Photo of The Neighbourhood from their Facebook account
It’s a fairly quiet week for my latest chart, as The Neighbourhood remain on top with their charming “Hula Girl” and there are no new entries (though 16 “new” songs entered my chart over the previous five weeks). MISSIO move into second place with their exhilarating “I Remember When”, Twenty One Pilots‘ “Drag Path” jumps four spots to #6 and “The Old Law” by Father John Misty moves up a spot to enter the top 10 at #10. The song is the highest-charting for him, as well as his first to appear on my chart. And because there are no new debuts, nor did I want to drop any songs from my chart, the songs at numbers 25-30 remain stuck in place. That’s certainly no reflection on their quality, as they’ll all be rising in the coming weeks.
HULA GIRL – The Neighbourhood (1)
I REMEMBER WHEN – MISSIO (3)
THE GREAT DIVIDE – Noah Kahan (2)
DOUBLETAKE – Edgehill (4)
YOU GOT TO LOSE – The Black Keys (5)
DRAG PATH – Twenty One Pilots (10)
WAITING FOR ME – Talk in Waves (7)
SWEET LOVE – Stephen Sanchez (8)
SLUMBER PARTY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (9)
THE OLD LAW – Father John Misty (11)
LOST YOUR GHOST – Two Feet (6)
BEDROOM POSTERS – Yellowcard feat. Good Charlotte (15)
LOOK OUT FOR ME – Turnstile (16)
DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE – Young the Giant (17)
YOUR FAVORITE TOY – Foo Fighters (18)
HEAVY FOOT – Mon Rovîa (21)
STARLIGHT – Cannons (19)
BURN FOR YOU RMX – Between Daze (20)
FOOL’S GOLD – Buffalo Traffic Jam (22)
SITE UNSEEN – Courtney Barnett featuring Waxahatchee (23)
Photo of The Neighbourhood from their Facebook account
The Neighbourhood take over the top spot on this week’s chart with their captivating “Hula Girl”. The song is from their fifth studio album (((((ultraSOUND))))), released last November. I’ve been a big fan of this Los Angeles-based alt-rock group since first hearing their song “Sweater Weather” back in the summer of 2013 (it became my favorite song of 2013 and 4th favorite song of the 2010s). Formed in 2011, the band still consists of all five original members: heavily-tattooed vocalist Jesse Rutherford, guitarists Jeremy Freedman and Zach Abels, bassist Mikey Margott and drummer Brandon Fried, and I’m happy they’re still putting out exceptional music. In March they embarked on a worldwide tour which will conclude in their hometown of Los Angeles in December. “Hula Girl” is their third song to top my chart, after the aforementioned “Sweater Weather” and “Stargazing” in 2021.
I’m not wild about the official video so am sharing the lyric video instead:
In other chart developments of note, “I Remember When” by Austin, Texas-based duo MISSIO advances two spots to #3, while “Slumber Party” by Chicago-based alt-rock band Brigitte Calls Me Baby enters the top 10 at #9, and “Drag Path” by Columbus, Ohio duo Twenty One Pilots rises three spots to #10.
Three songs make their debut this week, starting with “Headlights” by Nashville-based alternative pop band In Color, entering at #28. Formed in 2024, the band is comprised of Holden Clontz, Matthew Hastings, Val Hoyt and Miles Laderman. Inspired by an eclectic array of acts ranging from The Beatles, U2 and Coldplay to Michael Jackson, Kings of Leon and Switchfoot, they released their debut single “Headlights” on Valentine’s Day 2025. They followed with several more singles as well as an EP Snow Day, that October. They’ve continued releasing more singles, but as so often happens these days, “Headlights” went viral on social media and has now amassed nearly 13 million streams on Spotify alone.
The second new entry is the darkly beautiful “Dying To Love” by American alternative metalcore band Bad Omens. Formed in Richmond, Virginia in 2015, the band presently consists of vocalist and producer Noah Sebastian, guitarist Nicholas Ruffilo, guitarist and producer Joakim “Jolly” Karlsson and drummer Nick Folio. The song is their third to appear on my chart, following “THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND” in 2023 and “Specter” in late 2025/early 2026, both reaching the top 10.
The third debut is “Homewrecker”, the latest single by New York-based artist sombr, who over the past year has already scored three #1 songs on my chart: “back to friends” (my #1 song of 2025), “undressed” and “12 to 12”, which recently spent five weeks at #1. He put on a great show at Coachella yesterday, which I livestreamed on YouTube.
HULA GIRL – The Neighbourhood (2)
THE GREAT DIVIDE – Noah Kahan (1)
I REMEMBER WHEN – MISSIO (5)
DOUBLETAKE – Edgehill (4)
YOU GOT TO LOSE – The Black Keys (6)
LOST YOUR GHOST – Two Feet (3)
WAITING FOR ME – Talk in Waves (9)
SWEET LOVE – Stephen Sanchez (10)
SLUMBER PARTY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (11)
DRAG PATH – Twenty One Pilots (13)
THE OLD LAW – Father John Misty (12)
THE WRECKAGE – Silversun Pickups (7)
WHO’S YOUR BOYFRIEND – Royel Otis (8)
HEATHER – Secret Postal Society (14)
BEDROOM POSTERS – Yellowcard feat. Good Charlotte (15)
LOOK OUT FOR ME – Turnstile (16)
DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE – Young the Giant (17)
YOUR FAVORITE TOY – Foo Fighters (19)
STARLIGHT – Cannons (21)
BURN FOR YOU RMX – Between Daze (22)
HEAVY FOOT – Mon Rovîa (24)
FOOL’S GOLD – Buffalo Traffic Jam (23)
SITE UNSEEN – Courtney Barnett featuring Waxahatchee (25)
Noah Kahan holds the top spot for a third week with his beautiful inspirational song “The Great Divide”, while The Neighbourhood hold at #2 for a second week with their winsome “Hula Girl”. Rounding out the top five are “Lost Your Ghost” by Two Feet, “Doubletake” by Edgehill and “I Remember When” by MISSIO. Singer-songwriter Stephen Sanchez enters the top ten with his throwback doo wop-inspired “Sweet Love”.
Four new songs by music heavy hitters enter my chart this week, starting with “you and forever” by American pop-rock band Bleachers, coming in at #27. Formed in 2013 by singer-songwriter, musician and producer extraordinaire Jack Antonoff, the group has included his longtime touring musicians Mikey Freedom Hart, Sean Hutchinson, Evan Smith, Michael Riddleberger, and Zem Audu since 2023. The song is the lead single from their fifth studio album Everyone for Ten Minutes, scheduled for release on May 22nd.
Next up is “Song of the Future” by legendary Irish rock band U2, who since forming in 1976 has consisted of Bono (Hewson) on lead vocals, the Edge on lead guitar, keys and backing vocals, Adam Clayton on bass and Larry Mullen Jr. on drums and percussion. They’ve been putting out music since 1979, including 15 studio albums, 12 EPs and 85 singles. Their first new music in two years, “Song of the Future” is from their Days of AshEP, released February 18h, which they’ve since followed with Easter Lily EP this past Friday, April 3rd.
Entering at #29 is “Be With You” by English alt-rock band Muse, which since their formation more than 30 years ago has consisted of Matt Bellamy (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Chris Wolstenholme (bass, backing vocals), and Dominic Howard (drums, percussion). The song is the second single (following last year’s “Unravelling”) from their forthcoming tenth studio album The Wow! Signal, to be released June 26th.
Last, but certainly not least, is “Riptides”, the latest single by American indie pop-rock band Death Cab for Cutie. Formed in 1997, the band has undergone a few changes in lineup over the years and now consists of Ben Gibbard (vocals, guitar, piano), Nick Harmer (bass), Dave Depper (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), Zac Rae (keyboards, guitar), and Jason McGerr (drums). “Riptides” is the lead single from their forthcoming 11th studio album I Built You a Tower, due for release on June 5th.
THE GREAT DIVIDE – Noah Kahan (1)
HULA GIRL – The Neighbourhood (2)
LOST YOUR GHOST – Two Feet (4)
DOUBLETAKE – Edgehill (5)
I REMEMBER WHEN – MISSIO (6)
YOU GOT TO LOSE – The Black Keys (7)
THE WRECKAGE – Silversun Pickups (8)
WHO’S YOUR BOYFRIEND – Royel Otis (3)
WAITING FOR ME – Talk in Waves (10)
SWEET LOVE – Stephen Sanchez (11)
SLUMBER PARTY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (12)
THE OLD LAW – Father John Misty (14)
DRAG PATH – Twenty One Pilots (19)
HEATHER – Secret Postal Society (15)
BEDROOM POSTERS – Yellowcard feat. Good Charlotte (16)
LOOK OUT FOR ME – Turnstile (17)
DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE – Young the Giant (18)
ZOMBIE – YUNGBLUD (9) 21st week on chart
YOUR FAVORITE TOY – Foo Fighters (29)
TO SPACE – Kings of Leon (13)
STARLIGHT – Cannons (24)
BURN FOR YOU RMX – Between Daze (25)
FOOL’S GOLD – Buffalo Traffic Jam (26)
HEAVY FOOT – Mon Rovîa (27)
SITE UNSEEN – Courtney Barnett featuring Waxahatchee (30)
Noah Kahan remains on top for a second week with “The Great Divide”, while The Neighbourhood moves into second place with their captivating “Hula Girl”. I’ve been a big fan of this Los Angeles-based group since first hearing their song “Sweater Weather” back in the summer of 2013 (it became my 4th favorite song of that entire decade), and am happy they’re still putting out exceptional music. I really love lead singer Jesse Rutherford’s ethereal sensuous vocals. “Waiting for Me” by Northern Virginia-based Talk in Waves (aka singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jake Mimikos) enters the top 10 after a long, steady climb. He’s another longtime favorite of mine who’s had numerous songs appear on my chart over the past seven years.
Two great songs make their debut this week, starting with the raucous “Your Favorite Toy” by legendary rock band Foo Fighters, entering at #29. To my ears, the song is a bit of a departure from their typical sound, and I honestly didn’t recognize Dave Grohl’s voice the first time I heard it, but I’m really liking it! Entering at #30 is “Sight Unseen” by Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett, featuring American indie folk artist Waxahatchee (aka singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield). Barnett’s previous single “Stay In Your Lane” recently spent 12 weeks on my chart. Both songs are from her fifth studio album Creature of Habit, which dropped this past Friday, March 27th.
THE GREAT DIVIDE – Noah Kahan (1)
HULA GIRL – The Neighbourhood (3)
WHO’S YOUR BOYFRIEND – Royel Otis (2)
LOST YOUR GHOST – Two Feet (6)
DOUBLETAKE – Edgehill (7)
I REMEMBER WHEN – MISSIO (8)
YOU GOT TO LOSE – The Black Keys (9)
THE WRECKAGE – Silversun Pickups (10)
ZOMBIE – YUNGBLUD (4) 20th week on chart
WAITING FOR ME – Talk in Waves (13)
SWEET LOVE – Stephen Sanchez (14)
SLUMBER PARTY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (15)
TO SPACE – Kings of Leon (5)
THE OLD LAW – Father John Misty (20)
HEATHER – Secret Postal Society (19)
BEDROOM POSTERS – Yellowcard feat. Good Charlotte (21)
LOOK OUT FOR ME – Turnstile (22)
DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE – Young the Giant (24)
DRAG PATH – Twenty One Pilots (25)
HUMAN – Brandi Carlile (11)
12 TO 12 – sombr (12) 23rd week on chart
COBRA – Geese (17)
I’VE GOT A BROKEN HEART – The Lemon Twigs (16)
STARLIGHT – Cannons (27)
BURN FOR YOU RMX – Between Daze (28)
FOOL’S GOLD – Buffalo Traffic Jam (29)
HEAVY FOOT – Mon Rovîa (30)
RUBBER BAND MAN – Mumford & Sons w/Hozier (18)
YOUR FAVORITE TOY – Foo Fighters (N)
SITE UNSEEN – Courtney Barnett featuring Waxahatchee (N)
Photo of Noah Kahan taken from his Facebook account
A new week and some exciting changes on my latest Top 30 chart. First off, Vermont-born and now Nashville-based folk pop singer-songwriter Noah Kahan takes over the #1 spot with his heartwarming song “The Great Divide”. The talented 29-year-old began releasing singles in 2017, followed by his debut album Busyhead in 2019, but burst onto the music scene in late 2022 with his breakout single “Stick Season”. Although moderately successful in the U.S. upon release, the song went viral on TikTok after American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo covered it on BBC Radio 1 in the UK, causing it to reach number one in various countries including Australia, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK, as well as reaching the top 10 in Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S. (Wikipedia) “The Great Divide”, which is currently #1 on all Billboard Alternative charts, was the lead and title single from Kahan’s forthcoming fourth album The Great Divide, to be released April 24th.
The poignant lyrics seem to be a letter to an old friend you’ve lost touch with but still care about: “I can’t recall the last time that we talked. About anything but lookin’ out for cops. We got cigarette burns on the same side of our hands. But we ain’t friends, we’re just morons who broke skin in the same spot. You know I think about you all the time. And my deep misunderstanding of your life. And how bad it must have been for you back then. And how hard it was to keep it all inside.I hope you settle down, I hope you marry rich. I hope you’re scared of only ordinary shit. Like murderers and ghosts and cancer on your skin. And not your soul, and what he might do with it. “
One of my longtime favorite acts is MISSIO, a duo from Austin, Texas comprised of singer-songwriter, musician and producer Matthew Brue and songwriter/producer and musician David Butler, who record music with the help of their silent third partner, producer and frequent collaborator Dwight Baker and drummer Jaydon Bean. I’ve written about them numerous times and four of their songs have reached #1 on my weekly Top 30. Their rip-roaring single “I Remember When” enters the top 10, leaping 14 spots to #8.
Debuting way up high at #9 is “You Got to Lose”, the latest single by another longtime favorite act of mine, Nashville-based blues rockers The Black Keys, made up of singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney, that sees them return to their garage-rock roots. The song was the lead single from their forthcoming 14th album Peaches!, set for release on May 1st, and it’s quite possibly the fiercest, most raw performance I’ve ever heard from the guys. Originally written in 1958 by Ike Turner, Auerbach’s cover takes inspiration from Earl Hooker’s 1969 blues version, and George Thorogood & The Destroyer’s fiery 1977 version. Recorded while Auerbach was caring for his now late father, who was dealing with the effects of a stroke and esophageal cancer, the song and album were a cathartic release for him. He explained “We weren’t making a record. We were just jamming, like this is for us. Really primal, in a moment when all the nerves were raw, just kinda screaming. We were going through a lot, trying to lift our spirits. I think my dad getting sick made me not give a fuck and just wanna scream for a bit.” (Genius)
Also entering the top 10 at #10 is “The Wreckage” by Los Angeles-based alt-rock band Silversun Pickups. The song is from their seventh album Tenterhooks, which dropped last month, and it’s become one of my favorites of theirs. Besides “You Got to Lose”, there are two other new additions to my chart, starting with “Fool’s Gold” by Bozeman, Montana-based folk band Buffalo Traffic Jam, who are new to me. Consisting of Frankie Cassidy and Nathan Ross, who met as students at Montana State University, they released their self-titled debut EP in 2024, and quickly amassed a huge following, with over 4 million monthly listeners on Spotify and more than 142,000 followers on Instagram. They followed up with several singles which culminated in the release of their six-track EP Take Me Home, which dropped last October and on which “Fool’s Gold” is featured. The poignant song is currently #3 on the Billboard AAA chart.
Debuting at #30 is “Heavy Foot” by folk artist Mon Rovîa, another act that’s new to me. Mon Rovîa is the music project of Afro-Appalachian singer-songwriter Janjay Lowe, who was born in Monrovia, Liberia and adopted at the age of seven by an American family with whom he variously lived in Florida, Montana, the Bahamas, and Tennessee, where he’s now based. The prolific musician began releasing music in 2020 and has since dropped six EPs and an album Bloodline, released in January. Like Buffalo Traffic Jam, Mon Rovîa has quickly garnered a huge following, with over 2.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, 2 million followers on Facebook and nearly a million followers on Instagram. I’m really liking his music and sweet vocals.
THE GREAT DIVIDE – Noah Kahan (2)
WHO’S YOUR BOYFRIEND – Royel Otis (1)
HULA GIRL – The Neighbourhood (4)
ZOMBIE – YUNGBLUD (3)
TO SPACE – Kings of Leon (5)
LOST YOUR GHOST – Two Feet (6)
DOUBLETAKE – Edgehill (10)
I REMEMBER WHEN – MISSIO (22)
YOU GOT TO LOSE – The Black Keys (N)
THE WRECKAGE – Silversun Pickups (12)
HUMAN – Brandi Carlile (7)
12 TO 12 – sombr (8) 22nd week on chart
WAITING FOR ME – Talk in Waves (14)
SWEET LOVE – Stephen Sanchez (16)
SLUMBER PARTY – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (17)
I’VE GOT A BROKEN HEART – The Lemon Twigs (9)
COBRA – Geese (15)
RUBBER BAND MAN – Mumford & Sons w/Hozier (11)
HEATHER – Secret Postal Society (19)
THE OLD LAW – Father John Misty (20)
BEDROOM POSTERS – Yellowcard feat. Good Charlotte (21)
Well, I thought 2024 was a trying year, but 2025 turned out to be an even bigger shitshow! Between the death of my cat and the unending nightmare of the odious and spectacularly corrupt Trump regime, it’s a wonder I (and millions of others) survived this year intact. Thankfully, there was lots of great music to help keep us relatively sane.
As I do at the end of each year, I’ve compiled a list of my 100 favorite songs for the past year. I’ve previously posted my list of the 100 Best Indie Songs of 2025 (which you can read here), and now this new list represents a compilation of my favorite songs of 2025 (23 of which also appear on my 100 Best Indie Songs list.) I avoid ranking albums, as there are simply far too many I’ve either not heard or had the time to fully listen to, therefore any list I might compile would be woefully inadequate.
As a music blogger, I’m exposed to a tremendous amount of new music over the course of a year, both from the thousands of artists and bands I follow, as well as all the music I learn about from fellow bloggers. Despite this, I’ve heard only a tiny fraction of all the music released in 2025, which was clearly evident to me when I perused the year-end best song lists of music sites and publications like Consequence, The Fader, Rolling Stone, NPR, etc. Therefore, my list includes only songs I know, and I’m certain there are likely hundreds of great ones that should be included, except that I’ve never heard them. Among the thousands of songs I did hear in 2025, there were many outstanding ones, and it frustrates me to have to cull my list down to only 100, omitting quite a few that I really like. It’s also a challenge ranking them, because a song at #40 isn’t necessarily any better than a song at #70. Perhaps it’s a pointless exercise to even rank them at all, except for the fact that I love making lists!
Music tastes are very subjective, and while I don’t understand how others cannot share my love for a particular song or artist, I fully realize that not one person will agree with all my song choices or rankings. I’m an unapologetic lover of pop, but also love dream rock, folk rock and alternative rock, so a lot of songs on my list reflect those genres. My favorite music artist this year was sombr (the hyper-talented 20-year-old American singer-songwriter and producer born Shane Michael Boose), who’s gorgeous, anthemic torch song “back to friends” is #1, while his equally great “undressed” is #11 and “12 to 12” comes in at #29. Also ranking highly are songs from favorite acts of mine who ranked highly on previous years lists, including Royel Otis, Lord Huron, Twenty One Pilots, Fontaines D.C., The Black Keys, Talk in Waves and Frank Joshua.
Most of the songs on this list were released in 2025, however, several were released in 2024 but didn’t ‘peak’ until 2025. Likewise, several songs released after November 1st are still moving up my weekly charts and won’t peak until early 2026, thus will appear on next year’s list. The few songs in this Top 100 that also appeared on my 100 Best Songs of 2024 list are indicated with an asterisk *. I’ve created both YouTube and Spotify playlists for this Top 100, which are included at the end of the post. Hopefully you’ll find some of your own personal favorites on it. Let me know what songs resonated with you in 2025.
BACK TO FRIENDS – sombr
THE FAITHFUL HEART – Wons Phreely + The Horses (my #1 indie song)
SO COLD – Balu Brigada
MOODY – Royel Otis
NOTHING I NEED – Lord Huron
NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys
IT’S AMAZING TO BE YOUNG – Fontaines D.C.
THE LINE (from Arcane League of Legends) – Twenty One Pilots
IMPOSTER SYNDROME – Fake Empire
FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall
UNDRESSED – sombr
SAD IN CAROLINA – Dexter and The Moonrocks *
TIME WAITED – My Morning Jacket
ENSENADA – Sublime
WALLS – Frank Joshua
ANOTHER LIFE – Alabama Shakes
THE CONTRACT – Twenty One Pilots
FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves
ARROW – The Head And The Heart
TAKE THIS HEART – Brian Lambert
THE WEATHER – All Time Low
BAD DREAMS – Teddy Swims
CITY WALLS – Twenty One Pilots
METAVERSE – Cage the Elephant
SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL
NEVER ENOUGH – TURNSTILE
PORCELAIN (LOSING ALL MY PATIENCE) – Somebody’s Child
JUPITER – almost monday feat. Jordana
12 TO 12 – sombr
PEOPLE WATCHING – Sam Fender
DRACULA – Tame Impala
THE NIGHT BEFORE – The Black Keys
BOBBY SOX – Green Day *
SUSHI AND COLA COLA – St. Paul & The Broken Bones
RUSHMERE – Mumford & Sons
CONTROLLER – Moody Moody
NEVERENDER – Justice feat. Tame Impala *
A TEAR IN SPACE (AIRLOCK) – Glass Animals *
ELEGANTLY WASTED – Hermanos Gutiérrez feat. Leon Bridges
BAD LARRY – Cloakroom
LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block
YOU’RE MY DRUG – Talk in Waves
THE TURNAROUND – DelCobras
BASIC BEING BASIC – Djo
BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada
ARCHBISHOP HAROLD HOLMES – Jack White
SAILOR SONG – Gigi Perez
AUTUMN LEAVES – Secret Postal Society
IN THE LIVING ROOM – Maggie Rogers
MISTAKES – Caamp
DOWNSTAIRS – Matt Maeson
LONDON TOWN – HEALER
MORTAL WOUND – The Veils
DETROIT – Badflower
POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost
LAREDO – Leon Bridges
CATCH THESE FISTS – Wet Leg
AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE – Nine Inch Nails
LUTHER – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
BETTER DAYS – Yellowcard
SAME OLD SONG – The Lumineers
SHE WANTS TO GO DANCING – Mt. Joy
STRAIGHT TO THE GROUND – Unquiet Nights
RIPPLE – Good Neighbours
BETTER OFF EVENTUALLY – Bealby Point
SNAKESKIN – NAVE
THE FATE OF OPHELIA – Taylor Swift
BARBARIAN – AWOLNATION
BONNET OF PINS – Matt Berninger
ORDINARY CREATURE – Of Monsters and Men
POOR SAD INDIE EVERYTHING – Icarus Phoenix
WITHOUT A DOUBT – Charm School
ASSHOLE – The Lumineers
GILD THE LILY – Billy Strings
SPECTER – Bad Omens
LIGHT YEARS APART – Unobliterated
LET THINGS GO – Caamp
RITALIN – Dexter and The Moonrocks
SO FAR SO FAKE – Pierce the Veil
THE FEAR – Future Theory
THE SUBWAY – Chappell Roan
SPIKE ISLAND – Pulp
WRECK – Neko Case
MOTHER – Lyia Meta & Mark Allen Lanoue
BLOOM BABY BLOOM – Wolf Alice
DAY & NIGHT – Oli Barton
LUCY – Mt. Joy
WHO’S A FRAUD? – Still Traffico
HORNETS – Western Jaguar
ANKLES – Lucy Dacus
HESITATE – Meltt
GIVING UP – Michigander
THREE SIX FIVE – Shinedown
RELATIONSHIPS – HAIM
AFTERLIFE – Alex G
GET THE MESSAGE – The Paradox
DANG – Rainbow Kitten Surprise
SUGAR ON MY TONGUE – Tyler, The Creator
WHAT WAS THAT – Lorde
AFTERLIFE – Sharon Van Etten
Honorable Mention (these songs would rank #s 101-115):
“undressed” by charismatic young artist sombr remains at #1 for a second week, while “Five More Seconds” by English duo Seafret and Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall moves up two spots to #2, and “Ensenada” by Southern California ska punk band Sublime also advances two spots, to #3. Nine Inch Nails‘ “As Alive As You Need Me To Be” enters the top 10 at #9, and “Sushi and Coca-Cola” by Alabama soul band St. Paul & The Broken Bones leaps 10 spots to #16, making it the biggest upward mover on this week’s chart.
Two songs make their debut, the first of which is “City Walls” by my longtime favorite band Twenty One Pilots, consisting of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun. The song replaces their previous single “The Contract”, which falls off my chart after its 14-week run. Both songs are from their eighth and latest album Breach, which dropped September 12th.
The second debut is the hauntingly beautiful “Specter” by American alternative melodic metalcore band Bad Omens. Formed in 2015, the band now consists of Noah Sebastian (lead vocals, programming), Nicholas Ruffilo (bass, backing vocals), Joakim “Jolly” Karlsson (guitars, programming) Nick Folio (drums, percussion). Their magnificent song “THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND” spent four weeks at #7 on my chart in late 2023 and finished the year at #56.
UNDRESSED – sombr (1)
FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall (4)
ENSENADA – Sublime (5)
JUPITER – almost monday feat. Jordana (2)
SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (3)
BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (7)
BETTER DAYS – Yellowcard (9)
LIGHT YEARS APART – Unobliterated (10)
AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE – Nine Inch Nails (11)
POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost (6)
HORNETS – Western Jaguar (14)
MISTAKES – Caamp (15)
THE WEATHER – All Time Low (16)
ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (8)
WRECK – Neko Case (22)
SUSHI AND COCA-COLA – St. Paul & The Broken Bones (26)
MY MIND IS A MOUNTAIN – Deftones (13)
DOWNSTAIRS – Matt Maeson (24)
EVERYBODY SCREAM – Florence + The Machine (25)
ELEGANTLY WASTED – Hermanos Gutiérrez feat. Leon Bridges (28)
ANOTHER LIFE – Alabama Shakes (29)
MOODY – Royel Otis (17)
METAL – The Beths (18)
EVERYDAY MAGIC – My Morning Jacket (19)
FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (12) 20th week on chart
There are some major changes to my chart this week, with a great new #1 song and four terrific new debuts. New York City born and now Los Angeles based sombr (the musical moniker of 20-year-old singer-songwriter and producer Shane Michael Boose) scores his second #1 song on my chart with “undressed” (“back to friends” spent three weeks at #1 in July). Both songs are featured on his debut album I Barely Know Her, which dropped August 22nd. I think the 6-foot, 7-inch tall young man is one of the finest new artists to emerge on the music scene this year.
“Light Years Apart” by Unobliterated, the music project of England-born and now Portugal-based singer-songwriter and musician Gary Taylor, enters the top 10 at #10. And “Mistakes” by Columbus, Ohio-based bluegrass-folk band Caamp, and The Weather” by Maryland pop-punk/rock band All Time Low are the biggest upward movers this week, each climbing eight spots to #15 and #16, respectively.
There were at least seven songs I wanted to add to this week’s chart, but not ready to drop that many off in order to accommodate them all, I had to limit my new additions to only four, the first of which is the delightful “Sushi and Coca-Cola” by soul band St. Paul & The Broken Bones, entering at #26. Formed in Birmingham, Alabama in 2012, the eight-piece consists of Paul Janeway (vocals), Browan Lollar (guitar), Jesse Phillips (bass), Kevin Leon (drums), Al Gamble (keys), Allen Branstetter (trumpet), Amari Ansari (saxophone), and Chad Fisher (trombone). Though they’ve released five albums, two EPs and numerous singles, I’ve somehow never heard of them until recently, when I saw “Sushi and Coca-Cola” rise up the Billboard AAA chart, where it currently sits at #2. I’m loving their soulful jazz-infused sound.
The second debut, coming in at #28, is the enchanting “Elegantly Wasted” by Hermanos Gutiérrez, featuring vocals by one of my favorite singers Leon Bridges. Hermanos Gutiérrez (Spanish for “Gutiérrez Brothers”) is a Latin instrumental band formed in 2015 in Zürich by Ecuadorian-Swiss brothers Alejandro Gutiérrez (guitar and lap steel) and Estevan Gutiérrez (guitar and percussion). The talented duo is totally new to me despite the fact they’ve released seven albums since 2017. One of them, El Bueno y el Malo, was recorded in Nashville in collaboration with Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys and released on his label Easy Eye Sound in 2022.
Next up is “Another Life” from another Alabama act, Alabama Shakes, a blues rock band comprised of Brittany Howard (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Heath Fogg (lead guitar and vocals) and Zac Cockrell (bass). Formed in 2009, they released two albums, three EPs and numerous singles, including their big 2015 hit “Don’t Wanna Fight”, before going on hiatus in 2018 so that Howard could focus on her solo career (under which she’s released two critically acclaimed albums). They reunited this past December, and on August 29th, released “Another Life”, their first new music as a band in ten years. It’s great having them back!
Last but certainly not least is “Ordinary Creature” by Icelandic folk/rock band Of Monsters and Men, another act I’m happy has released new music, as I’ve been a fan since hearing their debut single “Little Talks” back in early 2012. Formed in 2010, the five-piece consists of lead singer and guitarist Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir (guitar and lead vocals) Ragnar “Raggi” Þórhallsson (guitar and vocals), Brynjar Leifsson (lead guitar), Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson (drums), and Kristján Páll Kristjánsson (bass). “Ordinary Creature” will be featured on their forthcoming fourth studio album All Is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade, due for release on October 17th.
UNDRESSED – sombr (2)
JUPITER – almost monday feat. Jordana (1)
SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (3)
FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall (4)
ENSENADA – Sublime (6)
POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost (5)
BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (8)
ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (9)
BETTER DAYS – Yellowcard (10)
LIGHT YEARS APART – Unobliterated (11)
AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE – Nine Inch Nails (14)
FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (7)
MY MIND IS A MOUNTAIN – Deftones (17)
HORNETS – Western Jaguar (19)
MISTAKES – Caamp (23)
THE WEATHER – All Time Low (24)
MOODY – Royel Otis (18)
METAL – The Beths (20)
EVERYDAY MAGIC – My Morning Jacket (21)
LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (12)
NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (14)
WRECK – Neko Case (25)
LONDON TOWN – HEALER (15)
DOWNSTAIRS – Matt Maeson (27)
EVERYBODY SCREAM – Florence + The Machine (30)
SUSHI AND COCA-COLA – St. Paul & The Broken Bones (N)
THE CONTRACT – Twenty One Pilots (22)
ELEGANTLY WASTED – Hermanos Gutiérrez feat. Leon Bridges (N)
Given that America is now an idiocracy that’s also descending into full-blown authoritarianism under our brazenly corrupt and cruel lunatic of a president, his evil, sycophantic cabinet, a completely spineless Congress and an unethical shadow docket-loving Supreme Court (not to mention the recent loss of our beloved cat), it’s been difficult for me to feel positive about anything these days, including music. That said, I can’t not compile my weekly list of favorite current songs, therefore will continue to bore my readers with my Weekly Top 30 charts.
Furthermore, though I’m now a tired old man, I’ve never lost my love for pop music, which is reflected in quite a few songs on this week’s list, starting with my new #1 song “jupiter” by San Diego-based indie pop band almost monday (comprised of Dawson Daugherty on vocals, Cole Clisby on guitar, and Luke Fabry on bass), featuring added vocals by L.A.-based indie pop singer-songwriter Jordana. The song was originally included on almost monday’s 2014 album DIVE as a recording by only the band, but a newer version with Jordana singing backing vocals, released in January on a deluxe version of DIVE, has become a big hit for them both.
More great pop abounds with “undressed” by sombr, which moves into second place, the rousing “Five More Seconds” by English duo Seafret and Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall at #4, and “polyester (yes sir)” by Los Angeles-based pop-rock band Sorry Ghost at #5. Three songs – “Ensenada” by Southern California ska punk band Sublime, “Asshole” by Denver, Colorado-based duo The Lumineers, and “Better Days” by Los Angeles-based pop punk band Yellowcard – enter the top 10 at #s 6, 9 and 10, respectively. “Better Days” recently spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart.
The lone new debut this week is “Everybody Scream” by English indie rock act Florence + the Machine, a longtime favorite of mine who’s previously topped my chart with “Hunger” in 2018 and “My Love” in 2022, which ranks #2 on my 100 Best Songs of 2022 list (I can’t believe it’s already been three years!). Released on August 20th, “Everybody Scream” is the title track from their forthcoming sixth studio album, set to drop October 31st.
JUPITER – almost monday feat. Jordana (2)
UNDRESSED – sombr (3)
SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (1)
FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall (5)
POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost (6)
ENSENADA – Sublime (12)
FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (4)
BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (10)
ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (11)
BETTER DAYS – Yellowcard (14)
LIGHT YEARS APART – Unobliterated (15)
LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (7)
NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (8)
AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE – Nine Inch Nails (16)
Talk in Waves holds onto the top spot for a second week with his exuberant ear worm “Feels Right”, while ROLE MODEL moves up two spots into second place this week with his delightful “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out”. London singer-songwriter Art Block remains at #3 with his darkly beautiful “Love Is A Fire”. The prolific artist has released three more singles since “Love Is A Fire”, and in fact, numerous acts have since dropped newer singles than their songs on this chart, including Healer, almost monday, sombr, Sorry Ghost, Twenty One Pilots, Royel Otis, Unobliterated, Western Jaguar, Caamp and Matt Maeson, and I simply cannot keep up with them all! “Five More Seconds” by English duo Seafret and Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall enters the top 10 at #9.
There are two new debuts again this week, the first of which is “”Wreck” by American singer-songwriter Neko Case, who since the late 1990s has released music both as a solo artist (including with her backing band Her Boyfriends) and as a member and lead singer of Canadian indie rock band The New Pornographers. “Wreck” is the lead single from her forthcoming eighth studio album Neon Grey MidnightGreen, to be released on September 26. The second debut, entering at #30, is “Downstairs” by American singer-songwriter and musician Matt Maeson. The song is featured on his third and latest album A Quiet and Harmless Living, which dropped this past Friday, September 12th. Matt’s great single “Hallucinogenics” ranks #5 on my 100 Best Songs of 2020 list.
FEELS RIGHT – Talk in Waves (1)
SALLY, WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT – ROLE MODEL (4)
LOVE IS A FIRE – Art Block (3)
NO RAIN, NO FLOWERS – The Black Keys (2)
LONDON TOWN – Healer (5)
JUPITER – almost monday ft. Jordana (8)
UNDRESSED – sombr (9)
POLYESTER (YES SIR) – Sorry Ghost (10)
FIVE MORE SECONDS – Seafret & KT Tunstall (11)
THE CONTRACT – Twenty One Pilots (6)
MOODY – Royel Otis (7)
BACKSEAT – Balu Brigada (12)
ASSHOLE – The Lumineers (14)
TODAY’S SONG – Foo Fighters (15)
BETTER DAYS – Yellowcard (16)
LIGHT YEARS APART – Unobliterated (18)
UNRAVELLING – Muse (20)
AFTERLIFE – Alex G (21)
AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE – Nine Inch Nails (22)
ECLECTIC MUSIC LOVER 