After the epic comeback which I think about one of you noticed (:kink:), I will now go over my favourite songs from Q2 of 2022, still waiting for an interesting banner to put up. As before, potential future BJSC entries will be left out and only 2022 songs will be included.

 

Best of April-June 2022

 

01; ILLENIUM feat. Spiritbox - Shivering

02. Go_A - Kalyna

03; Regina Spektor - Up the Mountain

04; World's End Girlfriend & CRZKNY - BLACK BOX FAKE FACT

05; Metric - Doomscroller

06; Jamie xx - LET'S DO IT AGAIN

07; David Holmes feat. Raven Violet - It's Over If We Run Out of Love/Hope is the Last Thing to Die

08; Sun's Signature - Golden Hair

09; Lykke Li - HIGHWAY TO YOUR HEART

10; Milk & Bone - Bigger Love

11; Mint Julep - Cruel Summer

12; Kae Tempest feat. Lianne Le Havas - No Prizes

13; Working Men's Club - Widow

14; Kasabian - ALYGATR

15; Kendrick Lamar - The Heart Part 5

16; Driftmoon - Nova Imperatrix

17; My Chemical Romance - The Foundations of Decay

18; Pink Floyd feat. Andriy Khlyvnyuk of Boombox - Hey Hey Rise Up

19; Blond:ish, Francis Mercier & Amadou & Mariam - Sete

20; Carpenter Brut feat. GUNSHIP - The Widow Maker

 

Commentary:

 

A round 20 this time, but it's been a very fruitful few months (I've admittedly been slacking a bit recently but hopefully with summer holidays on the horizon, I can discover some more goodness). I'd long given up on ILLENIUM having seemed to have settled for bland dance, but this collab with the prog rock band, Spirotbox really took my attention and the mental-dubstep combination with added epic screamo is amongst his very best. Go_A's brutal cryout to their war-torn homeland is powerful and hard-hitting and a great follow-on from SHUM last year and I'd not heard much from Regina Spektor before, but Up The Mountain is seriously great stuff with it's slow build and quirky production.

 

From stuff I've entered to Buzzjack, my recent, ear-splitting UP smash by WORLD'S END GIRLFRIEND is an absolute mess but also a banger, and an intriguing new electronic direction for an artist I should really know more of. David Holmes' two collaborations are equally good in different ways, one being a retro Noel Gallagher-Esque guitar song and one being an apocalyptic, ravey number, Raven Violet certainly has some brilliantly diverse vocals on offer. Milk & Bone popped up on my recommended new music for the first time in years, and it is a really dreamy pop song with great harmonies. It was entered into BJSC before I could get to it x And finally a recent but massively impactful discovery from Buzzjack itself, I was always gonna like a constantly changing ten-minute epic as others were describing and so it's no surprise to see Metric's wonderfully titled Doomscroller finish high up here.

 

6Music remains a goldmine for great new music, asides David Holmes and Regina Spektor, the danceable tune from Jamie xx, the prog-building sounds of Sun's Signature and the world music sounds of Blond:ish all come from there. My recent pride success, Kae Tempest is here too, though my favourite of the singles I'd heard thus far remains to be the wonderful No Prizes

 

There are also some great comebacks from Kasabian, their best in years, Pink Floyd's ode to Ukraine and My Chemical Romance popping up unexpectedly. Lykke Li continues to deliver the downbeat lo-fi goods. Kendrick Lamar's also woke me up to the fact I had never really checked him out in great detail despite his vast critical acclaim so I seeked to change that and check out his discography. I've not yet got to his current one, but safe to say I'm much more informed of how great a rapper he can be! The Heart Part 5 is a great song that showcases his great lyricism and flow to great degrees.

 

 

 

 

 

Feel free to comment or recommend below, I'm always slow with new music x I'll see you all in October (possibly a little later as that's a busy time of year oops, but it will happen)

:hi:

 

I unfortunately cannot say I am that into your #1 (shame as I loved 'Secret Garden' from Spiritbox in BJSC, ILLENIUM's recent output just doesn't seem to be clicking much with me) but an excellent rest of the top 5 there, was a nice surprise to hear from Go_A again despite the ongoing situation and 'Kalyna' is another great song from them, also am relatively new to Regina Spektor (heard a few songs here and there before) but love the quirkiness of 'Up The Mountain' and I actually liked the follow-up single 'Loveology' even more although it is very different, need to check out her album. And then of course 'BLACK BOX FAKE FACT' and 'Doomscroller' are both epics *.* I'm really glad the latter has got more recognition since I posted it in the Indie forum (even if that may have directly contributed to it being vetoed from BJSC oops xx I feel like it would have steamrolled there).

 

That Jamie xx track didn't fully click with me on first listen but it wormed its way into my head with more listens. Other good stuff here from Lykke Li, Milk & Bone, Kae Tempest (although this one is nowhere near my fave on their album, 'More Pressure'/'Salt Coast'/'I Saw Light' is the holy trinity of the singles and 'Priority Boredom' is up there too from the album tracks), Working Men's Club, Kendrick Lamar (there were songs I liked more on the actual album but 'The Heart Part 5' is still amazing for a throwaway teaser single), My Chemical Romance, Pink Floyd and Carpenter Brut i.e. basically most of it! There are a couple here that I haven't heard so I ought to check them out, that Blond:ish song in particular I think must have passed me by entirely as I think I'd have listened to it for the Amadou & Mariam feature if I'd known it existed ~

Hi there!

 

Glad to see "Shivering", "Nova Imperatrix", and "The Foundations of Decay" here!

 

"Shivering" is definitely a huge improvement from ILLENIUM. Some of his previous singles from the last album (especially the 30STM collab) were quite disappointing. It may not be my favorite one, but at least it's still at the top 10 of my fav ILLENIUM songs.

 

I would've probably never enjoyed "Nova Imperatrix" if I hadn't given a second check at Dan's chart. The extended intro mix is fab. Or maybe it is me who can easily enjoy instrumental-based electronic / EDM songs. :lol:

 

It's good to hear MCR got played on the Top 40 that time. "The Foundations of Decay" is such a nice comeback single.

BLACK BOX FAKE FACT is an amazing discovery here and Doomscroller is a staple ;)

ooh yay for Driftmoon making an appearance here - was this nabbed from my chart? pleased that we're in the same semi-final in any case.

Shivering is great too although I do naturally prefer 'Secret Garden' (and also Spiritbox's most recent tringle) - best track Illenium has done in many years.

great to see Doomscroller here too of course and the MCR comeback even if that slid off my chart fairly quickly.

Hey Chez! :hi: :heart:

 

Hope you're enjoying your time away right now!

 

I've also been enjoying these:

 

03; Regina Spektor - Up the Mountain - quirky earworm *.*

04; World's End Girlfriend & CRZKNY - BLACK BOX FAKE FACT - thank you for the Unknown Pleasures discovery, the intensity made my heart race, but in a good way :lol:

05; Metric - Doomscroller - this is everything right now, I'd recommend the album too, nothing quite hits this epic mark but still some other gems scattered about!

07; David Holmes feat. Raven Violet - It's Over If We Run Out of Love/Hope is the Last Thing to Die - another great discovery from you, was ofc a BJSC 18 :wub: 6Music come through x

13; Working Men's Club - Widow - okay I mayyyyy be a fan of this :wub: :wub: xo here's another accompanying album I'd recommend, already within my top 3 of the year!

15; Kendrick Lamar - The Heart Part 5 - a gorgeous, soulful warm-up ahead of the new album <3 interesting vid also :lol:

17; My Chemical Romance - The Foundations of Decay - they've still got it for sure, wasn't expecting this sonic direction but not complaining at all *.* love that this got into the top 40 too!

18; Pink Floyd feat. Andriy Khlyvnyuk of Boombox - Hey Hey Rise Up - ooh kinda forgot about this but it snuck into my top 40 <3

20; Carpenter Brut feat. GUNSHIP - The Widow Maker - two synthwave heavyweights coming together could only mean good things!

 

Now, recommendations you say? Well, aside from the two albums I already mentioned here are a whole load of songs you may or may not enjoy:

 

GUITARS

Birdeatsbaby - Ribbons

††† (Crosses) - Initiation

House of Harm - Feel My Heart Beat

Lizzie Esau - The Enemy

Mogwai - Boltfor

Soccer Mommy - Unholy Affliction

 

QUIRKY

black midi - Eat Men Eat

Everything Everything - HEX

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - The Dripping Tap

 

ELECTRONIC

Desire - Black Latex

Gorillaz - Cracker Island (feat. Thundercat)

Kelly Lee Owens - Sonic 8

piri & Tommy Villiers - beachin (Skream Remix)

Rein x Djedjotronic - Transmutation

Röyksopp - How The Flowers Grow (feat. Pixx)

SCALPING - Remain in Statis (feat. Grove)

The Smile - Waving A White Flag

Trudge - Snake Dance

Working Men’s Club - Circumference

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Spitting Off the Edge of the World (feat. Perfume Genius)

 

CHILL OR STRINGS

Jacob Collier - Never Gonna Be Alone (feat. Lizzy McAlpine & John Mayer)

Kai Whiston - Between Lures

Kendrick Lamar - Mother I Sober (feat. Beth Gibbons)

Thomas Bergersen - Shield of Love

 

:lol:

 

anyway, great chart ^_^

I just listened to the new EP by your BJSC artist TAXI KEBAB the other day - it's a pretty decent EP on the whole but this one is the clear highlight to me and I imagine you'd be a fan of it too so here's another recommendation for you!

 

Hey Chez

 

Some great picks here! My faves are: LET'S DO IT AGAIN, Widow and Nova Imperatrix. A few I need to check out though.

 

My rec would be the new Two Shell EP Icons if you haven't heard it already!

 

Omg thank you all for such detailed comments!! I was not expecting to come back to all this, suppose it's only fair I reply before I forget about this forum :kink:

 

:hi:

 

I unfortunately cannot say I am that into your #1 (shame as I loved 'Secret Garden' from Spiritbox in BJSC, ILLENIUM's recent output just doesn't seem to be clicking much with me) but an excellent rest of the top 5 there, was a nice surprise to hear from Go_A again despite the ongoing situation and 'Kalyna' is another great song from them, also am relatively new to Regina Spektor (heard a few songs here and there before) but love the quirkiness of 'Up The Mountain' and I actually liked the follow-up single 'Loveology' even more although it is very different, need to check out her album. And then of course 'BLACK BOX FAKE FACT' and 'Doomscroller' are both epics *.* I'm really glad the latter has got more recognition since I posted it in the Indie forum (even if that may have directly contributed to it being vetoed from BJSC oops xx I feel like it would have steamrolled there).

 

That Jamie xx track didn't fully click with me on first listen but it wormed its way into my head with more listens. Other good stuff here from Lykke Li, Milk & Bone, Kae Tempest (although this one is nowhere near my fave on their album, 'More Pressure'/'Salt Coast'/'I Saw Light' is the holy trinity of the singles and 'Priority Boredom' is up there too from the album tracks), Working Men's Club, Kendrick Lamar (there were songs I liked more on the actual album but 'The Heart Part 5' is still amazing for a throwaway teaser single), My Chemical Romance, Pink Floyd and Carpenter Brut i.e. basically most of it! There are a couple here that I haven't heard so I ought to check them out, that Blond:ish song in particular I think must have passed me by entirely as I think I'd have listened to it for the Amadou & Mariam feature if I'd known it existed ~

 

:hi: thank you for such a thorough comment. You are probably not gonna like my EOY top few as it stands given it contains that and the two Highasakite songs :kink: Pleased to see you like most other stuff here though, heard the Blond:ish one on 6Music one morning, I think you'd like it, it's got a great electronic and international sound.

 

 

Hi there!

 

Glad to see "Shivering", "Nova Imperatrix", and "The Foundations of Decay" here!

 

"Shivering" is definitely a huge improvement from ILLENIUM. Some of his previous singles from the last album (especially the 30STM collab) were quite disappointing. It may not be my favorite one, but at least it's still at the top 10 of my fav ILLENIUM songs.

 

I would've probably never enjoyed "Nova Imperatrix" if I hadn't given a second check at Dan's chart. The extended intro mix is fab. Or maybe it is me who can easily enjoy instrumental-based electronic / EDM songs. :lol:

 

It's good to hear MCR got played on the Top 40 that time. "The Foundations of Decay" is such a nice comeback single.

 

Hello! I fully agree Shivering is so much better than his usual generic stuff, I loved his pre-mainstream stuff back in 2016 but I lost interest since, this sounds so much more epic and the screamo vocals are awesome.

 

I wish I'd been quicker to Nova Imperatrix in BJSC now x How amazing that MCR could get top 40!

 

BLACK BOX FAKE FACT is an amazing discovery here and Doomscroller is a staple ;)

 

I love that you seem to enjoy my experimental and unusual entries so much, I'll try and check your chart more regularly x

 

ooh yay for Driftmoon making an appearance here - was this nabbed from my chart? pleased that we're in the same semi-final in any case.

Shivering is great too although I do naturally prefer 'Secret Garden' (and also Spiritbox's most recent tringle) - best track Illenium has done in many years.

great to see Doomscroller here too of course and the MCR comeback even if that slid off my chart fairly quickly.

 

I don't steal from personal charts yet! I discovered it on my New Music playlist as I have other songs from them in my library. Good luck with it, it'll have my support!

 

Hey Chez! :hi: :heart:

 

Hope you're enjoying your time away right now!

 

I've also been enjoying these:

 

-snipped from scrolling purposes-

 

Hi Jade, just got back now, I had a great time <3 Glad you're liking a lot of songs here.

 

!! Gosh I didn't expect a whole long list but thank you very much for taking the time to do that, I need a BJSC entry for next month so if one of these fits, hope you don't mind if I steal one :D I do actually already know and really like Cracker Island and Spitting off the Edge of the World, I should've charted the latter actually, must've forgot x I had no idea REIN had new stuff out though so thanks for bringing that to my attention! I do intend to listen to Royksopp, Kendrick & The Smile's albums at some point too.

 

 

I just listened to the new EP by your BJSC artist TAXI KEBAB the other day - it's a pretty decent EP on the whole but this one is the clear highlight to me and I imagine you'd be a fan of it too so here's another recommendation for you!

 

I've heard various songs off it which sounded pretty good, but not the whole EP yet. Not certain I've heard this one yet though, so thanks!

 

 

Hey Chez

 

Some great picks here! My faves are: LET'S DO IT AGAIN, Widow and Nova Imperatrix. A few I need to check out though.

 

My rec would be the new Two Shell EP Icons if you haven't heard it already!

 

 

Don't think I actually know that band, but I trust anything with your seal of approval, so thank you very much!