When I started writing this blog, its objective was to introduce friends to new music that might be out there. Somewhere along the way, however, since it was, after all, a personal blog, it became about my experiences with music, growing up and experiencing the music as a "soundtrack" to my adult life as well. Much of what I wrote was about the past, referencing the great songs from the 1960's onward, as well as current trends. Not to mention the artists that made the music memorable.
Lately, of course, I have been entrenched in new music by artists, who are still aspiring, unsigned, but making some awesome music, and have even interacted with some of them personally, thanks to social media. I was going to take a break from all that, but not this week. Why? Because: (1) Two young, Jersey bands, both with current songs in my top five this week, have just released their respective follow-up singles from forthcoming new albums, (2) Another great Jersey band I've been following for a couple of years now, has released a lyric video from an existing album; (3) A bona fide pop star with the current number one national record has cracked my top five, and (4) We may have somewhat of a Queens, NY invasion on our hands. And yes, it's another very strong week for debuts, which I will get to very shortly.
First, let's check my blog playlist action. It's a fifth week at #1 for Fleet Foxes, as "Sunblind" holds off a very serious challenge from ScreenAge's "North Star", which nonetheless has another big gain to move to #2., forcing Anna Lavigne's still-strong "Every kind of heaven" to #3. But the big news in the top five is The Weeknd's "Save Your Tears" moving 6-4. While the song has been out for months, and has been hanging around Billboard's top ten all that time, a new remix of the song that features Ariana Grande has finally propelled "Save Your Tears" to the top spot on Billboard with a 6-1 move there. Thus, the song becomes the first Billboard #1 song to crack my blog top five since "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus in September 2019. The last number one Hot 100 song to be in my top ten was Harry Styles' "Watermelon Sugar", which reached my #6 position late last year.
"Save Your Tears" is a strong pop song, mostly devoid of all the techno tricks that have permeated (and degraded) pop music these last several years. This is The Weeknd's second blog top 10; "Love Me Harder", which was also by Ms. Grande and featuring the Canadian singer, reached #7 here in 2015. Right now, I have no plans to add the remix version as the original is fine with me. Admittedly, I have pretty much avoided Ariana's music since her controversy in 2015 at a donut shop, stating that she hated America, while licking one of the donuts in the store. Grande, who had four blog songs to that point, has had other controversies, but apparently is still a pop favorite. Seems that all is forgiven (yet, radio is still not playing any of Morgan Wallen's music after his controversial comments he made while drunk a few months back. Seems like a double-standard there). On the other hand, it was Grande's concert in Manchester, England in the UK, when an Islamic extremist suicide bomber killed 80 concertgoers as they were leaving the venue after the concert; over 800 died, in 2017. Perhaps it might be time to revisit her music. As for The Weeknd, I love "Save Your Tears", and it might even have an outside chance at the top. Oneiric's "The Ride" rounds up the top five, with new top 10 entries including Pageants "All Bets Aside" (14-9), and Valerie June featuring Carla Thomas' "Call Me A Fool" (17-10).
KINGS OF QUEENS: While LP, Elle King/Miranda Lambert, and The Neighborhood all bullet in the teens part of the list, David F. Porfirio from Queens, New York still has two songs in that region. "Self-Portrait" moves 19-15, and his former #1 "That Night On Bergenline Avenue" drops 11-19. Meanwhile Matt Weiss, a Long Islander who has recently moved to that borough, grabs the Impact award as "Be Okay", an EDM song by Fablers and Comet, moves 22-18, and replaces his band Øff Guard's "Sincere" which drops out of the top 20 this week.
Both of these artists never seem to rest on their laurels as they are busy with upcoming new releases. Porfirio, notorious for releasing a lot of product, is coming out with an album called 1986 which looks to be his take on several 1980's classic songs. But in the meantime, next week, I plan on adding a prior single of his, "A Day At the Beach", which came out in February, but with summer just around the corner, a perfect time to add this. From the snippet I've heard, this has an early 1960's surf rock vibe to it.
Meanwhile, Weiss is set to release another single as featured vocalist by another EDM artist; this time it is Long Island alternative/electronic artist Michael Scarabino. "Under Your Skin" drops on May 14.
It'll probably never happen, but wouldn't it be cool if Matt Weiss can be a guest vocalist on a David Porfirio instrumental? Never say never!
Last week's strong debuts continue to be strong, but none stronger than "Sacrifice" by Bebe Rexha, which moves 73-31 to take Mover honors. Surprisingly, the song has yet to chart on the Hot 100, despite it being right up that alley. Ms. Rexha has had two top tens as lead artist, so hopefully, she can make a dent on the big chart. The other debuts from last week also make good advances, although the competition in the middle part of the chart may make it seem like the advances aren't significant, but they are.
 |
| New Jersey bands ScreenAge (top) and Oneiric are both in the top five with current singles and their follow-ups debut this week. |
HAS SCREENAGE PEAKED? 'THINK AGAIN': I am running out of adjectives to describe the Jersey band ScreenAge, the highest of seven debuts (six of them with female lead singers, incidentally). Such as the case with their new single "Think Again", which debuts at #28. That makes it the third highest debut in my ten-and-a-half year history of my blog. Only Avi Buffalo's "What's In It For" (#21, September 6, 2010), and Foxygen's "How Can You Really?" (#26, November 9, 2014) have debuted higher. However, points-wise (which is used to tabulate the SNS 100), it's a new record, eclipsing Adele's 2015 "Hello". It's the band's second single release from their upcoming DNR set, which is due on May 21. I am going to go on a limb and say this is their best work yet. Yes, it's even better than "Blue Eyed Addiction". Unlike "North Star", this is an up-tempo pop/rocker, with the members having fun and playing their hearts out. The song emits a good-time feeling and this showcases the band's mix of alternative and garage rock. Emily MacMahon sings with so much emotion that you could just get up and groove and dance along. I have said in the past that this band has been knowledgeable of rock history and here they seem to have been influenced by several styles over the decades. I would definitely love to see them play this live.
BATTLE OF THE JERSEY BANDS?: The next highest debut is from another youthful band that I've been following and embracing, Oneiric. The trio have released their second single, "Golden Cage", from a forthcoming debut. The song is in keeping with their prog/classic rock sound and the band definitely seems to have been influenced by Jethro Tull. You may also argue Rush, as both they and Oneiric are a trio, but Ted Torres' voice is much deeper (and better) than Geddy Lee's. Another great song from the DIYers who definitely know what they're doing. The lyrics are a bit darker than their current top fiver "The Ride" but it's a testament to their songwriting ability. Another band that I hope takes off really soon.
I may as well make it a trifecta as yet another Jersey fave, The Outcrops, who I have seen live twice, debut with "Peace of Mind", which is the title track from their 2020 album which yielded the multi-week blog #1 "Lost Days". This one is a very blues-oriented trek, and the cool video features many National Parks--20 of them--that the band visited during a 2019 cross-country trek. Cassidy Rain's vocals echo the blues that the song projects. The Outcrops, which, based on current publicity photos seem now to be a trio, will be taking to the local roads later this month. Definitely a must-catch, and the song should place the band right back into my top 10 soon!
There are non-Jersey bands that might be more familiar to alternative music fans, that I have added. Chicago's Beach Bunny, which had a couple of songs on my playlist in recent years, including 2019's "Prom Queen" and was originally a vehicle for Lil Trifilio, but quickly expanded to a quartet, return with "Cloud 9". It's a rather raw, new-wavish, alternative jam, that is faintly reminiscent of the Go-Go's. The song is from their 2020 full length debut Honeymoon.
Cannons, the L.A. indie pop band that hit top ten with "Fire For You", follow that up with "Bad Dream". Lead singer Michelle Joy heads up a nice electro-pop, ambience up tempo song which is on an equal par with the prior song. Both songs are alternative (where "Fire For You" hit #1), and Triple-A chart fixtures, and well deserved.
ROOKIES: Two bands make their blog debut, the first is Dry Cleaning. The band hails from South London in the UK, and are described as post punk. The beat and instrumentation remind me a bit of "I Ran" by A Flock of Seagulls, with more of a guitar sound than that 80's synth-classic. Lead singer Florence Shaw has more of a deeper voice, reminiscent of Margo Timmins of Cowboy Junkies. An interesting song that could click with repeated listens.
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| The Main Event Band, featuring Sharon Hyler, are on the Beach Music charts with a cover of "Hello Stranger". |
BACK TO THE BEACH: Finally, with The James Hunter Six's "I Can Change Your Mind" descending on the chart, it was time to go back and check out the Carolina Beach Music charts, especially with summer coming. Two remakes of vintage songs that I loved are on that list. The one I will add this week is by The Main Event Band featuring Sharon Tyler, "Hello Stranger". The original was done by R&B singer Barbara Lewis who took the song to #3 in 1963. A very awesome remake by Yvonne Elliman made it to #15 in 1977 and topped the Adult Contemporary chart that year. On my year-end list, it placed #18. As for this version, the band from Greenville, SC, features Sharon Hyler, and it pretty true to the prior versions. The band was founded by Al Woodruff and is pretty much a party cover group that plays weddings and other functions. They do other genres but their heart is in R&B and Beach Music. I figured it's a nice change of pace to the other songs on my playlist. A pleasant listen!
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
May 2, 2021
|
This Week |
Last
Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks
on List |
|
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  Album: Shore (5 weeks at #1) |
10 |
|
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
3 |
2 |
10 |
|
|
4 |
6 |
13 |
|
|
5 |
4 |
9 |
|
|
6 |
5 |
8 |
|
|
7 |
7 |
9 |
|
|
8 |
8 |
9 |
|
|
9 |
14 |
4 |
|
|
10 |
13 |
8 |
|
|
11 |
9 |
11 |
|
|
12 |
15 |
11 |
|
|
13 |
17 |
6 |
|
|
14 |
18 |
Elle King and Miranda Lambert - Drunk (And I Don'tWant to Go
Home) |
6 |
|
15 |
19 |
8 |
|
|
16 |
20 |
10 |
|
|
17 |
10 |
12 |
|
|
18 |
22 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:   FABLERS and COMET featuring. MATT WEISS " Be Okay" (Single Only) |
7 |
|
19 |
11 |
15 |
|
|
20 |
12 |
18 |
|
|
21 |
23 |
7 |
|
|
22 |
27 |
8 |
|
|
23 |
31 |
8 |
|
|
24 |
16 |
9 |
|
|
25 |
33 |
12 |
|
|
26 |
41 |
3 |
|
|
27 |
36 |
6 |
|
|
28 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  Album: DNR |
1 |
|
29 |
28 |
15 |
|
|
30 |
25 |
14 |
|
|
31 |
73 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  Album: Better Mistakes |
2 |
|
32 |
21 |
15 |
|
|
33 |
29 |
18 |
|
|
34 |
30 |
24 |
|
|
35 |
47 |
6 |
|
|
36 |
24 |
18 |
|
|
37 |
40 |
5 |
|
|
38 |
44 |
5 |
|
|
39 |
46 |
5 |
|
|
40 |
26 |
16 |
|
|
41 |
38 |
13 |
|
|
42 |
49 |
4 |
|
|
43 |
39 |
Black Coffee ft. Maxine Ashley and Sun El Musician - You Need Me |
13 |
|
44 |
51 |
6 |
|
|
45 |
32 |
12 |
|
|
46 |
37 |
7 |
|
|
47 |
52 |
4 |
|
|
48 |
68 |
2 |
|
|
49 |
35 |
17 |
|
|
50 |
34 |
14 |
|
|
51 |
56 |
4 |
|
|
52 |
43 |
8 |
|
|
53 |
70 |
2 |
|
|
54 |
71 |
2 |
|
|
55 |
74 |
2 |
|
|
56 |
53 |
10 |
|
|
57 |
62 |
6 |
|
|
58 |
42 |
11 |
|
|
59 |
63 |
6 |
|
|
60 |
69 |
3 |
|
|
61 |
45 |
23 |
|
|
62 |
64 |
7 |
|
|
63 |
67 |
5 |
|
|
64 |
77 |
2 |
|
|
65 |
48 |
9 |
|
|
66 |
65 |
11 |
|
|
67 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
68 |
58 |
7 |
|
|
69 |
61 |
13 |
|
|
70 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
71 |
50 |
14 |
|
|
72 |
72 |
4 |
|
|
73 |
76 |
3 |
|
|
74 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
75 |
54 |
16 |
|
|
76 |
57 |
16 |
|
|
77 |
59 |
18 |
|
|
78 |
55 |
17 |
|
|
79 |
60 |
16 |
|
|
80 |
75 |
5 |
|
|
81 |
79 |
5 |
|
|
82 |
83 |
7 |
|
|
83 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
84 |
85 |
3 |
|
|
85 |
66 |
15 |
|
|
86 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
87 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
88 |
81 |
25 |
|
|
89 |
86 |
11 |
|
|
90 |
82 |
9 |
|
|
91 |
87 |
22 |
|
|
92 |
78 |
10 |
|
|
93 |
84 |
17 |
|
|
94 |
80 |
14 |
|
|
95 |
88 |
4 |
|
|
96 |
91 |
4 |
|
|
97 |
89 |
18 |
|
|
98 |
90 |
5 |
|
|
99 |
92 |
3 |
|
|
100 |
93 |
10 |
|
|
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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