A FEW THINGS TO discuss this week as Taylor Swift's "Patient Zero", which ended Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" 14th straight week (and 24th overall) last week by debuting in the top spot, holds that for a second week. This was as a result of four new tracks released that have been added to her most recent album, The Life of a Showgirl, which had been out for a year. "Choosin' Texas" hangs tough at #2, and the other songs that were displaced by the three other Swift tracks, (which all exit the top 10), move back roughly where they were before the Taylor blitz. "Boston" (Stella Lefty) back up to #3, and "Been By Now" (Morgan Wallen) up to #4. Drake, who apparently wants to emulate Taylor's act of adding new tracks to an existing set, enters at #5 with "Solar Eclipse". The other new entry in the top 10 is one that had been gradually increasing: ADELA's "Nicole Kidman" moving 12-9.
SNS 100: Meanwhile on my listing, Sam Fender and Olivia Dean's "Rein Me In" jumps from 6 last week, to the top spot, ending the four-week reign of Sienna Spiro's "Material Lover" which drops to #2. Two other big movers within the top 10 include The Womack Sisters' "Monster" (8-3) and The Mac Daddy's Band's "Shirley, You're Kidding" (9-5). New in the Top Ten is "Hilltop High" by Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Knightz (12-10). The lone new entry in the top 20, and grabbing the Impact honors is Marlisa Kay Small's "In Way Over My Heart" (27-19). And "Choosin' Texas" inches back into that territory, moving 21-20 in it's 38th week on the chart. The Top Debut from two weeks ago, "Flowers" by Gotts Street Park featuring Pip Millett, grabs its second straight Mover award, going from 54-34.
 |
| New York-based band, Colorjoy, expanded to four members, has released it first song in four years, "Woman", entering as Top Debut at #38. |
THE RETURN OF COLORJOY: But the big news, at least for long-time followers of this blog, is the first new song in over three years, "Woman" by Colorjoy, the Top Debut at a lofty #38. For those newer readers, Colorjoy is an alt-rock project led by New Jersey's Emily MacMahon and Sam Novotny. They came onto the scene back in 2019 as part of the four-piece band, ScreenAge. That band, which played mostly clubs and festivals in North and Central Jersey (including a couple of Roselle Park Arts Festivals in my hometown), released two albums, as well as a standalone single, all with enormous success, on the SNS 100. The band released two albums, 2019's Station 42, and 2021's concept DNR. "Crook" the first single from Station 42, went unnoticed by me, until I heard a lot about this band after they played Roselle Park's festival that September. The second single, "Vague" broke through and peaked at #6 in early 2020.
The band followed that up with the 2020 standalone single, "Blue Eyed Addiction", which not only went straight to #1, but also topped the year-end SNS chart, and would start a record streak for Ms. MacMahon at the top of the chart. Early the following year, Emily's solo "Only Us" would top the chart, at which time, the band's second album, DNR was released. The album traced a young person's life cycle from newborn, through to discovery, adolescence, and into the trials and tribulations of young adulthood. The set produced a record five #1 songs, with one of them, "Think Again" topping the year-end chart (not to mention "Going Back" at #2 and "Questions" at #4) for 2021.
But no sooner than the final #1 from that set, "Like Fine Wine" left the chart, that ScreenAge called it quits. Emily and Sam would launch a new, offshoot band, Colorjoy. Emily would also play with other local bands during that period, such as August Rage, as well as playing on a project by Dave Bickler of the band Survivor fame.
Then in 2023, Colorjoy released its debut album, Golden Age, as a duo in the studio, although there was an expanded band that played the area gigs. This album scored more records as the first two releases from it, the title track and "Beautiful People" both hit the top spot. That made it nine straight #1 songs for Emily MacMahon, (6 with ScreenAge, 2 with Colorjoy, and one solo), which set a record for most songs by a female artist who sings solo or lead. That record was tied this past summer when Deb Browning scored her ninth #1, "The Sea, Sand and You", a duet with Townsend Link (she has four solo and five duets hitting the top). I'm not counting Noelle Skaggs of the band Fitz and the Tantrums who have 12 blog-toppers as none of those songs featured her on lead.
But Colorjoy didn't stop there. The album would go on to rack up seven Top 10's, setting yet another blog record. While the duo (although with several female musicians who would perform with them live) still played a couple of shows in New Jersey (most recently the final Roselle Park Arts festival this past spring), Colorjoy is now essentially based in New York City as they play mostly Manhattan clubs.
"Woman" is their first new release for the upcoming album Carve Me Out, due next month, and is the start of a "new look" for the band, as they had expanded to four members with the addition of Noah and John, who have been playing with them since the move to the city. A listen to the song shows a fresh new sound that the two new members have definitely influenced. The song has a more stronger rock sound with the guitars a lot more aggressive than what the outfit had put out prior. It has resulted in a fresh look, and in turn has affected Emily's vocal delivery, always a pleasure to listen to, even more so. While you could call their previous material "alt-pop" or "power pop", this one is definitely in the "alt ROCK" realm. The song refuses to let go.
So, from my standpoint, can this pick up right where they've left off three years ago, given that my recent taste and trends have drifted to beach music and retro soul? While it hasn't been as noticeable, there have been many female-led alternative bands doing well on the SNS 100 recently, such as Wendy Lucas, Charcoal Greys, The Linda Linda's, and The Chelsea Curve, just to name a few, and "Woman" would definitely fit right in.
But the bigger question goes beyond my musical tastes: Could Colorjoy, with its constant playing of New York clubs, finally crack the indie charts, something that should have been a long time coming? Emily MacMahon definitely has the talent, and with a formidable band backing her up, it's just a matter of time. And the time should really be now.
The band has announced that a second single, 'To The Ground" will be released on October 23, so it'll be one of those situations where songs will be rapidly released very couple of weeks or so. But that had also happened with Golden Age (as well as ScreenAge's DNR), so be prepared for an invasion of Colorjoy songs over the next few weeks on my chart.
We have another debut by a major blog artist, that being the latest from Rick Strickland and Lesa Hudson, who pretty much now go by their first names, with "Smack Dab (In the Middle of Love)" entering at #44.. Coming off the funky "Too Late", the duo once again switches gears, to sort of a bouncy honky-tonk flavored countryish-pop thing. Rick and Lesa are having a fun time doing this one, and it should be yet another in their long line of hits. Of course, you can catch them frequently at the Duplin Winery in North Myrtle Beach.
 |
| Retro soul artist Nicole Willis' 2007 recording, "If This Ain't Love (I Don't Know What Is)" enters the chart this week at #66. |
There is no rule as to how old a song can be for it to hit my chart; witness Dolly Parton's "Jolene" still on there, which is over fifty years old. While that song is well-known, the next highest debut is from a retro soul outfit which was released 19 years ago, "If This Ain't Love (I Don't Know What Is)", by Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators. My wife and I had just started streaming the show Brothers and Sisters which ran five seasons from 2007 to 2012. During the third episode of season one, this song was featured and it blew me away. This is an awesome slice of retro-soul, and given the current chart climate for this kind of music, this should be a great retro hit. It gets better with each listen. This one gives some positive vibes.
Nicole Willis has recorded music since the 1980's and is based on New York City. She led a group called The Repercussions before forming the Soul Investigators. Nowadays, she records on her own, and after "If This Ain't Love" runs its course, I will delve into her more current work. The song enters at #66.
Other new entries included "Nicole Kidman" by Adela Jergova, originally from Slovakia but based in Los Angeles, who goes simply by her first name, which entered Billboard's Top Ten this week. It's hip-hop, but along the lines of say, "Saturn" by SZA, which is very favorable with its laid-back beat which makes the song (#88); The latest from Kings of Leon, "My Whole World", more of a subdued, laid back jaunt for the Followills (#93), and finally, one from the resurrected 60's psych-rockers Strawberry Alarm Clock, with "Since You Have Gone Away" (#98). Apparently, there are several original members here, but the song is a bit further away from their psychedelic heyday as this is more of a straight-ahead ballad.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
October 11. 2026
|
This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
|
1 |
6 |
NUMBER ONE:  Album: People Watching |
10 |
|
2 |
1 |
12 |
|
|
3 |
8 |
7 |
|
|
4 |
5 |
11 |
|
|
5 |
9 |
8 |
|
|
6 |
7 |
10 |
|
|
7 |
2 |
11 |
|
|
8 |
3 |
9 |
|
|
9 |
4 |
11 |
|
|
10 |
12 |
13 |
|
|
11 |
16 |
7 |
|
|
12 |
13 |
13 |
|
|
13 |
14 |
8 |
|
|
14 |
10 |
14 |
|
|
15 |
11 |
13 |
|
|
16 |
15 |
23 |
|
|
17 |
18 |
10 |
|
|
18 |
20 |
10 |
|
|
19 |
27 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  (Single Release) |
4 |
|
20 |
21 |
38 |
|
|
21 |
26 |
6 |
|
|
22 |
17 |
17 |
|
|
23 |
24 |
10 |
|
|
24 |
22 |
15 |
|
|
25 |
25 |
8 |
|
|
26 |
19 |
11 |
|
|
27 |
23 |
32 |
|
|
28 |
29 |
8 |
|
|
29 |
30 |
7 |
|
|
30 |
28 |
9 |
|
|
31 |
32 |
9 |
|
|
32 |
33 |
12 |
|
|
33 |
37 |
9 |
|
|
34 |
54 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  GOTTS STREET PARK featuring PIP MILLETT "Flowers" (Single Release) |
3 |
|
35 |
38 |
8 |
|
|
36 |
36 |
12 |
|
|
37 |
51 |
4 |
|
|
38 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  "Woman" Album: Carve Me Out |
1 |
|
39 |
39 |
27 |
|
|
40 |
44 |
9 |
|
|
41 |
43 |
9 |
|
|
42 |
53 |
4 |
|
|
43 |
31 |
12 |
|
|
44 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
45 |
34 |
13 |
|
|
46 |
35 |
19 |
|
|
47 |
45 |
Sylvia Johns
Ritchie and Doyle Wood - I've Got the Just Can't Help Its |
23 |
|
48 |
55 |
5 |
|
|
49 |
41 |
11 |
|
|
50 |
40 |
15 |
|
|
51 |
48 |
24 |
|
|
52 |
57 |
6 |
|
|
53 |
63 |
4 |
|
|
54 |
64 |
5 |
|
|
55 |
69 |
3 |
|
|
56 |
42 |
16 |
|
|
57 |
67 |
3 |
|
|
58 |
61 |
6 |
|
|
59 |
78 |
3 |
|
|
60 |
62 |
5 |
|
|
61 |
82 |
2 |
|
|
62 |
46 |
14 |
|
|
63 |
71 |
5 |
|
|
64 |
47 |
14 |
|
|
65 |
77 |
3 |
|
|
66 |
--- |
Nicole Willis
and the Soul Investigators - If This Ain't Love (I Don't Know What Is) |
1 |
|
67 |
52 |
18 |
|
|
68 |
58 |
26 |
|
|
69 |
56 |
21 |
|
|
70 |
70 |
5 |
|
|
71 |
75 |
4 |
|
|
72 |
81 |
3 |
|
|
73 |
74 |
10 |
|
|
74 |
76 |
4 |
|
|
75 |
49 |
7 |
|
|
76 |
50 |
13 |
|
|
77 |
83 |
3 |
|
|
78 |
65 |
16 |
|
|
79 |
92 |
2 |
|
|
80 |
60 |
14 |
|
|
81 |
94 |
2 |
|
|
82 |
68 |
6 |
|
|
83 |
84 |
5 |
|
|
84 |
86 |
4 |
|
|
85 |
97 |
2 |
|
|
86 |
59 |
6 |
|
|
87 |
80 |
20 |
|
|
88 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
89 |
66 |
7 |
|
|
90 |
100 |
2 |
|
|
91 |
91 |
3 |
|
|
92 |
99 |
2 |
|
|
93 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
94 |
73 |
5 |
|
|
95 |
72 |
6 |
|
|
96 |
93 |
3 |
|
|
97 |
88 |
7 |
|
|
98 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
99 |
85 |
21 |
|
|
100 |
79 |
12 |
Tremors:
101. Tally Spear - Self Confession
102. K.Flay - Ants
103. Grace Potter - Belong
Tremors: Songs which have steady or increasing points but not enough to chart on the SNS 100.
Murmurs:
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 41-100 and Newbies Songs in Positions 41-100 on the SNS 100 plus new additions
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.
(Rob Sheldon is a music fan who has followed music trends the past 60 years, and covers new and classic music, specializing in pop, rock, alternative, beach, soul and country genres). He can be contacted at rsheldonx4804@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment