A VIEW OF THE SCENES 'N' SOUNDWAVES 100 this week (and to be honest, the last couple years or so), you will see the "Internet collective" called Orbis Max. This week alone, they appear four times on the chart: "Fields", which features Lindsay Murray moves up to #11 this week; "Waiting All Night" sits at #27, "Learning to Love", another collaboration, this time with Jim Ritchey of The Posers is at #78,and "Take That Ride" debuts at #98. But just who actually is Orbis Max?
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| Dw Dunphy of Orbis Max, interviewed on a recent Retro Rock Roundup, a podcast from Mike and Jeremy Wiles. |
I have mentioned this "band" many times over the past couple of years. It, along with Einsteins Dad is an Internet-driven collective with several main members (scattered all over the country and even around the world) in which members, thanks to technology, submit their parts, be it vocals, drums, bass, keyboards, guitar or whatever, to form some really cohesive music.
Dw Dunphy was the subject of a podcast in June, from Retro Rock Roundup, run by Mike and Jeremy Wiles, in which Dunphy, who lives here in New Jersey (Red Bank) discussed his time with the band and his influences. What might surprise you is that, while he is usually the lead singer (or co-lead when there are outside collaborators) and appears to be the frontman for the band, he is actually the newest core member.
And, while Orbis appears to have been around for just a couple of years, in fact, this contingent has been around for decades. Believe it or not, they formed back in 1973!
You might wonder how that is so, since it is way before the Internet. Well, they started out as a "real" band based in Poway CA, playing mostly covers of the likes of Steely Dan, Jackson Browne, Eagles and The Allman Brothers. Some of the core members like bassist Craig Carlstrom have been there from the beginning. While some of those members have left, others who have moved away were interested in creating new, original music. While the idea of recording parts via tape and mailing it to the next member seemed tedious, it was the Internet that gave them the actual opportunity to create music together despite the distances between many of them.
As for Dunphy, he told Mike and Jeremy that he started in the music business in 1995 as a music reviewer writing for various websites, but in more recent years, he had cared for a dying family member which took up much of his time. When that member passed, he was at the crossroads of what direction he wanted to take, and by 2019 decided to change course and perform. He received invitations to perform for several Internet driven contingents, and was asked to provide vocals for Orbis Max.
Dunphy's influences stem from the classics like The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who and Queen, to many of the prog bands like Yes and Rush. And aside from Carlstrom, the core group of Orbis includes Bruce Water on keyboards, and Don Baake on guitar. There have been many guests as well contributing in and out of the recordings.
Dw explains about the flexibility of being online when it comes to making music with Orbis Max. He says that back in the 1960's, 70's and 80's with an always-present group makeup, that you had to be around at all times; that all had to agree to go on any hiatuses, and not just one member. With an Internet-inspired band it allowed more flexibility as only when the band would decide to record would a member have to be present, since touring isn't at all possible.
When asked if Dunphy would ever try going solo, he replied that not at the present time, although perhaps maybe down the road, but he enjoys recording with Orbis. Dunphy spoke of some of the collaborators of the band, including Lindsay Murray, Jim Ritchey, and of course Britain's Tim Izzard, who, at least from this writer, helped put Orbis Max on the blog map. Of "Fields", which included Ms. Murray, who he duets with, he mentioned that he took the song to several female musicians but who had rejected the song.
He also gave credit to Lisa Mychols and Ed Ryan and closed out the podcast with "R U OK", a song which was the SNS "Song of the Summer" for last year, and the #3 song for the entire year of 2023.
The discussion turned to how people listen to music. While Dunphy is a big defender of physical media (he mentions that, unlike streaming services, you're not at anyone's mercy if an artist decides to pull their product from a service but offers listeners to "like the music you like, share the music you like", and to "listen and enjoy the music in general".
Sound advice!
To listen to the whole interview, the podcast "Retro Rock Roundup with Mike and Jeremy Wiles", , available where you get your podcasts (it's on Spotify and Apple, to name two).
CHART-WISE: It's a bit of anarchy this week as, although Lissie has a second week at the top with "Night Moves", there isn't one song that is overpowering the competition right now. In fact, much of the top ten could move to the top next week. Dua Lipa does move 5-2 with "Illusion" but loses its bullet and hasn't climbed higher than #43 on the Billboard Hot 100. Starbuck's "Beach A Go Go" inches up to #3, and sits at #8 on the Beach Radio Big 30, and #9 on the Don Mark Surfside chart. Sylvia Johns Ritchie's "Good Love Don't Come Easy", and Deb Browning & Marlisa Kay Small's "Sunshine and Summertime", both former #1's drop to 4 and 5, respectively, but still sits at or atop many beach charts. The Pink Slips Band, moves 7-6, another song that has topped a couple of shag charts recently.
And don't discount the trio at positions 7, 8 and 9: Royel Otis' "Foam", Teddy Swims' "The Door", and 'Billie Eilish's "Lunch" bullet at those positions; for Ms. Eilish, it's her first blog top ten, and it also debuts this week on John Hook's Beach Music Top 40 at #40. While we're there, "Feather" which drops from 8 to 12 this week, tops the John Hook list this week. Who says pop and beach aren't compatible?
The second ten is headed by the aforementioned "Fields" (14-11), while beach music group The Holiday Band grabs the Impact award for "I Got It Bad For You" (21-13). The Tonez, another beach outfit, enters the top 20 for the third time with their cover of "I Hear You Knocking" (22-19)
Big movers further down are headed by The Heavy Heavy's "Happiness" (44-26), Cage The Elephant's "Rainbow" (Mover of the Week, 59-30), last week's Top Debut, Michael Kiwanuka's "Floating Parade" (54-31); Anna Lavigne's "Falling" (55-42) ; Isn't It Always?'s "Dream Again" (65-44). Shaboozy's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)", which spends a 4th week at #1 on the Hot 100, moves 94-55 here in its second week.
DEBUTS:
Some nice debuts this week, headed by Jalen Ngonda's follow-up to his blog #1 "If You Don't Want My Love", "Here to Stay". I mentioned last week that Michael Kiwanuka's soulful take on his latest, well Ngonda's is in the same vein. While so far it looks like Triple-A isn't jumping on the new one like they did the prior, it's right up my alley. A very nice, soul ballad, that echoes not just the great soul ballads of the 1960's like The Walker Brothers, but more recently by Amy Winehouse. In fact, you can imagine the last Ms. Winehouse singing this. A bone-chilling organ accompanies Ngonda's voice. And also, I doubt it, since beach music didn't jump on "If You Don't Want My Love", this one could be a great slow dance at the OG Pavilion at North Myrtle Beach. Well, I can, dream, can't I? It debuts at #60.
One song that will be played at beach clubs along the Grand Strand is the second highest debut, "Back By Popular Demand", by the duet of Dustin Ahkuoi and Sharon Woodruff. This is a cover of an early 1970's Motown beach classic originally done by The Supremes (post-Diana Ross), and The Originals (of "Baby I'm For Real" fame). Ahkuoi is with the beach outfit Band of Oz who charted here two years ago with "You To Me Are Everything". Sharon, of course, leads the band The Main Event, which is coming off a #1 song last year here with "Love Makes the World Go Round". She is actually billed here as "Sharon Hyler", her former name, but I am using Woodruff for consistency's sake. While the song is for the most part, true to the original, you can't deny their voices. Sharon's, in particular is outstanding, and when both harmonize, it takes your breath away. This is the latest from Ocean Drive Productions, headed by Wayne Troutman and Melissa Hinson, who crafted the #1 "Sunshine and Summertime". This will be a nice "end of summer" dancing song, which is already moving up the beach charts.
The Alternative Music Press describes Late Night Drive Home as "reinventing indie rock", and I can see what they mean. This is alt-rock heaven, and although it does remind me of early The Cure, it is flavored in the here and now. I've been giving bands like this a chance to be heard, and this one is worthy of that honor. The band is from the El Paso, Texas area and was formed in 2020. This is a winner.
The Linda Lindas have been on SNS before; the all-female power-pop/punk band scored a #12 hit in 2021 with "Oh!". A perfect example of what this Los Angeles-based quartet can do with their latest, "All In My Head". Traces of bands like The Go-Go's but pretty much are on their own here. Squarely in the alternative circles, this one has good possibilities.
"Human" brought Lenny Kravitz back to the top 30 here, and he follows it up with "Honey". While the former follows the 1980's synth-pop blueprint, this one is in the soulful vein, and in fact, has landed on a few national beach music charts. While not exactly in the vein of a Michael Kiwanuka or Jalen Ngonda, this is bouncier soul vibe which is perfect for the beach vein, guided by the sometimes-straightforward beat. It sits at #26 on John Hook's chart after four weeks and #25 on the SOS Beach Radio chart this week.
Next is Wilco's "Annihilation", a bit more rhythmic and perhaps a little more commercial than the recent "Meant To Be", thus could click, Cassandra Lewis, a fine singer-songwriter based in San Francisco after moving around various places, debuts with "So Bad"; singing with enough soul and emotion which should put in among the growing group of such artists the last several years. Finally, the latest (actually, the band just released another one from the aforementioned Orbis Max, "Take That Ride", which features saxophonist Jonny Viau. His sax adds a layer and another dimension to the e-band, making this a nice change of pace song for the collective.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
August 4,, 2024
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This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
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|
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  Album: Carving Canyons (2 Weeks at #1) |
11 |
||
|
2 |
5 |
12 |
|||
|
3 |
4 |
9 |
|||
|
4 |
2 |
17 |
|||
|
5 |
3 |
Deb Browning and Marlisa Kay
Small -Sunshine and Summertime● |
16 |
||
|
6 |
7 |
11 |
|||
|
7 |
9 |
7 |
|||
|
8 |
11 |
9 |
|||
|
9 |
12 |
8 |
|||
|
10 |
6 |
16 |
|||
|
11 |
14 |
11 |
|||
|
12 |
8 |
10 |
|||
|
13 |
21 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  (Single Release) |
7 |
||
|
14 |
10 |
14 |
|||
|
15 |
15 |
36 |
|||
|
16 |
18 |
7 |
|||
|
17 |
16 |
10 |
|||
|
18 |
20 |
7 |
|||
|
19 |
22 |
7 |
|||
|
20 |
13 |
15 |
|||
|
21 |
24 |
6 |
|||
|
22 |
26 |
6 |
|||
|
23 |
19 |
12 |
|||
|
24 |
17 |
11 |
|||
|
25 |
31 |
6 |
|||
|
26 |
44 |
4 |
|||
|
27 |
28 |
9 |
|||
|
28 |
36 |
5 |
|||
|
29 |
23 |
21 |
|||
|
30 |
59 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:
"Rainbow" Album: Neon Pill |
2 |
||
|
31 |
54 |
2 |
|||
|
32 |
37 |
9 |
|||
|
33 |
41 |
5 |
|||
|
34 |
40 |
6 |
|||
|
35 |
39 |
8 |
|||
|
36 |
49 |
6 |
|||
|
37 |
45 |
Whiskey-Chitto Ramblers - Radio On |
7 |
||
|
38 |
30 |
12 |
|||
|
39 |
48 |
6 |
|||
|
40 |
25 |
13 |
|||
|
41 |
46 |
7 |
|||
|
42 |
55 |
3 |
|||
|
43 |
56 |
4 |
|||
|
44 |
65 |
3 |
|||
|
45 |
27 |
12 |
|||
|
46 |
43 |
8 |
|||
|
47 |
29 |
9 |
|||
|
48 |
73 |
2 |
|||
|
49 |
33 |
18 |
|||
|
50 |
32 |
14 |
|||
|
51 |
38 |
8 |
|||
|
52 |
63 |
4 |
|||
|
53 |
57 |
6 |
|||
|
54 |
34 |
10 |
|||
|
55 |
94 |
2 |
|||
|
56 |
58 |
12 |
|||
|
57 |
69 |
5 |
|||
|
58 |
42 |
19 |
|||
|
59 |
62 |
5 |
|||
|
60 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  (Single Release) |
1 |
||
|
61 |
35 |
11 |
|||
|
62 |
47 |
15 |
|||
|
63 |
71 |
4 |
|||
|
64 |
75 |
3 |
|||
|
65 |
51 |
10 |
|||
|
66 |
72 |
4 |
|||
|
67 |
68 |
5 |
|||
|
68 |
--- |
1 |
|||
|
69 |
74 |
3 |
|||
|
70 |
50 |
19 |
|||
|
71 |
64 |
10 |
|||
|
72 |
88 |
2 |
|||
|
73 |
76 |
3 |
|||
|
74 |
84 |
2 |
|||
|
75 |
67 |
7 |
|||
|
76 |
52 |
14 |
|||
|
77 |
53 |
19 |
|||
|
78 |
83 |
3 |
|||
|
79 |
61 |
7 |
|||
|
80 |
80 |
4 |
|||
|
81 |
70 |
25 |
|||
|
82 |
91 |
2 |
|||
|
83 |
86 |
5 |
|||
|
84 |
60 |
14 |
|||
|
85 |
87 |
3 |
|||
|
86 |
--- |
1 |
|||
|
87 |
77 |
9 |
|||
|
88 |
92 |
4 |
|||
|
89 |
85 |
5 |
|||
|
90 |
95 |
2 |
|||
|
91 |
66 |
15 |
|||
|
92 |
89 |
4 |
|||
|
93 |
--- |
1 |
|||
|
94 |
--- |
1 |
|||
|
95 |
90 |
3 |
|||
|
96 |
--- |
1 |
|||
|
97 |
--- |
1 |
|||
|
98 |
78 |
6 |
|||
|
99 |
--- |
1 |
|||
|
100 |
79 |
5 |
Murmurs:
Suki Waterhouse - Supersad
SupaPurple - Heaven/Progress
Winnetka Bowling League - This Is Life
Milky Chance- Naked and Alive
The Airborne Toxic Event - Glory
Katy Perry - Woman's World
Benson Boone - Slow It Down
The Beaches - Takes One To Know One
The Holiday Band - Does Your Mama Know About Me
Offguard - The Minute
Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Knightz - Glitter Balls
Murmurs: Songs which are in the queue for future adds onto the Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist.
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Songs with the greatest increase in favorite points over the prior week ▲Song garnered most plays on Spotify, for the month, with a superscript following the symbol if most played for multiple months; or if a song was among the top 5 most plays for two months. ● Song among top 5 most plays on Spotify. Awards given during the last blog of each month. To qualify, the song must be currently or have peaked in the top 40.
Songs on the SNS 100 are included on the following public Spotify playlists
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves Top 40: Contains songs in positions 1-40 on the SNS 100
Scenes Up and Coming: Songs From 41-100 that are moving up the chart or former songs in the top 40 that dropped below but still on the SNS 100.
Scenes Recurrents: Songs which had been in the top 20 and/or songs on the chart 25 weeks or more, that have dropped off the SNS 100.
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