Tag: Suki Waterhouse

My Top 30 Songs for July 5-11, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's18 Comments

I’m pretty confident that the majority of my fellow bloggers and readers – at least those few who even bother to read my posts – probably shake their heads at my music tastes and that’s okay, as each of us likes what we like at the end of the day. That said, my new #1 song this week is “Homewrecker” by sombr (born Shane Michael Boose), who turns 21 today. Over the past year he’s become one of my favorite artists, and “Homewrecker” is his fourth song to top my chart, following “back to friends” (which was #1 on my chart a year ago today and is my top song for 2025), “undressed” and “12 to 12” (which spent five weeks at #1).

In other charts developments of note, the lovely “Exit Wound” by Ships Have Sailed, a longtime favorite act of mine from Los Angeles, enters the top 10.

And I’m thrilled to add the captivating “The Endless Border”, by Belgian four-piece Velvet Jesus, to my chart this week. I can’t remember how or where I learned about it, but I love the song’s enchanting Middle Eastern sound and beautiful intricate guitar work. Based in Leuven, the band is comprised of Anton Fannes (lead vocals, guitar, synths, samples), Bart Catoor (bass, samples, backing vocals), Christophe Vandewoude (guitar) and Peter De Clercq (drums). They released their debut single “Qatar” in 2023, which they followed a year later with their album of the same name. The band states that their latest single “is about the strange world of today, and in particular how one population imposes a border on another, while a national border is nothing more than a line on a map.”

  1. HOMEWRECKER – sombr (2)
  2. GOING SHOPPING – The Strokes (1)
  3. FREAKIN’ OUT – Dexter and The Moonrocks (4)
  4. HEADLIGHTS – In Color (5)
  5. SELF AWARE – Temper City (6)
  6. RIPTIDES – Death Cab for Cutie (3)
  7. DROP DEAD – Olivia Rodrigo (7)
  8. GOOD2B – Goose (8)
  9. UNTIL THE SUN EXPLODES – Sublime (9)
  10. EXIT WOUND – Ships Have Sailed (11)
  11. REPEAT OFFENDER – Gloom Is Okay (12)
  12. IN MY ROOM – Julia Wolf (10)
  13. RAGING HALLS – Lyia Meta (18)
  14. RIDE LONESOME – Beck (16)
  15. PICKING DRAGONS’ POCKETS – Modest Mouse (17)
  16. BACK IN LOVE – Suki Waterhouse (21)
  17. MARATHONS – Sorry Ghost (22)
  18. ONLINE – Western Jaguar (23)
  19. DOORS – Noah Kahan (25)
  20. DRAG PATH – Twenty One Pilots (15)
  21. PRIVATE – The Neighbourhood (27)
  22. REIN ME IN – Sam Fender & Olivia Dean (28)
  23. SLUMBER PARTY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (13) 21st week on chart
  24. BEDROOM POSTERS – Yellowcard feat. Good Charlotte (14)
  25. WHO WILL YOU FOLLOW – Evanescence (29)
  26. GO FUCK URSELF – Fat Dog (30)
  27. TO LOVE SOMEBODY – Holly Humberstone (19)
  28. DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE – Young the Giant (20)
  29. DYING TO LOVE – Bad Omens (24)
  30. THE ENDLESS BORDER – Velvet Jesus (N)

My Top 30 Songs for June 28-July 4, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's6 Comments

The Strokes remain on top for a second week with “Going Shopping”, while sombr moves into second place with “Homewrecker”. Three songs enter the top 10: “Good2B” by Goose, “Until The Sun Explodes” by Sublime and “In My Room” by Julia Wolf, at #s 8, 9 and 10, respectively. Scottish band Gloom Is Okay are this week’s biggest upward movers as their darkly beautiful “Repeat Offender” leaps 10 spots to #12.

Four songs make their debut this week, beginning with “Private” by Los Angeles alt-rock band The Neighbourhood, which enters at #27. The song is from their fifth studio album (((((ultraSOUND))))), which also features “Hula Girl” that spent two weeks at #1 on my chart in April. I can’t think of a single song of theirs I haven’t loved, and “Private” is no exception.

Next up is “Rein Me In”, a beautiful song by English singer-songwriter Sam Fender, with added vocals by English singer-songwriter Olivia Dean, who won the Best New Artist Grammy earlier this year (which should have gone to sombr, but I digress). The song is a remix of the original from Fender’s third studio album People Watching. “Rein Me In” was released in June 2025 as the sixth single from the album and eventually became Fender’s first song to reach #1 on the UK Singles Chart in February 2026, as well as winning the Brit Award for Song of the Year. It also topped the charts in Australia and Ireland, reached #2 in New Zealand, and became Fender’s first song to appear on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 64.

Entering at #29 is “Who Will You Follow” by American alternative metal rock band Evanescence. Formed in Little Rock in 1994, the band has undergone some lineup changes over the years and now consists of founding member Amy Lee (lead vocals, piano, keyboards, harp), Troy McLawhorn (guitar), Tim McCord (guitar, bass), Emma Anzai (bass, backing vocals) and Will Hunt (drums). They released their debut album Fallen in 2003 and followed with five more albums at the rate of one every three to six years. “Who Will You Follow” is the second single from their sixth and latest album Sanctuary, which dropped June 5th.

Coming in at #30 is “Go Fuck Urself” by English techno punk band Fat Dog. Formed in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdowns, the band consists of Joe Love, Chris Hughes, Morgan Wallace, and Ellis D, and is known for their boisterous live performances. The provocative and deliciously catchy song was released as their eighth single on May 11th and I love it!

  1. GOING SHOPPING – The Strokes (1)
  2. HOMEWRECKER – sombr (4)
  3. RIPTIDES – Death Cab for Cutie (2)
  4. FREAKIN’ OUT – Dexter and The Moonrocks (5)
  5. HEADLIGHTS – In Color (3)
  6. SELF AWARE – Temper City (7)
  7. DROP DEAD – Olivia Rodrigo (6)
  8. GOOD2B – Goose (11)
  9. UNTIL THE SUN EXPLODES – Sublime (12)
  10. IN MY ROOM – Julia Wolf (16)
  11. EXIT WOUND – Ships Have Sailed (17)
  12. REPEAT OFFENDER – Gloom Is Okay (22)
  13. SLUMBER PARTY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (8) 20th week on chart
  14. BEDROOM POSTERS – Yellowcard feat. Good Charlotte (9)
  15. DRAG PATH – Twenty One Pilots (10)
  16. RIDE LONESOME – Beck (18)
  17. PICKING DRAGONS’ POCKETS – Modest Mouse (19)
  18. RAGING HALLS – Lyia Meta (20)
  19. TO LOVE SOMEBODY – Holly Humberstone (13)
  20. DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE – Young the Giant (14)
  21. BACK IN LOVE – Suki Waterhouse (23)
  22. MARATHONS – Sorry Ghost (24)
  23. ONLINE – Western Jaguar (26)
  24. DYING TO LOVE – Bad Omens (15)
  25. DOORS – Noah Kahan (29)
  26. HEAVY FOOT – Mon Rovîa (21)
  27. PRIVATE – The Neighbourhood (N)
  28. REIN ME IN – Sam Fender & Olivia Dean (N)
  29. WHO WILL YOU FOLLOW – Evanescence (N)
  30. GO FUCK URSELF – Fat Dog (N)

My Top 30 Songs for June 21-27, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's5 Comments
Press photo of The Strokes

“Going Shopping” by American rock band The Strokes ascends to #1 on my latest Top 30 chart. Formed in New York City in 1998, The Strokes consist of singer Julian Casablancas, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr., bassist Nikolai Fraiture and drummer Fabrizio Moretti. Backed by a lighthearted, bouncy groove, Casablancas muses about materialism, growing older, societal alienation and the never-ending push and pull of city vs. country living. The song is from their forthcoming seventh studio album Reality Awaits, due for release on June 26th.

In other chart developments of note, “Self Aware”, the debut single by Israeli band Temper City, climbs four spots to enter the top 10 at #7. Since its release four months ago, the song has been streamed nearly 217 million times on Spotify alone. I’ve come to love “Good2B” by American rock band Goose, consequently, it’s this week’s biggest upward mover, leaping ten spots to #11. And the lone debut, entering at #29, is “Doors” by Noah Kahan. The song replaces his single “The Great Divide”, which leaves my chart after 18 weeks, three of them at #1.

  1. GOING SHOPPING – The Strokes (2)
  2. RIPTIDES – Death Cab for Cutie (1)
  3. HEADLIGHTS – In Color (5)
  4. HOMEWRECKER – Sombr (6)
  5. FREAKIN’ OUT – Dexter and The Moonrocks (7)
  6. DROP DEAD – Olivia Rodrigo (10)
  7. SELF AWARE – Temper City (11)
  8. SLUMBER PARTY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (3)
  9. BEDROOM POSTERS – Yellowcard feat. Good Charlotte (4)
  10. DRAG PATH – Twenty One Pilots (8)
  11. GOOD2B – Goose (21)
  12. UNTIL THE SUN EXPLODES – Sublime (15)
  13. TO LOVE SOMEBODY – Holly Humberstone (14)
  14. DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE – Young the Giant (9)
  15. DYING TO LOVE – Bad Omens (13)
  16. IN MY ROOM – Julia Wolf (18)
  17. EXIT WOUND – Ships Have Sailed (19)
  18. RIDE LONESOME – Beck (20)
  19. PICKING DRAGONS’ POCKETS – Modest Mouse (24)
  20. RAGING HALLS – Lyia Meta (25)
  21. HEAVY FOOT – Mon Rovîa (12)
  22. REPEAT OFFENDER – Gloom Is Okay (29)
  23. BACK IN LOVE – Suki Waterhouse (27)
  24. MARATHONS – Sorry Ghost (28)
  25. STARLIGHT – Cannons (23)
  26. ONLINE – Western Jaguar (30)
  27. BE WITH YOU – Muse (16)
  28. WAITING FOR ME – Talk in Waves (17) 20th week on chart
  29. DOORS – Noah Kahan (N)
  30. KILL ME FAST – Three Days Grace (22)

My Top 30 Songs for June 14-20, 2026

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's5 Comments

Death Cab for Cutie remain at #1 for a second week with “Riptides”, while The Strokes slide into second place with “Going Shopping”. Olivia Rodrigo finally enters my top 10 with “Drop Dead“.

Four songs enter my chart this week, and each is accompanied by a terrific video. Therefore, instead of embedding the video of my #1 song, I’m sharing the videos for each of my four new entries, the first of which is the wonderfully sultry “Back in Love” by the very beguiling English singer-songwriter, model and actress Suki Waterhouse. The song will be included on her forthcoming third studio album Loveland, scheduled for release on July 10th. It’s her second song to appear on my chart, following “Supersad”, which peaked at #11 in late 2024.

Coming in at #28 is “marathons” by the irrepressibly charming indie pop/rock band Sorry Ghost. Originally formed as a pop punk band in Baton Rouge, Louisiana but now based in Los Angeles since 2021, the band consists of Matt Polito (guitar, vocals) Dan Anton (bass, lead vocals), Tate Silver (drums) and Sean Duong (guitar, vocals). It’s their second song to appear on my chart, following last year’s delightful “polyester (yes sir)”, which ranks #55 on my 100 Best Songs of 2025 list. The guys have a wicked sense of humor, frequently delighting their fans with hilarious and endearing video reels of themselves on Instagram and TikTok. Their music videos are also highly entertaining and creative, as is definitely the case with the one for “marathons”:

Next up is “Repeat Offender” by Scottish alternative metal band Gloom is Okay. It isn’t often I’m blown away the first time I hear a song, but I have to say I was immediately stunned by the dramatic beauty and majestic impact of “Repeat Offender”. Based in Glasgow, Gloom is Okay is comprised of frontman Martin Walker (vocals, guitars, synths, programming) Iain MacLeod (bass) and Mark Norris (drums). It’s their first new music in three years, since their excellent 2023 self-titled EP Gloom is Okay, which I reviewed on this blog. “Repeat Offender” is the lead single from their forthcoming debut album Nothing Human. Walker says the song is essentially about handling narcissistic people.

Coming in at #30 is “Online” by Canadian artist Western Jaguar, the music project of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jeffrey Trainor. Based in the beautiful Fraser River Valley east of Vancouver, British Columbia, the earnest, amiable musician makes what he calls joyfully sad music and has been a favorite of mine since learning about him in late 2018. I’ve featured him numerous times on this blog and several of his songs have appeared on my chart, two of which – “Disappear” (2019) and “Darling” (2023) – went all the way to #1. Jeff never fails to write thought-provoking lyrics set to infectious melodies, and “Online” hooked me at first listen. The song was inspired by his fear of the impact of the internet on our lives: “I wanted to capture that shady, seedy feeling the web can have. Who knows who’s real or what’s real nowadays. Hell, can I even prove to you I’m real? But there is this almost superiority complex or confidence that can come from the modern digital age that just seems off.”

  1. RIPTIDES – Death Cab for Cutie (1)
  2. GOING SHOPPING – The Strokes (4)
  3. SLUMBER PARTY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (2)
  4. BEDROOM POSTERS – Yellowcard feat. Good Charlotte (3)
  5. HEADLIGHTS – In Color (7)
  6. HOMEWRECKER – Sombr (8)
  7. FREAKIN’ OUT – Dexter and The Moonrocks (9)
  8. DRAG PATH – Twenty One Pilots (5)
  9. DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE – Young the Giant (6)
  10. DROP DEAD – Olivia Rodrigo (12)
  11. SELF AWARE – Temper City (13)
  12. HEAVY FOOT – Mon Rovîa (11)
  13. DYING TO LOVE – Bad Omens (14)
  14. TO LOVE SOMEBODY – Holly Humberstone (15)
  15. UNTIL THE SUN EXPLODES – Sublime (17)
  16. BE WITH YOU – Muse (16)
  17. WAITING FOR ME – Talk in Waves (10)
  18. IN MY ROOM – Julia Wolf (23)
  19. EXIT WOUND – Ships Have Sailed (24)
  20. RIDE LONESOME – Beck (25)
  21. GOOD2B – Goose (26)
  22. KILL ME FAST – Three Days Grace (21)
  23. STARLIGHT – Cannons (22)
  24. PICKING DRAGONS’ POCKETS – Modest Mouse (29)
  25. RAGING HALLS – Lyia Meta (30)
  26. THE GREAT DIVIDE – Noah Kahan (20)
  27. BACK IN LOVE – Suki Waterhouse (N)
  28. MARATHONS – Sorry Ghost (N)
  29. REPEAT OFFENDER – Gloom Is Okay (N)
  30. ONLINE – Western Jaguar (N)

Top 30 Songs for January 5-11, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's4 Comments

We’re now into the first full week of 2025, and last week’s top four songs remain in place, with Dexter and The Moonrocks‘ boisterous “Sad In Carolina” holding on to the top spot for a second week. The song is now in its fifth week at #1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, making it their most successful single yet. “The Faithful Heart” by Wons Phreely + The Horses, “A Fragile Thing” by The Cure and “Hardcore Romance” by Beach Weather remain at #s 2, 3 and 4. Entering the top 10 are “Arrow” by The Head and the Heart, finally breaking loose and jumping seven spots to #8 (the song has spent the past three weeks at #1 on the Billboard AAA chart), and “In The Living Room” by Maggie Rogers, which advances five spots to #9.

Making their debut this week are the enchanting “She Wants To Go Dancing” by Los Angeles-based alternative roots rock band Mt. Joy, entering at #29. The single was released last October, but took a while to appear on my chart, unfortunately. It’s their sixth song to appear on my Top 30. The second debut, at #30, is “People Watching” by English singer-songwriter Sam Fender. Released in November, the song has a pleasing and fast-paced anthemic groove similar to his 2021 hit “Seventeen Going Under”, which went to #1 on my chart.

  1. SAD IN CAROLINA – Dexter and The Moonrocks (1)
  2. THE FAITHFUL HEART – Wons Phreely + The Horses (2)
  3. A FRAGILE THING – The Cure (3)
  4. HARDCORE ROMANCE – Beach Weather (4)
  5. NEVERENDER – Justice & Tame Impala (7)
  6. A TEAR IN SPACE (AIRLOCK) – Glass Animals (8)
  7. BOBBY SOX – Green Day (10)
  8. ARROW – The Head and the Heart (15)
  9. IN THE LIVING ROOM – Maggie Rogers (14)
  10. FAVOURITE – Fontaines D.C. (5)
  11. DIE WITH A SMILE – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (6)
  12. GIVING UP – Michigander (16)
  13. GILD THE LILY – Billy Strings (20)
  14. NOBODY’S SOLDIER – Hozier (9)
  15. CAN’T SLOW DOWN – almost monday (11)
  16. AUTUMN LEAVES – Secret Postal Society (18)
  17. ROUTINES IN THE NIGHT – twenty one pilots (19)
  18. MIND GAME (3:33) – Collette McLafferty & John Serrano (12)
  19. DOPAMINE – Sum 41 (13)
  20. DARKERSIDE – David Kushner (22)
  21. YOU’RE MY DRUG – Talk in Waves (23)
  22. SO COLD – Balu Brigada (27)
  23. DETROIT – Badflower (24)
  24. SAILOR SONG – Gigi Perez (25)
  25. DAY & NIGHT – Oli Barton (26)
  26. PEACE SONG – Fat Dog (21)
  27. SUPERSAD – Suki Waterhouse (17)
  28. AFTERLIFE – Sharon Van Etten (30)
  29. SHE WANTS TO GO DANCING – Mt. Joy (N)
  30. PEOPLE WATCHING – Sam Fender (N)

Top 30 Songs for Dec. 29, 2024 – Jan. 4, 2025

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's7 Comments
Photo of Dexter and The Moonrocks from their Facebook account

It’s hard to believe we’re sailing into 2025, and I think it’s highly appropriate to paraphrase Bette Davis (as Margo Channing in the 1950 film classic All About Eve) here by saying “Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy year!”

Hailing from Abilene, Texas, four-piece rock band Dexter and the Moonrocks is comprised of James Tuffs on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Ryan Anderson on lead guitar and backing vocals, Ty Anderson on bass, and Fox on drums and backing vocals. According to their website bio, they were formed when “a former fry cook, oil field operator, concrete surface decorator and kids’ baseball coach met up in a small town in West Texas and started playing country western music together (as one does in small town West Texas). But something didn’t feel right – so their roots in country began to cross-pollinate with the rock and grunge music they heard their parents playing at home. ‘Grunge and country are honestly so similar,’ says Fox. ‘Look at Johnny Cash’s cover of ‘Hurt’ by Nine Inch Nails. Both speak to the oppressed and the depressed – country with twang and grunge with a bite. A pair of boots can mean cowboy or combat. We are huge fans of artists like Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers and Noah Kahan – and when you take that sound and plug it into amps with electric guitars, you get Dexter and the Moonrocks. We took a bet on ourselves, and it’s paying off immensely,’ he continues. ‘We believed we had something special, and if we could just get people to pay attention they’d fall in love, and we did just that.’ ‘It feels like a fever dream, and it’s definitely helped the health of my knees’, says Ty’s cousin guitarist Ryan Anderson, who never plans to decorate concrete again.”

Describing their sound as “sad cowboy music”, they released their debut single “Couch” (which has been streamed over 17 million times on Spotify alone) in late August 2021, followed by their self-titled EP that November. The rousing ear worm “Sad in Carolina”, one of six songs featured on their latest EP Western Space Grunge, released on Nashville-based label Severance Records this past July, is my new #1 song in a week that straddles the new year. Judging from their prodigious social media posts, the guys appear to have a wicked sense of humor. And on their Spotify account, they wryly state “Our entire lives we dreamed of being pool cleaners, but we guess this will work.” I’m confident it most definitely will!

In other chart developements of note, the endearing “The Faithful Heart” by Wons Phreely + The Horses – which I love with all my heart – moves up two spots to second place, while “Bobby Sox” by Green Day advances two spots to enter the top 10 at #10. Debuting this week are two songs, the first of which, entering at #27, is the delicious “So Cold” by New Zealand alt-pop duo Balu Brigada, the music project of multi-instrumentalist writer/producer brothers, Henry and Pierre Beasley. The song was released last June, but I only learned about it – and them – a few months ago when it appeared on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart. I honestly liked it when I first heard it, but inexplicably, it’s taken until now for me to add it on my chart. I now love it, along with many of their songs. Balu Brigada opened for twenty one pilots on the North American leg of their Clancy World Tour, which ran from mid-August to mid-October.

The second debut, coming in at #30, is the enchanting “Afterlife” by Sharon Van Etten, along with her backing band The Attachment Theory (consisting of percussionist Jorge Balbi, bassist Devra Hoff, and multi-instrumentalist Teeny Lieberson). The song is the lead single from her forthcoming seventh studio album Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory, due for release February 7, 2025. I love Van Etten’s voice, and it’s her fourth song to appear on my chart, the previous three being “Seventeen” in 2019, “Like I Used To” (with Angel Olsen) in 2021 and “Mistakes” in 2022.

  1. SAD IN CAROLINA – Dexter and The Moonrocks (2)
  2. THE FAITHFUL HEART – Wons Phreely + The Horses (4)
  3. A FRAGILE THING – The Cure (1)
  4. HARDCORE ROMANCE – Beach Weather (3)
  5. FAVOURITE – Fontaines D.C. (5)
  6. DIE WITH A SMILE – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (6)
  7. NEVERENDER – Justice & Tame Impala (8)
  8. A TEAR IN SPACE (AIRLOCK) – Glass Animals (10)
  9. NOBODY’S SOLDIER – Hozier (7)
  10. BOBBY SOX – Green Day (12)
  11. CAN’T SLOW DOWN – almost monday (9)
  12. MIND GAME (3:33) – Collette McLafferty & John Serrano (13)
  13. DOPAMINE – Sum 41 (14)
  14. IN THE LIVING ROOM – Maggie Rogers (15)
  15. ARROW – The Head and the Heart (16)
  16. GIVING UP – Michigander (17)
  17. SUPERSAD – Suki Waterhouse (11)
  18. AUTUMN LEAVES – Secret Postal Society (20)
  19. ROUTINES IN THE NIGHT – twenty one pilots (21)
  20. GILD THE LILY – Billy Strings (22)
  21. PEACE SONG – Fat Dog (24)
  22. DARKERSIDE – David Kushner (25)
  23. YOU’RE MY DRUG – Talk in Waves (26)
  24. DETROIT – Badflower (28)
  25. SAILOR SONG – Gigi Perez (29)
  26. DAY & NIGHT – Oli Barton (30)
  27. SO COLD – Balu Brigada (N)
  28. BOTHERING ME – Sarah Blasko (18)
  29. KINKY – bby (19)
  30. AFTERLIFE – Sharon Van Etten (N)

Top 30 Songs for December 22-28, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's6 Comments
Photo of the Cure in concert by Thorsten Samesch

We’ve reached the last full week of 2024, and the Cure‘s “A Fragile Thing” remains at #1 on my Top 30 for a second week. Dexter and The Moonrocks also hold at #2 for a second week with “Sad in Carolina, while Beach Weather moves into third place with “Hardcore Romance”. “The Faithful Heart” by Wons Phreely + The Horses climbs four spots to #4, while “Favourite” by Fontaines D.C. moves down two to #5. “A Tear in Space (Airlock)” by Glass Animals moves up three spots to enter the top 10 at #10.

Three songs make their debut this week, beginning with “Detroit” by Los Angeles-based alternative hard rock band Badflower. Released this past summer, the song took a while to fully grow on me, which is weird since it’s a really good, high-energy anthem. It’s their second song to appear on my chart, the first being their 2018 masterpiece “Ghost”, which peaked at #2 and ranks #21 on my 100 Best Songs of 2018 list. Formed in 2015, the band is still comprised of the four original founding members singer/guitarist Josh Katz, lead guitarist Joey Morrow, bassist Alex Espiritu and drummer Anthony Sonetti.

Entering at #29 is another song that’s been out awhile, “Sailor Song” by American singer-songwriter Gigi Perez. (Coincidentally, it was released on July 26, the same day as Badflower’s “Detroit”.) She’s been putting out music since 2021, but “Sailor Song” is her first song to chart after going viral on TikTok a few months ago. It’s reached #1 in the UK, Ireland and Latvia, and the top five in New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the Billboard Hot Rock and Alternative Songs chart. Thus far, it’s reached #22 on the Hot 100. The infectious and endearing song is a love ballad about falling for a woman who looks like the actress Anne Hathaway.

The third debut is “Day & Night”, by London-based singer-songwriter Oli Barton. A supremely talented artist, Barton’s made numerous appearances on my Top 30, most recently this past fall with his previous single “You Just Played My Mind”, which spent 15 weeks on my chart. I’ve loved every single one of his releases, and the ebullient “Day & Night” is no exception!

  1. A FRAGILE THING – The Cure (1)
  2. SAD IN CAROLINA – Dexter and The Moonrocks (2)
  3. HARDCORE ROMANCE – Beach Weather (4)
  4. THE FAITHFUL HEART – Wons Phreely + The Horses (8)
  5. FAVOURITE – Fontaines D.C. (3)
  6. DIE WITH A SMILE – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (5)
  7. NOBODY’S SOLDIER – Hozier (6)
  8. NEVERENDER – Justice & Tame Impala (9)
  9. CAN’T SLOW DOWN – almost monday (7)
  10. A TEAR IN SPACE (AIRLOCK) – Glass Animals (13)
  11. SUPERSAD – Suki Waterhouse (11)
  12. BOBBY SOX – Green Day (12)
  13. MIND GAME (3:33) – Collette McLafferty & John Serrano (16)
  14. DOPAMINE – Sum 41 (17)
  15. IN THE LIVING ROOM – Maggie Rogers (18)
  16. ARROW – The Head and the Heart (19)
  17. GIVING UP – Michigander (20)
  18. BOTHERING ME – Sarah Blasko (10)
  19. KINKY – bby (14)
  20. AUTUMN LEAVES – Secret Postal Society (22)
  21. ROUTINES IN THE NIGHT – twenty one pilots (23)
  22. GILD THE LILY – Billy Strings (24)
  23. PEACEFUL PLACE – Leon Bridges (15)
  24. PEACE SONG – Fat Dog (26)
  25. DARKERSIDE – David Kushner (29)
  26. YOU’RE MY DRUG – Talk in Waves (30)
  27. THAT’S HOW I’M FEELING – Jack White (21)
  28. DETROIT – Badflower (N)
  29. SAILOR SONG – Gigi Perez (N)
  30. DAY & NIGHT – Oli Barton (N)

Top 30 Songs for December 15-21, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's8 Comments

For more than 40 years, English alternative goth rock band The Cure have masterfully captured both the joyous highs and painful depths of love, loss and existential angst in their music, and their latest single “A Fragile Thing” is a shining example of that, as well as a strong testament to their enduring creativity and relevance. Released on October 9, the song was the second single (after the epic “Alone”) from their 14th studio album Songs of a Lost World, their first new material in 16 years since the release of 4:13 Dream in 2008. Entirely written, composed, and arranged by The Cure front man Robert Smith, the album was originally recorded and intended for release in 2019, and is the band’s first album to feature Reeves Gabrels, who joined as a full-time member in 2012, on guitar. According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Songs of a Lost World has received universal acclaim, based on a weighted average score of 93 out of 100 from 23 critic scores.

Like all songs on the album, “A Fragile Thing” reflects the darker sentiments Smith was feeling after the loss of his mother, father and brother in quick succession. Nevertheless, he tried to keep the album “universal” in its themes, stating “So even though most of the songs are very personal, they’re not things that only happen to me.” In an October YouTube interview, he stated that he had struggled to write “A Fragile Thing”, saying it was originally a very different song titled “Kill The Sun”, but that it “mutated into this song, which is very specific to me, I suppose. “But I’m hoping that it resonates with other people because love is a universal thing.” He further explained that “A Fragile Thing” is “the ‘love song’ of the album, but not really a love song in the way that [1989’s] ‘Lovesong’ is a love song. It’s about how love is the most enduring of emotions. It’s the most powerful emotion, and it’s incredibly resilient. And yet at the same time, incredibly fragile.” The hauntingly beautiful song becomes the latest to top my Weekly Top 30 chart.

In other chart developments of note, “Sad in Carolina” by Dexter and The Moonrocks advances two spots to #2. Entering the top 10 are “The Faithful Heart” by Wons Phreely + The Horses, which climbs four spots to #8, and “Neverender” by French electronic music duo Justice and Australian band Tame Impala, moving up two spots to #9.

Two songs make their debut, the first of which, entering at #29, is “Darkerside” by American singer-songwriter David Kushner. Born in Chicago and now based in Los Angeles, the baritone-voiced artist began releasing singles in 2021, and the following year, his song “Mr. Miserable” went viral on TikTok. Though it didn’t chart in the U.S., it reached the top 40 in several European countries, Australia and New Zealand. His 2023 single “Daylight” also went viral on TikTok, becoming an even bigger hit, reaching #1 in the Netherlands, Switzerland and New Zealand and peaking at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100, and has been streamed over 1.3 billion times on Spotify alone. The anthemic “Darkerside”, along with “Daylight”, Mr. Miserable”, and his previous singles, are featured on his debut album The Dichotomy, which was released August 30th. The song has already spent 10 weeks on the Alternative Airplay chart, the past three at #23.

Entering at #30 is “You’re My Drug”, the latest single by Northern Virginia-based Talk in Waves, the music project of the very talented and affable singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jake Mimikos. He’s been a long-time favorite of mine, and “You’re My Drug” is his eighth song to appear on my Top 30 chart. Five of them have gone all the way to #1, most recently his previous single “Like You Do” this past September. “You’re My Drug” is a sexy rocker, featuring an edgier, harder-driving sound for him, and I like it!

  1. A FRAGILE THING – The Cure (2)
  2. SAD IN CAROLINA – Dexter and The Moonrocks (4)
  3. FAVOURITE – Fontaines D.C. (1)
  4. HARDCORE ROMANCE – Beach Weather (5)
  5. DIE WITH A SMILE – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (3)
  6. NOBODY’S SOLDIER – Hozier (7)
  7. CAN’T SLOW DOWN – almost monday (6)
  8. THE FAITHFUL HEART – Wons Phreely + The Horses (12)
  9. NEVERENDER – Justice & Tame Impala (11)
  10. BOTHERING ME – Sarah Blasko (9)
  11. SUPERSAD – Suki Waterhouse (13)
  12. BOBBY SOX – Green Day (14)
  13. A TEAR IN SPACE (AIRLOCK) – Glass Animals (16)
  14. KINKY – bby (15)
  15. PEACEFUL PLACE – Leon Bridges (8)
  16. MIND GAME (3:33) – Collette McLafferty & John Serrano (18)
  17. DOPAMINE – Sum 41 (19)
  18. IN THE LIVING ROOM – Maggie Rogers (20)
  19. ARROW – The Head and the Heart (21)
  20. GIVING UP – Michigander (22)
  21. THAT’S HOW I’M FEELING – Jack White (10)
  22. AUTUMN LEAVES – Secret Postal Society (24)
  23. ROUTINES IN THE NIGHT – twenty one pilots (26)
  24. GILD THE LILY – Billy Strings (29)
  25. BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish (17)
  26. PEACE SONG – Fat Dog (30)
  27. UP ALL NIGHT – James Bay, The Lumineers & Noah Kahan (25)
  28. GARMONBOZIA – Flying Lotus (23)
  29. DARKERSIDE – David Kushner (N)
  30. YOU’RE MY DRUG – Talk in Waves (N)

Top 30 Songs for December 8-14, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's10 Comments
Photo by Theo Cottle

Fontaines D.C. remain on top for a third week with their heartwarming “Favourite”, while The Cure switches places with Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars as “A Fragile Thing” moves up a notch to #2 and “Die With A Smile” drops to #3. Dexter and The Moonrocks jump five spots to #4 with their bombastic earworm “Sad in Carolina”, while Beach Weather move up two spots with their sultry “Hardcore Romance” to round out the top five. The wonderful “The Faithful Heart” by Los Angeles-based Wons Phreely + The Horses is this week’s biggest upward mover, leaping 16 spots to #12.

Making their debut are songs by two acts who are totally new to me. The first, entering at #29, is “Gild the Lily” by Michigan-based singer-songwriter and bluegrass musician Billy Strings. Born William Lee Apostol, he was given his stage name Billy Strings from his aunt, who recognized his impressive skills playing multiple traditional bluegrass instruments. He’s been releasing music as a solo artist since 2017, and has won numerous music awards, including a Grammy in 2021 for Best Bluegrass Album for his second album Home. The pleasing “Gild the Lily” is from his fourth album Highway Prayers, a 20-track colossus released this past September.

Entering at #30 is the boisterous “Peace Song” by English techno punk band Fat Dog. Formed in South London in 2020, the band consists of Joe Love, Chris Hughes, Morgan Wallace, Jacqui Wheeler and Johnny ‘Doghead’ Hutch. They released their debut seven-minute long single “King of the Slugs” in 2023, followed by a number of singles which culminated in the release of their debut album WOOF. this past September. Their latest single “Peace Song” dropped November 21st, and it was love at first listen for me.

  1. FAVOURITE – Fontaines D.C. (1)
  2. A FRAGILE THING – The Cure (3)
  3. DIE WITH A SMILE – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (2)
  4. SAD IN CAROLINA – Dexter and The Moonrocks (9)
  5. HARDCORE ROMANCE – Beach Weather (7)
  6. CAN’T SLOW DOWN – almost monday (6)
  7. NOBODY’S SOLDIER – Hozier (8)
  8. PEACEFUL PLACE – Leon Bridges (4)
  9. BOTHERING ME – Sarah Blasko (10)
  10. THAT’S HOW I’M FEELING – Jack White (5)
  11. NEVERENDER – Justice & Tame Impala (12)
  12. THE FAITHFUL HEART – Wons Phreely + The Horses (28)
  13. SUPERSAD – Suki Waterhouse (15)
  14. BOBBY SOX – Green Day (16)
  15. KINKY – bby (17)
  16. A TEAR IN SPACE (AIRLOCK) – Glass Animals (18)
  17. BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish (11)
  18. MIND GAME (3:33) – Collette McLafferty & John Serrano (21)
  19. DOPAMINE – Sum 41 (22)
  20. IN THE LIVING ROOM – Maggie Rogers (23)
  21. ARROW – The Head and the Heart (24)
  22. GIVING UP – Michigander (25)
  23. GARMONBOZIA – Flying Lotus (13)
  24. AUTUMN LEAVES – Secret Postal Society (26)
  25. UP ALL NIGHT – James Bay, The Lumineers & Noah Kahan (14)
  26. ROUTINES IN THE NIGHT – twenty one pilots (30)
  27. THE DOOR – Teddy Swims (19)
  28. THE EMPTINESS MACHINE – Linkin Park (20)
  29. GILD THE LILY – Billy Strings (N)
  30. PEACE SONG – Fat Dog (N)

Top 30 Songs for December 1-7, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's11 Comments

As its title would suggest, my favorite song again this week is “Favourite” by Irish band Fontaines D.C., who’ve also become one of my favorite bands. And from posts I’ve read, on the strength of their latest album Romance, they’ve become the favorite of many others as well. In an interview with Fontaines D.C. front man Grian Chatten in September on his Rocket Hour radio show on Apple Music, Elton John told Chatten “For me, you’re the best band out there at the moment. You seem to have found your feet with this album in such a big way… it’s a brilliant record. I think this album takes you – and I’ve been around for a long time – to a different level, and it’s going to stay around for a long, long time. But what’s more important about it: the music is really, really, really special. Congratulations on everything, Grian. It’s bloody wonderful.” I couldn’t agree more. “Favourite” is the second song from Romance – and Fontaines D.C. – to top my Weekly Top 30, following “Starburster”, which spent three weeks at #1 this past August.

In other noteworthy chart developments, the wonderful duet “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars climbs two spots to #2, while “A Fragile Thing” by legendary alternative goth-rock band The Cure jumps three spots to #3. Entering the top 10 are “Sad In Carolina” by Texas rock band Dexter and The Moonrocks and “Bothering Me” by Australian singer-songwriter Sarah Blasko.

Two songs make their debut, the first of which is the heartwarming “The Faithful Heart” by Australian-born and Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Wons Phreely and his band The Horses, entering at #28. I wrote about the song and its delightful video a few days ago, which you can read here. The second, entering at #30, is “Routines In The Night” by twenty one pilots. It’s the third song from their latest album Clancy to appear on my chart, following “Overcompensate”, which reached #2, and “The Craving”, which spent three weeks at #1.

  1. FAVOURITE – Fontaines D.C. (1)
  2. DIE WITH A SMILE – Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars (4)
  3. A FRAGILE THING – The Cure (6)
  4. PEACEFUL PLACE – Leon Bridges (2)
  5. THAT’S HOW I’M FEELING – Jack White (3)
  6. CAN’T SLOW DOWN – almost monday (7)
  7. HARDCORE ROMANCE – Beach Weather (8)
  8. NOBODY’S SOLDIER – Hozier (9)
  9. SAD IN CAROLINA – Dexter and The Moonrocks (12)
  10. BOTHERING ME – Sarah Blasko (11)
  11. BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish (5)
  12. NEVERENDER – Justice & Tame Impala (14)
  13. GARMONBOZIA – Flying Lotus (10)
  14. UP ALL NIGHT – James Bay, The Lumineers & Noah Kahan (13)
  15. SUPERSAD – Suki Waterhouse (17)
  16. BOBBY SOX – Green Day (18)
  17. KINKY – bby (19)
  18. A TEAR IN SPACE (AIRLOCK) – Glass Animals (20)
  19. THE DOOR – Teddy Swims (14)
  20. THE EMPTINESS MACHINE – Linkin Park (18)
  21. MIND GAME (3:33) – Collette McLafferty & John Serrano (23)
  22. DOPAMINE – Sum 41 (24)
  23. IN THE LIVING ROOM – Maggie Rogers (26)
  24. ARROW – The Head and the Heart (28)
  25. GIVING UP – Michigander (29)
  26. AUTUMN LEAVES – Secret Postal Society (30)
  27. DEATH VALLEY HIGH – Orville Peck & Beck (21)
  28. THE FAITHFUL HEART – Wons Phreely + The Horses (N)
  29. GOOD LUCK, BABE! – Chappell Roan (27)
  30. ROUTINES IN THE NIGHT – twenty one pilots (N)