Tag: Goose

My Top 30 Songs for October 25-31, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's11 Comments

Fontaines D.C. hold onto the top spot for a second week with “Marianne”, while Death Cab for Cutie slides into second place with “Stone Over Water” and Alabama Shakes‘ “I Feel Hope Coming” moves up to #3. The Foo Fighters enter the top 10 with “Window”.

Once again there are two new entries to my chart, the first being “Who’s That” by American rock band The War on Drugs. Formed in 2005 by Adam Granduciel and Kurt Vile, the band has undergone numerous changes in lineup and presently consists of Granduciel (vocals, guitar), David Hartley (bass), Robbie Bennett (keyboards), Charlie Hall (drums), Jon Natchez (saxophone, keyboards), Anthony LaMarca (guitar), and Eliza Hardy Jones (percussion, keyboards). Since 2008 they’ve released five albums, the last being I Don’t Live Here Anymore which dropped almost exactly five years ago today. Three of their songs have reached #1 on my chart – “Holding On” (2017), “Pain” (2018) and “I Don’t Live Here Anymore” (2021-22). Released on September 9th, “Who’s That” is their first new music in four years and the lead single from their forthcoming sixth album, the name of which hasn’t yet been revealed.

The second new entry is “Five” by Secret Postal Society, the music project of Welsh singer-songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist Craig Mapstone. He’s a thoughtful, generous and kind soul, and though we’ve never met in person, I’m quite fond of him on both a personal and professional level. We’ve been following each other on social media since early 2021, and I’ve written about him and his music several times over the past five years. Unable to play gigs or socialize during the Covid pandemic, he decided to challenge himself to write and record a new original song every week for an entire year of 2021, which he accomplished! Four of his songs – “Something From Nothing/Points of Light” (2021), “Autumn Leaves” (2024), “Scars” (2025) and “Heather” (earlier this year) – have appeared on my chart.

His latest single “Five” is a heartfelt plea for us to be more kind and understanding to ourselves and each other during these troubled and highly divisive times. Mapstone elaborates: “Written during a time of overwhelming negativity, fear and aggression in Western politics, society, economics and international relations, ‘Five’ began life as a protest song, and ended up as a reminder to each of us to look after ourselves and each other. When the world gets too much the chorus reminds us to “take a breath, count to five” and to never give up hope that things will change for the better.” He no longer has his music on Spotify, so I’m featuring his YouTube video for the track, in which he appears both honest and vulnerable:

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

My Top 30 Songs for October 18-24, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's9 Comments
Photo of Fontaines D.C. from their Bandcamp account

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Top 30 Songs for October 11-17, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's6 Comments

This week’s chart was a bit of a challenge, as I wanted to put all of my top three songs at number one. In the end, I decided to keep The Neighbourhood‘s mesmerizing “Private” on top for a third week, as I continue to love it immensely. It’s now become my second-favorite song by them, after “Sweater Weather”. Phoebe Bridgers‘ “Lost Boys” and Fontaines D.C.‘s “Marianne” remain at #2 and #3. Cage the Elephant holds at #4 for a third week with “Beaches In Tennessee” which currently tops all of Billboard‘s various Alternative charts. Even though they’re one of my longtime favorite bands, I just don’t think “Beaches In Tennessee” is anywhere near as good as many of their earlier hits. Tame Impala enters the top 10 at #7 with “Loser”.

Another challenge was deciding what new songs to place on my chart, as there were several worthy candidates. But given that I was only willing to drop two songs from my chart, there are only two new entries again this week, both by acts entirely new to me despite the fact they’ve been putting out music for several years. The first, entering at #29, is “Exit Signs” by English indie rock band LEAP. Originally founded in 2021 as the solo project of singer-songwriter Jack Scott, the act now also includes Hector Cottam (drums), Declan Brown (bass) and Adam Mason (guitar). To date, LEAP has released five EPs and one album, Entropy (which dropped last October 2025), all of them self-recorded and produced. The electrifying “Exit Signs” was actually released three years ago on their EP Dark Habits and is also featured on Entropy, however is now getting significant airplay for some reason and I’m happy for both LEAP and me!

My second new entry, courtesy of my young friend Nick, is “Bottle” by American singer-songwriter Remi Wolf. Born in Palo Alto, California, she began making music at the age of 14, and while still a senior in high school she appeared as a contestant on American Idol in 2014. She subsequently moved to Los Angeles to attend the USC Thornton School of Music, from which she graduated in 2018. Between 2019 and 2021, she released three successive EPs humorously titled You’re a Dog!, I’m Allergic to Dogs! and We Love Dogs!, followed by her debut studio album, Juno, in October 2021. She released her second album Big Ideas in July 2024, and her third studio album Mud, this past Friday October 9th. The lyrically dark but sonically enchanting “Bottle” was released as a single on August 20th and is featured on Mud.

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

My Top 30 Songs for October 4-10, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's12 Comments

The Neighbourhood remain on top for a second week with “Private”, while Phoebe Bridgers‘ “Lost Boys” slides into second place, followed by Fontaines D.C.‘s “Marianne” at #3. “I Can Take the Sun Out of the Sky” by Brigitte Calls Me Baby enters the top 10.

For the fourth week there are two new entries to my chart, starting with “I Kinda Like That” by American pop-punk band The Paradox. Formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 2024, the all-Black four piece consists of Eric Dangerfield (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Donald Bryant (bass), Christopher “Xelan” Bernard (lead guitar, backing vocals), and Percy “PC3” Crews (drums). Their exuberant sound is influenced by such pop-punk legends as Blink-182, Sum 41 and Green Day, and their 2025 single “Get the Message” reached #1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart this past January and peaked at #3 on my chart in early February. “I Kinda Like That” is featured on their EP Proceed With Caution, which dropped this past Friday, October 2nd.

The second new entry is “oh yeah? by Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, guitarist and record producer Steve Lacy. The song is the title track from his third studio album Oh yeah?, released on July 17th. His 2022 hit “Bad Habit” reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart as well as my chart, and ranks #6 on my 100 Best Songs of 2022 list.

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

My Top 30 Songs for September 27-October 3, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's12 Comments
Photo of The Neighbourhood from their Facebook account

After spending three weeks at #2, “Private” by The Neighbourhood finally dislodges “Rein Me In” to take over the top spot on my latest chart. The captivating song is from their fifth studio album (((((ultraSOUND))))), released last November, although the track itself was actually released at the end of October but didn’t begin charting until June. Formed in Ventura County west of Los Angeles in 2011, the band consists of four of the five original members: heavily tattooed, silky-voiced vocalist Jesse Rutherford, guitarists Jeremy Freedman and Zach Abels and bassist Mikey Margott, as well as drummer Brandon Fried who joined in 2014. I love their sophisticated style of alternative rock that incorporates elements of pop, electronic, hip hop and R&B.

I’ve been a big fan of The Neighbourhood from the moment I first heard their magnificent song “Sweater Weather” back in the summer of 2013. It ultimately became my favorite song of 2013 and 4th favorite song of the entire decade of the 2010s, and is obviously a favorite of many others, as it’s been streamed nearly 5 billion times just on Spotify alone. Since March, The Neighbourhood has been on their worldwide tour which will conclude in Los Angeles in December. “Private” is their fourth song to top my chart, after the aforementioned “Sweater Weather”, “Stargazing” in 2021, and “Hula Girl”, also from (((((ultraSOUND))))), this past April. I love the song’s hypnotic beat, gentle thumping bassline and intricate blend of jangly, chiming and grungy guitar notes. But most of all, I love Rutherford’s sensuous croons that add to the eerily enchanting sound.

Entering the top 10 are “Stone Over Water” by Death Cab for Cutie, “I Feel Hope Coming” by Alabama Shakes, and “We Might as Well Be Strangers” by Weezer featuring Wednesday.

For a third week there are two new entries to my chart, starting with “Good Times // End Times” by American progressive/funk rock band Goose. The song is from their sixth album BIG MODERN!, which dropped in June, and follows “Good2B”, which spent 12 weeks on my chart over the summer, peaking at #4. I’ve come to like this band a lot!

The second new entry is “Already Gone” by the enigmatic and dangerously sexy country artist Orville Peck (born Daniel Pitout in South Africa and now based in Los Angeles). In addition to his unique brand of alternative country and deep baritone singing voice, Peck (who is gay) is known for often wearing a fringed mask and not showing his face. In a 2023 interview for People magazine, he elaborated on his decision to wear a fringed mask: “I grew up loving country where there was an intersection between theatricality and very honest songwriting. Dolly’s a perfect example—the big wigs, the crazy outfits, but it’s her. For me, I was obsessed with the Lone Ranger, cowboys hiding their face, so that’s what I wanted to do.” He’s also an actor who made his Broadway debut on March 31, 2025, playing the Emcee in the revival of Cabaret for 16 weeks. “Already Gone” is from his fourth studio album Mule, released September 18th.

  1. PRIVATE – The Neighbourhood (2)
  2. REIN ME IN – Sam Fender & Olivia Dean (1)
  3. LOST BOYS – Phoebe Bridgers (5)
  4. BEACHES IN TENNESSEE – Cage the Elephant (6)
  5. MARIANNE – Fontaines D.C. (7)
  6. HEART STOP – The Revivalists (4)
  7. ONLINE – Western Jaguar (3)
  8. STONE OVER WATER – Death Cab for Cutie (11)
  9. I FEEL HOPE COMING – Alabama Shakes (12)
  10. WE MIGHT AS WELL BE STRANGERS – Weezer feat. Wednesday (13)
  11. I CAN TAKE THE SUN OUT OF THE SKY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (14)
  12. NO MORE REGRETS – almost monday (10)
  13. RAGING HALLS – Lyia Meta (8)
  14. DOORS – Noah Kahan (9)
  15. LOSER – Tame Impala (19)
  16. EVERGREEN – Young the Giant (17)
  17. EDGE OF THE EARTH – The Beaches (18)
  18. BEHIND THE LINES OF REASON – Hardwicke Circus (20)
  19. WINDOW – Foo Fighters (22)
  20. METASTASIZED – Bealby Point (23)
  21. HOLD ME IN THE DARK – Myles Smith (15)
  22. THE ENDLESS BORDER – Velvet Jesus (16)
  23. LOVE TO GO – Edgehill (26)
  24. YOUNG AGAIN – Shinedown (27)
  25. HIGH HOPES 3000 – ROLE MODEL (29)
  26. BLACK DOG RABBIT HOLE – Devon Gilfillian (30)
  27. REPEAT OFFENDER – Gloom is Okay (21)
  28. SELF AWARE – Temper City (24) 20th week on chart
  29. GOOD TIMES // END TIMES – Goose (N)
  30. ALREADY GONE – Orville Peck (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 August 2-8, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's5 Comments

We seem to have an embarrassment of riches at the moment, with so many great songs to choose from that it’s almost torture to have to rank them at all. And rather curiously, we have a number of songs by “animal” bands, including a mouse, goose, jaguar, dog and elephant.

Temper City remain on top for a second week with “Self Aware”. I’m also thrilled to place several songs by independent acts I love near the top of my chart; Los Angeles-based Ships Have Sailed move into second place with their beautiful “Exit Wound”, Scottish band Gloom Is Okay move up three spots to #3 with “Repeat Offender”, and Malaysian artist Lyia Meta also advances three spots to #4 with her powerful “Raging Halls”.

Entering the top 10 at #7 are “Rein Me In” by Sam Fender and Olivia Dean, and “Private” by The Neighbourhood, coming in at #8. “Rein Me In” is Fender’s first song to reach #1 in the UK, where it has spent 19 non-consecutive weeks and counting on top, becoming the longest running #1 single in UK music history (besting Bryan Adams’ “Everything I Do (I Do It For You)”, which spend 16 weeks at #1 in 1991).

The lone debut this week is “Lost Boys” by singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers. The song is the lead single from her forthcoming third album Lost Weekend, scheduled for release on August 14th.

  1. SELF AWARE – Temper City (1)
  2. EXIT WOUND – Ships Have Sailed (3)
  3. REPEAT OFFENDER – Gloom Is Okay (6)
  4. RAGING HALLS – Lyia Meta (7)
  5. DOORS – Noah Kahan (8)
  6. HOMEWRECKER – sombr (2)
  7. REIN ME IN – Sam Fender & Olivia Dean (12)
  8. PRIVATE – The Neighbourhood (11)
  9. FREAKIN’ OUT – Dexter and The Moonrocks (4)
  10. PICKING DRAGONS’ POCKETS – Modest Mouse (10)
  11. GOOD2B – Goose (5)
  12. ONLINE – Western Jaguar (14)
  13. MARATHONS – Sorry Ghost (15)
  14. GOING SHOPPING – The Strokes (9)
  15. GO FUCK URSELF – Fat Dog (18)
  16. WHO WILL YOU FOLLOW – Evanescence (19)
  17. HEADLIGHTS – In Color (13)
  18. THE ENDLESS BORDER – Velvet Jesus (22)
  19. HEART STOP – The Revivalists (23)
  20. IN THE STARS – The Rolling Stones (24)
  21. NO MORE REGRETS – almost monday (25)
  22. DROP DEAD – Olivia Rodrigo (16)
  23. RIDE LONESOME – Beck (17)
  24. FREAKING OUT – Michigander (27)
  25. BEACHES IN TENNESSEE – Cage the Elephant (29)
  26. HOLD ME IN THE DARK – Myles Smith (28)
  27. HERE – Mumford & Sons with Sierra Ferrell (26)
  28. RIPTIDES – Death Cab for Cutie (20)
  29. UNTIL THE SUN EXPLODES – Sublime (21)
  30. LOST BOYS – Phoebe Bridgers (N)

My Top 30 Songs for July 26-August 1, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's13 Comments
Photo of Temper City taken from “Self Aware” video

Late July is generally the hottest time of year for many locations in the Northern Hemisphere, and that’s definitely true for my part of the world in the Southwestern U.S. desert, where we’re experiencing our hottest temperatures so far in 2026 – 115-118 degrees Fahrenheit (46-48 C). (Which begs the question, why the fuck do I live here?!?) Needless to say, that means spending much of our time indoors, where listening to music helps to pass the time and cool tempers.

Speaking of tempers, after sombr’s three-week run at #1with “Homewrecker”, Israeli-American alternative rock band Temper City take over the top spot with their monster debut single “Self Aware”. Released in February, the earworm quickly went viral on TikTok and has now amassed over 324 million streams on Spotify, and nearly 20 million views on YouTube. I liked it at first listen, as that chorus is so damned catchy!

The song has become a worldwide hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart and the top 10 in Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK. The track’s style and sound have been compared to acts like Steve Lacy, Hozier, Cage the Elephant and The Neighbourhood. Temper City was founded in Los Angeles in 2021 by singer-songwriter Eytan Peled together with the producer duo Sync, consisting of Aviv Barenholtz and Chen Kordova, who’ve known each other since they were 12 years old. The three friends had previously worked together writing songs for pop and EDM artists, including Zeds Dead, Dimitri Vegas and Barns Courtney, and now have their very own hit single.

In other chart developments of note, two songs enter the top 10: “Doors” by Vermont-based singer-songwriter Noah Kahan and “Picking Dragons’ Pockets” by the always zany and edgy Portland, Oregon band Modest Mouse, at #s 8 & 10, respectively.

There’s only one new debut again the week: “Beaches In Tennessee” by the aforementioned Cage the Elephant. Formed in 2006 in Bowling Green, Kentucky and based in Nashville since 2009 (after two years spent in London, England) the band is comprised of frontman Matt Shultz (vocals), his older brother Brad Shultz (rhythm guitar), Nick Bockrath (lead guitar), Matthan Minster (guitar, keyboards), Daniel Tichenor (bass), and Jared Champion (drums). “Beaches In Tennessee” has debuted quite high on the various alternative charts, and while I’ve loved many Cage the Elephant songs, I’m still lukewarm about it.

  1. SELF AWARE – Temper City (3)
  2. HOMEWRECKER – sombr (1)
  3. EXIT WOUND – Ships Have Sailed (5)
  4. FREAKIN’ OUT – Dexter and The Moonrocks (2)
  5. GOOD2B – Goose (4)
  6. REPEAT OFFENDER – Gloom Is Okay (8)
  7. RAGING HALLS – Lyia Meta (10)
  8. DOORS – Noah Kahan (12)
  9. GOING SHOPPING – The Strokes (6)
  10. PICKING DRAGONS’ POCKETS – Modest Mouse (11)
  11. PRIVATE – The Neighbourhood (13)
  12. REIN ME IN – Sam Fender & Olivia Dean (14)
  13. HEADLIGHTS – In Color (7)
  14. ONLINE – Western Jaguar (16)
  15. MARATHONS – Sorry Ghost (15)
  16. DROP DEAD – Olivia Rodrigo (9)
  17. RIDE LONESOME – Beck (17)
  18. GO FUCK URSELF – Fat Dog (22)
  19. WHO WILL YOU FOLLOW – Evanescence (21)
  20. RIPTIDES – Death Cab for Cutie (18)
  21. UNTIL THE SUN EXPLODES – Sublime (19)
  22. THE ENDLESS BORDER – Velvet Jesus (24)
  23. HEART STOP – The Revivalists (26)
  24. IN THE STARS – The Rolling Stones (27)
  25. NO MORE REGRETS – almost monday (28)
  26. HERE – Mumford & Sons with Sierra Ferrell (25)
  27. FREAKING OUT – Michigander (29)
  28. HOLD ME IN THE DARK – Myles Smith (30)
  29. BEACHES IN TENNESSEE – Cage the Elephant (N)
  30. BACK IN LOVE – Suki Waterhouse (20)

My Top 30 Songs for July 19-25, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's7 Comments

My current favorite song is still “Homewrecker” by sombr, thus it remains at #1 for a third week, while Dexter and The Moonrocks‘ “Freakin’ Out” and Temper City‘s “Self Aware” hold at #2 and 3 for a second week. My friend Lyia Meta enters the top 10 with her powerful rock gem “Raging Halls”.

The sole new entry this week is “Hold Me In The Dark” by British singer-songwriter and guitarist Myles Smith, an immensely popular folk-pop artist with over 22 million monthly listeners on Spotify and 1.7 million followers on Instagram. His music is generally upbeat with infectious melodies, and his 2024 smash hit “Stargazing” has been streamed over 1.1 billion times on Spotify. Released in May, “Hold Me In The Dark” is included on his debut album My Mess, My Heart, My Life, which dropped June 16th. The talented 28-year-old also earned a degree in sociology from the University of Nottingham in 2019.

  1. HOMEWRECKER – sombr (1)
  2. FREAKIN’ OUT – Dexter and The Moonrocks (2)
  3. SELF AWARE – Temper City (3)
  4. GOOD2B – Goose (6)
  5. EXIT WOUND – Ships Have Sailed (8)
  6. GOING SHOPPING – The Strokes (4)
  7. HEADLIGHTS – In Color (5)
  8. REPEAT OFFENDER – Gloom Is Okay (9)
  9. DROP DEAD – Olivia Rodrigo (7)
  10. RAGING HALLS – Lyia Meta (12)
  11. PICKING DRAGONS’ POCKETS – Modest Mouse (15)
  12. DOORS – Noah Kahan (19)
  13. PRIVATE – The Neighbourhood (20)
  14. REIN ME IN – Sam Fender & Olivia Dean (21)
  15. MARATHONS – Sorry Ghost (17)
  16. ONLINE – Western Jaguar (18)
  17. RIDE LONESOME – Beck (14)
  18. RIPTIDES – Death Cab for Cutie (10)
  19. UNTIL THE SUN EXPLODES – Sublime (11)
  20. BACK IN LOVE – Suki Waterhouse (16)
  21. WHO WILL YOU FOLLOW – Evanescence (22)
  22. GO FUCK URSELF – Fat Dog (23)
  23. IN MY ROOM – Julia Wolf (13)
  24. THE ENDLESS BORDER – Velvet Jesus (25)
  25. HERE – Mumford & Sons with Sierra Ferrell (26)
  26. HEART STOP – The Revivalists (27)
  27. IN THE STARS – The Rolling Stones (28)
  28. NO MORE REGRETS – almost monday (29)
  29. FREAKING OUT – Michigander (30)
  30. HOLD ME IN THE DARK – Myles Smith (N)