Actually, this is the first time I've done a blog in a January in three years, and for various reasons. I always love (or perhaps need) to take some sort of hiatus after the end of a year, what with all its looks back as well as celebrating the start of a new one. But, it's pretty much high time I get into 2019.
"Final Year", you say? Well, this blog, which has been going on since the first year of the decade, 2010, is still hanging in there as 2019 starts. My initiative was to re-explore new sounds going on, as perhaps an alternative to all the "oldies" and "classic rock" that has been commonplace with my contemporaries, dating back to the 1960's as well as the few decades after that. I strived to maintain that if you're busy making memories in the 2010's than you should find some newer music that reminds you on those experiences as well. The last few years, however, I found myself swimming against the current: Not many people have been sharing my music and those that are into the similar stuff what I am listening to, are for one reason or another, not on board. It doesn't help that popular music, with very little exceptions has taking almost a 180 turn from soulful, melodic, or jamming music, which unfortunately seems to be praised by the very publications that decades ago shunned this.
As we get into the final year of the decade, I am trying to at least, strike up some sort of strategy as to how to pick and present what I am listening to. 2018, if anything, proved that my favorites didn't have to be at the top (or for that matter, bottom) of the trade industry charts; what I loved I loved, without regards to its chart position.
My SNS 100 is based not only on my listening preferences, but I also take into account that music's popularity, be it on radio playlists, friends posts and preferences, as well as their recommendations. The requirement for inclusion on the SNS 100 (which becomes my iPod playlist that I listen to) is that it has to be available in a digital format. That should make it a no brainer, but with the trend towards streaming, it makes it somewhat difficult. I still use my iPod, which in a sense, is a throwback to the early 2000's. But, unlike that period, a lot more music that's "obscure" is available, and that includes those from my friends (or friends of friends) who are either trying to make a dent in the music business, or just recording and releasing music "for fun". And there's no guarantee that Spotify, Apple Music and the like will have this music available for streaming. Also, if there's such a controversy with an artist, and their music is pulled, you're pretty much screwed. See what those streaming sites did with the show Roseanne last year, for an example.
As I pay usually anywhere from sixty-nine cents to a dollar twenty-nine to download music from iTunes, Amazon, or sometimes, an up-and-coming artists' site, it becomes expensive when you're adding anywhere from four to eight new songs each week, for roughly forty weeks out of the year. That does add up.
Since 2019 is the end of a decade, I had planned on this year being the last that I will extensively cover (and listen to) new music. That would complete, basically six decades of music memories that have transcended many phases of my life.
But, that doesn't mean that once 2020 chimes in, I will turn my back. I'll still hold one ear to what's out there, although with the music movement being what it is, that might make it easy to complete move away from what's new. From a pop music standpoint, my friends were into stuff like "Blurred Lines", "Uptown Funk", "Happy", and several others.
Another big consideration is time. The last couple of years, I have had very little opportunity to write an extensive blog about a subject; much of the time it's a matter of just a few notes on what I am currently listening to, it's chart position (either on my list, or that of Billboard), and where it's heading. As I hope to ease into retirement, I hope to spend more time on music-related topics. Next week, for example, I plan to tackle the issue of having two "Woodstocks" on the fiftieth anniversary of the original gathering. I have, for the most part, avoided any political opinions as many of my followers are from both sides of the aisle, and have contemplated adding some of my thoughts, knowing the risk of alienating those who don't agree with me.
Upon listening to my "Top 100 of 2018" playlist, I realized that those songs, while mostly unknown to most of my friends, brought back some great memories that I had had these past twelve months, and the fun was to go out and explore on my own, things to listen to. Fortunately, I was blessed by two people, Brian Sniatkowski, who is heavily into alternative music, who does an occasional "song of the week" but who also publishes his "Top 25 albums" of the year, as well as my niece, Bailey Kennett, who was into many bands ten years ago that are just getting recognition now; both provided me a list of bands, new or otherwise, to check out.
Of course, I will still be lending an ear (and an eye) to the Billboard Alternative, Triple-A, Adult Top 40, and yes, even the Hot 100 chart to add new music to listen to. That is what is great about music. You can embrace many styles and meld them together into one playlist.
So, let's sit back and enjoy some new music---and memories---that 2019 has to offer.
STARTERS: A look at the first SNS 100 shows that I have "conformed" with the rest of the country that Panic! At the Disco's "High Hopes" vaults from #7 to take the top spot; which coincides with the Alternative, Adult Top 40, and the pop charts. The song holds at #5 on the all-format Hot 100. My friend Tom Corea, of Hounds of Winter fame, took his son to see the band in concert. The band, of course, has been around for well over a decade, and this is their biggest success. Tom points out that much of Las Vegas' band's earlier material is their best and that more recent efforts are a bit more commercial. "High Hopes" is the band's second Hot 100 top 10 hit; "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" reached #7 back in 2006.
Another big alternative crossover to pop is Marshmello and Bastille's "Happier", also holding in Billboard's Top 5 as well as key positions on the Alternative chart. It makes a big move from 30 to 13 here. "Guiding Light" by Mumford & Sons, another big alternative hit, regains its bullet and moves 23-19.
While I will attempt to get more adventurous as the year goes on, most of my debuts are follow ups to blog hits. Tennis leads the way with a #50 debut of "I Miss That Feelin' " from the duo's 2017 EP We Can Die Happy. This completes a "catch-up" of the bands music which started with Yours Conditionally, released earlier in 2017, as I had added all the singles from those two sets, with two of those songs grabbing the brass ring. This one is back in their soulful, emotional groove that sparked much of those earlier entries that their last entry, "No Exit", sort of lacked.
Radio seems to have abandoned Elle King after the lead single "Shame" from her sophomore set Shake the Spirit. The new, second single from that set, "Baby Outlaw" is another soulful rocker; King belts it out Janis Joplin-style. People should stop seeing her as a novelty (being comedian Rob Schneider's daughter) and start listening to her talent. Spinn, the Jersey duo that hit here with the top 10 "Crazy For You" is back with another cool country gem, "Bless His Heart". Follow-ups by King Princess, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Death Cab for Cutie, and Alice Merton also enter. I take a chance on a pop hit, Ellie Goulding's "Close to Me"; her "Lights" hit #1 seven years ago before she became a pop star.
FLEETING: Greta Van Fleet, who scored with the Led Zeppelin throwback song, "When the Curtain Falls", debuts with "You're the One". I pretty much burned out the former song as it spent 18 weeks on my list, peaking at #5 but not paying any attention to the perception of the band by others. Apparently, the band played Saturday Night Live last Saturday, a show I used to watch, but is pretty much unfunny these days (or years). Apparently, there is much criticism about the band, both their SNL performance, and their Zeppelin-like music. I can understand the critics of that show, since what they think is funny isn't, with this new line of thinking. I am a member of the Facebook page "WNEW-FM Fan Club", which centers on one of the all time progressive album rock stations, which existed from 1967 to 1998, thus becoming a hotbed for discussions on (mostly) classic rock music. Predictably, the members there gave the band a "thumbs down". One person stated "If that band is the only hope for rock n' roll, then we're doomed". Another called it "dread Zeppelin Junior". But there were some praises for the band as well, although some say that they should have played some of their better songs on the show.
Okay, here's my take on the band. I have often been critical of what passes for pop music these days. The band plays their own instruments. Yes, "When the Curtain Falls" got on my nerves after 30 listens, but many classic rock songs have as well? (who wants to hear "Stairway to Heaven" a 1200th time?). There are, of course, a lot of rock out there and I have been presenting it via my block. Most of it does not emulate Led Zeppelin, but hearing blaring guitars when I pretty much haven't seen anything come close in the past twenty years, is a sight for sore ears. Perhaps the band can use this as a launching pad for more original material, but with rock music as a popular genre just about off the map, we need more bands like Greta Van Fleet.
Ed Sheeran re-enters the SNS 100 at #78 with his #1 hit from late 2017/early 2018, "Perfect". The song, believe it or not, is still top 10 on the rather stodgy Adult Contemporary chart. The song was the last #1 Hot 100 hit that also topped my SNS 100 list, and the way things are going, it may be the last one ever to do that. Unless "High Hopes" decides to resurge to the top spot on Billboard.
Finally, I just want to acknowledge the passing last month of Jamie Heath, the lead singer of the Jersey bar band Bad Attitude, which features Tom Corea on drums. Jamie passed away after a long illness. I send prayers to all of his family and friends.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100
January 20, 2019
| This Week | Last Week | ARTIST-Title | Weeks on List |
| 1 | 7 |
NUMBER ONE:
Album: Pray For the Wicked
|
13 |
| 2 | 6 | The Revivalists - You and I | 6 |
| 3 | 3 | Caroline Rose - Jeannie Becomes a Mom | 11 |
| 4 | 4 | Shannon Marsyada - Oceans | 7 |
| 5 | 2 | Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats f. Lucius - Coolin' Out | 10 |
| 6 | 5 | Kurt Vile - Loading Zones | 13 |
| 7 | 11 | Amy Shark - I Said Hi | 8 |
| 8 | 13 | Molly Burch- Torn To Pieces | 12 |
| 9 | 1 | Katy Perry - Cozy Little Christmas | 6 |
| 10 | 15 | Andrew McMahon In the Wilderness - Ohio | 7 |
| 11 | 22 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:
Album: Remind Me Tomorrow
|
8 |
| 12 | 16 | Cayucas - Jessica WJ | 10 |
| 13 | 20 | Kitten - Pink Champagne | 9 |
| 14 | 30 | Marshmello & Bastille - Happier | 10 |
| 15 | 18 | Trapdoor Social - Hold Me Down | 10 |
| 16 | 8 | Greeting Committee - 17 | 13 |
| 17 | 9 | The Essex Green - Smith & 9th | 12 |
| 18 | 10 | The Revivalists - All My Friends• | 15 |
| 19 | 23 | Mumford and Sons - Guiding Light | 11 |
| 20 | 14 | Real Estate - Time | 15 |
Songs
with the greatest increase in favorite points over the prior week.
● Songs
with 25 or more plays on my iPod.
▲ Songs with 50 or more
plays on my iPod.
The “Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100” is a list
of current and recent song playlist which I am listening to.
