1. FEAR THE FUTURE – IAMWARFACE (1)
2. DARK PLACES – The Frontier (3)
3. ESCAPE – Ships Have Sailed (4)
4. BURY A FRIEND – Billie Eilish (2)
5. HURT – Oliver Tree (7)
6. BAD GUY – Billie Eilish (11)
7. MISSED CONNECTION – The Head and the Heart (9)
8. STILL FEEL. – half alive (10)
9. DISAPPEAR – Western Jaguar (5) 20th week on chart
10. CHLORINE – twenty one pilots (6)
11. BELOVED – Mumford & Sons (13)
12. PATIENCE – Tame Impala (15)
13. LONGSHOT – Catfish and the Bottlemen (8) 20th week on chart
14. I SEE YOU – MISSIO (24)
15. I’LL BE AROUND – Morning Fuzz (17)
16. OLD MAN’S WAR – Roadkeeper (19)
17. LOVE CRAZY – Karolina Rose (12)
18. TIME – Morosity (14)
19. SAW LIGHTNING – Beck (21)
20. ALLIGATOR – Of Monsters and Men (22)
21. NOT WORTH IT – The Only Route (18)
22. MAYBE, I’M AFRAID – lovelytheband (23)
23. ROOM TO BREATHE – Made of Eyes (25)
24. CHOKE – I Don’t Know How But They Found Me (20)
25. TRAMPOLINE – SHAED (16) 19th week on chart
26. I GET NO JOY – Jade Bird (27)
27. FALLING WITH STYLE – Heist at Five (28)
28. COMING UP FOR AIR – Mars Motel (29)
29. ECHOES – Ignite the Fire (30)
30. RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH THE DEVIL – Revolvers (N)
Tag: Morning Fuzz
Top 30 Songs for June 9-15, 2019
1. FEAR THE FUTURE – IAMWARFACE (4)
2. BURY A FRIEND – Billie Eilish (1)
3. DARK PLACES – The Frontier (5)
4. ESCAPE – Ships Have Sailed (7)
5. DISAPPEAR – Western Jaguar (2)
6. CHLORINE – twenty one pilots (3)
7. HURT – Oliver Tree (8)
8. LONGSHOT – Catfish and the Bottlemen (6)
9. MISSED CONNECTION – The Head and the Heart (12)
10. STILL FEEL. – half alive (11)
11. BAD GUY – Billie Eilish (16)
12. LOVE CRAZY – Karolina Rose (10)
13. BELOVED – Mumford & Sons (13)
14. TIME – Morosity (9)
15. PATIENCE – Tame Impala (15)
16. TRAMPOLINE – SHAED (14)
17. I’LL BE AROUND – Morning Fuzz (17)
18. NOT WORTH IT – The Only Route (18)
19. OLD MAN’S WAR – Roadkeeper (19)
20. CHOKE – I Don’t Know How But They Found Me (20)
21. SAW LIGHTNING – Beck (23)
22. ALLIGATOR – Of Monsters and Men (25)
23. MAYBE, I’M AFRAID – lovelytheband (24)
24. I SEE YOU – MISSIO (29)
25. ROOM TO BREATHE – Made of Eyes (30)
26. READY TO LET GO – Cage the Elephant (22)
27. I GET NO JOY – Jade Bird (N)
28. FALLING WITH STYLE – Heist at Five (N)
29. COMING UP FOR AIR – Mars Motel (N)
30. ECHOES – Ignite the Fire (N)
Top 30 Songs for June 2-8, 2019
1. BURY A FRIEND – Billie Eilish (3)
2. DISAPPEAR – Western Jaguar (1)
3. CHLORINE – twenty one pilots (2)
4. FEAR THE FUTURE – IAMWARFACE (5)
5. DARK PLACES – The Frontier (6)
6. LONGSHOT – Catfish and the Bottlemen (4)
7. ESCAPE – Ships Have Sailed (8)
8. HURT – Oliver Tree (9)
9. TIME – Morosity (7)
10. LOVE CRAZY – Karolina Rose (10)
11. STILL FEEL. – half alive (12)
12. MISSED CONNECTION – The Head and the Heart (13)
13. BELOVED – Mumford & Sons (15)
14. TRAMPOLINE – SHAED (14)
15. PATIENCE – Tame Impala (18)
16. BAD GUY – Billie Eilish (29)
17. I’LL BE AROUND – Morning Fuzz (20)
18. NOT WORTH IT – The Only Route (21)
19. OLD MAN’S WAR – Roadkeeper (22)
20. CHOKE – I Don’t Know How But They Found Me (23)
21. SIGUE CON EL AMOR – John Defeo (11) 21st week on chart
22. READY TO LET GO – Cage the Elephant (16)
23. SAW LIGHTNING – Beck (27)
24. MAYBE, I’M AFRAID – lovelytheband (28)
25. ALLIGATOR – Of Monsters and Men (30)
26. APOLOGIZE – grandson (26)
27. SEVENTEEN – Sharon Van Etten (17)
28. LO/HI – The Black Keys (19)
29. I SEE YOU – MISSIO (N)
30. ROOM TO BREATHE – Made of Eyes (N)
Top 30 Songs for May 26-June 1, 2019
1. DISAPPEAR – Western Jaguar (3)
2. CHLORINE – twenty one pilots (1)
3. BURY A FRIEND – Billie Eilish (4)
4. LONGSHOT – Catfish and the Bottlemen (2)
5. FEAR THE FUTURE – IAMWARFACE (6)
6. DARK PLACES – The Frontier (7)
7. TIME – Morosity (8)
8. ESCAPE – Ships Have Sailed (9)
9. HURT – Oliver Tree (10)
10. LOVE CRAZY – Karolina Rose (11)
11. SIGUE CON EL AMOR – John Defeo (5) 20th week on chart
12. STILL FEEL. – half alive (14)
13. MISSED CONNECTION – The Head and the Heart (16)
14. TRAMPOLINE – SHAED (12)
15. BELOVED – Mumford & Sons (17)
16. READY TO LET GO – Cage the Elephant (13)
17. SEVENTEEN – Sharon Van Etten (18)
18. PATIENCE – Tame Impala (19)
19. LO/HI – The Black Keys (15)
20. I’LL BE AROUND – Morning Fuzz (22)
21. NOT WORTH IT – The Only Route (23)
22. OLD MAN’S WAR – Roadkeeper (24)
23. CHOKE – I Don’t Know How But They Found Me (25)
24. GENERATION Y – Guide Dog (20)
25. BAD LIAR – Imagine Dragons (21)
26. APOLOGIZE – grandson (27)
27. SAW LIGHTNING – Beck (28)
28. MAYBE, I’M AFRAID – lovelytheband (30)
29. BAD GUY – Billie Eilish (N)
30. ALLIGATOR – Of Monsters and Men (N)
Top 30 Songs for May 19-25, 2019
1. CHLORINE – twenty one pilots (1)
2. LONGSHOT – Catfish and the Bottlemen (3)
3. DISAPPEAR – Western Jaguar (4)
4. BURY A FRIEND – Billie Eilish (5)
5. SIGUE CON EL AMOR – John Defeo (2)
6. FEAR THE FUTURE – IAMWARFACE (6)
7. DARK PLACES – The Frontier (9)
8. TIME – Morosity (10)
9. ESCAPE – Ships Have Sailed (11)
10. HURT – Oliver Tree (12)
11. LOVE CRAZY – Karolina Rose (14)
12. TRAMPOLINE – SHAED (7)
13. READY TO LET GO – Cage the Elephant (8)
14. STILL FEEL. – half alive (15)
15. LO/HI – The Black Keys (16)
16. MISSED CONNECTION – The Head and the Heart (21)
17. BELOVED – Mumford & Sons (18)
18. SEVENTEEN – Sharon Van Etten (19)
19. PATIENCE – Tame Impala (20)
20. GENERATION Y – Guide Dog (17)
21. BAD LIAR – Imagine Dragons (23)
22. I’LL BE AROUND – Morning Fuzz (24)
23. NOT WORTH IT – The Only Route (25)
24. OLD MAN’S WAR – Roadkeeper (26)
25. CHOKE – I Don’t Know How But They Found Me (27)
26. HARMONY HALL – Vampire Weekend (13)
27. APOLOGIZE – grandson (28)
28. SAW LIGHTNING – Beck (30)
29. VOLCANO – Feather Weight (22)
30. MAYBE, I’M AFRAID – lovelytheband (N)
Top 30 Songs for May 12-18, 2019
1. CHLORINE – twenty one pilots (2)
2. SIGUE CON EL AMOR – John Defeo (1)
3. LONGSHOT – Catfish and the Bottlemen (5)
4. DISAPPEAR – Western Jaguar (6)
5. BURY A FRIEND – Billie Eilish (7)
6. FEAR THE FUTURE – IAMWARFACE (8)
7. TRAMPOLINE – SHAED (3)
8. READY TO LET GO – Cage the Elephant (4)
9. DARK PLACES – The Frontier (10)
10. TIME – Morosity (12)
11. ESCAPE – Ships Have Sailed (13)
12. HURT – Oliver Tree (14)
13. HARMONY HALL – Vampire Weekend (9)
14. LOVE CRAZY – Karolina Rose (15)
15. STILL FEEL. – half alive (17)
16. LO/HI – The Black Keys (16)
17. GENERATION Y – Guide Dog (18)
18. BELOVED – Mumford & Sons (19)
19. SEVENTEEN – Sharon Van Etten (20)
20. PATIENCE – Tame Impala (22)
21. MISSED CONNECTION – The Head and the Heart (26)
22. VOLCANO – Feather Weight (11)
23. BAD LIAR – Imagine Dragons (24)
24. I’LL BE AROUND – Morning Fuzz (25)
25. NOT WORTH IT – The Only Route (27)
26. OLD MAN’S WAR – Roadkeeper (28)
27. CHOKE – I Don’t Know How But They Found Me (29)
28. APOLOGIZE – grandson (30)
29. ASSUME FORM – James Blake (21)
30. SAW LIGHTNING – Beck (N)
Top 30 Songs for May 5-11, 2019
1. SIGUE CON EL AMOR – John Defeo (1)
2. CHLORINE – twenty one pilots (2)
3. TRAMPOLINE – SHAED (3)
4. READY TO LET GO – Cage the Elephant (4)
5. LONGSHOT – Catfish and the Bottlemen (6)
6. DISAPPEAR – Western Jaguar (7)
7. BURY A FRIEND – Billie Eilish (8)
8. FEAR THE FUTURE – IAMWARFACE (10)
9. HARMONY HALL – Vampire Weekend (9)
10. DARK PLACES – The Frontier (11)
11. VOLCANO – Feather Weight (5)
12. TIME – Morosity (14)
13. ESCAPE – Ships Have Sailed (15)
14. HURT – Oliver Tree (16)
15. LOVE CRAZY – Karolina Rose (17)
16. LO/HI – The Black Keys (18)
17. STILL FEEL. – half alive (19)
18. GENERATION Y – Guide Dog (20)
19. BELOVED – Mumford and Sons (22)
20. SEVENTEEN – Sharon Van Etten (23)
21. ASSUME FORM – James Blake (12)
22. PATIENCE – Tame Impala (25)
23. POWER OVER ME – Dermot Kennedy (13)
24. BAD LIAR – Imagine Dragons (26)
25. I’LL BE AROUND – Morning Fuzz (27)
26. MISSED CONNECTION – The Head and the Heart (28)
27. NOT WORTH IT – The Only Route (29)
28. OLD MAN’S WAR – Roadkeeper (30)
29. CHOKE – I Don’t Know How But They Found Me (N)
30. APOLOGIZE – grandson (N)
Top 30 Songs for April 28-May 4, 2019
1. SIGUE CON EL AMOR – John Defeo (3)
2. CHLORINE – twenty one pilots (5)
3. TRAMPOLINE – SHAED (1)
4. READY TO LET GO – Cage the Elephant (2)
5. VOLCANO – Feather Weight (4)
6. LONGSHOT – Catfish and the Bottlemen (8)
7. DISAPPEAR – Western Jaguar (9)
8. BURY A FRIEND – Billie Eilish (14)
9. HARMONY HALL – Vampire Weekend (10)
10. FEAR THE FUTURE – IAMWARFACE (11)
11. DARK PLACES – The Frontier (13)
12. ASSUME FORM – James Blake (6)
13. POWER OVER ME – Dermot Kennedy (7)
14. TIME – Morosity (16)
15. ESCAPE – Ships Have Sailed (17)
16. HURT – Oliver Tree (18)
17. LOVE CRAZY – Karolina Rose (19)
18. LO/HI – The Black Keys (20)
19. STILL FEEL – half alive (23)
20. GENERATION Y – Guide Dog (24)
21. SUPERPOSITION – Young the Giant (12) 19th week on chart
22. BELOVED – Mumford and Sons (26)
23. SEVENTEEN – Sharon Van Etten (27)
24. EXITS – Foals (15)
25. PATIENCE – Tame Impala (28)
26. BAD LIAR – Imagine Dragons (N)
27. I’LL BE AROUND – Morning Fuzz (N)
28. MISSED CONNECTION – The Head and the Heart (N)
29. NOT WORTH IT – The Only Route (N)
30. OLD MAN’S WAR – Roadkeeper (N)
MORNING FUZZ – Single Review: “I’ll Be Around”
As I mentioned in a recent review, so many artists and bands that I’ve previously featured on this blog seem to be releasing new music in 2019, and another is Morning Fuzz, an outstanding rock band from Brooklyn, New York. Nearly two years ago, in April 2017, I reviewed their fantastic hard-hitting single “Silent Sun” (which you can read here). They subsequently dropped a great rock ballad “Fellow Creep” that December, and I’m thrilled they’re back with a new single “I’ll Be Around“, which drops today.
The band has been around for 10 years now, and has released a fair number of excellent recordings, including two EPs, a 2013 album Chasing Ghosts, and several singles. Formed in 2009 by singer/songwriter & guitarist Frank Fussa and his childhood friend, bassist Chris Johanidesz after the breakup of their previous band Ultra High Frequency, Morning Fuzz was later joined by longtime friend and guitarist Michael Cullari, but has been hampered by several changes in drummers (something that’s plagued several other bands I’ve written about). In Spring, 2018, new drummer Dan Leo came on board, putting them back on track and in the studio recording new music. “I’ll Be Around” is their first single on what will be their forthcoming album that the band hopes to release later in the year. It was expertly produced and mixed by Lou Giordano, and engineered by Frank, Aaron Bastinelli, and Benny Grotto.
It’s an exuberant, upbeat song, filled with the dynamic riffs, tight rhythms and melodic grooves we’ve come to expect from Morning Fuzz. Frank and Michael’s intricate guitar work is impressive, and I love how they make them chime in the bridge. Chris drives the song forward with his deep, strutting bass line while Dan deftly keeps the beat on his drum kit. Frank possesses a beautiful and powerful singing voice with considerable range, and sounds fantastic whether he’s crooning or wailing. One of the most striking aspects of the track is the guys’ sublime four-part harmonies that call to mind the Beatles or Beach Boys. I really love their sound, and found myself loving this song more with each listen. “I’ll Be Around” is superb, and I’m excited about hearing more new songs from them.
The lyrics seem to speak of the struggles we face with regard to making choices about which paths to take in life, and both giving and getting love and support from others through good times and bad along the way.
I’ll be around
Even in that crazy part of town
And I’ll figure out
Even when the rain is pouring down
We’ll work it out
When there’s not a drop of love to be found
Don’t run away
No hide and seek, no roads to stray
Which way to go
Another fork splits up the road
Futures untold
Get on my side
And we will float above the tide
Might not make it through the night
But it’s alright
Top 20 Songs for August 20-26, 2017
1. CAN I SIT NEXT TO YOU – Spoon (1)
2. THE SYSTEM ONLY DREAMS IN TOTAL DARKNESS – The National (2)
3. THE MAN – The Killers (4)
4. FEELS LIKE SUMMER – Weezer (5)
5. RUN – Foo Fighters (6)
6. HIGH – Sir Sly (3)
7. EVERYTHING NOW – Arcade Fire (8)
8. FEEL IT STILL – Portugal. The Man (7)
9. THE WAY YOU USED TO DO – Queens of the Stone Age (9)
10. HOLDING ON – The War on Drugs (14)
11. LIGHTS OUT – Royal Blood (11)
12. ONE OF US – New Politics (13)
13. THE NIGHT WE MET – Lord Huron (19)
14. DOING IT FOR THE MONEY – Foster the People (10)
15. SILENT SUN – Morning Fuzz (12)
16. COLD LITTLE HEART – Michael Kiwanuka (20)
17. DIG DOWN – Muse (18)
18. SONG #3 – Stone Sour (15)
19. J-BOY _ Phoenix (16)
20. DON’T TAKE THE MONEY – Bleachers (17)
ECLECTIC MUSIC LOVER 