Tag: Shinedown

My Top 30 Songs for October 18-24, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's4 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. METASTASIZED – Bealby Point (16)
  13. EVERGREEN – Young the Giant (13)
  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 September 20-26, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's8 Comments

It’s a third week on top for the beautiful “Rein Me In” by Sam Fender and Olivia Dean, as well as a third week at #2 for “Private” by The Neighbourhood, who’ve spent much of this year on their world tour which began in late March and concludes in their hometown of Los Angeles in December. Fontaines D.C. are the biggest upward movers again this week as their mesmerizing song “Marianne” jumps 10 spots to #7.

There are two new entries to my chart again this week, starting with “High Hopes 3000” by Los Angeles-based artist ROLE MODEL, the music project of 28-year-old singer-songwriter Tucker Harrington Pillsbury. The song is from his third studio album Chuck Timely & The Hourglass, which dropped August 7th. His 2025 single “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out” topped my chart exactly one year ago.

The second new entry is “Black Dog Rabbit Hole” by Nashville-based soul singer-songwriter Devon Gilfillian. The song is featured on his fourth album Time Will Tell, released on June 26th. His 2020 single “Unchained” reached #10 on my chart and ranks #68 on my 100 Best Songs of 2020 list.

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

My Top 30 Songs for September 13-19, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's6 Comments
Sam Fender & Olivia Dean from the “Rein Me In” video

Sam Fender and Olivia Dean remain on top for a second week with “Rein Me In”, while Los Angeles alt rock band The Neighbourhood hold the #2 spot again with their captivating “Private”. “Online” by British Columbia, Canada-based artist Western Jaguar advances two spots to #3. In addition to Western Jaguar, two other Canadian acts are represented on this chart – The Beaches, whose song “Edge of the Earth” sits at #21, and Bealby Point, whose song “Metastasized” currently ranks #25. I must state that I’m both horrified and furious that our out-of-control lunatic president has started a needless economic war with our friendly neighbors to the north.

Irish band Fontaines D.C. are this week’s biggest upward movers, as their song “Marianne” leaps 11 spots to #17.

There are two new additions to my chart this week, the first of which is the wonderfully boisterous “Love To Go” by Nashville-based alt-rock band Edgehill, comprised of Chris Kelly (lead vocals and guitar), Jake Zimmermann (lead guitar and vocals), and Aidan Cunningham (drums). The trio have been putting out great songs since 2022, but I only learned about them earlier this year with the release of their song “Doubletake”, which ultimately went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart and #2 on my chart. Both “Doubletake” and “Love To Go” are from their debut album Ode to the Greyhouse, which was released this past February.

The second new entry is “Young Again” by Florida-based rock band Shinedown. Formed in 2001, the lineup presently includes founding members Brent Smith (lead vocals) and Barry Kerch (drums), as well as Zach Myers (guitar, piano, backing vocals) and Eric Bass (bass, guitar, piano, backing vocals). Shinedown has the most #1 singles on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts with 23, and all 37 of their released singles have reached the top five. To date, the band has sold more than 10 million records worldwide. (Wikipedia) “Young Again” is from their eighth album EI8HT, released this past May and also includes their song “Three Six Five”, which spent 12 weeks on my chart last year.

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

Top 30 Songs for July 13-19, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's3 Comments

20-year-old artist sombr has a firm grip on the top spot as his song “back to friends” spends a third week at #1, while Australian duo Royel Otis move up two spots to #2 with “moody” (I find it fascinating that a lot of acts today use all lowercase letters for their names and song titles). Twenty One Pilots (who for many years also spelled their name in all lowercase) advance five spots to enter the top 10 at #8 with “The Contract”, followed by Dexter and The Moonrocks‘ “Ritalin” and Matt Berninger‘s “Bonnet of Pins”, coming in at #s 9 and 10, respectively. The Black Keys are this week’s biggest upward mover with “No Rain, No Flowers”, jumping eight spots to #18.

The lone new debut this week is “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out” by ROLE MODEL, the music project of American singer-songwriter Tucker Harrington Pillsbury. Born in Maine and now based in Los Angeles, he began his music career in 2016, rapping under his first name Tucker, but soon changed his stage name to Dillis, under which he released an album Moth. In early 2017, he again changed his name, this time to ROLE MODEL, and switched from rapping to singing. He released his debut EP Arizona in the Summer that December, which earned him a following online and captured the attention of the late rapper Mac Miller, who invited him to Los Angeles to work with him on a music project. ROLE MODEL was subsequently signed to Interscope in 2018, and continued releasing singles and two more EPs, culminating in the release of his debut album Rx, though none of them charted.

In July 2024 he released his sophomore album Kansas Anymore, featuring a more country folk sound. He followed this past February with a deluxe edition of the album, Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye), accompanied by the sweet single “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out”. Like many songs these days, it became popular on TikTok, undoubtedly helped by Tucker’s good looks and charming persona, and is his first song to chart in the U.S. and several countries, including Canada, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and Israel.

  1. BACK TO FRIENDS – sombr (1)
  2. MOODY – Royel Otis (4)
  3. NOTHING I NEED – Lord Huron (2)
  4. PORCELAIN (LOSING ALL MY PATIENCE) – Somebody’s Child (3)
  5. BASIC BEING BASIC – Djo (6)
  6. CATCH THESE FISTS – Wet Leg (7)
  7. ARCHBISHOP HAROLD HOLMES – Jack White (5)
  8. THE CONTRACT – Twenty One Pilots (13)
  9. RITALIN – Dexter and The Moonrocks (11)
  10. BONNET OF PINS – Matt Berninger (12)
  11. FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (15)
  12. SCARS – Secret Postal Society (14)
  13. WHAT WAS THAT – Lorde (16)
  14. IT’S AMAZING TO BE YOUNG – Fontaines D.C. (8)
  15. BARBARIAN – AWOLNATION (9)
  16. LET THINGS GO – Caamp (10)
  17. RIPPLE – Good Neighbours (19)
  18. NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (26)
  19. BETTER OFF EVENTUALLY – Bealby Point (22)
  20. RELATIONSHIPS – HAIM (23)
  21. EMERGENCE – Sleep Token (24)
  22. LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (25)
  23. LONDON TOWN – HEALER (28)
  24. BLOOM BABY BLOOM – Wolf Alice (29)
  25. THE TURNAROUND – DelCobras (17) 19th week on chart
  26. ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (30)
  27. THREE SIX FIVE – Shinedown (18)
  28. WALLS – Frank Joshua (20) 21st week on chart
  29. LAREDO – Leon Bridges (21)
  30. SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (N)

Top 30 Songs for July 6-12, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's4 Comments
Photo of sombr from his Facebook account

The cinematic anthem “back to friends” by sombr holds onto the top spot for a second week, while Lord Huron‘s “Nothing I Need” remains at #2 again after spending two weeks at #1. Irish pop rock band Somebody’s Child moves up a spot to #3 with their beautiful “Porcelain (Losing All My Patience)” and Australian duo Royel Otis slide into fourth place with “moody”.

There are three new debuts this week, starting with “The Contract” by my favorite music act Twenty One Pilots, comprised of the dynamic duo Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun, entering my chart at lucky #13. The lead single from their forthcoming eighth studio album Breach, to be released September 5th, “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.

Entering at #29 is “Bloom Baby Bloom” by English alt-rock band Wolf Alice, consisting of Ellie Rowsell on lead vocals, Joff Oddie on guitar, Theo Ellis on bass and Joel Amey on drums. The song is the lead single from their fourth studio album The Clearing, to be released August 29th. And coming in at #30 is “Asshole” by Denver, Colorado-based alternative folk rock band The Lumineers, now a duo consisting of Wesley Schultz (lead vocals, guitar) and Jeremiah Fraites (drums, percussion, piano). Also dubbed “First We Ever Met” to mollify radio censors and self-righteous Puritans, “Asshole” is from their fifth and latest studio album Automatic, which dropped February 14th.

  1. BACK TO FRIENDS – sombr (1)
  2. NOTHING I NEED – Lord Huron (2)
  3. PORCELAIN (LOSING ALL MY PATIENCE) – Somebody’s Child (4)
  4. MOODY – Royel Otis (6)
  5. ARCHBISHOP HAROLD HOLMES – Jack White (3)
  6. BASIC BEING BASIC – Djo (9)
  7. CATCH THESE FISTS – Wet Leg (10)
  8. IT’S AMAZING TO BE YOUNG – Fontaines D.C. (5)
  9. BARBARIAN – AWOLNATION (7)
  10. LET THINGS GO – Caamp (8)
  11. RITALIN – Dexter and The Moonrocks (15)
  12. BONNET OF PINS – Matt Berninger (16)
  13. THE CONTRACT – Twenty One Pilots (N)
  14. SCARS – Secret Postal Society (18)
  15. FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (19)
  16. WHAT WAS THAT – Lorde (20)
  17. THE TURNAROUND – DelCobras (11)
  18. THREE SIX FIVE – Shinedown (12)
  19. RIPPLE – Neighbours (23)
  20. WALLS – Frank Joshua (13) 20th week on chart
  21. LAREDO – Leon Bridges (14)
  22. BETTER OFF EVENTUALLY – Bealby Point (24)
  23. RELATIONSHIPS – HAIM (25)
  24. EMERGENCE – Sleep Token (26)
  25. LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (28)
  26. NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (29)
  27. SPACEMAN IN TULSA – Counting Crows (17)
  28. LONDON TOWN – HEALER (30)
  29. BLOOM BABY BLOOM – Wolf Alice (N)
  30. ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (N)

Top 30 Songs for June 29-July 5, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's4 Comments
Photo of sombr from his Facebook account

‘With its sweeping cinematic ‘wall of sound’ arrangement and lush orchestration, the beautiful anthem “back to friends” by alternative pop-rock artist sombr is exactly the kind of song I love, so it was only a matter of time before it reached the pinnacle of my top 30 chart. The music project of talented and charismatic young singer-songwriter Shane Michael Boose – who will turn 20 on July 5th – sombr was born and raised in New York City but now based in Los Angeles. The gorgeous song was released in late December but as so often happens these days, it went viral on TikTok this past Spring along with his other single “Undressed”, and began appearing on multiple charts around the world, including the Billboard Hot 100 and other American charts. Currently enjoying a long stay at #1 on the Alternative Airplay chart, “back to friends” surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify in April and has now garnered more than 381 million streams.’

The straightforward, relatable lyrics describe feelings of heartbreak resulting from learning someone you thought you had a strong romantic and emotional connection with turns out to not share the same feelings, something I’m confident nearly all of us experienced at one time or another during our late adolescence or early adulthood. “How can we go back to being friends when we just shared a bed? How can you look at me and pretend I’m someone you’ve never met? The devil in your eyes won’t deny the lies you’ve sold, I’m holding on too tight. While you let go, this is casual.”

In other chart news of note, “Moody” by Australian duo Royel Otis is the biggest upward mover again this week, jumping nine spots to enter the top 10 at #6. Also entering the top 10 are “Basic Being Basic” by Djo, the music project of American actor and musician Joseph David Keery, who starred in the Netflix hit series Stranger Things, the comedy film Free Guy and season five of Fargo, and “Catch These Fists” by English indie rock band Wet Leg.

Two songs make their debut this week, the first of which is “No Rain, No Flowers” by Nashville-based blues rock duo The Black Keys, who are certainly no strangers to my chart. The marvelous ear worm is the title track and third single (after “The Night Before”, which recently peaked at #2, and “Babygirl”) from their forthcoming 13th studio album No Rain, No Flowers, scheduled for release on August 8th. Entering at #30 is “London Town” by English alternative indie rock band HEALER, a great song I recently reviewed. It’s their third song to appear on my chart, after “Bones” in 2023 and “War” in 2024.

  1. BACK TO FRIENDS – sombr (2)
  2. NOTHING I NEED – Lord Huron (1)
  3. ARCHBISHOP HAROLD HOLMES – Jack White (4)
  4. PORCELAIN (LOSING ALL MY PATIENCE) – Somebody’s Child (5)
  5. IT’S AMAZING TO BE YOUNG – Fontaines D.C. (3)
  6. MOODY – Royel Otis (15)
  7. BARBARIAN – AWOLNATION (7)
  8. LET THINGS GO – Caamp (10)
  9. BASIC BEING BASIC – Djo (11)
  10. CATCH THESE FISTS – Wet Leg (13)
  11. THE TURNAROUND – DelCobras (6)
  12. THREE SIX FIVE – Shinedown (12)
  13. WALLS – Frank Joshua (8)
  14. LAREDO – Leon Bridges (9)
  15. RITALIN – Dexter and The Moonrocks (17)
  16. BONNET OF PINS – Matt Berninger (19)
  17. SPACEMAN IN TULSA – Counting Crows (18)
  18. SCARS – Secret Postal Society (21)
  19. FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (22)
  20. WHAT WAS THAT – Lorde (23)
  21. SNAKESKIN – NAVE (14)
  22. POOR SAD INDIE EVERYTHING – Icarus Phoenix (16)
  23. RIPPLE – Good Neighbours (26)
  24. BETTER OFF EVENTUALLY – Bealby Point (27)
  25. RELATIONSHIPS – HAIM (28)
  26. EMERGENCE – Sleep Token (29)
  27. EVERYTHING IS PEACEFUL LOVE – Bon Iver (20)
  28. LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (30)
  29. NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (N)
  30. LONDON TOWN – HEALER (N)

Top 30 Songs for June 22-28, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's2 Comments

Lord Huron‘s achingly beautiful “Nothing I Need” remains at #1 for a second week, while sombr‘s cinematic “back to friends” closes in at #2. Jack White advances four spots to #4 with his boisterous satirical takedown of televangelist hucksters “Archbishop Harold Holmes”, and Irish indie rock band Somebody’s Child jump five spots to #5 with “Porcelain (Losing All My Patience)”. Ohio indie folk band Caamp enter the top 10 with their gentle song of positivity “Let Things Go”. The biggest upward mover this week is “Moody” by Australian duo Royel Otis, leaping 10 spots to #15.

We have three wonderful new debuts this week, starting with “Relationships” by Los Angeles-based pop-rock trio HAIM, comprised of sisters Este (bass guitar and vocals), Danielle (lead vocals, guitar, and drums), and Alana Haim (guitars, keyboards, and vocals). The lead single from their fourth album I Quit, which dropped this past Friday, June 20th, the song has a languid yet edgy hip hop vibe with the ladies’ marvelous signature harmonies, and I love it. It’s the sisters’ first song to appear on my chart.

Entering at #29 is the darkly beautiful and musically complex “Emergence” by English rock band Sleep Token, whose music is an electrifying blend of alternative, metal, progressive, R&B, hip hop and djent. Though they formed in 2016 and have released four albums, they’re new to me. In addition to their dynamic music, they’re also know for remaining physically anonymous by wearing masks. “Emergence” is the lead single from their fourth album Even in Arcadia, which was released in May, and their first to appear on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at #57. The song is currently #2 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #17 on the Alternative Airplay chart.

Last but certainly not least is the haunting “Love Is A Fire” by the remarkably talented and prolific London-based artist Art Block, which I reviewed upon its release four weeks ago. A favorite artist of mine who I’ve featured many times on this blog, it’s his second song to appear on my chart, the previous being “White Horses”, which went all the way to #1 in December 2022.

  1. NOTHING I NEED – Lord Huron (1)
  2. BACK TO FRIENDS – sombr (3)
  3. IT’S AMAZING TO BE YOUNG – Fontaines D.C. (2)
  4. ARCHBISHOP HAROLD HOLMES – Jack White (8)
  5. PORCELAIN (LOSING ALL MY PATIENCE) – Somebody’s Child (10)
  6. THE TURNAROUND – DelCobras (4)
  7. BARBARIAN – AWOLNATION (9)
  8. WALLS – Frank Joshua (5)
  9. LAREDO – Leon Bridges (6)
  10. LET THINGS GO – Caamp (11)
  11. BASIC BEING BASIC – Djo (13)
  12. THREE SIX FIVE – Shinedown (14)
  13. CATCH THESE FISTS – Wet Leg (15)
  14. SNAKESKIN – NAVE (7)
  15. MOODY – Royel Otis (25)
  16. POOR SAD INDIE EVERYTHING – Icarus Phoenix (12)
  17. RITALIN – Dexter and The Moonrocks (19)
  18. SPACEMAN IN TULSA – Counting Crows (20)
  19. BONNET OF PINS – Matt Berninger (21)
  20. EVERYTHING IS PEACEFUL LOVE – Bon Iver (18)
  21. SCARS – Secret Postal Society (22)
  22. FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (23)
  23. WHAT WAS THAT – Lorde (24)
  24. MORTAL WOUND – The Veils (16)
  25. BAD LARRY – Cloakroom (17)
  26. RIPPLE – Good Neighbours (29)
  27. BETTER OFF EVENTUALLY – Bealby Point (30)
  28. RELATIONSHIPS – HAIM (N)
  29. EMERGENCE – Sleep Token (N)
  30. LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (N)