Lenker, guitarist Buck Meek and drummer James Krivchenia. (Founding bassist Max Oleartchik left the band in 2024.) The song is the lead single from their forthcoming sixth studio album Double Infinity, set for release on September 5th.

  1. MOODY – Royel Otis (1)
  2. BACK TO FRIENDS – sombr (2)
  3. THE CONTRACT – Twenty One Pilots (4)
  4. BASIC BEING BASIC – Djo (5)
  5. PORCELAIN (LOSING ALL MY PATIENCE) – Somebody’s Child (3)
  6. NOTHING I NEED – Lord Huron (6)
  7. NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (14)
  8. BONNET OF PINS – Matt Berninger (9)
  9. FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (10)
  10. SCARS – Secret Postal Society (11)
  11. WHAT WAS THAT – Lorde (12)
  12. CATCH THESE FISTS – Wet Leg (7)
  13. RIPPLE – Good Neighbours (15)
  14. RITALIN – Dexter and The Moonrocks (8)
  15. BETTER OFF EVENTUALLY – Bealby Point (16)
  16. EMERGENCE – Sleep Token (18)
  17. LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (19)
  18. LONDON TOWN – HEALER (20)
  19. BLOOM BABY BLOOM – Wolf Alice (21)
  20. RELATIONSHIPS – HAIM (17)
  21. SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (26)
  22. JUPITER – almost monday ft. Jordana (27)
  23. UNDRESSED – sombr (28)
  24. ARCHBISHOP HAROLD HOLMES – Jack White (13)
  25. ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (25)
  26. BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (29)
  27. POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost (30)
  28. IT’S AMAZING TO BE YOUNG – Fontaines D.C. (22) 19th week on chart
  29. TODAY’S SONG – Foo Fighters (N)
  30. INCOMPREHENSIBLE – Big Thief (N)

Top 30 Songs for May 12-18, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's13 Comments

“Murder on the Dancefloor ”, by Australian guitar-pop duo Royel Otis (comprised of Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovi), is turning out to be one of my favorite songs of 2024. I can honestly listen to it on repeat, and love it more each time I hear it! It’s a marvelous cover of the 2001 hit “Murder on the Dancefloor” by British singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor, which Royel Otis performed on the Australian radio station Triple J for their Like a Version program. Interestingly, the song does not appear on their debut album PRATTS & PAIN that was released in February. The two have been putting out music since 2021, and I really like their sound a lot.

The song was co-written by Ellis-Bextor and Gregg Alexander, former frontman of the band The New Radicals (who had a hit in the late 90s with “You Get What You Give”), and produced by Alexander and Matt Rowe. Ellis-Bextor’s original version gained renewed popularity earlier this year after appearing in the 2023 black comedy thriller film Saltburn, causing it to re-enter the UK Dance Singles Chart, where it reached #1. It also peaked at #3 on the US Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and #51 on the Hot 100, her first song to ever appear on that chart. The delightful version by Royel Otis currently sits at #7 on the Alternative Airplay chart, and this week takes over the top spot on my own Top 30 chart.

In other major chart developments, Maggie Rogers enters the top 10 with her poignant ballad “Don’t Forget Me”, which climbs five spots to #6. The song recently spent two weeks at #1 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart. “Creatures in Heaven” by Glass Animals jumps eight spots to #11, and “Fortnight” by Taylor Swift, featuring Post Malone, leaps 10 spots to #20, making it this week’s biggest upward mover.

Three songs make their debut this week: Entering at #28 is the infectiously pleasing “Burial Ground” by Portland, Oregon-based indie folk-rock band The Decemberists, featuring James Mercer, who’s also a member of the bands The Shins and Broken Bells. The Decemberists have been putting out music off and on since forming in 2001. “Burial Ground” is the lead single from their forthcoming ninth studio album As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again, to be released June 14th. I love those jangly guitars and cool horns. Next up is “Panoramic View”, the beautiful new single by L.A.-based alt-rock band AWOLNATION. Fronted by Aaron Bruno, who has a distinctive singing voice I love, the band blasted onto the music scene in 2011 with their monster hit “Sail”, one of the many great songs from their debut album Megalithic Symphony. They’ve released a total of four albums and numerous singles, several of which have appeared on my Top 30 chart. Entering at #30 is the bold and brassy “Gold”, by uber-talented Welsh-Gibraltarian singer-songwriter Caitlin Lavagna, which I reviewed last month. This is Caitlin’s third song to appear on my chart, the previous two being “How Not to Start a Fight” and “Night Bus”.

  1. MURDER ON THE DANCEFLOOR – Royel Otis (3)
  2. DILEMMA – Green Day (2)
  3. OVERCOMPENSATE – twenty one pilots (4)
  4. TOO SWEET – Hozier (7)
  5. TIME – MISSIO (1)
  6. DON’T FORGET ME – Maggie Rogers (11)
  7. ICE CREAM (PAY PHONE) – Black Pumas (10)
  8. MY GOLDEN YEARS – The Lemon Twigs (5)
  9. NEON PILL – Cage the Elephant (6)
  10. EVERYTHING WE NEED – Mojave Grey (9)
  11. CREATURES IN HEAVEN – Glass Animals (19)
  12. WANTING AND WAITING – The Black Crowes (13)
  13. KOOL AID BLUE – The Sylvia Platters (8)
  14. DARK MATTER – Pearl Jam (12)
  15. CAPRICORN – Vampire Weekend (18)
  16. THOUGHTS I HAVE WHILE LYING IN BED – The Maine, Beach Weather (16)
  17. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT – Dead Slow Hoot (17)
  18. I’VE GOT LOVING FOR YOU – Bottlecap Mountain (21)
  19. MUSTANG – Kings of Leon (23)
  20. FORTNIGHT – Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone (30)
  21. GOOD TIMES GO – The Kid and I (22)
  22. BROKEN MAN – St. Vincent (26)
  23. LONELINESS – Pet Shop Boys (27)
  24. FOR US ALL – Asgard Raven (28)
  25. I’M IN LOVE – Jelani Aryeh (14)
  26. GOOD PEOPLE – Mumford & Sons, Pharrell Williams (15)
  27. THE GLASS – Foo Fighters (20)
  28. BURIAL GROUND – The Decemberists & James Mercer (N)
  29. PANORAMIC VIEW – AWOLNATION (N)
  30. GOLD – Caitlin Lavagna (N)

Top 30 Songs for May 5-11, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's17 Comments
Photo of MISSIO by Ima Leupp

MISSIO holds on to the top spot on my chart for a third week with “Time”, one of the many outstanding songs from their latest album I AM CINCO, an epic work featuring 26 tracks that dropped this past Friday, May 3rd. (Read my review and interview with the guys here.) Green Day moves into second place with “Dilemma”, while Royel Otis climb two spots to #3 with their delightful cover of “Murder on the Dance Floor”. Hozier‘s “Too Sweet” leaps another eight spots this week, entering the top 10 at #7, while Black Pumas‘ “Ice Cream (Pay Phone)” moves up a notch to enter the top 10 at #10. Also moving up eight spots are “Capricorn” by Vampire Weekend, to #18, and “Creatures in Heaven” by Glass Animals, to #19.

The sole debut this week, at #30, is “Fortnight” by Taylor Swift, featuring Post Malone, who co-wrote the song with Swift and singer-songwriter/producer Jack Antonoff. The downtempo synthpop ballad is from her latest and 15th album The Tortured Poets Department, which has received generally positive reviews and broken numerous sales and streaming records. The album, released April 19th after weeks of advance hype, features 16 tracks. But only two hours later, Swift surprise-released a double album edition, subtitled The Anthology and containing 15 bonus tracks, for a total of 31 in two volumes. While I’m not a huge fan of Swift, I do acknowledge her strong songwriting abilities, and really like some of her songs. As an example of her massive popularity, she currently holds every single one of the top 14 spots on the Billboard Hot 100, with “Fortnight” at #1.

  1. TIME – MISSIO (1)
  2. DILEMMA – Green Day (3)
  3. MURDER ON THE DANCE FLOOR – Royel Otis (5)
  4. OVERCOMPENSATE – twenty one pilots (2)
  5. MY GOLDEN YEARS – The Lemon Twigs (4)
  6. NEON PILL – Cage the Elephant (6)
  7. TOO SWEET – Hozier (15)
  8. KOOL AID BLUE – The Sylvia Platters (7)
  9. EVERYTHING WE NEED – Mojave Grey (9)
  10. ICE CREAM (PAY PHONE) – Black Pumas (11)
  11. DON’T FORGET ME – Maggie Rogers (13)
  12. DARK MATTER – Pearl Jam (12)
  13. WANTING AND WAITING – The Black Crowes (14)
  14. I’M IN LOVE – Jelani Aryeh (8)
  15. GOOD PEOPLE – Mumford & Sons, Pharrell Williams (10)
  16. THOUGHTS I HAVE WHILE LYING IN BED – The Maine, Beach Weather (19)
  17. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT – Dead Slow Hoot (20)
  18. CAPRICORN – Vampire Weekend (26)
  19. CREATURES IN HEAVEN – Glass Animals (27)
  20. THE GLASS – Foo Fighters (18)
  21. I’VE GOT LOVING FOR YOU – Bottlecap Mountain (23)
  22. GOOD TIMES GO – The Kid and I (22)
  23. MUSTANG – Kings of Leon (24)
  24. LUNAR ECLIPSE – The Vaccines (16)
  25. DIAMOND AND THE MISSING SON – Unquiet Nights (17)
  26. BROKEN MAN – St. Vincent (28)
  27. LONELINESS – Pet Shop Boys (29)
  28. FOR US ALL – Asgard Raven (30)
  29. FIND MY WAY – Ships Have Sailed (21)
  30. FORTNIGHT – Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone (N)

Top 30 Songs for April 28-May 4, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's12 Comments
Photo of MISSIO by Ima Leupp

MISSIO remain on top for a second week with their hauntingly beautiful song “Time”, one of the many great tracks that will be featured on their forthcoming monumental album I AM CINCO, to be released next Friday, May 3rd. “Overcompensate” by twenty one pilots moves up a notch to #2, while “Dilemma” by Green Day reverses course by moving back up to #3. Australian duo Royel Otis climb two spots to #5 with their delightful cover of “Murder on the Dance Floor”, and “Good People”, by Mumford & Sons and Pharrell Williams, finally enters the top 10 at #10. The song recently spent one week at #1 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay chart.

The biggest upward mover is “Too Sweet”, by Irish singer-songwriter Hozier, jumping eight spots to #15. The song has quickly become an unexpected hit that’s even surprised the singer, reaching #1 in many countries including the U.S., where it’s become his highest-charting single and first #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100, besting his monster hit “Take Me to Church”, which peaked at #2.

Three songs make their debut this week, the first of which is “Broken Man” by American artist St. Vincent, the musical project of uniquely talented and innovative singer-songwriter and musician Annie Clark, coming in at #28. The song is from her seventh studio album All Born Screaming, which dropped this past Friday, April 26th. The second new entry, at #29, is “Loneliness” by the legendary British synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys. The song is the lead single from their fifteenth studio album Nonetheless, which also dropped this past Friday. They were one of my favorite acts from 1986-88, and I’m happy they’re still putting out new music all these years later. The third new entry is “For Us All”, a superb song by English singer-songwriter Asgard Raven, which I reviewed last week. 

  1. TIME – MISSIO (1)
  2. OVERCOMPENSATE – twenty one pilots (3)
  3. DILEMMA – Green Day (5)
  4. MY GOLDEN YEARS – The Lemon Twigs (2)
  5. MURDER ON THE DANCE FLOOR – Royel Otis (7)
  6. NEON PILL – Cage the Elephant (4)
  7. KOOL AID BLUE – The Sylvia Platters (6)
  8. I’M IN LOVE – Jelani Aryeh (9)
  9. EVERYTHING WE NEED – Mojave Grey (10)
  10. GOOD PEOPLE – Mumford & Sons, Pharrell Williams (12)
  11. ICE CREAM (PAY PHONE) – Black Pumas (14)
  12. DARK MATTER – Pearl Jam (15)
  13. DON’T FORGET ME – Maggie Rogers (17)
  14. WANTING AND WAITING – The Black Crowes (16)
  15. TOO SWEET – Hozier (23)
  16. LUNAR ECLIPSE – The Vaccines (8)
  17. DIAMOND AND THE MISSING SON – Unquiet Nights (11)
  18. THE GLASS – Foo Fighters (19)
  19. THOUGHTS I HAVE WHILE LYING IN BED – The Maine, Beach Weather (20)
  20. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT – Dead Slow Hoot (22)
  21. FIND MY WAY – Ships Have Sailed (13)
  22. GOOD TIMES GO – The Kid and I (24)
  23. I’VE GOT LOVING FOR YOU – Bottlecap Mountain (25)
  24. MUSTANG – Kings of Leon (26)
  25. BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE (STAY HIGH) – The Black Keys (18)
  26. CAPRICORN – Vampire Weekend (29)
  27. CREATURES IN HEAVEN – Glass Animals (30)
  28. BROKEN MAN – St. Vincent (N)
  29. LONELINESS – Pet Shop Boys (N)
  30. FOR US ALL – Asgard Raven (N)

Top 30 Songs for April 21-27, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's17 Comments

Austin, Texas-based duo MISSIO have been one of my favorite acts ever since I first learned about them and their music back in 2017. I love their uniquely eclectic sound that’s an arresting blend of alternative rock, electronic and hip hop, and have written about them several times on this blog. Three of their songs – “I See You”, “Underground” and “Can You Feel the Sun” – have reached #1 on my Weekly Top 30, and now their darkly captivating “Time” joins that esteemed group by ascending to the top spot on my latest chart. The gorgeous song will be included on their forthcoming fifth album I AM CINCO, an epic work scheduled for release on May 3rd. I love Matthew Brue’s distinctive tenor voice, which sounds especially vulnerable and heartfelt here. And the complexity of their arrangements, combined with intricate instrumentation, always makes for an exciting listen. The simple but profound lyrics touch on anxieties over some of the issues facing our current world and society, with MISSIO reminding us that “time goes wherever you are, now, in each moment” and to “live like it’s your last because you’re not guaranteed a tomorrow.”

In other chart highlights, “Overcompensate” by twenty one pilots inches up a notch to #3, “Kool Aid Blue” by Canadian band The Sylvia Platters moves up one to #6 and “Murder On the Dance Floor” by Australian duo Royel Otis advances three spots to #7. The dreamy “Everything We Need” by electro-rock duo Mojave Grey enters the top 10 at #10.

Two songs make their debut this week. The first, and long overdue, is “Capricorn” by New York City-based indie rock/art pop band Vampire Weekend, entering at #29. I love frontman Ezra Koenig’s pleasing drawl, that lovely piano riff and the gnarly cinematic chorus. The poignant song, described by Alex Hudson of Canadian music webzine Exclaim! as being about the “aching, unavoidable melancholy of growing old and discovering that adults feel just as powerless as kids do“, is from their fifth studio album Only God Was Above Us, which dropped April 5th.

Entering at #30 is “Creatures in Heaven” by English indie/psychedelic pop/rock band Glass Animals. Like the aforementioned Vampire Weekend, their music is hard to classify, as both bands incorporate a myriad of genres and styles into their sound. The song is the lead single from their forthcoming fourth album I Love You So F***ing Much, scheduled for release on July 19th. In an interview with Consequence Sound, band frontman Dave Bayley – whose singing voice I adore – said the song is about “a moment in time, having the capacity to be enormously formative and life-changing.”

  1. TIME – MISSIO (2)
  2. MY GOLDEN YEARS – The Lemon Twigs (1)
  3. OVERCOMPENSATE – twenty one pilots (4)
  4. NEON PILL – Cage the Elephant (3)
  5. DILEMMA – Green Day (5)
  6. KOOL AID BLUE – The Sylvia Platters (7)
  7. MURDER ON THE DANCE FLOOR – Royel Otis (10)
  8. LUNAR ECLIPSE – The Vaccines (6)
  9. I’M IN LOVE – Jelani Aryeh (9)
  10. EVERYTHING WE NEED – Mojave Grey (12)
  11. DIAMOND AND THE MISSING SON – Unquiet Nights (8)
  12. GOOD PEOPLE – Mumford & Sons, Pharrell Williams (15)
  13. FIND MY WAY – Ships Have Sailed (11)
  14. ICE CREAM (PAY PHONE) – Black Pumas (16)
  15. DARK MATTER – Pearl Jam (17)
  16. WANTING AND WAITING – The Black Crowes (18)
  17. DON’T FORGET ME – Maggie Rogers (19)
  18. BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE (STAY HIGH) – The Black Keys (13)
  19. THE GLASS – Foo Fighters (20)
  20. THOUGHTS I HAVE WHILE LYING IN BED – The Maine, Beach Weather (22)
  21. BLUSH – Vazum (14)
  22. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT – Dead Slow Hoot (25)
  23. TOO SWEET – Hozier (30)
  24. GOOD TIMES GO – The Kid and I (27)
  25. I’VE GOT LOVING FOR YOU – Bottlecap Mountain (28)
  26. MUSTANG – Kings of Leon (29)
  27. LOVIN ON ME – Jack Harlow (21)
  28. WATER UNDERGROUND – Real Estate (23)
  29. CAPRICORN – Vampire Weekend (N)
  30. CREATURES IN HEAVEN – Glass Animals (N)

Top 30 Songs for April 14-20, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's12 Comments

I think “My Golden Years” by The Lemon Twigs is a perfect power pop tune, and I just can’t get enough of it. Consequently, it remains at #1 on my Top 30 for a third week. Aiming for the top spot, the hauntingly beautiful “Time” by MISSIO slides into second place, while twenty one pilots‘ “Overcompensate” moves up a notch to #4. Entering the top 10 at #9 is the delightful dance-pop song “I’m in Love” by San Diego singer-songwriter Jelani Aryeh, followed by the equally delightful “Murder On the Dance Floor” by Australian guitar-pop duo Royel Otis, jumping six spots to #10.

Two songs make their debut on my chart this week, the first of which is “Mustang” by Kings of Leon. While I’m a pretty big fan of theirs, this song took a while to grow on me, as I initially found Caleb Followill’s screaming vocals a bit off-putting. “Mustang” was the lead single from their forthcoming ninth studio album Can We Please Have Fun, scheduled for release on May 10. Entering at #30 is “Two Sweet” by Irish singer-songwriter Hozier. Shockingly, the song debuted at #5 two weeks ago on the Billboard Hot 100, and currently sits at #4, a major feat for an artist like Hozier in today’s streaming-dominated chart. My guess is that the song must have gone viral on TikTok. In any case, it’s another great song by this talented and beloved artist, so seeing it ranked so highly on the Hot 100 is a welcome sight indeed.

  1. MY GOLDEN YEARS – The Lemon Twigs (1)
  2. TIME – MISSIO (3)
  3. NEON PILL – Cage the Elephant (2)
  4. OVERCOMPENSATE – twenty one pilots (5)
  5. DILEMMA – Green Day (4)
  6. LUNAR ECLIPSE – The Vaccines (9)
  7. KOOL AID BLUE – The Sylvia Platters (10)
  8. DIAMOND AND THE MISSING SON – Unquiet Nights (9)
  9. I’M IN LOVE – Jelani Aryeh (11)
  10. MURDER ON THE DANCE FLOOR – Royel Otis (16)
  11. FIND MY WAY – Ships Have Sailed (12)
  12. EVERYTHING WE NEED – Mojave Grey (13)
  13. BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE (STAY HIGH) – The Black Keys (6)
  14. BLUSH – Vazum (7)
  15. GOOD PEOPLE – Mumford & Sons, Pharrell Williams (15)
  16. ICE CREAM (PAY PHONE) – Black Pumas (17)
  17. DARK MATTER – Pearl Jam (18)
  18. WANTING AND WAITING – The Black Crowes (19)
  19. DON’T FORGET ME – Maggie Rogers (22)
  20. THE GLASS – Foo Fighters (23)
  21. LOVIN ON ME – Jack Harlow (14)
  22. THOUGHTS I HAVE WHILE LYING IN BED – The Maine, Beach Weather (24)
  23. WATER UNDERGROUND – Real Estate (20)
  24. LANDMINES – Sum 41 (21)
  25. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT – Dead Slow Hoot (28)
  26. CEILING TILES – Sun Atoms (27)
  27. GOOD TIMES GO – The Kid and I (29)
  28. I’VE GOT LOVING FOR YOU – Bottlecap Mountain (30)
  29. MUSTANG – Kings of Leon (N)
  30. TOO SWEET – Hozier (N)