Tag: Grouplove

Top 30 Songs for May 28-June 3, 2023

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's2 Comments

Irish singer-songwriter and musician Hozier (born Andrew John Hozier-Byrne), has never shied away from addressing social and political topics in his songs, and in a 2021 interview with Forbes magazine, he stated that he believes “the personal is the political“. His breakout hit “Take Me to Church” highlighted the injustices and violence perpetrated against the LGBTQ community; the video for his song “Cherry Wine” raised awareness of domestic violence; and “Nina Cried Power” paid homage to such artists as Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, and Mavis Staples, whose work often took political or social justice stances.

His latest single “Eat Your Young” was inspired by Gluttony, one the 9 Circles of Hell contained in the first part of Dante Alighieri’s epic poem Divine Comedy, and describes a feast being prepared and served together with the chaos that comes with it. Many of the allegorical lyrics can be construed to be anti-war, with references to corporate greed and capitalistic warfare, and sacrificing our young to fight our wars. According to an annotation in Genius, the line “pull up the ladder when the flood comes” could be interpreted to mean that when the biblical flood comes, rather than leaving the ladder down to help other people climb to safety, the ladder is pulled up-presumably because to save them would be to share resources with them. The darkly captivating song, from his forthcoming third album Unreal Unearth, due for release in August, ascends to the #1 spot on my latest Top 30. It’s Hozier’s third song to top my chart.

In other chart developments, the Foo Fighters‘ “Rescued” climbs six spots to enter the top 10. Four songs make their debut this week: the lovely and heartwarming “Marry Another Man” by singer-songwriter Wise John (whose wonderful EP The Mr. Love Sunset Show! I recently reviewed), “We’re All Gonna Die” by singer-songwriters Joy Oladokun and Noah Kahan, “Chemical” by superstar Post Malone, and “Superglue” by pop-rock band Michigander.

  1. EAT YOUR YOUNG – Hozier (2)
  2. KID – The Revivalists (1)
  3. NOT STRONG ENOUGH – boygenius (4)
  4. PAID OFF – Oli Barton & the Movement (6)
  5. NEW GOLD – Gorillaz, Tame Impala & Bootie Brown (3)
  6. DUMMY – Portugal. The Man (9)
  7. GO DOWN RIVER – The Heavy Heavy (10)
  8. GHOSTS AGAIN – Depeche Mode (5)
  9. THE WALK HOME – Young the Giant (7)
  10. RESCUED – Foo Fighters (16)
  11. THE PERFECT PAIR – beabadoobee (12)
  12. ESSENCE – Refeci featuring Shimmer Johnson (14)
  13. FLOWERS – Miley Cyrus (8)
  14. WOLF – Yeah Yeah Yeahs (13)
  15. 1982 – Morgendust (17)
  16. RESCUE ME – Dirty Heads (18)
  17. LEAVING – Au Gres (19)
  18. THE WAY – Manchester Orchestra (20)
  19. THOSE EYES – New West (21)
  20. IN MY HEAD – Mike Shinoda & Kailee Morgue (22)
  21. WHY – Future Theory (23)
  22. BLUEBELL WOOD – Frank Joshua (11)
  23. TROPIC MORNING NEWS – The National (15)
  24. HELLO – GROUPLOVE (27)
  25. EMPTY NEST – Silversun Pickups (28)
  26. PINEAPPLE SUNRISE – Beach Weather (30)
  27. MARRY ANOTHER MAN – Wise John (N)
  28. WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE – Joy Oladokun & Noah Kahan (N)
  29. CHEMICAL – Post Malone (N)
  30. SUPERGLUE – Michigander (N)

Top 30 Songs for May 21-27, 2023

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's8 Comments

“Kid”, the feel-good anthem by New Orleans band The Revivalists, remains atop my Top 30 for a second week, while Hozier‘s enchanting “Eat Your Young” moves into second place. Entering the top 10 are “Dummy” by Portland alt-rock band Portugal. The Man and “Go Down River” by British duo The Heavy Heavy, at #s 9 and 10 respectively. The biggest upward movers this week are “Rescued” by Foo Fighters, leaping 12 spots to #16, “Not Strong Enough” by supergroup boygenius (Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers & Lucy Dacus), climbing five spots to #4, and “Those Eyes” by New West, also advancing five spots to #21.

The lone debut this week is “Pineapple Sunrise” by Beach Weather, who’ve become one of my favorite bands over the past year. The title track from their album of the same name, “Pineapple Sunrise” has not been officially released as a single, however they did release a terrific new video for the song this past Friday, and I love it so much it’s made my Weekly Top 30.

  1. KID – The Revivalists (1)
  2. EAT YOUR YOUNG – Hozier (3)
  3. NEW GOLD – Gorillaz, Tame Impala & Bootie Brown (2)
  4. NOT STRONG ENOUGH – boygenius (9)
  5. GHOSTS AGAIN – Depeche Mode (4)
  6. PAID OFF – Oli Barton & the Movement (8)
  7. THE WALK HOME – Young the Giant (7)
  8. FLOWERS – Miley Cyrus (5)
  9. DUMMY – Portugal. The Man (13)
  10. GO DOWN RIVER – The Heavy Heavy (14)
  11. BLUEBELL WOOD – Frank Joshua (6)
  12. THE PERFECT PAIR – beabadoobee (12)
  13. WOLF – Yeah Yeah Yeahs (11)
  14. ESSENCE – Refeci featuring Shimmer Johnson (15)
  15. TROPIC MORNING NEWS – The National (10)
  16. RESCUED – Foo Fighters (28)
  17. 1982 – Morgendust (20)
  18. RESCUE ME – Dirty Heads (21)
  19. LEAVING – Au Gres (22)
  20. THE WAY – Manchester Orchestra (24)
  21. THOSE EYES – New West (26)
  22. IN MY HEAD – Mike Shinoda & Kailee Morgue (25)
  23. WHY – Future Theory (27)
  24. SOFTEN – Alex Southey (16)
  25. LOVE FROM THE OTHER SIDE – Fall Out Boy (18)
  26. PEPPER – Death Cab for Cutie (17)
  27. HELLO – GROUPLOVE (29)
  28. EMPTY NEST – Silversun Pickups (30)
  29. ANGELICA – Wet Leg (19)
  30. PINEAPPLE SUNRISE – Beach Weather (N)

Top 30 Songs for May 14-20, 2023

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's9 Comments
Photo by Alysse Gafkjen

I’ve loved making song lists since my teens, but one thing I don’t like about doing them is having to drop songs down and then ultimately off. And just because I move songs down and then off my lists doesn’t mean I no longer like them or am even tired of them, but they must eventually make way for newer songs to have their own time in the sun, so to speak. That said, it makes me a little sad to knock “New Gold”, by Gorillaz, Tame Impala and Bootie Brown, from the top spot it’s held the last three weeks, but it must step aside because The Revivalists‘ “Kid” is my new current favorite song. For those unfamiliar with The Revivalists, they’re an 8-piece alternative roots rock band who formed in New Orleans in 2007. They finally burst onto the music scene in 2015 when, on the strength of their third album Men Amongst Mountains, Rolling Stone magazine named them one of “10 Bands You Need to Know”. One of the singles from that album, “Wish I Knew You”, was a sleeper hit, finally reaching #1 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart in September 2016, then topping the Alternative Airplay chart in May 2017.

The exuberant feel-good anthem “Kid” is the lead single from their forthcoming fifth studio album Pour It Out Into The Night, due for release on June 2nd, and is currently #1 on the Adult Alternative Songs chart. Band lead vocalist David Shaw said the song “is about capturing the essence of life. We all go through ups and downs. Sometimes, we don’t believe in ourselves. We’ve got skeletons in the closet trying to drag us down. But you’ve got to believe in yourself. You’ve just got to live for the spirit. Nothing good ever comes easy. If you don’t have hope, what do you have?” Besides making great songs, The Revivalists use their music as a force of positivity, and are actively involved in several philanthropic causes, including establishing an umbrella fund Rev Causes in 2019, for the purpose of supporting various organizations dedicated to reviving and investing in their communities, public health, and the environment.

The lone debut this week is “Empty Nest” by L.A.-based alt-rock band Silversun Pickups, who’ve been making music since 2000.

  1. KID – The Revivalists (3)
  2. NEW GOLD – Gorillaz, Tame Impala & Bootie Brown (1)
  3. EAT YOUR YOUNG – Hozier (5)
  4. GHOSTS AGAIN – Depeche Mode (2)
  5. FLOWERS – Miley Cyrus (4)
  6. BLUEBELL WOOD – Frank Joshua (6)
  7. THE WALK HOME – Young the Giant (9)
  8. PAID OFF – Oli Barton & the Movement (10)
  9. NOT STRONG ENOUGH – boygenius (11)
  10. TROPIC MORNING NEWS – The National (7)
  11. WOLF – Yeah Yeah Yeahs (12)
  12. THE PERFECT PAIR – beabadoobee (14)
  13. DUMMY – Portugal. The Man (18)
  14. GO DOWN RIVER – The Heavy Heavy (17)
  15. ESSENCE – Refeci featuring Shimmer Johnson (19)
  16. SOFTEN – Alex Southey (8)
  17. PEPPER – Death Cab for Cutie (15)
  18. LOVE FROM THE OTHER SIDE – Fall Out Boy (16)
  19. ANGELICA – Wet Leg (21)
  20. 1982 – Morgendust (22)
  21. RESCUE ME – Dirty Heads (23)
  22. LEAVING – Au Gres (24)
  23. TRANSMITTER – Sea Power (13)
  24. THE WAY – Manchester Orchestra (25)
  25. IN MY HEAD – Mike Shinoda & Kailee Morgue (26)
  26. THOSE EYES – New West (27)
  27. WHY – Future Theory (28)
  28. RESCUED – Foo Fighters (29)
  29. HELLO – GROUPLOVE (30)
  30. EMPTY NEST – Silversun Pickups (N)

Top 30 Songs for May 7-13, 2023

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's8 Comments

“New Gold”, the wonderful collaboration between virtual band Gorillaz, Australian alternative psychedelic music project Tame Impala, and American rapper Bootie Brown, maintains it’s grip on the #1 spot for a third week, while “Ghosts Again” by Depeche Mode moves into the #2 spot. Jumping five spots each are “Kid” by The Revivalists, to #3, and “Eat Your Young” by Hozier, to #5. The raucous “Paid Off”, by British alt-rock band Oli Barton & the Movement, enters the top 10 at #10. They just released their biting new single “Left Alive in America?” on May 5th, and will be releasing their album Pipe Dreams on the 19th.

Making their debut this week are “Rescued” by the Foo Fighters, their first new release since the untimely death of drummer Taylor Hawkins, at #29, and “Hello”, by the always delightful L.A. band GROUPLOVE, at #30.

  1. NEW GOLD – Gorillaz, Tame Impala & Bootie Brown (1)
  2. GHOSTS AGAIN – Depeche Mode (3)
  3. KID – The Revivalists (8)
  4. FLOWERS – Miley Cyrus (4)
  5. EAT YOUR YOUNG – Hozier (10)
  6. BLUEBELL WOOD – Frank Joshua (6)
  7. TROPIC MORNING NEWS – The National (2)
  8. SOFTEN – Alex Southey (5)
  9. THE WALK HOME – Young the Giant (9)
  10. PAID OFF – Oli Barton & the Movement (13)
  11. NOT STRONG ENOUGH – boygenius (17)
  12. WOLF – Yeah Yeah Yeahs (14)
  13. TRANSMITTER – Sea Power (7)
  14. THE PERFECT PAIR – beabadoobee (16)
  15. PEPPER – Death Cab for Cutie (11)
  16. LOVE FROM THE OTHER SIDE – Fall Out Boy (12)
  17. GO DOWN RIVER – The Heavy Heavy (18)
  18. DUMMY – Portugal. The Man (19)
  19. ESSENCE – Refeci & Shimmer Johnson (20)
  20. I WANT YOU DEAD – Two Feet & Allie Cabal (15)
  21. ANGELICA – Wet Leg (22)
  22. 1982 – Morgendust (23)
  23. RESCUE ME – Dirty Heads (24)
  24. LEAVING – Au Gres (25)
  25. THE WAY – Manchester Orchestra (27)
  26. IN MY HEAD – Mike Shinoda & Kailee Morgue (28)
  27. THOSE EYES – New West (29)
  28. WHY – Future Theory (30)
  29. RESCUED – Foo Fighters (N)
  30. HELLO – GROUPLOVE (N)

100 Best Songs of the 2010s – #13: “Tongue Tied” by Grouplove

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Favorite Songs4 Comments

The song at #13 on my list of 100 Best Songs of the 2010s is “Tongue Tied” by alternative rock band Grouplove. I love this song with a passion. It’s an exhilarating synth pop song that fills me with strong feelings of euphoria, like a kid jumping up and down on a bed at a slumber party. So it was a surprise to discover in researching about the song that it was widely panned by music critics upon its release. A lot of music critics make me sick. They’re so smug, self-impressed and full of shit. OK, now that I’ve got that off my chest, let me say that I think “Tongue Tied” is absolutely wonderful, and one of the best songs of the 2010s. Despite its mixed to poor reviews, the song went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Alternative chart, where it ended up as the #2 song of 2012. It peaked at #42 on the Hot 100.

Grouplove’s music is fun, quirky and infectious, and always a joy to listen to, even their downtempo songs. Now based in Los Angeles (where a third of the artists and bands with songs on this list seem to also reside), they formed in 2009 after meeting on the island of Crete. Hannah Hooper (vocals, keyboards) and Christian Zucconi (vocals, guitar) actually first met in New York City, then traveled to Crete to attend an artist residency program, where they met the other three founding members – London-born songwriter and guitarist Sean Gadd, Los Angeles pro surfer and musician Andrew Wessen, and his childhood friend drummer Ryan Rabin, who’s the son of former Yes guitarist Trevor Rabin. (Gann and Rabin later left the band, and have been replaced by Daniel Gleason on bass and Benjamin Homola on drums.)

“Tongue Tied” is from their debut album Never Trust a Happy Song, and was released in September 2011. It starts off with a sweet guitar riff that sounds kind of like a ukelele or banjo, then explodes into a cacophony of exuberant synths, deep bass, smashing drums and a boisterous chorus of cheers that set the stage for the adventure about to unfold as they head to a party. Singers Hannah Hooper and Christian Zucconi wail “Take me to your best friend’s house / Go around this roundabout Oh yeah / Take me to your best friend’s house / I loved you then and I love you now Oh yeah / Don’t leave me tongue tied / Don’t wave no goodbye Don’t… / Right!” By song’s end, I’m left feeling happy, and isn’t that one of the greatest things a good song has to offer?

Top 30 Songs for July 12-18, 2020

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's2 Comments

1. HELL N BACK – Bakar (1)
2. MARIA – Two Feet (2)
3. LEVEL OF CONCERN – twenty one pilots (3)
4. LEMON DROP – Absofacto (5)
5. IF NOT FOR THE FIRE – The Million Reasons (6)
6. HOW WILL I REST IN PEACE IF I’M BURIED BY A HIGHWAY?// – Kenny Hoopla (7)
7. LAY YOUR HEAD ON ME – Major Lazer featuring Marcus Mumford (9)
8. BLACK & WHITE LOVE – Beating Hearts Club (10)
9. YOUR LOVE (DÉJÀ VU) – Glass Animals (4)
10. HONEYBEE – The Head and the Heart (12)
11. HALLUCINOGENICS – Matt Maeson (17)
12. CAUTION – The Killers (8)
13. LIVING IN A GHOST TOWN – The Rolling Stones (14)
14. PSYCH FILM – Strangely Alright (15)
15. SOMEONE ELSE – Rezz & Grabbitz (16)
16. LOST IN YESTERDAY – Tame Impala (11) 23rd week on list
17. STRANGERS – Mt. Joy (18)
18. FIRE – Black Pumas (19)
19. EXPECTATIONS – Katie Pruitt (13)
20. HEAVEN IS HEART – Jaded Jane (22)
21. REAL LONG TIME – White Reaper (23)
22. DON’T LET ME DOWN – Milky Chance featuring Jack Johnson (25)
23. MONSTERS – All Time Low featuring blackbear (26)
24. NOT OK! – Chaz Cardigan (27)
25. SWIMMING CLOSER – HAZY (28)
26. IT’S YOU – The Frontier (30)
27. DELETER – Grouplove (20)
28. BE AFRAID – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (21)
29. MAYDAY!!! FIESTA FEVER – AWOLNATION featuring Alex Ebert (N)
30. WHEN THE WORLD FALLS APART – Terry Barber (N)

Top 30 Songs for July 5-11, 2020

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's1 Comment

1. HELL N BACK – Bakar (3)
2. MARIA – Two Feet (1)
3. LEVEL OF CONCERN – twenty one pilots (2)
4. YOUR LOVE (DÉJÀ VU) – Glass Animals (4)
5. LEMON DROP – Absofacto (6)
6. IF NOT FOR THE FIRE – The Million Reasons (8)
7. HOW WILL I REST IN PEACE IF I’M BURIED BY A HIGHWAY?// – Kenny Hoopla (9)
8. CAUTION – The Killers (5)
9. LAY YOUR HEAD ON ME – Major Lazer feat. Marcus Mumford (10)
10. BLACK & WHITE LOVE – Beating Hearts Club (11)
11. LOST IN YESTERDAY – Tame Impala (7) 22nd week on list
12. HONEYBEE – The Head and the Heart (15)
13. EXPECTATIONS – Katie Pruitt (14)
14. LIVING IN A GHOST TOWN – The Rolling Stones (16)
15. PSYCH FILM – Strangely Alright (17)
16. SOMEONE ELSE – Rezz & Grabbitz (18)
17. HALLUCINOGENICS – Matt Maeson (20)
18. STRANGERS – Mt. Joy (21)
19. FIRE – Black Pumas (22)
20. DELETER – Grouplove (12)
21. BE AFRAID – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (13)
22. HEAVEN IS HEART – Jaded Jane (24)
23. REAL LONG TIME – White Reaper (25)
24. BLACK MADONNA – Cage the Elephant (19) 23rd week on list
25. DON’T LET ME DOWN – Milky Chance featuring Jack Johnson (27)
26. MONSTERS – All Time Low featuring blackbear (28)
27. NOT OK! – Chaz Cardigan (29)
28. SWIMMING CLOSER – HAZY (30)
29. BAD DECISIONS – The Strokes (23)
30. IT’S YOU – The Frontier (N)

Top 30 Songs for June 28-July 4, 2020

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's4 Comments

1. MARIA – Two Feet (1)
2. LEVEL OF CONCERN – twenty one pilots (2)
3. HELL N BACK – Bakar (5)
4. YOUR LOVE (DÉJÀ VU) – Glass Animals (4)
5. CAUTION – The Killers (3)
6. LEMON DROP – Absofacto (8)
7. LOST IN YESTERDAY – Tame Impala (7) 21st week on list
8. IF NOT FOR THE FIRE – The Million Reasons (9)
9. HOW WILL I REST IN PEACE IF I’M BURIED BY A HIGHWAY?// – Kenny Hoopla (10)
10. LAY YOUR HEAD ON ME – Major Lazer featuring Marcus Mumford (11)
11. BLACK & WHITE LOVE – Beating Hearts Club (13)
12. DELETER – Grouplove (6)
13. BE AFRAID – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (15)
14. EXPECTATIONS – Katie Pruitt (16)
15. HONEYBEE – The Head and the Heart (17)
16. LIVING IN A GHOST TOWN – The Rolling Stones (19)
17. PSYCH FILM – Strangely Alright (20)
18. SOMEONE ELSE – Rezz & Grabbitz (21)
19. BLACK MADONNA – Cage the Elephant (12) 22nd week on list
20. HALLUCINOGENICS – Matt Maeson (24)
21. STRANGERS – Mt. Joy (22)
22. FIRE – Black Pumas (23)
23. BAD DECISIONS – The Strokes (14)
24. HEAVEN IS HEART – Jaded Jane (26)
25. REAL LONG TIME – White Reaper (28)
26. LONELINESS FOR LOVE – lovelytheband (18)
27. DON’T LET ME DOWN – Milky Chance featuring Jack Johnson (29)
28. MONSTERS – All Time Low featuring blackbear (30)
29. NOT OK! – Chaz Cardigan (N)
30. SWIMMING CLOSER – HAZY (N)

Top 30 Songs for June 21-27, 2020

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's5 Comments

1. MARIA – Two Feet (1)
2. LEVEL OF CONCERN – twenty one pilots (2)
3. CAUTION – The Killers (3)
4. YOUR LOVE (DÉJÀ VU) – Glass Animals (6)
5. HELL N BACK – Bakar (8)
6. DELETER – Grouplove (4)
7. LOST IN YESTERDAY – Tame Impala (5) 20th week on list
8. LEMON DROP – Absofacto (9)
9. IF NOT FOR THE FIRE – The Million Reasons (10)
10. HOW WILL I REST IN PEACE IF I’M BURIED BY A HIGHWAY?// – Kenny Hoopla (12)
11. LAY YOUR HEAD ON ME – Major Lazer featuring Marcus Mumford (13)
12. BLACK MADONNA – Cage the Elephant (7) 21st week on list
13. BLACK & WHITE LOVE – Beating Hearts Club (14)
14. BAD DECISIONS – The Strokes (11)
15. BE AFRAID – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (16)
16. EXPECTATIONS – Katie Pruitt (17)
17. HONEYBEE – The Head and the Heart (18)
18. LONELINESS FOR LOVE – lovelytheband (15)
19. LIVING IN A GHOST TOWN – The Rolling Stones (21)
20. PSYCH FILM – Strangely Alright (22)
21. SOMEONE ELSE – Rezz & Grabbitz (23)
22. STRANGERS – Mt. Joy (24)
23. FIRE – Black Pumas (25)
24. HALLUCINOGENICS – Matt Maeson (26)
25. HALF YOUR AGE – Joywave (19)
26. HEAVEN IS HEART – Jaded Jane (28)
27. BLINDING LIGHTS – The Weeknd (20)
28. REAL LONG TIME – White Reaper (30)
29. DON’T LET ME DOWN – Milky Chance featuring Jack Johnson (N)
30. MONSTER – All Time Low featuring blackbear (N)

My Top 30 Songs for June 14-20, 2020

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's1 Comment

1. MARIA – Two Feet (3)
2. LEVEL OF CONCERN – twenty one pilots (1)
3. CAUTION – The Killers (2)
4. DELETER – Grouplove (5)
5. LOST IN YESTERDAY – Tame Impala (6)
6. YOUR LOVE (DÉJÀ VU) – Glass Animals (7)
7. BLACK MADONNA – Cage the Elephant (4) 20th week on list
8. HELL N BACK – Bakar (8)
9. LEMON DROP – Absofacto (10)
10. IF NOT FOR THE FIRE – The Million Reasons (11)
11. BAD DECISIONS – The Strokes (9)
12. HOW WILL I REST IN PEACE IF I’M BURIED BY A HIGHWAY?// – Kenny Hoopla (13)
13. LAY YOUR HEAD ON ME – Major Lazer featuring Marcus Mumford (15)
14. BLACK & WHITE LOVE – Beating Hearts Club (17)
15. LONELINESS FOR LOVE – lovelytheband (12)
16. BE AFRAID – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (18)
17. EXPECTATIONS – Katie Pruitt (19)
18. HONEYBEE – The Head and the Heart (20)
19. HALF YOUR AGE – Joywave (16)
20. BLINDING LIGHTS – The Weeknd (14)
21. LIVING IN A GHOST TOWN – The Rolling Stones (23)
22. PSYCH FILM – Strangely Alright (24)
23. SOMEONE ELSE – Rezz & Grabbitz (25)
24. STRANGERS – Mt. Joy (27)
25. FIRE – Black Pumas (28)
26. HALLUCINOGENICS – Matt Maeson (29)
27. SHANGRI-LA – EOB (22)
28. HEAVEN IS HEART – Jaded Jane (30)
29. SHINE A LITTLE LIGHT – The Black Keys (21)
30. REAL LONG TIME – White Reaper (N)