15-Year Reflections: Thank You, New Jersey (SNS weeks of 8/17 & 8/24/2025)

 HELLO EVERYONE!   It's been a very hectic couple of weeks--make that a couple of months.  As I had mentioned before, this is a double-week blog and chart, with more on that below.

As many of you know by now, my wife and I are moving down to Conway, South Carolina early next week, and departing New Jersey after spending my whole life here.     And while I know that the new area has a great music scene--revolving around, but not just confined to, Carolina beach music, the state that I am leaving is not too shabby, either.  Maybe not to the point that there are radio formats and charts that measure it, but the vibe coming from the Garden State has its own history as well, with many legendary artists hailing from here.

This week marked the 15th anniversary of my first blog, which back then was just a Facebook "Note".    It also had a rather generic title to it "Top 20 of the Week".   When I posted it on my timeline, I got ZERO likes or comments! And while I had a bigger chart (the first week actually had 44 positions, which gradually rose to 100), it was just focused on those twenty songs.    The chart when through various names, like "S.T.20" (Sheldon's Top 20), and  "SoundRaves", the "Scenes 'n' Soundwaves" (which was the name of the blog when I moved to the Blogger platform in April 2011), eventually became the name of the chart as well.  

The chart purported to encompass many styles of music as I wanted to put my own personal stamp on it.  I wanted to include the favorable national hits on the Hot 100, plus some specialty formats like alternative. But I also wanted to include the up-and-coming, emerging indie artists, some of them on a very local level.  

On my first chart, dated August 23, 2010 included Rachel Allyn, a then-aspiring artist who hailed from Ogdensburg, NJ.    Rachel had been going to college in Nashville, and during her time there, played many of the clubs in town, then came back to New Jersey and performed at local spots in the Lake Hopatcong area.    We had met her parents who were managing her at the time, and went to her many gigs---either solo, as part of a duo, and also with her full band.  

Rachel was getting some great breaks on her journey, winning a New Jersey country radio station's contest as the station's "house band", and locally opening up for some big acts like Kenny Rogers and Little Big Town.    She scored four number ones on the SNS 100, and released three albums or EPs. Unfortunately by 2017 her luck was running out and called it quits.

But Rachel Allyn wasn't the only local artist I supported.   There are many, including those playing original music, and I was fortunate to cross paths with.    And while newer music from name acts from the state, such as Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Little Steven, and onward to recent My Chemical Romance, Bleachers, Halsey, The Gaslight Anthem and Real Estate have made their mark on my chart, there are others who are emerging, either playing and writing for their own pleasure, or trying to make a name for themselves.

Here is a partial list of those that I have supported over the years:

Rachel Allyn

Christina Alessi and the Toll Collectors

The Outcrops

The Mungers

The Hounds of Winter

Sarah Teti

Paul Czekaj

Elise Farnsworth

Emily MacMahon (ScreenAge/Colorjoy)

Ryan Chatelain (The Dust-Ups)

Charlotte Sessions

Dw Dunphy (Orbis Max)

Ken Johnston (KJBand)

C. Lynne Smith

King Tappa

Phoebe Ryan (she actually made the Billboard Hot 100 featured on The Chainsmokers' "All We Know")

The Cynz

Pollyanna

After the Reign

Spinn

There are, of course, many others out there; go to any club or establishment and you can hear a lot of talent just waiting for their big break.  And I left out Karen Wallo, a Jersey girl who moved to....South Carolina and currently fronts Rendezvous.   More on that in a future blog.

To all those artists from the Garden State, thank you for contributing to my life's soundtrack all these years.   

And even though I am no longer living there, I will still follow and support music from New Jersey artists, and I intend on making trips back there and checking out some of the gigs. 

HOT 100: Last week, Alex Warren's "Ordinary" retook the #1 spot for a 10th week, replacing HUNTER/X's "Golden", but this week,  only to have the latter get back to the top spot, for a second overall week.  The song also debuts on SNS at #87.  While "A Bar Song" finally drops out of the top 10 (#13), "Lose Control" continues its run there, now #7 in week 105.    That's more than two years on the chart, and obviously, the song is still listed, after speculation that Billboard might expand a recurrent rule.   But it remains to be seen whether it might be removed if it actually gets below #10.  The song won't budge, so this will be a wait and see thing

SNS 100:  Rhonda McDaniel's "Sad Girl" holds onto the #1 blog position in a tough battle at the top of SNS.   Steve Cheek's "Beach Walkin'" and The Black Keys' "No Rain, No Flowers" switch positions 2 and 3, with the latter, a former four-week #1, actually gaining back a point.   Close behind is "We Don't Have to Be Alone" by Thee Sacred Souls.   Any of them could get the top spot next week, although the Mover of the Week, "My Mama (She Was Right)" by The Jay Vons (17-7) could sneak in there.  The Tams' "My True Love" gets a "backward bullet" despite still gaining.   

The only new entry into the top 20, and getting the Impact award, is the 16-year old track "505" by The Arctic Monkeys (29-17).  

NEW: The Top Debut goes to the latest from Ruth Morayniss, "All I Need".  The Toronto-based singer-songwriter has a country-rock gem here.   This is a stronger song than "Easy Does It", which nonetheless enters the top 40 this week.   Ruth sings with her heart and soul here.  The production is top notch, and should put her back in the top 10.    The song debuts at #81.   Jersey rockers The Cynz returns with "Can't Help Thinking About Me".    This is a vintage Brit-invasion/new-wave concoction that is very catchy, and is their best since they originally entered the chart.   This originally was done by David Bowie in the mid-1960's, which very much explains the sound.  As such, the song has a male vocal, possibly by member Henry Seiz.

Also, with a sixties sounds is the latest from punk-surf rockers Los Straitjackets, with "Spinout". The masked musicians (who I saw perform at the WNTI Stage concert in New Jersey ten years ago), are in rare form.  They seem to enter a 55-year time warp.   With summer in its final stages, this is a nice send-off.

ALSO: HUNTER/X, as mentioned above, debuts here.    It took a couple of listens to appreciate it.    It is well produced; it does have a P!nk-ish vibe to it...Craig Woolard's "Pretty Women Everywhere" is on several beach charts, but this sounds more like a rock/poppish thing.    It has sort of a Mitch Ryder vibe or early Bob Seger, and the chorus is pretty much Bruce Channel's "Hey Baby".    An interesting mixture.....Wolf Alice's "Bloom Baby Bloom" is near the top of alternative charts. has several changes in tempo during the course of the song, yet it's catchy.....In the weird catagory is Ariel Pink's With You Every Night", this guy seems to be on some kind of trip.   Sort of "Sgt Pepper"-ish, but then again, this is the guy who rode "Crybaby" into the top five a few years back.....Finally, we have Boston Irish-American rockers Dropkick Murphys with "Who'll Stand With Us".    A bit of politically-feud, power-to-the-people anthem complete with bagpipes and such.   Interesting!

FINALLY:   This is my last blog before I move to South Carolina.  It'll probably take a few weeks to get back online.   When I do return, I will talk about the future of this blog, and other projects I may be doing.   There is also the "Song of the Summer" contest, which may run another week or two, depending on when I get back online.

Also, I have changed my email address; you can reach me at:

rsheldonx8404@gmail.com

..as my current email address will be going away as of September 2.    Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend.

Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist

August 17 /24, 2025

This Week	Last Week	ARTIST-Title	Weeks on List
1	1	NUMBER ONE: RHONDA MCDANIEL "Sad Girl" Album: Reaching For the Top (2 weeks at #1)	10
2	3	Steve Cheek - Beach Walkin'	11
3	2	The Black Keys - No Rain, No Flowers●	10
4	4	Thee Sacred Souls - We Don't Have To Be Alone	9
5	5	Suki Waterhouse - Dream Woman	12
6	6	Anna Lavigne - Night Dreams	8
7	17	MOVER OF THE WEEK: THE JAY VONS "My Mama (She Was Right)" Album: The Word	4
8	7	The Tams - My True Love	7
9	10	Rivermist - Lady of the Island	10
10	9	Jalen Ngonda - Just As Long As We're Together	8
11	13	Barry Walsh - Suddenly June	11
12	12	Fitz and the Tantrums - Man on the Moon	11
13	8	The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs - Long Haul	13
14	16	Juliet Callahan - Running Lights	7
15	15	The Tonez and Sylvia Johns Ritchie - Ladies Man	12
16	14	Pepper Creek - Salty Southern Saturday Night	14
17	29	TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK: ARCTIC MONKEYS "505" Album: Favorite Worst Nightmare	4
18	19	Starbuck - Ocean Drive Nights	8
19	11	Jade Bird - Dreams	13
20	20	My Morning Jacket - Everyday Magic	8
21	23	Orbis Max-  Nowhereland	8
22	28	Real Estate - Pink Sky	5
23	26	Alex Warren - Ordinary	15
24	27	Nadia Shutkofski - Slow It Down	9
25	18	Lainey Wilson - Somewhere Over Laredo	9
26	21	Jerry Powell - Dance With Me●	16
27	30	Too Much Sylvia - A Jukebox Playin' 45's	12
28	47	Bradley Denniston - HER	3
29	22	Rick Strickland and Lesa Hudson - All Because Of You●	15
30	25	Deb Browning - Does Your Baby Got Your Back●	16
31	32	Chappell Roan - Pink Pony Club	12
32	37	Sabrina Carpenter - Manchild	8
33	38	The Pozers - Ease Off My Heart	6
34	39	Lola Young - One Thing	7
35	24	The Black Keys - Babygirl	10
36	34	The Mac Daddy's Band - Seaside in the Sand●	18
37	40	Morgan Wallen ft Tate McRae - What I Want	9
38	31	The Jay Vons - Days Undone●	20
39	35	Michael Nau - No Quit▲	21
40	43	Ruth Morayniss - Easy Does It	7
41	45	KALEO -Bloodline	7
42	49	The Tonez - This Love Is Real	6
43	33	The Cure- A Fragile Thing●	26
44	58	Role Model - Sally When the Wine Runs Out	4
45	54	Wednesday  - Elderberry Wine	7
46	55	SOMBR - Back to Friends	6
47	53	Royel Otis - Moody	11
48	61	Orbis Max and Tim Izzard - Further Down the Line	4
49	41	Ashley Clark and Matthew Simon Clark - Liberty●	21
50	65	Balu Brigada - What Do We Ever Really Know	3
51	36	Starbuck - Who's Gonna' Love You	15
52	51	The Tonez - Flip Flops	20
53	57	Tennis - At the Wedding	5
54	75	Chappell Roan - The Subway	2
55	62	Whiskey-Chitto Ramblers - Truth Is	5
56	42	Moon Soul - Don't Change	13
57	60	Lord Huron - Nothing I Need	9
58	76	Turnstile - Never Enough	3
59	52	Lana Del Rey - Bluebird	9
60	70	Moon Soul - Call	4
61	44	Almost Monday - Jupiter	12
62	68	Hannah Jadagu - My Love	5
63	69	Sonny Russell and Cannonball Joe - Carolina Sunshine Is Calling Me	5
64	63	Deb Browning and Michael Fite - I Never Wanted To	23
65	81	Angela Resignalo - Carolina Kiss	2
66	66	Polyanna - Gravedigger	6
67	46	Kelly Clarkson - Where Have You Been	13
68	59	MT Jones - Punching	7
69	89	Say She She - Under the Sun	2
70	48	Claire Davis - Thrive	15
71	83	Starbuck - Jim's Café	2
72	50	Wet Leg - Catch These Fists	14
73	79	Kathleen Turner Overdrive - Love At the End of the Line	3
74	74	Psychic Air - Phase Disintegrate	7
75	78	Djo - Basic Being Basic	4
76	56	Say She She - Cut and Rewind	8
77	64	Wilder Woods ft. Nick Waterhouse - Time On My Hands	17
78	86	Wayne Free - I Love Kissin' You	3
79	67	SadGirl - Santeria	9
80	91	Tame Impala - End of Summer	2
81	---	TOP DEBUT: RUTH MORAYNISS "All I Need" (Single Release)	1
82	82	Northern Tracks - Moving Towards	4
83	---	The Cynz -Can't Help Thinking About Me	1
84	---	Los Staitjackets - Spinout	1
85	71	Sports Team - Bang Bang Bang	13
86	94	Portugal. The Man and Lucius - Silver Spoons	2
87	---	HUNTER/X - Golden	1
88	95	pMad - Celestial	2
89	---	Craig Woodlard - Pretty Women Everywhere	1
90	80	Bush - 60 Ways to Forget People	13
91	---	Wolf Alice - Bloom Baby Bloom	1
92	72	Lorde - What Was That	12
93	73	Easha - Stunning	7
94	---	Ariel Pink - With You Every Night	1
95	---	Dropkick Murphys - Who'll Stand With Us	1
96	88	The Kooks - Never Know	20
97	77	Bartees Strange - Sober	10
98	87	The Beaches - Did I Say Too Much	10
99	93	Jackie Gore and Terri Gore - Unforgettable	16
100	85	Einsteins Dad ft. Ruth Moranyiss - Black Doves●	25

Murmurs:

 

Margo Price - Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down

David F.Porfirio - The Things I See

Bleachers - Modern Girl

Orbis Max - Used To Be/If I Still Believe In Love At All

Carla Geneve - Better Believe It

Flock  of Dimes - Long After Midnight

Monica D. Murphy - Thank You

Neko Case - Winchester Mansion of Sound

Barry Duke and Sharon Woodruff - Sometimes  Love Is Not Enough

Lissie - America

North Tower Band - Pretty Lady

Murmurs: Songs which are in the queue for future adds onto the Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist.

 

Songs with the greatest increase in favorite points over the prior week

 

●Songs garnering 25 plays on Spotify (“Scrobbles”) according to Last.Fm (effective October 2024)  ▲ Songs garnering 50 plays.

 

 

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 that have not reached the top 40

Scenes Down and Going:  Song formerly in the top 40 that are descending 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.