There are a lot of songs about loneliness that are written by artists from L.A., for some strange coincidental reason. The duo Loud Forest put their own spin on this, and out pops an indie rock anthem called “I Don’t Want To Go Home”. The purveyors of the well-honed, spirited rock sound of Loud Forest are married couple Bernard and Rachel Chadwick, whose inspiration seems to have a basis in 80’s pop/rock artists like The Go Go’s, Joan Jett, and X, but also feeds off of the styles and melodies of Avril Lavigne, Mumford & Sons, and Ed Sheeran. “I Don’t Want To Go Home” is full of the anger of being seemingly alone in a confusing world, but it’s channeled through a high energy, guitar-based sound with exuberant vocals, which makes the song more about finding one’s own place in the world rather than about being in deliberate isolation. This is the kind of indie alt.rock that goes over well in live performance, and with their informed messaging and tight musicianship, Loud Forest are ones to watch.
This new edition of the chart was a particularly tough one to compile. It’s because there’s so much music out there that I enjoy, even beyond those songs that I write about. So what happens is that the songs now move up and down and off the chart quickly. The oldest songs now in my Top 30 are 16 weeks old (8 appearances) – from the first chart of this year! – and just about any artist with a song on the chart for 10 weeks (5 appearances) has already released one or more songs in follow up. Songs deserve a longer shelf life – the maximum a song can remain on my chart is 20 weeks (10 appearances), and songs don’t reach 10 appearances very much anymore. The music industry currently alludes that the more you write and release, the more money and exposure you might get. At one level perhaps that’s true, but I don’t think that’s the case at all with most indie artists. This is a model that is fracturing that the music industry will have to mend soon. It means burnout – physical and financial – for indie artists, and a short life span for some very worthy songs.
That being said, there’s a new #1 and four debuts!
Washington electronic duo Odesza achieve something rare on the chart – two consecutive number ones, nearly four years apart, which are their only chart appearances to date. Their jaw-dropping rework of Bettye LaVette’s 1965 R&B hit “Let Me Down Easy”, as “The Last Goodbye” (which will be the title of their upcoming album) charges up the chart 4-1, following the lead of their now-classic “Loyal” in the Fall of 2018. And yes, I’ve got my ticket to their concert in my city on their summer tour. Watch the magnetic video performance above too.
That means “High” by The Chainsmokers holds at #2, but it’s in great company, because next to their three number ones on the chart, it becomes their fourth #2, following “Let You Go”, “Sick Boy”, and “Everybody Hates Me”. Their new album So Far So Good arrives on May 13.
Frankmusik’s gorgeous “The Half Moon Came Up In The Sky” advances 6-3, becoming his highest reaching chart entry since 2013’s #1 “Map”.
One of the most melodic pop singles out there is “Don’t Wake Me Up” by Jonas Blue and Why Don’t We, which rises 7-5. It’s the second Top 5 entry for Jonas Blue, following 2016’s “Fast Car” (#3).
The Fastest Riser on the chart soars 25-8, and it’s “Aretha” by French dance producer Mercer. It’s his third Top 10 entry on the chart.
“Oxygen” climbs 11-9, becoming the 4th Top 10 on the chart for German producers Saxity, and it’s also their third Top 10 with Victor Perry on vocals. For Victor however, it’s his 13th Top 10 entry. Still, it’s hard to beat a team like this!
Rounding out the Top 10 is “Reflection”, a deep cut from Years & Years’ deluxe edition of the Night Call album, which moves 12-10. It’s Olly Alexander’s 10th song to reach the Top 10.
“Hold Me Down” by Italy’s Luca and Giam with vocal by Florida’s Sam Merkin is quickly becoming one of the chart’s highlights as it rises 19-11.
Florence Welch hasn’t sounded as good in years as on “My Love” (above), from Florence & The Machine’s upcoming album Dance Fever. The song climbs 28-17, and was recently remixed simply as the “Dave Glass Animals Remix”. You can check out what a fine job Dave did below.
“Tuff” by VASSY and gt_ofice is a fun national dance radio hit and moving up the chart nicely, as it advances 27-21.
To the surprise of no one, the highest debut on the chart belongs to Harry Styles with the magnetic “As It Was” at #25. It now has the task of following 2019/20’s “Lights Up” and “Adore You” to the top of the chart. Think Harry can do it again? “As It Was” also continues to prove what a great voice he has. It’s from his forthcoming album called Harry’s House.
At #27 is “First Time” by L.A.’s Damon Sharpe in collaboration with the #1 future house producer/DJ in Asia, Tokyo-based VIVID. “First Time” follows up last year’s “15 Minutes” (#5) by Damon with The Disco Fries.
“Fall Into Me” is destined to be an inescapable progressive electronic song of the summer for festival goers and fans of its L.A.-based producers, NGHTMRE and SLANDER, and its vocalist, Dylan Matthew, who all appear on the chart for the first time. “Fall Into Me” bows at #28.
Completing the chart at #30 is Toronto area native Ryan Shepherd with vocalist Bella Renee on their single “The High”. It’s Ryan’s fourth chart entry, and he’s playing an already sold-out show at The Garrison in Toronto on May 7 with LUN and Glass Petals.
View the full BILLCS Top 30 right here! Click on the hyperlink on the song titles to hear the songs or watch the videos!
Listen to the BILLCS Top 30 Songs on Spotify! You can also follow me on Spotify at the following link: BILLCS Top 30 Songs.
You can hear me and many of my blog choices on this growing list of online radio stations and features!
Radio GTA– listen to The Big 20 from 10pm to Midnight EST on Wednesdays as “The Musicman” James Rogers and I bring you the latest in new songs. And on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm I bring you “Your Weekend New Music Mix” six hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.
Halton Hills Online– “Your Weekend Music Mix” has a second home on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 8pm to Midnight! It’s a different mix from Radio GTA’s show, and like that one it is also commercial free, now brought to you by the Appalachian Pub & Eatery in Georgetown, Ontario!
The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada – I’m featured Tuesdays between 7 and 7:30 pm with my New Music Pick of the Week on “The 3D Variety Show” with “The Musicman” James Rogers, and I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments. A repeat of “The 3D Variety Show” now airs on Wednesdays at 7pm EST on Radio GTA . NOTE: The show will not air on April 12 and 13.
My New Music Pick of the Week also now airs on Radio GTA Wednesdays at 11:00 pm EST, Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm EST, on Halton Hills Onlineon Saturdays and Sundays at 10pm EST, on Mix88.ca‘s “Addictive Energy” show with Hunter Wilbur on Saturdays at 9pm EST, and now on WXNZ, community radio in Maine!
The L.A. based (but Hungary born) mysterious and masked dance producer Pillows is on a roll with her latest single, an original called “Sunflower”, which follows up her unique spin on Justin Timberlake’s “My Love”. “Sunflower” contains a lot of high synth notes and effects which make it sparkle, something that dance music radio stations should be listening for these days rather than just playing songs by bigger named producers because of their marquee value. What makes it even better is Pillows’ fresh vocal, which has a grittiness like Alison Wonderland or Lights, and instantly gives “Sunflower” more substance in a dance music biz increasingly full of same-sounding Splice vocals. With songs like this, Pillows is certain to capture the attention of radio station programmers, club DJ’s and listeners alike, with a bright rest of 2022 ahead.
Regular readers of this blog know that I don’t revisit songs that I’ve written about without good reason. Toronto’s CMagic5 is a promising singer/songwriter out of Toronto about whom I’ve written before, including my original post about her single “Dancing On My Heart” last Fall. Since then the song has received some remixes, but this redux by veteran Russian electronic dance producers Going Deeper gives an already strong song an immense lift. It’s been transformed into a punchy, biting (albeit very short) deep house track which I enjoy more than the original. I’m always big on remixes and reduxes if they can take a song to another level, and this one is a very good way indeed to promote the talents of CMagic5.
Like in last summer’s “Daisies”, L.A.’s Raye Robinson uses whimsy and personality to their best effect in her recent pop single “Prince Charming”. And with a modern take on the fable, the song in fact is not about someone’s Prince Charming, but about the protagonist’s ability and self-confidence to do whatever she wants without needing someone to come into her life and change it. All of this is set to a compelling, jaunty and bubbly melody that will have you smiling along as you root for Raye’s character to keep going and being who she is. Raye is loaded with talent as a singer and songwriter, and “Prince Charming” is a refreshing slice-of-life tale.
“Slipping Away” features vibrant, house rhythms that immediately bring summer nights and good times in dance clubs to mind. It’s brought to you by Italy’s Deep Chills, who comes off of a highly prolific 2021 and four songs streaming over 10 million on Spotify at this time. This time he partners with Argentina-based singer/songwriter Polina Grace, who has seen success with her own solo releases as well as recent ones with producers such as Damon Sharpe. The song offers little that’s new lyrically – about a neglected lover who is gradually drifting out of a fading relationship – but Polina’s uplifting performance and Deep Chills’ rich synths and beats make “Slipping Away” a solid, distinct release to keep you dancing the night away.
We get to hear another side of Boston indie DIY talent Almost Owen with “Ordinary Day”. The song is a quietly provocative musing on recognizing when the fast paced world slows down and you don’t quite know what to do with it. Instead, it’s time to soak it all in, take a breath, and enjoy those moments. The lilting mid-tempo melody captures the mood of the lyrics, and Almost Owen offers up another fine vocal, set against a stripped-back production where every sound counts. “Ordinary Day” is easy to enjoy and as such, you’ll find that you’ll have it on repeat in due course.
“After Hours” is the kind of alt.pop song that is written when you’re high on romance and your 9-5 suddenly just becomes a job. Maryland-based Asian-American singer/songwriter BINNY is back with a carefully crafted song that sets the type of romantic evening in motion when the world stops and you don’t want it to end. It’s set to a gentle melody that plays against a ticking clock and a soothing vocal, knowing in earnest that at some point that special evening will be over, but the memories will linger on. BINNY has found a nice sweet, soft spot with his narrative in “After Hours” that listeners will enjoy, helping us relive past events and create new ones too. Because our lives often get in the way, even if we all can’t have regular idyllic times like in “After Hours”, we can be a little bit more cognizant of when they are needed, and take away how they can continue to play big parts in our lives. Check out the partially animated video up top.
To counter a pop market that is led by Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo, with far too many similar singer/songwriters out there that have followed in their steps, it’s refreshing to hear Ceara Cavalieri and her new bop “Radio Silence”. Following a handful of initial singles, “Radio Silence” is an Avril Lavigne-styled post-relationship song about being ghosted after an eight month courtship. This kind of pop-rock mix for women doesn’t surface too often, and even Avril herself has dug out a new path for the style that gave her success 20 years ago with her recent releases. “Radio Silence” is sharply produced and Ceara, a recent UCLA grad, can fashion relatable lyrics out of a painful situation against a fun, exuberant backdrop that will sound fab in live performance.
NGHTMRE & SLANDER and DYLAN MATTHEW, “Fall Into Me”
Heartbreak and desperation are often popular themes in the electronic dance music world because they so suit the intensity of complex synth arrangements and huge beats. Spawned during lockdown times in the pandemic, “Fall Into Me” is by the American dream team of NGHTMRE, production duo Slander, and singer/songwriter Dylan Matthew, is destined to be a classic for festival season which is now upon us. The arrangement doesn’t go too heavy, which makes a lot of the detailed synth work really sparkle, and Dylan’s driven, weary vocal perfectly suits the backdrop. NGHTMRE and Slander have worked together several times before and the ongoing symmetry in their songs is obvious, and Dylan has worked with Slander – their song together, “Love Is Gone”, just was certified Gold. “Fall Into Me” is a powerful electronic dance release that you’ll be hearing for the rest of the year. NGHTMRE is coming off of his set at Ultra Miami, and the song is the first single from his upcoming album.
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