Sort of a low-key blog this week but a good one as Scottish artist Anna Lavigne hits the top position on my SNS 100 playlist with the ballad "Every kind of heaven", which attains the #1 position after only five weeks. The song, from her awesome album Angels in Sandshoes, is an excellent message of hope and unity. Her voice is so tender and the production help from Martin Stephenson just enhances the message even more.
Anna Lavigne in Spain, 2020. |
Her album, not available via the local channels in the U.S., such as iTunes or Amazon as of yet (not sure about the streaming sites), is available on the Bandcamp site, both as download and streaming. It's definitely worth it! Click on this link for more information: Angels In Sandshoes | Anna Lavigne | Martin Stephenson (bandcamp.com)
Both Anna and Martin, along with his band Martin Stephenson and the Daintees, will be performing live on Facebook this weekend: Friday April 2 and Saturday April 3, both evenings between 8 and 9 PM British (UTC+1) time which is 3 to 4 PM here on the U.S. East Coast (EDT). For more information, click here: Living Room Live (Fri & Sat 8-9pm) | Facebook
Ms. Lavigne narrowly heads off Fleet Foxes' "Sunblind" for the top spot, but it looks like both of these songs will be 1-2 on my chart for a while longer as they distance themselves from the rest of the pack. Last week's topper, David F. Porfirio, with his instrumental ode to New Jersey's Hudson County main drag, "That Night on Bergenline Avenue", drops from #1 to #3. Positions 4 thru 7 are still strong and hold their positions. It looks like Boy Pablo's excellent "Hey Girl" might break the stalemate that the top seven have been holding for a few weeks. Devon Gilfillan gets his second top 10 blog effort as featured vocalist on Illiterate Light's "Freedom", which moves 15-9.
In the middle of the chart, there is a big logjam between positions 24 (Jade Bird's "Open Up the Heavens", Mover of the Week) and 34 (Midnight Sister's "Foxes"), with all but one song in that section garnering a bullet but unable to move up significantly. In fact, two songs, Øff Guard's "Sincere" and Delacey's "Unlovable" both drop a couple of positions despite a significant gain.
With March--Women's History Month--coming to an end, it's fitting that five of the seven adds this week are by females--or female-led-- acts. Leading off is the Top Debut, "Drunk (And I Don't Want to Go Home") by Elle King and Miranda Lambert. It's a strong, pop/rock-driven song, delivered forcefully by Ms. King, along the lines of her blog biggies. She is assisted by country star Lambert, making her first blog appearance since "Heart Like Mine" peaked at #94 on my blog in 2011. Their vocals blend in very well. It's a mild "comeback" of sorts for Elle King, and should easily top her recent relatively anemic "Another You". The song also is at #90 on the Hot 100, King's first appearance there since her top 10 "Ex's and Oh's". Good prospects of this one. Lambert, of course, was once married to country star and TheVoice coach Blake Shelton, and yes, it's just a coincidence that it comes in one notch above Shelton's most recent duet with his current significant other, Gwen Stefani. That's the way it works out sometimes!
Next is Lake Street Dive's "Hypotheticals". The Boston band is led by lead singer Rachael Price who also plays ukulele (one of two players of the instrument on my list this week, the other being Gia Ness) and guitar. The band hit my blog top 10 in 2016 with "Call Off the Dogs". This one is an easy-going laid-back but mid-tempo concoction, definitely giving off a good vibe. Like the Elle King song, this should easily top the band's recent "Making Do".
Next on the list is the latest from Long Islander Laura Pergolizzi, better known as LP, with "How Low Can You Go". This is her second blog song; the first, "Lost on You" went to #4 in 2017. This one is a bouncy yet dreamy confection which give you the chill. High in ambience and phase shifting, this one gets better with each listen. Yeah, this should return her to the top ten once again.
Vancouver-based indie folk/rocker Kylie V debuts on the playlist this week with "On My Mind"
Another talent is Kylie V, a 17-year old from Vancouver, Canada, making her blog debut with "On My Mind". A nice indie-folk, singer-songwriter vibe on this one. This is a very down-to-earth and emotional song. A talent to be reckoned with. The song rocks out a bit towards the end, further enhancing the experience. I like its prospects!
Finally, the last of the females is one that you might have heard of: Taylor Swift. Her most recent effort, "Willow" is from her album Evermore, one of two albums she released in 2020. The former #1 Hot 100 song joins two other Swift songs, "Coney Island" (featuring The National), and "Gasoline" (with Haim) on my listing this week. Judging from these songs, "Willow" in particular, it seems that Ms. Swift has come full circle of sorts. The song is somewhat reminiscent of her early releases. This is a back-to-basics effort, with heart and soul. I pretty much had given up on this artist who just a few years ago seemed to sell out to modern pop. This is the Taylor Swift that I liked in the first place. While the song had debuted at #1 on Billboard in December, it dropped to #37 the following week (setting a dubious record), but is still on the Hot 100. Yeah, top 40 radio dropped it like a hot potato, which says more about that radio format than of Taylor Swift. Good song!
There are also two men debuting this week. While 1990's music fans know Darius Rucker as "Hootie" (from Hootie & the Blowfish), country music fans know him by his real name. Rucker tops the country chart this week with "Beers and Sunshine". I always loved his voice, and this is pure modern country. There aren't too many songs in that genre on my playlist lately (Blake Shelton and Morgan Wallen...perhaps I should check more current songs there). Rucker has appeared on my blog playlist three times before, with his biggest being his iconic "Wagon Wheel", a blog #62 in 2013.
Last, but certainly not least is "Night Nurse" by Tim Izzard, an aspiring artist from the UK. He has done many genres, but has just released his first rock-oriented album Straight Rendezvous. It's a bouncy but vintage rock song, and his voice gives off a David Bowie vibe. That is no coincidence as this is a concept album which harkens back to Bowie's glam period in the early 1970's. I selected this song since it has a video to it, but the album as a whole is recommended too. The title track could have very well come from the Ziggy Stardust era. "Breaking Me Down" is another good, rocking track; the set also includes "The Man Who Fell to Earth", named after the movie that Bowie appeared in; the song is a Bowie tribute, and definitely makes many references to the late, great superstar chameleon.
As with the Anna Lavigne album, Izzard's Straight Rendezvous is, as of this writing, only available via Bandcamp. You can access it with this link: ▶︎ Tim Izzard (bandcamp.com)
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
March 28, 2021
This Week |
Last
Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks
on List |
1 |
2 |
NUMBER ONE: Album: Angels in Sandshoes |
5 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
|
3 |
1 |
10 |
|
4 |
4 |
13 |
|
5 |
5 |
13 |
|
6 |
6 |
12 |
|
7 |
7 |
10 |
|
8 |
11 |
7 |
|
9 |
15 |
11 |
|
10 |
10 |
19 |
|
11 |
13 |
10 |
|
12 |
9 |
11 |
|
13 |
14 |
9 |
|
14 |
8 |
10 |
|
15 |
12 |
18 |
|
16 |
20 |
7 |
|
17 |
21 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK: Album: As Long As You Are |
9 |
18 |
23 |
8 |
|
19 |
24 |
6 |
|
20 |
17 |
12 |
|
21 |
16 |
13 |
|
22 |
19 |
11 |
|
23 |
18 |
13 |
|
24 |
38 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK: (Single Only) |
3 |
25 |
31 |
4 |
|
26 |
29 |
4 |
|
27 |
30 |
4 |
|
28 |
25 |
8 |
|
29 |
27 |
13 |
|
30 |
28 |
4 |
|
31 |
32 |
9 |
|
32 |
34 |
6 |
|
33 |
35 |
12 |
|
34 |
36 |
6 |
|
35 |
22 |
16 |
|
36 |
26 |
20 |
|
37 |
33 |
17 |
|
38 |
47 |
7 |
|
39 |
52 |
3 |
|
40 |
43 |
11 |
|
41 |
48 |
4 |
|
42 |
60 |
3 |
|
43 |
49 |
8 |
|
44 |
37 |
7 |
|
45 |
53 |
5 |
|
46 |
39 |
12 |
|
47 |
41 |
11 |
|
48 |
71 |
2 |
|
49 |
46 |
9 |
|
50 |
57 |
Black Coffee ft. Maxine Ashley and Sun El Musician - You Need Me |
8 |
51 |
42 |
19 |
|
52 |
61 |
5 |
|
53 |
40 |
13 |
|
54 |
51 |
28 |
|
55 |
65 |
5 |
|
56 |
64 |
5 |
|
57 |
74 |
2 |
|
58 |
66 |
3 |
|
59 |
75 |
3 |
|
60 |
45 |
10 |
|
61 |
67 |
9 |
|
62 |
77 |
2 |
|
63 |
44 |
12 |
|
64 |
68 |
3 |
|
65 |
90 |
2 |
|
66 |
54 |
10 |
|
67 |
70 |
6 |
|
68 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT: "Drunk (And I Don't Want to Go
Home)" (Single Only) |
1 |
69 |
50 |
14 |
|
70 |
55 |
6 |
|
71 |
58 |
15 |
|
72 |
--- |
1 |
|
73 |
59 |
12 |
|
74 |
--- |
1 |
|
75 |
56 |
15 |
|
76 |
82 |
2 |
|
77 |
79 |
4 |
|
78 |
80 |
6 |
|
79 |
87 |
2 |
|
80 |
73 |
6 |
|
81 |
63 |
18 |
|
82 |
--- |
1 |
|
83 |
62 |
24 |
|
84 |
--- |
1 |
|
85 |
76 |
10 |
|
86 |
86 |
4 |
|
87 |
85 |
3 |
|
88 |
89 |
3 |
|
89 |
--- |
1 |
|
90 |
69 |
16 |
|
91 |
--- |
1 |
|
92 |
98 |
2 |
|
93 |
72 |
20 |
|
94 |
81 |
4 |
|
95 |
RE ENTRY |
8 |
|
96 |
96 |
7 |
|
97 |
78 |
14 |
|
98 |
84 |
36 |
|
99 |
88 |
23 |
|
100 |
91 |
19 |
|
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.
Thanks so much Rob for the wonderful feedback and support. An honor to be up here amongst some brilliant music - grateful to you for the good vibes and for spreading the love in these difficult times xx
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