Halsey Edges Out Adele for Top Spot; Anna Lavigne Releases Sophomore Effort (SNS week of 11/7/2021)

If you had to sum up my blog year 2021 a month and a half early, you could probably say that it was a battle between New Jersey and the U.K., as the bulk of the acts that have occupied my top spot hailed from either my backyard, or across the pond.    And while it's true that acts from Australia, Italy, Queens, NY, Seattle and California have also topped the list, it's mainly been a battle of the Garden State and Great Britain.    However, up until this week, the Jersey banner has been held solely by ScreenAge, (or from lead singer Emily MacMahon, as a solo) while the Union Jack has claimed Ed Sheeran, Jade Bird, Dua Lipa, Bakar, Tinkers Lane and Anna Lavigne.   

Edison NJ's Halsey grabs her first blog #1 song this week with "You Asked For This".

Well, the Screeners are now joined by Emily's fellow Edisonian Halsey to hold up the Jersey banner this week as "You Asked for This" hits the top spot, barely holding off yet another Brit, Adele, from the top, in a week in which all four awards on my playlist are either from Jersey or the U.K. (in this case, Scotland).  

While "You Asked for This" is clearly an alternative rock-gem, Halsey has primarily been a pop artist which, as a group, have made somewhat of a comeback on my SNS 100.  While the song is not on the Hot 100 at all, it's been a staple on the alternative chart.   Halsey replaces Maneskin's "Beggin" which had two non-consecutive weeks at the pole position.    

Meanwhile, Adele tops the Hot 100 for a third straight week, and is a solid #2 here, just one notch away from a fifth blog number one.   Nationally, "Easy on Me" is doing well on most formats, including Hot AC, Top 40, Adult Contemporary (#1 there in only its fourth week), Triple-A, and even Rhythmic.  Meanwhile on my list, Fleet Foxes--one of those non-Jersey and Brit chart toppers--they're from Seattle--move 5-3.  "Beggin'" drops to #4.    

Winnetka Bowling League rebounds from its mildly disappointing "Barcelona" and returns to the top 10 with "Pulp" with a 13-6 move.    It's their best showing since last year's #1 "Come to the Beach".   Meanwhile some movers into the top 20 are impressive, headed by Anna Lavigne's "Dance the Last Goodbye" (Impact Award, 24-10, her fourth from Angels in Sandshoes), Iration's "Be Alright", Elton John and Dua Lipa's "Cold Heart", and Christina Taylor's "Damn Boy".   It's Iration's fifth top 20 blog hit, Elton John's second, Dua Lipa's fourth and Ms. Taylor's seventh.   Christina, by the way, has released an acoustic version of her "Damn Boy", in an ongoing effort to try and crack the country elite.   

ScreenAge's "Think Again" drops a notch but holds on to the #20 spot.    But, "Like Fine Wine" is the Mover of the Week (43-22) and most likely will continue the Jersey quartet's stranglehold on the Top 20 next week.   

Scottish singer-songwriter Anna Lavigne releases her second album, Roses for the Ride this week.  The track "This Time" is this week's Top Debut.

IT'S TIME:  As mentioned above, Anna Lavigne grabs her fourth top 10 from her debut Angels in Sandshoes with "Dance the Last Goodbye", but this week, she releases her sophomore effort, Roses for the Ride.   I went with the track "This Time", which is the Top Debut at #58.  Ms. Lavigne's unique voice is supplemented by a rock intro and a more aggressive vocal both in pitch and subject matter, and the guitars persist throughout the song.   Aided again by Martin Stephenson's production, guitar work and assisting Anna on songwriting, it's another unique sounding track.    While the album as a whole is more of a folky nature, at least at first listen, this track is a standout.    But the other tracks in a first impression are very relaxing, "Last Song", for example is reminiscent of "Seashore Roses" from her debut.  I absolutely love her voice, and can honestly say that her music will be on my playlist for a long time coming. 

Other debuts include Nick Waterhouse's "Very Blue" which follows his #3 "B Santa Ana 1986".  Still in his trademark retro mode, this has a bit of a Roy Orbison early 1960's favor to it.   Different enough from his past blog hits to result in another blog hit.    

Tim Izzard gets his third add from his David Bowie-influenced glam album, Starlight Rendezvous with "Life in a Day".   Palatable guitar intro leads into Izzard's Bowie-esque vocal which immediately takes over.   It still amazes me that he is able to capture that era in Bowie's career to a tee, which Izzard accurately does.   The song, a regular on several playlists in the U.K., is a good bet to follow "Night Nurse" and "Watching for the Man" into the top 10.   Izzard is currently working on a follow-up album, which is said to combine glam and power pop.  T-Rex or Sweet, anyone?  

Western Massachusetts-based Eavesdrop performs at the Museum of Contemporary Art grounds in August 2018.

In the summer of 2018, I went to a weekend of geocaching events up near North Adams, Massachusetts, including an event at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.    There was a band that was playing on the grounds called Eavesdrop, which consisted of a trio of women:  Kara Wolf, Laura Buchanon, and Karrie Bowdon.   Not really paying attention fully to their music, I did capture one of their songs on video.  Recently, I made one of my "highlight" reels for that year, 2018 and got to listen to them perform in that video clip that was part of my retrospect of that year.   For the heck of it, I Googled them, and sure enough, they are an active band, since adding several male musicians to create a full ensemble.   Turns out that they recently released a new single, "Alive".    They are in the acoustic-folk-rock range, not unlike, say, Jersey's The Outcrops.    The harmonies and instrumentation are top-notch and the song has a laid-back good time feeling.   You can find the band playing in the western Massachusetts area, both with the full band, and with the original trio.

Also debuting are Colorado Springs-based OneRepublic with "Someday".   The band seems to be a throwback to the last of the decent pop-rock bands like Train or pre-techno Maroon 5.   They have made my blog playlist before, but never getting higher than #39.  Maybe this soft pop-rocker will do the trick.   Speaking of alternative pop-rockers, Coin returns with "Chapstick".   The Nashville band has two SNS top 10's, including the #7 "I Don't Wanna Dance".   This is a rock-oriented rhythmic romp, partially rapped, but mostly sung.   The beat is infectious and should have a lengthy run.   It is doing well on the alternative chart.    Finally, folk-country singer-songwriter Kasey Musgraves makes her blog debut with "Justified" which is a hit at Triple-A.  She has been around since 2013 and the new song hails from her fifth album, Star-Crossed.

IS POP-ROCK COMING BACK?   Don't get too excited, but there seems to be more legitimate music on the pop charts these days than in recent years.   Aside from Adele's third week at #1 on the Hot 100, and two Ed Sheeran songs in the big chart's Top Ten, we have the latest "token" alternative crossover song, "Heat Waves" by British indie-rock band Glass Animals.    The song moves to #10 on the Hot 100 becoming the first rock crossover since AJR's "Bang" last year.   While that song took its time to make it into the top 10 (peaking at #8), "Heat Waves" breaks a record for the longest time to reach the top 10, doing it in its 42nd chart week.    Of course, this has a rhythmic hip-hop influence to go along with its indie-rock pose.    Earlier this year, the song reached #32 on my list, and I re-add the song at #95 this week.   Meanwhile, the band's current "I Don't Wanna Talk" moves to that same #32 position while sitting at #10 on the alternative chart.   With Maneskin's former #1 blog (and still alternative #1) "Beggin'" inching up to #13 on the big chart, and Elton John's duet with Dua Lipa right behind at #14, is rock---in any modified form---coming back?   Time will tell.

FINALLY:  I had mentioned that Christina Taylor has released an acoustic version of her current SNS 100 song "Damn Boy".  Of course, it is not unusual in this day and age to release multiple versions of songs...including remixes, acoustic or with another singer's featured vocal.   But, last week, I had reviewed Jack White's latest "Taking Me Back", with its unusual (for him) fiddles, jazz and country overtones.  Turns out that it's actually an alternate version entitled "Taking Me Back (Gently)", and the regular version rocks out with guitars. Probably more like his style, but for now, I'm sticking with the countrified take.

AND..BYE BYE BRANDON:   Any chance of a "Let's Go Brandon" takeover discussed the last couple of weeks has come to an end.   Both versions of the infamous anti-President chant take a tumble on the Hot 100: Loza Alexander's drops to #94 and Bryson Gray's to #99.    Easy come, easy go.

Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist

November 7, 2021

This Week	Last Week	ARTIST-Title	Weeks on List
1	3	NUMBER ONE: HALSEY "You Asked For This" Album: If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power	9
2	6	Adele - Easy On Me	4
3	5	Fleet Foxes - Featherweight	6
4	1	Maneskin - Beggin'	11
5	2	Dua Lipa - Love Again	12
6	13	Winnetka Bowling League - Pulp	6
7	7	Vivian Girls - Something to Do	13
8	14	Milky Chance - Colorado	15
9	4	Vivian Girls - Sick	13
10	24	TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK: ANNA LAVIGNE "Dance the Last Goodbye" Album: Angels in Sandshoes	4
11	9	Ed Sheeran - Bad Habits●	17
12	23	Iration - Be Alright	7
13	12	A Place to Bury Strangers - I Might Have	16
14	25	Elton John and Dua Lipa - Cold Heart	9
15	8	Bakar - The Mission	8
16	22	Christina Taylor- Damn Boy	8
17	18	Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats - Survivor	10
18	10	Courtney Barnett - Rae Street	12
19	17	Jade Bird - Now is the Time	16
20	19	ScreenAge - Think Again▲	26
21	11	Tim Izzard - Watching For the Man	16
22	43	MOVER OF THE WEEK: SCREENAGE "Like Fine Wine" Album: DNR	2
23	16	Middle Kids - Stacking Chairs	13
24	15	Einstein's Dad - See You in the Sun	16
25	20	Christina Alessi and the Toll Collectors - Stone Meets the Sea	14
26	21	ScreenAge - Going Back●	22
27	27	Machine Gun Kelly - Papercut	10
28	34	Zac Brown Band - Same Boat	17
29	36	Jake Leckie ft Alexis Morrast - After the Flood	6
30	45	Ed Sheeran - Shivers	7
31	26	Swingadelic- Gonna Build Me A Playhouse	9
32	37	Glass Animals - I Don't Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Dance)	6
33	38	Hifeer and  AnyMore Z ft. Matt Weiss - Show Your Hands	5
34	48	Tinkers Lane - It's Called Love	4
35	35	King Tappa - Love Spell	8
36	30	Bebe Rexha - Sabotage	10
37	31	The Murlocs - Francesca	13
38	33	ScreenAge - Questions●	22
39	29	The Weeknd -Take My Breath	11
40	32	Cold War Kids - What You Say●	19
41	42	Johnny Woods - Last Glass of Whiskey	6
42	44	Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats - Love Don't	4
43	41	Jonas Brothers - Who's In Your Head	5
44	28	The Linda Lindas - Oh!	12
45	60	Leon Bridges - Steam	3
46	47	Oberhofer - Let It Go	5
47	40	Record Company - How High	11
48	55	Kings of Leon - Time in Disguise	6
49	52	The Lumineers - Brightside	5
50	62	St. Paul and the Broken Bones - The Last Dance	3
51	59	David F. Porfirio - Egyptian Fantasia	4
52	53	The War on Drugs ft. Lucius - I Don't Live Here Anymore	5
53	57	My Morning Jacket - Love Love Love	5
54	58	The Regrettes - Monday	4
55	39	Real Estate- Half a Human	13
56	46	Parcels - Coming Back	10
57	49	Middle Kids - Questions●	24
58	---	TOP DEBUT: ANNA LAVIGNE "This Time" Album: Roses for the Ride	1
59	56	Santana, Rob Thomas, American Authors - Move	9
60	61	Lake Street Dive - Know That I Know	12
61	54	Smash Palace - Then She Disappeared	13
62	51	Eddie Testa ft. Super Blue- Livin Lovin Life	13
63	71	Band of Horses - Crutch	2
64	50	Nick Waterhouse - B. Santa Ana 1986	15
65	83	Heartless Bastards- How Low	2
66	68	Donna Missal - Happy People	4
67	---	Nick Waterhouse - Very Blue	1
68	81	Courtney Barnett - Before You Gotta Go	2
69	67	Gang of Youths - the angel of 8th ave	7
70	70	Drake ft. Future and Young Thug - Way 2 Sexy	7
71	78	Dreamers - Palm Reader	3
72	80	Coldplay X BTS - My Universe	3
73	86	Foo Fighters - Making A Fire	2
74	---	Tim Izzard - Life In a Day	1
75	---	Eavesdrop - Alive	1
76	92	Jack White - Taking Me Back (Gently)	2
77	63	Amy Helm- Breathing	18
78	79	Brandi Carlile - Right On Time	8
79	64	BreakTime - Rock and Roll Refugee	17
80	69	Dua Lipa - Levitating	21
81	85	The Heavy Hours - Wildfire	4
82	65	Molly Burch - Took A Minute	16
83	66	Cash Cash ft. Phoebe Ryan - Ride or Die	16
84	73	Bebe Rexha - Sacrifice●	27
85	---	One Republic - Someday	1
86	72	Oneiric - Grace	18
87	---	Coin - Chapstick	1
88	90	The Killers - Quiet Town	3
89	76	Deb Browning - Stop Messin' With My Man●	23
90	91	Duran Duran - Anniversary	2
91	---	Kasey Musgraves - Justified	1
92	77	Clairo - Amoeba	8
93	75	Twenty One Pilots - Saturday	17
94	82	Anna Lavigne - Seashore Roses	21
95	RE-ENTRY	Glass Animals - Heat Waves	19
96	93	Blake Shelton - Come Back As A Country Boy	3
97	74	Ian Roberts - So Fine Summertime●	23
98	89	Kungs - Never Going Home	8
99	84	Modest Mouse - The Sun Hasn't  Left	5
100	88	Oneiric - High Spirit	18

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.