Sunday, June 28, 2020

Reggae Rock Still Evoking Good Times (SNS week of 6/21/2020)


In this rather ominous year of 2020 with one catastrophe after another (and there now seems to be a second wave of COVID-19 spreading down south), music seems to be the unifying soul to get us by.  No matter what your preferred genre, you can get some solace listening to some of your favorite songs, past or present.  

Mention reggae music and thoughts immediately turn to the tropics, Bob Marley, going on a sunny weeklong cruise, perhaps, and maybe the good life.     Originating in Jamaica in the 1960's, the percussion, the beat with hints of calypso certainly wants to take you back to a happy place.  And although some of the music can be social commentary and protest, like other forms, you can't help but grooving to it.   Toots & the Mayalls had what was arguably the first reggae song in 1968, "Do the Raggay".  Johnny Nash's late-1968 "Hold Me Tight" was the first big pop hit from that genre, and four years later, he hit #1 with "I Can't See Clearly Now".

While you can read all about the genre and its associated forms on Wikipedia, all this is to point out that Pepper, a band that originated in Hawaii, of all places, and now based in San Diego, takes my top spot on my playlist with the feel-good "Change".  While the title of the song might be a comment on the current times, it actually conveys a feeling of personal hope and triumph....if things aren't going great for you now, they will.    The song was recorded in 2018 and released on their Local Motion set.

Perhaps, reggae rock is a better term to describe these songs as well as some other popular bands and songs that utilized the style.   We all know about Bob Marley & the Wailers, "I Shot the Sheriff", "No Woman No Cry" and "Jammin'" are just three of his well known compositions.   In the 1980's, British bands like The Specials, Steel Pulse and especially UB40 had success with this genre and spinoffs.  

In my blog era, it has been a good part of my listening experience.   "Change" isn't the first blog topper in the almost-ten years I started doing this.    One of my biggest songs was "Keep You", by Wild Belle, a brother-and-sister duo out of Chicago.   Going back to 2007, "Smile" by Lily Allen was another awesome song that (will) place high on my yet-to-be-compiled top songs of that year.   Iration, another transplanted Hawaiian band now in California has had many of a song grace the upper portions of my playlist as well.  

Actually three reggae-oriented acts are on my playlist this week.  Aside from Pepper, New Jersey-based King Tappa, who like Lily Allen, scored a big fave in 2007 with "Take Your Time", is ascending my SNS 100 with "No Drama" which moves 39-23 this week.   Finally, The Big Takeover, holding steady at #64 with a bullet with "Weight of the World", headed by Jamaican NeeNee Rushie, has had many a song in that genre score with me, including "Girlie Girlie", and "Children of the Rhythm" and several others.  


As mentioned earlier, Pepper displaces The Rolling Stones' "Living in a Ghost Town" at the top, with the latter dropping to #4.    Donna Missal moves into the runner up spot with "Let You Let Me Down".  More news from Missal is that she has released yet another single, "How Does It Feel", which is my Top Debut at #68 this week.   With her former top 10 "Hurt By You" at #21, this Jersey girl is doing alright by herself.    Next month, she will release her second album, Lighter, due July 10, which will include all three of these songs.   With Elise Farnsworth at #3, plus C Lynne Smith, Caroline Rose, Delacey, and Shannon Marsyada still strong on the list, women hold 7 of the top 12 positions.

Women also do well with the debuts.   Aside from Missal's "How Does It Feel", another winner, by the way, the next two entries are by female-led bands.  The Beths, from New Zealand, fronted by Elizabeth Stokes, debut with "Dying to Believe".   The Pretenders, a veteran band fronted by Chrissie Hynde are back and strong with "The Buzz".     I even take a chance on popster Katy Perry, whose "Daisies" is her best in awhile.     Also debuting this week are the latest by Nathaniel Rateliff, and Milky Chance, the latter teaming up with Jack Johnson, on "Don't Let Me Down".  


SUGGESTIONS:  I posted my last blog on my "Scenes 'n' Soundwaves Music Page" on Facebook, and thanks to friends I got more suggestions on new music.    Tom Corea said he is listening to the latest from The Regrettes, a band oft-featured on my playlists the past couple years or so.  The band, headed by Lydia Night, last appeared on the SNS 100 this past holiday season with "Holiday-Ish".  Their latest single, "What Am I Gonna Do Today?" should be an add next week.   He also mentions Echosmith, an indie pop band from California which has been around for ten years, and whose second album, Lonely Generation has spawned several singles, of which I will explore in coming weeks.

Brian Sniatkowski, the source of many of my musical discoveries in the past, mentioned Best Coast, which has been a regular on my blog for many years.   He also mentioned Phoebe Bridgers, whose "Kyoto" is currently on the Triple-A chart.   She is an indie artist from California; I am set to add either that song, or one of the others from her second album, Punisher.

Also, special thanks to Deepti Thakker Sinha, who has suggested many artists to me, most notably Black Pumas.   She recommended "Reach Out Richard", by Mayer Hawthorne from his 2013 set Where Does This Door Go?  That album also spawned the single "Her Favorite Song" which reached #35 on my list in 2013.  

FINALLY:  Elise Farnsworth, currently at #3 on my playlist with "Safety Net", from her newly released debut set, apparently is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to talent in her family.   Her husband, John Farnsworth is a jazz musician who headed the John Farnsworth Sextet.   I will try to delve more into that in the future, but apparently the whole family is musical.   Elise, John, and Roger and Dave Farnsworth have a family band going, and all of them are featured on this song which Elise wrote, "Pixie Dust".    Here is a video which was posted, with the first graders of the Lakewood Elementary School.   Enjoy!




Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist

June 21, 2020




This Week
Last Week
ARTIST-Title
Weeks on List
1
2
NUMBER ONE: 



Album: Local Motion
9
2
4
6
3
5
8
4
1
9
5
3
11
6
6
10
7
12
10
8
13
10
9
7
13
10
8
12
11
16
7
12
9
11
13
11
14
14
10
11
15
17
11
16
20
7
17
15
9
18
25
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:



(Single Only)
6
19
21
13
20
14
12
21
18
10
22
28
10
23
39
5
24
22
12
25
27
9
26
24
16
27
19
12
28
26
12
29
41
5
30
23
13
31
42
4
32
44
4
33
33
8
34
36
7
35
37
8
36
38
7
37
30
9
38
29
17
39
31
17
40
34
11
41
35
13
42
55
6
43
54
8
44
32
10
45
65
MOVER OF THE WEEK:


Album: The Main Thing
2
46
46
11
47
53
8
48
51
7
49
43
21
50
58
5
51
40
14
52
66
4
53
61
3
54
62
3
55
63
3
56
47
10
57
57
10
58
60
5
59
45
12
60
49
32
61
50
16
62
52
16
63
67
3
64
64
4
65
48
13
66
56
7
67
68
4
68
--- 
TOP DEBUT: 


Album: Lighter
1
69
70
4
70
59
7
71
71
6
72
74
5
73
78
3
74
69
10
75
82
2
76
--- 
1
77
80
3
78
73
6
79
86
2
80
79
6
81
--- 
1
82
--- 
1
83
77
22
84
76
25
85
81
8
86
--- 
1
87
75
14
88
85
40
89
89
9
90
91
2
91
72
11
92
84
23
93

1
94
83
8
95
87
12
96
88
5
97
90
16
98
92
14
99
93
5
100
94
12







Songs with the greatest increase in favorite points over the prior week.   ● Songs with 25 or more plays on iTunes/iPods ▲   Songs with 50 or more plays.




















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