Knock on wood, but so far this week (it's a Friday), no major artist in the music world has passed away. But, thanks to a friend who several years back had introduced me to a talented artists that she has known since that singer was pretty much in diapers, it's time for a rant that has surfaced every now and then:
"Why isn't Phoebe Ryan a major star yet"?
 |
| Red Bank NJ's Phoebe Ryan, whose first full-length album, How It Used to Feel, was released in July. |
The indie-pop artist, who once was in the trio Town Hall, but has been pretty much a solo artist for more than half a decade, has been sitting on the verge of stardom almost for that long. Phoebe Ryan, who was born in Texas but raised in Red Bank, New Jersey has been critically acclaimed and has written for, and worked with many popular musicians of the day, still hasn't crossed the line to major stardom, and it's not for lack of trying.
Certainly, between the years 2015 and 2017, it appeared she was a shoo-in for success. Her first two singles, "Mine" and the mashed-up "Ignition/Do You" drew some buzz and much notice. She signed with Columbia Records, one of the major record labels. Her songs were featured in the TV series Glee, and were recorded by well-known artists such as Britney Spears, Wyclef Jean, All Time Low, and others. Positive reviews for her first EP, Mine were received from Billboard, Rolling Stone and other publications. She got to #6 on a Billboard list of "up-and-coming" artists, and drew notice from Taylor Swift, including her on a list of "New Songs That Will Make Your Life More Awesome (I Promise)". She scored on the Dance chart a few times, most notably as the co-writer of Bea Miller's "Young Blood", which won "Best Song to Rock Out with your BFF's" on the Radio Disney Music Awards. She made the Billboard Hot 100 as a featured vocalist on the then-red-hot Chainsmokers', (whose #1 song "Closer" featured fellow Jersey pop artist Halsey), "All We Know", debuting and peaking at #18 on the chart. The Knocks, a EDM/Producer duo which, among others, released songs with Matthew Koma and Foster the People, featured her on "Purple Eyes". Finally, her 2017 single, "Forgetting All About You", featured producer blackbear, currently at #1 on the alternative chart with All Time Low's "Monsters". She had her first full album about to come out, and was definitely poised to hit the charts on her own.
Then.....nothing.
Instead, she released another EP, James as well as a bunch of singles from it. It was a concept EP where all the songs, though in different styles, were connected, documenting the rise and fall of a relationship. It went nowhere. The tone of that release was more in a sparse-pop direction, compatible to what top 40 radio was playing at the time, and while it had gotten positive reviews, none of it caught on. It got to the point that even a fan like myself had pretty much given up on her. While much of her earlier singles I had added to my playlist and many hit the top 20 and even top five, her recent songs would up low with a short shelf-life, and some not added at all.
A few weeks ago, I had checked her Wikipedia page, to see what she was up to, and noticed two new singles released: "Ring" and "Fantasy". I added the former at #92 two weeks ago. Then, just this past week, Merrill Kenny Butler, a friend from my hometown who is the one who knew Phoebe when she was little, posted a new song on my timeline, "Try it Sober". Upon listening to it, I thought "wow'. Always a prolific songwriter, this, in many ways, is her best work to date. I am sure many of us can relate to the lyrics, which are about a person who has lived the party life, getting drunk and high all the time, but later realizing that it's not all it's wrapped up to be. And now as they are getting older, wanted to see what the rest of their life is about or can be.
While the lyrics are powerful and meaningful, the song and production itself is somewhat of a new direction for her. While still retaining her pop stance, the production is much less sparse, with instrumentation, and a steady beat which alternates between moderate and slow (on the choruses) is fuller and complements her voice very well, while still being simplistic, it's very palatable. Her style is very similar to that of Halsey's, the singer from Edison, who has broken through as a current star.
Merrill alerted to me that Phoebe has finally released her first full-length album this past summer, How It Used to Feel. She is now on an independent label, appropriately named Independently Popular. While I am not sure whether she left Columbia on her own terms, was released from the label, or simply fulfilled her contractual obligation, it sounds like she has a new phase of her career. Like many musicians, she has been sidelined due to COVID-19 and has been at her Red Bank home much of 2020. Merrill described her as "wise beyond her years". Let's hope that, at age 30, she finally finds mainstream success on her own, of Halsey-like proportions.
"Try It Sober" debuts here at #74. "Ring", which I had added two weeks ago, is getting better with each listen, with a fuller production and a heart-and soul vocal performance, and goes back to her indie-pop beginnings. It gains a "bullet" as it moves from 90 to 73 this week.
A big "thank you" to my friend Merrill for letting me know about this talented artist.
NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL: Michael Kiwanuka gets his third blog-topper, all from his album Kiwanuka, with "You Ain't the Problem", which rises 2-1 this week. It's his second #1 this year, following "Hero" which started the year off. Only Winnetka Bowling League, whose "Come to the Beach" held sway last week, has had as many number ones in 2020. Incidentally, there is a sort of connection between WBL and Phoebe Ryan. WBL is headed by Matthew Koma, which aside from both being featured on songs by The Knocks, is a friend of Meg Gualano Hunsicker, who graduated with Merrill Kenny from Roselle Park in 1977. Perhaps I should contact others in that graduating class to see if they know any musician friends. Actually yet, another friend from that same class, Lorie Powell, has a niece (I think) that is a back-up performer in the entourage for Halsey. Something was in the water that year, I think!
"Come to the Beach" is number two, followed by David R Porfirio's "Driving at Dusk", still bulleted at #3. Miley Cyrus gets her third top 10 as "Midnight Sky" rises 13-8.
CARPENTERS COVER: Six songs were added this week. Aside from the aforementioned Phoebe Ryan song, the Top Debut goes to the latest from Tennis, "Superstar". There, of course, have been many songs with that name, most frequently in 1971 when three songs with that name were hits. Turns out that this "Superstar" is indeed the Leon Russell-Bonnie Bramlett song that was a #2 hit for the Carpenters that year. A change of pace for one of my favorite blog-era bands, this version is done a little more upbeat than the original hit version but in the husbands-and-wife duo's usual ambience. The act just missed the top 20 with the recent ''How to Forgive", the third single from their most recent album Swimmer, breaking a string of ten straight songs in that region. This is enough of a departure to bring them back in the upper regions of the blog list. This is a stand-along single, not on that album, presumable to be included on a future release.
Django Django is another band that I had faithfully followed during my blog era, and they also have a new single, "Spirals". You pretty much never know what the band will come up with next, but the new song pretty much is true to the name, as the intro seems to put you in circles (and the video will really drive you crazy). After it gets past the intro, it's more in their usual art-rock mode, echoing prog bands like Alan Parsons Project, and much understated than their blog hits in the past. Like "Superstar" it's a standalone single as of now.
Also added this week are Bebadoobee's "Care" a follow-up to "She Plays Bass". The British-Filipino singer has another accessible indie-rock single that's a refreshing as her prior song. Ava Max who hit Billboard's top 10 and my blog #12, with "Sweet But Psycho", as back with "Kings and Queens", another catchy pop outing. Finally, The Regrettes follow-up their top 10 blog hit "What Am I Gonna Do Today", with ""I Love Us", which is a slower ballad, a departure from the usual high-energy sound from that LA punk contingent.
ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END: Speaking of broken top 20 streaks, Foster The People's latest song, "The Things We Go" holds at #54 this week. Unless it starts moving up soon, it will break a string of 16 straight top 20 blog songs. Earlier this year, "Living for the Weekend" by Fitz and the Tantrums, peaked at #30, breaking a string of 22 top 20 songs.
Nothing lasts forever.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
October 11, 2020
|
This Week |
Last
Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks
on List |
|
1 |
2 |
NUMBER ONE:  Album: Kiwanuka |
9 |
|
2 |
1 |
10 |
|
|
3 |
3 |
9 |
|
|
4 |
6 |
9 |
|
|
5 |
5 |
11 |
|
|
6 |
7 |
22 |
|
|
7 |
9 |
12 |
|
|
8 |
13 |
5 |
|
|
9 |
4 |
13 |
|
|
10 |
10 |
9 |
|
|
11 |
11 |
14 |
|
|
12 |
8 |
15 |
|
|
13 |
15 |
8 |
|
|
14 |
17 |
6 |
|
|
15 |
20 |
6 |
|
|
16 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
17 |
21 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  "Tonight" Album: Animal Island (EP) |
7 |
|
18 |
22 |
6 |
|
|
19 |
16 |
20 |
|
|
20 |
14 |
13 |
|
|
21 |
23 |
12 |
|
|
22 |
29 |
6 |
|
|
23 |
32 |
5 |
|
|
24 |
26 |
7 |
|
|
25 |
19 |
21 |
|
|
26 |
31 |
6 |
|
|
27 |
18 |
14 |
|
|
28 |
27 |
8 |
|
|
29 |
33 |
7 |
|
|
30 |
24 |
25 |
|
|
31 |
34 |
13 |
|
|
32 |
35 |
10 |
|
|
33 |
28 |
24 |
|
|
34 |
25 |
11 |
|
|
35 |
41 |
Christina Alessi & the Toll Collectors - Whatever Gets You
Through |
2 |
|
36 |
30 |
9 |
|
|
37 |
43 |
4 |
|
|
38 |
51 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  Album: Shore |
2 |
|
39 |
44 |
4 |
|
|
40 |
36 |
18 |
|
|
41 |
37 |
26 |
|
|
42 |
46 |
4 |
|
|
43 |
38 |
19 |
|
|
44 |
39 |
16 |
|
|
45 |
60 |
3 |
|
|
46 |
58 |
3 |
|
|
47 |
40 |
17 |
|
|
48 |
49 |
7 |
|
|
49 |
57 |
4 |
|
|
50 |
45 |
13 |
|
|
51 |
53 |
3 |
|
|
52 |
50 |
5 |
|
|
53 |
64 |
3 |
|
|
54 |
54 |
5 |
|
|
55 |
62 |
4 |
|
|
56 |
42 |
11 |
|
|
57 |
81 |
2 |
|
|
58 |
47 |
17 |
|
|
59 |
52 |
25 |
|
|
60 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  (Single Only) |
1 |
|
61 |
55 |
29 |
|
|
62 |
68 |
4 |
|
|
63 |
78 |
2 |
|
|
64 |
48 |
19 |
|
|
65 |
59 |
19 |
|
|
66 |
61 |
7 |
|
|
67 |
72 |
22 |
|
|
68 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
69 |
63 |
24 |
|
|
70 |
56 |
8 |
|
|
71 |
82 |
2 |
|
|
72 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
73 |
90 |
3 |
|
|
74 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
75 |
65 |
7 |
|
|
76 |
69 |
16 |
|
|
77 |
85 |
4 |
|
|
78 |
86 |
2 |
|
|
79 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
80 |
66 |
19 |
|
|
81 |
73 |
17 |
|
|
82 |
67 |
20 |
|
|
83 |
70 |
10 |
|
|
84 |
80 |
6 |
|
|
85 |
71 |
13 |
|
|
86 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
87 |
74 |
10 |
|
|
88 |
77 |
13 |
|
|
89 |
91 |
5 |
|
|
90 |
75 |
8 |
|
|
91 |
76 |
14 |
|
|
92 |
79 |
14 |
|
|
93 |
84 |
18 |
|
|
94 |
RE ENTRY |
18 |
|
|
95 |
83 |
10 |
|
|
96 |
87 |
16 |
|
|
97 |
88 |
20 |
|
|
98 |
89 |
10 |
|
|
99 |
92 |
10 |
|
|
100 |
93 |
8 |
|
|
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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