We are a week into November and the UncleEars.com New Music Top 40 is rolling along with music fitting for a North American Autumn. It’s wet and windy and time indoors tends towards reflection. The new music scene has been kind enough to provide a soundtrack which includes numerous haunting alternative indie ballads.
Watch / Listen to this week’s Top 40
Let’s Think And Feel (And Try To Stay Warm)
“Deep Blue” by Nova Scotia act Long Call jumps into the number one spot. The duo told us about creating the song in this video. The eclectic ballad is a rumination on modern relationships. (Story)
“Gamble My Soul” by English outfit The Lucky 13’s moves 11-9. This ballad tackles no less than the meaning of life’s ebbs and flows. (Story)
“Green Heart” by German artist Rusty Gibbons is the highest debut song this week coming in at #10. Infused with accordion and featuring the haunting lyric “Green Heart, You’re turning into something you are not,” the ballad confronts loss of innocence. (Story)
Bluesy ballad “Ghosts” by Vancouver BC group The VanRays debuts at #15. It’s one of the buzziest tunes of the week. People are commenting on the throwback blues, amazing vocals and arrangement and memorable video.
Bird Streets arrive at #19 with the stunning track “Sleeper Agent.” What can you say about a song that begins with the line “I gotta tell ya, I’m kind of a mess.”
When you include previous performers (and still charting) “Yugoslavia” by Dearie, “Only Lovers” by Sorvest, “Goodbye Cruel World” by Burn The Ballroom, and “Your Guilt” by Lost In Lona, you have nearly 1/4 of the chart as alt. indie ballads.
An argument could be made that several other songs also fit that mould. Perhaps the three other debut songs at the edge of the chart? MorMor (“Here It Goes Again”), Hydreamia (“Everything Changes”) and Taylah Carroll (“Gumption”).
UNCLE EARS is a music blog written by David Falk. davidrfalk@gmail.com David was born in 1962 and gravitates towards melodies, adventure, unsigned artists, fresh discoveries. He trusts his ear to know what it likes and loves sharing what he finds. He lives near Seattle, WA, USA.
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