Such as the case with the new Black Keys single, entitled "Lo/Hi", their first release in five years. Yes, it's pretty much been that long since the duo of Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach last put out an album, 2014's Turn Blue.
The Keys have been a favorite of mine, not only in the blog era, where they've amassed a total of four #1 songs on the SNS 100 (tied for second, behind Fitz & the Tantrums' 11), but well before they became popular.
The duo's debut album was released in 2002, The Big Come Up, and while it didn't make any appreciable noise, the band was riding a wave of "neo-garage" revival, put in motion by bands such as The White Stripes, The Vines, The Hives, and The Strokes. But it wasn't until their third album, 2004's Rubber Factory, that they started making some noise. I discovered them during their fourth set, 2006's Magic Potion, specifically, the track "Your Touch"; as there was something about that raw, back-to-basics sound that was indeed, magic, a total reversal to the nu-metal mayhem that permeated alternative music around the turn of the millennium. That continued with 2008's Attack and Release, and the track "I Got Mine". I started becoming a fan, but still, the band was mostly unnoticed and got very little airplay.
That all changed in 2010, when their sixth album, Brothers was released. Not only it was their breakout album and put them on the alt-rock map, but the song "Tighten Up" was another gem, and was one of the reasons that inspired me to start writing this blog. And sure enough, the song was my first #1 on Scenes 'n' Soundwaves, and held that position for four weeks and would eventually be my #1 song for 2010. Shortly after that, it would top the Billboard Alternative chart as well as well as peak at #87 on the Hot 100. Brothers hit #3 on Billboard's album chart as well, and yielded the SNS songs "Next Girl" (#28), and "Howling for You" (#2) during the winter of 2011.
Later in 2011, the Keys followed up Brothers with El Camino, and continued their success. "Lonely Boy" and "Gold on the Ceiling" topped the alternative chart, with the "Stairway to Heaven"-esque "Little Black Submarines" going to #2 there. On my blog, "Lonely Boy" became their second #1 here, while "Gold.." went to #2, and "...Submarines" to #7. Of course, the didn't make much of a dent in the anti-rock Hot 100, with the first two songs going to #64 and #94.
Next came 2014's Turn Blue. "Fever" the lead single was rhythmic in nature, probably to court the pop stations (it peaked at #77 on the Hot 100), but it's ending was a little dramatic instrumental which helped spark a third SNS #1, as well as another Alternative chart-topper. The title cut hit #6 on SNS, the third single "Gotta Get Away" went to #12 (and #8 alternative). But it was the fourth and final single from that album, "Weight of Love" that hit me hard. Only going to #16 on the Billboard alternative, the song was featured during a ski weekend to Wilmington Vermont with my friend Anthony Josephs; we had the song on the jukebox at one of the towns bars. That helped the song to a six-week run at #1 here on my blog, and #9 on my year-end list for 2015.
And that would be it for the Black Keys until now.
In the meantime, however, guitarist Dan Auerbach had released a solo albums, as well as one with his side project The Arcs,. That band put out Yours Dreamily, in 2015, and featured the haunting "Outta My Mind", which reached #5 on the SNS 100 and #10 on the year-end list (just behind "Weight of Love"). Auerbach's solo set Waiting on a Song, released in 2017, was next, with two big SNS hits: "Shine on Me" (#2), and "Stand By My Girl", (#15).
The Black Keys' new single, "Lo/Hi" which comes on the list at a lofty #35 this week, is pretty much a mash-up of all the cool sounds that have come from them as well as others. It has a late-60's acid rock type beat, even resembling the rhythm line of "Spirit in the City", but has the Akron, Ohio duo's patented stamp on it. The band is definitely picking up where they left off, performing bare bones, back to earth rock that's solely needed in 2019
The band will be touring with Modest Mouse this summer. They will also be appearing at "Woodstock 50", on August 17, which will be held at Watkins Glen. More on that festival in an upcoming blog.
CHART ACTION: The top of the SNS 100 this week remains quiet, with no bullets among the top 5 and the only change was between numbers 3 and 4 with The Cranberries' 'All Over Now" and Tennis' "I Miss That Feelin'". "Change" by The Revivalists, remains at the top for a fourth week. The ever-resilient "High Hopes" by Panic at the Disco remains at #5. The big mover is The Kooks' "Chicken Bone", moving up 18 to 6.
Aside from the Black Keys' high debut, other new entries come from Dreamers' with "Die Happy", an up-tempo poppish romp from a forthcoming album; "The Great New Depression", which is, pretty much...depressing, from their Ruthless set; The Struts' featuring Kesha's "Body Talks", a contemporary pop songs with a Motown-ish beat and a fun time; long-awaited Guster, "Overexcited", which seems to be an 1980's-type synth-pop romp and even evoking the band Madness of "Our House" fame; and finally Lukas Graham's "Love Someone", sort of a soul-pop outing from the Danish band (no, Lukas Graham is not one person, although the lead singer's name is Lukas Forchhammer).
GET WELL SOON: My thoughts go out to Hegazy member Omnia Hegazy for a third surgery for AERD, which is a rare, inflammatory chronic combination of severe asthma. recurrent nasal polyps, and a reaction to aspirin. The situation can be life-threatening. The Staten Island-based band, which also includes Omnia's twin-sister Leila (who are both nieces to my Roselle Park friend Diane Tarantino Hegazy) has taken a hiatus but promises to be back soon. In the meantime, Scenes 'n' Soundwaves sends love, prayers and thoughts for a speedy recovery to Omnia.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100
March 10 and 17, 2019
| This Week | Last Week | ARTIST-Title | Weeks on List |
| 1 | 1 |
NUMBER ONE:
Album: Take Good Care
(4 weeks at #1)
|
7 |
| 2 | 2 | Elle King - Baby Outlaw | 8 |
| 3 | 4 | The Cranberries - All Over Now | 7 |
| 4 | 3 | Tennis- I Miss That Feelin' | 8 |
| 5 | 5 | Panic at the Disco - High Hopes● | 20 |
| 6 | 18 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:
Album: Let's Go Sunshine
|
5 |
| 7 | 7 | San Cisco - When I Dream | 7 |
| 8 | 10 | Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats - Hey Mama | 8 |
| 9 | 12 | The Big Takeover - Girlie Girlie | 9 |
| 10 | 13 | STRFKR - In the End | 6 |
| 11 | 14 | Cage the Elephant - Ready to Let Go | 5 |
| 12 | 6 | The Revivalists - You and I | 13 |
| 13 | 20 | Kungs f Ritual - You Remain | 5 |
| 14 | 15 | Greta Van Fleet - You're the One | 8 |
| 15 | 8 | Dennis Lloyd - Nevermind | 18 |
| 16 | 9 | Kitten - Pink Champagne | 16 |
| 17 | 11 | Foster the People - Worst Nights | 10 |
| 18 | 16 | Houses - Fast Talk | 9 |
| 19 | 17 | Marshmello & Bastille - Happier | 17 |
| 20 | 22 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:
Album: Black Holes
|
16 |
|
|
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.
