Tag: The Marias

Top 30 Songs for September 15-21, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's11 Comments

Three and a half months after its release, “Lost In Space” by Foster the People finally ascends to the #1 spot, something I would not have predicted when it first appeared on my chart 12 weeks ago. Though they’ve been one of my favorite bands for well over 10 years, I wasn’t sure about the song at first. With its throwback disco/funk beat and heavy electronic vibe , it sounded quite different from anything they’d done before. In time, however, it eventually grew on me to the point where I now love it. I like its exuberant cinematic feel, especially the lush orchestral strings. “Lost In Space” was the lead single from their fourth studio album Paradise State of Mind, released on August 16, and is their fourth song to top my chart, following “Pumped Up Kicks”, “Coming of Age” and “Sit Next To Me”.

Still based in Los Angeles since forming in 2009, Foster the People now consists of founding member and front man Mark Foster and multi-instrumentalist Isom Innis, who started as a touring member of the band way back in 2010. A lot has happened with Foster and the band since the release of their 2017 album Sacred Hearts Club; he got sober in 2018, married actress Julia Garner in 2019, and saw the departure of the band’s founding drummer Mark Pontius in early 2021 during the waning days of the Covid pandemic, when they were unable to tour or perform live. All these changes caused Foster to look inward. In an interview with GRAMMY.com, he explained “I just dove into myself, really unpacking a lot of things emotionally, psychologically. Finding out who Mark is outside of music and getting comfortable with that.” He decided to explore new musical sounds for their next record Paradise State of Mind, diving into the disco/funk crossover pioneered by artists like Nile Rodgers and Giorgio Moroder in the late ’70s, utilizing synth stylings similar to that of P-Funk’s Bernie Worrell. In a Reddit thread, he noted that 95% of the synths are analog, and all of the strings are live.

The colorful video, a great deal of which is shot in vivid red hues, was directed by Rupert Höller. It’s kind of a modernized and trippy take on the Busby Berkeley movie musicals of the 1930s, with Mark Foster filmed on various sets, one of them a tall red staircase, and surrounded by lots of dancers. Though it’s a pretty enjoyable video overall, I can’t figure out the intended meaning of all those hands swaying, fluttering and caressing Foster’s face.

In other chart news of note, Virginia-based singer-songwriter Jake Mimikos, who’s been recording and releasing music as The Frontier for the past 10 years, has just changed his music moniker to Talk in waves, to reflect his evolving sound. His latest single “Like You Do” advances a spot to #3. English singer-songwriters Lola Young and Myles Smith enter the top 10 with their songs “Messy” and “Stargazing”, each moving up two spots to #9 and #10, respectively.

Three marvelous songs make their debut this week, the first of which is the lovely and captivating “Peaceful Place” by enormously talented Texas-based singer-songwriter Leon Bridges. I love his pleasing style of R&B-influenced neo soul, particularly his smooth and warm vocals. The song is the lead single from his fourth studio album Leon, scheduled for release on October 4, 2024, and marks Bridges’ sixth appearance on my chart, four times as a solo artist and twice in collaboration with Texas-based psych rock band Khruangbin. His beautiful song “Bad Bad News” ranks #29 on my Top 100 Songs of the 2010’s list.

Entering at #29 is the delightful “can’t slow down” by San Diego-based indie pop trio almost monday. It’s their second appearance on my chart, their first being their 2020 single “broken people”. They’ll be releasing their debut studio album Dive on September 25th. Last, but certainly not least, is “Favourite” by Irish band Fontaines D.C., the second single to be released from their outstanding latest album Romance, which dropped August 23rd. Along with “Starburster”, which spent three weeks at #1 and currently sits at #4, “Favourite” gives the band two songs on this chart.

  1. LOST IN SPACE – Foster the People (3)
  2. THE CRAVING – twenty one pilots (1)
  3. LIKE YOU DO – Talk in waves (4)
  4. STARBURSTER – Fontaines D.C. (2)
  5. OH NO! – The Decemberists (6)
  6. ESPRESSO – Sabrina Carpenter (8)
  7. HIGH IN LOW PLACES – Beach Weather (5)
  8. RAINBOW – Cage the Elephant (10)
  9. MESSY – Lola Young (11)
  10. STARGAZING – Myles Smith (12)
  11. PANORAMIC VIEW – AWOLNATION (7)
  12. BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish (14)
  13. GOOD LUCK, BABE! – Chappell Roan (15)
  14. WHAT IF I FEEL LIKE THIS MY WHOLE LIFE? – HULLAH (9)
  15. YOU JUST PLAYED MY MIND – Oli Barton (16)
  16. WAR – Healer (18)
  17. HONEY – Mr Bewlay (19)
  18. INTO GOLD – London Grammar (20)
  19. THAT’S HOW I’M FEELING – Jack White (21)
  20. DEATH VALLEY HIGH – Orville Peck & Beck (22)
  21. WAKING LIFE – Nicholas a. Milillo feat. Dee Wolf, Bobby Jasso, Gabrielle Marella and the voice of Tony Milillo (13)
  22. PERMANENT RECORD – GG Fearn (26)
  23. BIG CAT TATTOOS – Hamish Hawk (27)
  24. A FORETOLD ECSTASY – Mayflower Madame (17)
  25. HOLOGRAM – Raker (29)
  26. GARMONBOZIA – Flying Lotus (30)
  27. RUN YOUR MOUTH – The Marías (24)
  28. PEACEFUL PLACE – Leon Bridges (N)
  29. CAN’T SLOW DOWN – almost monday (N)
  30. FAVOURITE – Fontaines D.C. (N)

Top 30 Songs for September 1-7, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's11 Comments

twenty one pilots hold on to the top spot for a second week with their heartwarming love song “The Craving”, while Fontaines D.C., AWOLNATION and Beach Weather remain at #2, 3 & 4 for a second week with “Starburster”, “Panoramic View” and “High In Low Places”, respectively. Northern Virginia singer-songwriter The Frontier‘s uplifting song of tribute “Like You Do” moves up a notch to #5, and the melancholy and introspective “What if i feel like this my whole life?” by English singer-songwriter HULLAH enters the top 10 at #9. He just released another new single “Roads” this past Friday, August 30th. The biggest upward mover this week is “Messy” by English singer-songwriter Lola Young, advancing nine spots to #12.

Debuting this week are three great songs by innovative and rather unorthodox artists, the first of which is “That’s How I’m Feeling” by Detroit-born and now Nashville-based singer-songwriter and guitarist extraordinaire Jack White. The song is from his sixth studio album No Name, which dropped August 2nd. White gained more of my respect a few days ago when he posted this scathing rant against the despicable Donald Trump after a woman named Margo Martin played “Seven Nation Army” at one of his campaign rallies: “Oh….Don’t even think about using my music you fascists. Law suit coming from my lawyers about this (to add to your 5 thousand others.) Have a great day at work today Margo Martin. And as long as I’m here, a double fuck you DonOLD for insulting our nation’s veterans at Arlington you scum. You should lose every military family’s vote immediately from that if ANYTHING makes sense anymore.” His words pretty closely mirror my feelings for the odious mutherfucker.

The second debut is the delightfully catchy “Death Valley High” by enigmatic gay alt-country singer-songwriter Orville Peck (born Daniel Pitout in Johannesburg, South Africa, and known for always wearing a mask so as not to show his face publicly) and legendary singer-songwriter Beck. Co-written with Beck, the song is from Peck’s third studio album Stampede, also released on August 2nd. The album features 16 tracks, all of which are duets with other artists. Beck’s influence is immediately apparent, as the song features a riff that’s similar to the recent Black Keys #1 hit song “Beautiful People (Stay High)”, which he also co-wrote and produced.

The third debut, entering at #30, is “Big Cat Tattoos” by Scottish singer-songwriter Hamish Hawk, whose music has been described as sophisti-pop, post-punk and art rock. His rich baritone voice has been compared to those of Scott Walker, Neil Hannon and Morrissey. Released in late April, the song is from his third solo studio album A Firmer Hand, which dropped August 16th. The critically acclaimed album features 12 tracks touching on Hawk’s relationships with the men in his life including friends, lovers, family members and colleagues, and exploring themes of sex, lust, rejection, masculinity, shame and sexual repression.

  1. THE CRAVING – twenty one pilots (1)
  2. STARBURSTER – Fontaines D.C. (2)
  3. PANORAMIC VIEW – AWOLNATION (3)
  4. HIGH IN LOW PLACES – Beach Weather (4)
  5. LIKE YOU DO – The Frontier (6)
  6. LOST IN SPACE – Foster the People (7)
  7. OH NO! – The Decemberists (8)
  8. ESPRESSO – Sabrina Carpenter (10)
  9. WHAT IF I FEEL LIKE THIS MY WHOLE LIFE? – HULLAH (11)
  10. A FORETOLD ECSTASY – Mayflower Madame (5)
  11. RAINBOW – Cage the Elephant (15)
  12. MESSY – Lola Young (21)
  13. WAKING LIFE – Nicholas a. Milillo feat. Dee Wolf, Bobby Jasso, Gabrielle Marella and the voice of Tony Milillo (18)
  14. LUNCH – Billie Eilish (9)
  15. STARGAZING – Myles Smith (19)
  16. RUN YOUR MOUTH – The Marías (13)
  17. I HAD SOME HELP – Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen (12)
  18. YOU JUST PLAYED MY MIND – Oli Barton (20)
  19. BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish (24)
  20. GOOD LUCK, BABE! – Chappell Roan (25)
  21. WAR – Healer (22)
  22. HONEY – Mr Bewlay (23)
  23. WRECKAGE – Pearl Jam (14)
  24. PAYBACK – Aaron Frazer (17)
  25. END OF BEGINNING – Djo (16)
  26. INTO GOLD – London Grammar (29)
  27. PERMANENT RECORD – GG Fearn (30)
  28. THAT’S HOW I’M FEELING – Jack White (N)
  29. DEATH VALLEY HIGH – Orville Peck & Beck (N)
  30. BIG CAT TATTOOS – Hamish Hawk (N)

Top 30 Songs for August 25-31, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's13 Comments

Ever since learning about them nearly 10 years ago, twenty one pilots have ranked among my all-time favorite music acts. Their 2015 masterpiece Blurryface is one of my top 10 favorite albums of all time. Still based in their hometown of Columbus, Ohio, the dynamic duo consists of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun. Joseph is a brilliant and imaginative songwriter, as well as a damn fine rapper, and Dun is one of the best drummers around today. Their eclectic sound is a blend of alternative rock, hip hop, synth-pop, bedroom pop, emo rap, indie and garage rock.

This past May, they released their seventh album Clancy, the final installment of their nearly decade-long series of conceptual albums. Clancy concludes the storyline of the character Clancy, who resides in the fictional dystopian city of Dema in the metaphysical world of Trench we were introduced to on their 2018 album Trench. The album was co-produced by Joseph and his frequent collaborator Paul Meany, a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music director and producer who’s also front man of alt-rock act Mutemath. One of the album’s tracks, “The Craving”, was released in two different versions, one being the album cut featuring a stripped-down acoustic arrangement subtitled “Jenna’s Version”, and the other the single version featuring a fuller arrangement. Joseph wrote the song as a dedication to his wife Jenna. The beautiful single version is my new #1 song this week, making it twenty one pilots’ 11th song to reach #1 on my chart (their previous single “Overcompensate” recently peaked at #2).

In other chart news of note, Sabrina Carpenter‘s breezy dance-pop gem “Espresso” climbs six spots to enter the top 10 at #10, and Lola Young‘s powerfully defiant “Messy” moves up six spots to #21. Two songs make their debut this week: entering at #29 is the hauntingly beautiful “Into Gold” by English indie pop trio London Grammar. Formed in 2009 the band consists of Hannah Reid, Dan Rothman and Dominic “Dot” Major. They’ve released three albums thus far, with a fourth, The Greatest Love, due for release later this year. Though their albums have been quite successful in the UK, many European countries and Australia, some reaching #1 in those countries, they’ve had only limited success in the U.S. “Into Gold” was released on June 21st as the third single from The Greatest Love, and marks London Grammar’s first appearance on my chart. Entering at #30 is the topically relevant and captivating “Permanent Record” by Welsh singer-songwriter GG Fearn, which I reviewed last month. The talented artist just released her album “Scopophobia”, a soundtrack to the independent Welsh horror film of the same name, featuring “Permanent Record”, along with previously-released songs and new ones written especially for the film.

  1. THE CRAVING – twenty one pilots (2)
  2. STARBURSTER – Fontaines D.C. (1)
  3. PANORAMIC VIEW – AWOLNATION (4)
  4. HIGH IN LOW PLACES – Beach Weather (3)
  5. A FORETOLD ECSTASY – Mayflower Madame (5)
  6. LIKE YOU DO – The Frontier (7)
  7. LOST IN SPACE – Foster the People (8)
  8. OH NO! – The Decemberists (10)
  9. LUNCH – Billie Eilish (6)
  10. ESPRESSO – Sabrina Carpenter (16)
  11. WHAT IF I FEEL LIKE THIS MY WHOLE LIFE? – HULLAH (14)
  12. I HAD SOME HELP – Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen (12)
  13. RUN YOUR MOUTH – The Marías (13)
  14. WRECKAGE – Pearl Jam (9)
  15. RAINBOW – Cage the Elephant (17)
  16. END OF BEGINNING – Djo (11)
  17. PAYBACK – Aaron Frazer (15)
  18. WAKING LIFE – Nicholas a. Milillo feat. Dee Wolf, Bobby Jasso, Gabrielle Marella and the voice of Tony Milillo (20)
  19. STARGAZING – Myles Smith (21)
  20. YOU JUST PLAYED MY MIND – Oli Barton (23)
  21. MESSY – Lola Young (27)
  22. WAR – Healer (24)
  23. HONEY – Mr Bewlay (26)
  24. BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish (29)
  25. GOOD LUCK, BABE! – Chappell Roan (30)
  26. BABY BLUE MOVIE – Cigarettes After Six (25)
  27. CREATURES IN HEAVEN – Glass Animals (18)
  28. TOO SWEET – Hozier (19) 20th week on chart
  29. INTO GOLD – London Grammar (N)
  30. PERMANENT RECORD – GG Fearn (N)

Top 30 Songs for August 18-24, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's18 Comments

I’m still enthralled with Fontaines D.C.‘s bombastic and unsettling masterpiece “Starburster”, consequently it remains at #1 on my Top 30 chart for a third week. twenty one pilots and Beach Weather hold the #2 and #3 spots again this week with their beautiful songs “The Craving” and “High in Low Places”, while “Panoramic View” by AWOLNATION moves back up to #4. Norwegian psych-noir duo Mayflower Madame‘s darkwave gem “A Foretold Ecstasy” moves up two spots to #5 and The Decemberists move up a notch to enter the top 10 with their delightful Latin-esque “Oh No!”

Two songs, both of which have been out for a while, finally enter my chart this week. At #29 is the enchanting “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish, giving her two songs on this chart, the other being “LUNCH”, which currently sits at #6. Both songs are from her latest album HIT ME HARD AND SOFT.

Coming in at #30 is “Good Luck, Babe!” by Missouri-born and now L.A.-based singer-songwriter sensation Chappell Roan. With her campy music aesthetic and performing style heavily influenced by drag queens, she’s recently gone viral, and I’ve happily climbed aboard the Chappell Roan bandwagon! Her debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, released in September 2023, was not an immediate commercial success despite being included on several best albums of 2023 lists. But following her run as an opening act for Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour, which ran from February-April 2024, and performances at music festivals like Coachella, Governors Ball and Lollapalooza, where she allegedly broke the record for the most crowded set at that festival’s history, Roan and her album eventually garnered a cult following. By mid-2024, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess had climbed numerous worldwide charts, reaching #1 in Ireland, New Zealand and the UK, and the top five in Australia and on the US Billboard 200 Album chart. Subsequently, several of the album’s singles entered various charts for the first time since their release, along with her follow-up single “Good Luck, Babe!”, which reached the top 10 in many countries, making it her most successful single to date.

  1. STARBURSTER – Fontaines D.C. (1)
  2. THE CRAVING – twenty one pilots (2)
  3. HIGH IN LOW PLACES – Beach Weather (3)
  4. PANORAMIC VIEW – AWOLNATION (5)
  5. A FORETOLD ECSTASY – Mayflower Madame (7)
  6. LUNCH – Billie Eilish (8)
  7. LIKE YOU DO – The Frontier (9)
  8. LOST IN SPACE – Foster the People (10)
  9. WRECKAGE – Pearl Jam (4)
  10. OH NO! – The Decemberists (11)
  11. END OF BEGINNING – Djo (6)
  12. I HAD SOME HELP – Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen (12)
  13. RUN YOUR MOUTH – The Marías (16)
  14. WHAT IF I FEEL LIKE THIS MY WHOLE LIFE? – HULLAH (17)
  15. PAYBACK – Aaron Frazer (18)
  16. ESPRESSO – Sabrina Carpenter (19)
  17. RAINBOW – Cage the Elephant (20)
  18. CREATURES IN HEAVEN – Glass Animals (13)
  19. TOO SWEET – Hozier (14) 19th week on chart
  20. WAKING LIFE – Nicholas a. Milillo feat. Dee Wolf, Bobby Jasso, Gabrielle Marella and the voice of Tony Milillo (21)
  21. STARGAZING – Myles Smith (22)
  22. VICES – 5ilas & Shimmer Johnson (15)
  23. YOU JUST PLAYED MY MIND – Oli Barton (25)
  24. WAR – Healer (26)
  25. BABY BLUE MOVIE – Cigarettes After Sex (27)
  26. HONEY – Mr Bewlay (28)
  27. MESSY – Lola Young (29)
  28. DOWNING STREET – Brain Ape (30)
  29. BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish (N)
  30. GOOD LUCK, BABE! – Chappell Roan (N)

Top 30 Songs for August 11-17, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's5 Comments
Photo of Fontaines D.C. taken from their Facebook account

Last week’s top seven songs remain in the top seven this week, with the irrepressible Fontaines D.C. holding on to the top spot for a second week with their darkly beautiful and bombastic tour de force “Starburster”. twenty one pilots and Beach Weather switch places, with the former’s “The Craving” moving into the #2 spot. Entering the top 10 are “Like You Do” by a long-time favorite of mine, Virginia-based singer-songwriter The Frontier, and “Lost In Space” by another long-time favorite band Foster the People. Fun fact: I’ve seen twenty one pilots, Beach Weather and Foster the People in concert.

“Oh No!” by The Decemberists jumps eight spots to #11, making it the biggest upward mover for a second week. Two songs make their debut, the first of which is “Messy”, a defiant song of self affirmation by English singer-songwriter and musician Lola Young. I heard the song on a recent post by fellow blogger Katie Hartless on her wonderful blog Yard Sale of Thoughts, and loved it at first listen. Though Lola Young has been recording and releasing music for the past five years, I wasn’t familiar with her or her music. Her provocative songwriting and smoky vocal style have earned her comparisons with the late Amy Winehouse. “Messy” is from her third album This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway, which dropped June 21st. The second debut, entering at #30, is “downing street” by innovative London-based alt-rock band Brain Ape, who I’ve featured many times on this blog. I reviewed the song when it came out last month.

  1. STARBURSTER – Fontaines D.C. (1)
  2. THE CRAVING – twenty one pilots (3)
  3. HIGH IN LOW PLACES – Beach Weather (2)
  4. WRECKAGE – Pearl Jam (4)
  5. PANORAMIC VIEW – AWOLNATION (5)
  6. END OF BEGINNING – Djo (6)
  7. A FORETOLD ECSTASY – Mayflower Madame (7)
  8. LUNCH – Billie Eilish (9)
  9. LIKE YOU DO – The Frontier (11)
  10. LOST IN SPACE – Foster the People (12)
  11. OH NO! – The Decemberists (19)
  12. I HAD SOME HELP – Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen (14)
  13. CREATURES IN HEAVEN – Glass Animals (8)
  14. TOO SWEET – Hozier (10)
  15. VICES – 5ilas & Shimmer Johnson (15)
  16. RUN YOUR MOUTH – The Marías (16)
  17. WHAT IF I FEEL LIKE THIS MY WHOLE LIFE? – HULLAH (17)
  18. PAYBACK – Aaron Frazer (18)
  19. ESPRESSO – Sabrina Carpenter (20)
  20. RAINBOW – Cage the Elephant (21)
  21. WAKING LIFE – Nicholas a. Milillo feat. Dee Wolf, Bobby Jasso, Gabrielle Marella and the voice of Tony Milillo (24)
  22. STARGAZING – Myles Smith (28)
  23. ON THE GAME – The Black Keys (13)
  24. JUST WANNA SLEEP – Halfloves (25)
  25. YOU JUST PLAYED MY MIND – Oli Barton (26)
  26. WAR – Healer (27)
  27. BABY BLUE MOVIE – Cigarettes After Sex (29)
  28. HONEY – Mr Bewlay (30)
  29. MESSY – Lola Young (N)
  30. DOWNING STREET – Brain Ape (N)

Top 30 Songs for August 4-10, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's9 Comments

Irish alt-rock band Fontaines D.C. are one of the most exciting and interesting acts making music today, and I love their always arresting sound, thanks in part to charismatic lead vocalist Grian Chatten’s distinctive baritone Irish brogue. Formed in Dublin in 2017 and now based in London, in addition to Chatten, the band is comprised of Carlos O’Connell (guitar), Conor Curley (guitar), Conor Deegan III (bass), and Tom Coll (drums). They’ve released three critically acclaimed albums since 2018 (none of which have charted on the Billboard 200 Album chart, which is a travesty), with a fourth, Romance, due for release on August 23.

“Starburster”, the bombastic lead single from Romance, rises to the pinnacle of my Top 30 chart this week. It’s one of the most sonically thrilling and complex songs I’ve heard in a while, and I could listen to it on an endless loop. It’s become their highest-charting single in the U.S. thus far and, shockingly, their first to ever make the UK and Canadian singles charts.

The song was inspired by a panic attack that Chatten suffered in London’s St Pancras tube station, and the jarring gasps heard at the end of each line suggest the gasps or quick breaths of someone experiencing a panic attack. To drive home their message, Fontaines D.C. start with a foreboding Mellotron string loop quickly followed by an elegant piano riff before the music explodes into a bombastic soundscape of stomping trip hop beats, sharp percussion and reverb-soaked twangy guitars. Chatten does a fine job with his commanding rapid-fire rapping of the lyrics, which he’d previously done on the collaborative single “Better Way To Live” with Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap. The song transitions to a calm interlude in the bridge with a majestic string arrangement and Chatten’s vocals now a warm and soothing croon, then finishes with a return of the stomping beats and jarring music. I love it!

The song’s rather unsettling video, directed by Aube Pierre, features Chatten performing a variety of daily activities in differing personas ranging from angelic to demonic, sometimes wounded and other times wearing a mask or wig. It’s as ambiguous and scattered as the song’s lyrics.

In other notable chart developments, Billie Eilish‘s “LUNCH” enters the top 10 at #9, and The Decemberists‘ “Oh No!” leaps nine spots to #19, making it the biggest upward mover this week. Three newish songs make their debut this week, starting with “Stargazing” by English singer-songwriter Myles Smith, entering at #28. He wrote the song along with Jesse Fink and Peter Fenn after being inspired while watching a sunset together in Malibu. The song has become his biggest hit yet, and first to chart in the U.S. Next up is “Baby Blue Movie” by Texas dream pop band Cigarettes After Sex. Released on June 4th, the captivating ethereal song was the third single from their recently-released third studio album X’s. The third new entry is the sensuous “Honey” by Welsh art pop artist Mr Bewlay, which I reviewed in late June. This is the first appearance on my chart for all three acts.

  1. STARBURSTER – Fontaines D.C. (3)
  2. HIGH IN LOW PLACES – Beach Weather (1)
  3. THE CRAVING – twenty one pilots (4)
  4. WRECKAGE – Pearl Jam (2)
  5. PANORAMIC VIEW – AWOLNATION (5)
  6. END OF BEGINNING – Djo (7)
  7. A FORETOLD ECSTASY – Mayflower Madame (9)
  8. CREATURES IN HEAVEN – Glass Animals (6)
  9. LUNCH – Billie Eilish (11)
  10. TOO SWEET – Hozier (8)
  11. LIKE YOU DO – The Frontier (14)
  12. LOST IN SPACE – Foster the People (15)
  13. ON THE GAME – The Black Keys (10)
  14. I HAD SOME HELP – Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen (16)
  15. VICES – 5ilas & Shimmer Johnson (17)
  16. RUN YOUR MOUTH – The Marías (18)
  17. WHAT IF I FEEL LIKE THIS MY WHOLE LIFE? – HULLAH (19)
  18. PAYBACK – Aaron Frazer (20)
  19. OH NO! – The Decemberists (28)
  20. ESPRESSO – Sabrina Carpenter (23)
  21. RAINBOW – Cage the Elephant (25)
  22. THE BREAK – Blame My Youth (12)
  23. TOO MUCH – girl in red (13)
  24. WAKING LIFE – Nicholas a. Milillo feat. Dee Wolf, Bobby Jasso, Gabrielle Marella and the voice of Tony Milillo (27)
  25. JUST WANNA SLEEP – Halfloves (26)
  26. YOU JUST PLAYED MY MIND – Oli Barton (29)
  27. WAR – Healer (30)
  28. STARGAZING – Myles Smith (N)
  29. BABY BLUE MOVIE – Cigarettes After Sex (N)
  30. HONEY – Mr Bewlay (N)

Top 30 Songs July 28-August 3, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's6 Comments

Beach Weather remain at #1 for a third week with their gorgeous and cinematic Spaghetti Western-esque “High in Low Places”, which I love more with every listen. Nine days ago, they released their latest and appropriately-titled single “Hottest Summer on Record”, which is guaranteed to appear on my chart in the coming weeks. Pearl Jam‘s “Wreckage” holds at #2 for a second week, while “Starburster”, by the always remarkable Fontaines D.C. moves up two spots to #3. I love this song, and can’t get enough of its contrasting bombastic and melodic brooding vibe. twenty one pilots‘ poignant “The Craving” also advances two spots, to #4, while “Lost In Space” by Foster the People is this week’s biggest upward mover, jumping six spots to #15.

Three songs make their debut this week, the first of which is the wonderful Latin-flavored “Oh No!” by The Decemberists, entering at #28. Along with “Burial Ground”, which spent two weeks at #1 and now sits at #21, the esteemed band currently has two songs on this chart. Both are from their excellent latest album As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again. Next up is “You Just Played My Mind” by English singer-songwriter Oli Barton, which I reviewed upon its release on June 21. This is his sixth song to appear on my chart over the past seven years. Entering at #30 is “War” by English alt-rock band Healer, which also came out on June 21st, and which I also reviewed. This is their second song to appear on my chart, their first being last year’s “Bones”.

  1. HIGH IN LOW PLACES – Beach Weather (1)
  2. WRECKAGE – Pearl Jam (2)
  3. STARBURSTER – Fontaines D.C. (5)
  4. THE CRAVING – twenty one pilots (6)
  5. PANORAMIC VIEW – AWOLNATION (4)
  6. CREATURES IN HEAVEN – Glass Animals (3)
  7. END OF BEGINNING – Djo (7)
  8. TOO SWEET – Hozier (8)
  9. A FORETOLD ECSTASY – Mayflower Madame (10)
  10. ON THE GAME – The Black Keys (9)
  11. LUNCH – Billie Eilish (13)
  12. THE BREAK – Blame My Youth (14)
  13. TOO MUCH – girl in red (15)
  14. LIKE YOU DO – The Frontier (18)
  15. LOST IN SPACE – Foster the People (21)
  16. I HAD SOME HELP – Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen (17)
  17. VICES – 5ilas & Shimmer Johnson (20)
  18. RUN YOUR MOUTH – The Marías (22)
  19. WHAT IF I FEEL LIKE THIS MY WHOLE LIFE? – HULLAH (23)
  20. PAYBACK – Aaron Frazer (24)
  21. BURIAL GROUND – The Decemberists & James Mercer (11)
  22. MURDER ON THE DANCEFLOOR – Royel Otis (12)
  23. ESPRESSO – Sabrina Carpenter (25)
  24. FOR US ALL – Asgard Raven (16)
  25. RAINBOW – Cage the Elephant (27)
  26. JUST WANNA SLEEP – Halfloves (28)
  27. WAKING LIFE – Nicholas a. Milillo feat. Dee Wolf, Bobby Jasso, Gabrielle Marella and the voice of Tony Milillo (30)
  28. OH NO! – The Decemberists (N)
  29. YOU JUST PLAYED MY MIND – Oli Barton (N)
  30. WAR – Healer (N)

Top 30 Songs for July 21-27, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's8 Comments

Some of you who read my blog or this post may wonder what my weekly Top 30 lists represent or how they’re compiled. They’re essentially lists of my favorite songs for a given week, my own personal Top 30 that I would focus on were I the program manager of my own radio station.

There’s so much great music out now that I could have included 40 songs on this week’s Top 30. And all the songs in this week’s top six could easily be #1 (two of them already have). The sultry “High in Low Places” by Beach Weather remains on top for a second week, while Pearl Jam‘s gorgeous song “Wreckage” moves up a notch to #2. I love Glass Animals‘ “Creatures in Heaven”, AWOLNATION‘s “Panoramic View” and Fontaines D.C.’s “Starburster” so much, as well as “The Craving”, which reinforces yet again why twenty one pilots continue to be one of my favorite music acts of all time.

Entering the top 10 this week are “On the Game” by The Black Keys and “A Foretold Ecstasy” by Norwegian psych-noir band Mayflower Madame. The one debut is “Waking Life” by Nicholas a. Milillo featuring Dee Wolf, Bobby Jasso, Gabrielle Marella and the voice of Tony Milillo. I reviewed the dramatic song when it came out four weeks ago. 

  1. HIGH IN LOW PLACES – Beach Weather (1)
  2. WRECKAGE – Pearl Jam (3)
  3. CREATURES IN HEAVEN – Glass Animals (2)
  4. PANORAMIC VIEW – AWOLNATION (5)
  5. STARBURSTER – Fontaines D.C. (6)
  6. THE CRAVING – twenty one pilots (10)
  7. END OF BEGINNING – Djo (7)
  8. TOO SWEET – Hozier (4)
  9. ON THE GAME – The Black Keys (12)
  10. A FORETOLD ECSTASY – Mayflower Madame (14)
  11. BURIAL GROUND – The Decemberists & James Mercer (8)
  12. MURDER ON THE DANCEFLOOR – Royel Otis (9)
  13. LUNCH – Billie Eilish (17)
  14. THE BREAK – Blame My Youth (15)
  15. TOO MUCH – girl in red (16)
  16. FOR US ALL – Asgard Raven (11)
  17. I HAD SOME HELP – Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen (19)
  18. LIKE YOU DO – The Frontier (20)
  19. GOLD – Caitlin Lavagna (13)
  20. VICES – 5ilas & Shimmer Johnson (22)
  21. LOST IN SPACE – Foster the People (23)
  22. RUN YOUR MOUTH – The Marías (24)
  23. WHAT IF I FEEL LIKE THIS MY WHOLE LIFE? – HULLAH (25)
  24. PAYBACK – Aaron Frazer (26)
  25. ESPRESSO – Sabrina Carpenter (27)
  26. SCARED TO START – Michael Marcagi (18)
  27. RAINBOW – Cage the Elephant (29)
  28. JUST WANNA SLEEP – Halfloves (30)
  29. I’VE GOT LOVING FOR YOU – Bottlecap Mountain (21)
  30. WAKING LIFE – Nicholas a. Milillo feat. Dee Wolf, Bobby Jasso, Gabrielle Marella and the voice of Tony Milillo (N)

Top 30 Songs for July 14-20, 2024

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's5 Comments

On the strength of their infectious melodies, ace musicianship, strong charisma, and lead singer Nick Santino’s beautiful vocals, pop-rock trio Beach Weather have become one of my top favorite bands. In fact, a photo I took of them at a concert last year graces the header of my X (formerly Twitter) page. In addition to Santino, the band includes Reeve Powers on bass and Sean Silverman on guitar. I’ve loved every one of their songs, and their latest single “High In Low Places” becomes their fourth to top my weekly Top 30 chart (the previous three are “Sex, Drugs, Etc.”, “Trouble With This Bed” and “Pineapple Sunrise”.

The song has a brooding cinematic vibe in the vein of Ennio Morricone that would make it a great addition to the soundtrack of a Spaghetti Western film, and I love the twangy guitars and Santino’s sensuous vocals. He had this to say about the song: “We like to call ‘High in Low Places’ our apocalyptic love song. There was beauty in the idea of finding peace in one another while the world was slowly melting. We wanted to create something that felt cinematic, the closing credits of a modern end-of-times western. There are hints of those influences in the guitars and strings running through the chorus where we want to pull everyone into a world but stay hopeful that we can all rise above that insanity transpiring around us.” The lyrics speak to remaining positive and optimistic in the face of life’s problems and obstacles: “You and I got some troubles we’re facing, I know we can make it staying high in low places. Never mind all the tears that we wasted, I know we can make it staying high in low places.”

The video, which was shot in the Arizona desert outside Phoenix, involved the guys getting stuck by cholla cactus and other hazards that come from being in a beautiful but hostile environment – one I’m intimately familiar with living in the Coachella Valley.

In other chart happenings of note, “The Craving” by twenty one pilots moves up five to enter the top 10 at #10, and “Foretold Ecstasy” by the wonderfully-named Norwegian psych-noir band Mayflower Madame advances four spots to #14. Two songs make their debut this week. Entering at #29 is “Rainbow”, by another favorite band of mine, Nashville-based Cage the Elephant, whose previous single “Neon Pill” was a huge #1 hit on all the Alternative charts, as well as my personal Top 30. And coming in at #30 is the rousing garage rock gem “Just Wanna Sleep” by Iowa indie rock band Halfloves, which I reviewed last month.

  1. HIGH IN LOW PLACES – Beach Weather (2)
  2. CREATURES IN HEAVEN – Glass Animals (1)
  3. WRECKAGE – Pearl Jam (3)
  4. TOO SWEET – Hozier (4)
  5. PANORAMIC VIEW – AWOLNATION (6)
  6. STARBURSTER – Fontaines D.C. (9)
  7. END OF BEGINNING – Djo (10)
  8. BURIAL GROUND – The Decemberists & James Mercer (5)
  9. MURDER ON THE DANCEFLOOR – Royel Otis (7)
  10. THE CRAVING – twenty one pilots (15)
  11. FOR US ALL – Asgard Raven (8)
  12. ON THE GAME – The Black Keys (13)
  13. GOLD – Caitlin Lavagna (12)
  14. A FORETOLD ECSTASY – Mayflower Madame (18)
  15. THE BREAK – Blame My Youth (16)
  16. TOO MUCH – girl in red (17)
  17. LUNCH – Billie Eilish (19)
  18. SCARED TO START – Michael Marcagi (11)
  19. I HAD SOME HELP – Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen (21)
  20. LIKE YOU DO – The Frontier (22)
  21. I’VE GOT LOVING FOR YOU – Bottlecap Mountain (14)
  22. VICES – 5ilas & Shimmer Johnson (25)
  23. LOST IN SPACE – Foster the People (26)
  24. RUN YOUR MOUTH – The Marías (27)
  25. WHAT IF I FEEL LIKE THIS MY WHOLE LIFE? – HULLAH (28)
  26. PAYBACK – Aaron Frazer (29)
  27. ESPRESSO – Sabrina Carpenter (30)
  28. FORTNIGHT – Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone (20)
  29. RAINBOW – Cage the Elephant (N)
  30. JUST WANNA SLEEP – Halfloves (N)

Top 30 Songs for Oct. 31-Nov. 6, 2021

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Weekly Top 30's10 Comments

I just love Lord Huron’s music, and their beautiful “Mine Forever” remains at the pinnacle of my Weekly Top 30 for a 3rd week. Imagine Dragons’ “Wrecked” and The Zangwills’ “Never Looked Back” hold at #2 and #3, and Roadkeeper’s “Take the L” climbs a notch to #4. Four songs enter the top 10 this week: Two Feet’s “Don’t Bring Me Down” and Adele’s “Easy on Me”, both of which leap nine spots to #5 and #6, respectively, Glass Animals “I Don’t Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Dance)” and WALK THE MOON’s “Can You Handle My Love??” The jolting and raw “Survivor” by Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats took a while to grow on me but now I love it, and it jumps eight spots to #16. Debuting this week are three great new songs: “Love Love Love” by My Morning Jacket, “Good Friend” by dwi, and “Starts With You” by Shimmer Johnson.

  1. MINE FOREVER – Lord Huron (1)
  2. WRECKED – Imagine Dragons (2)
  3. NEVER LOOKED BACK – The Zangwills (3)
  4. TAKE THE L – Roadkeeper (5)
  5. DON’T BRING ME DOWN – Two Feet (14)
  6. EASY ON ME – Adele (15)
  7. TRANSPARENTSOUL – WILLOW featuring Travis Barker (4)
  8. I DON’T WANNA TALK (I JUST WANNA DANCE) – Glass Animals (11)
  9. DISTORTED LIGHT BEAM – Bastille (10)
  10. CAN YOU HANDLE MY LOVE?? – WALK THE MOON (12)
  11. THE ANGEL OF 8TH AVE. – Gang of Youths (6)
  12. SATURDAY – twenty øne piløts (7)
  13. BAD DREAM – Cannons (8)
  14. WHAT YOU SAY – Cold War Kids (9)
  15. BITTER TASTE – Billy Idol (13)
  16. SURVIVOR – Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats (24)
  17. TALK TO ME – Bealby Point (21)
  18. COLORADO – Milky Chance (22)
  19. BEGGIN’ – Måneskin (25)
  20. FREAKS – Surf Curse (20)
  21. BE A WOMAN – DeLaurentis (16)
  22. MISSING PIECE – Vance Joy (17)
  23. JUSTIFIED – Kacey Musgraves (27)
  24. NDA – Billie Eilish (18)
  25. HUSH – The Marías (19)
  26. MY UNIVERSE – Coldplay & BTS (28)
  27. LOVE IN OCTOBER – Ships Have Sailed (30)
  28. LOVE LOVE LOVE – My Morning Jacket (N)
  29. GOOD FRIEND – dwi (N)
  30. STARTS WITH YOU – Shimmer Johnson (N)