Welcome back for another SubModern Report as we're now two weeks into 2025, even though it may feel like we're two months in already. We have two new #1's this week. On the singles chart it's Seattle's Deep Sea Diver with the excellent "Shovel" (possibly my favorite song of the year so far), which will be on the just-announced record Billboard Heart, coming next month. On the album chart, there was really no doubt that the ever-reliable Franz Ferdinand would take the top spot with their sixth proper record The Human Fear, the first big alternative release of the year.

Debuting at #2 on the singles chart is critically acclaimed musician and author Michelle Zauner, back with a new Japanese Breakfast track, "Orlando In Love", the first from the upcoming record For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women). Also back after a little while is elder statesman of alt-rock Bob Mould with "Here We Go Crazy" debuting at #3, from a forthcoming album of the same name. Youth Lagoon lands at #4 with "Speed Freak", followed by Panda Bear's "Ferry Lady" at #5 and Hamilton Leithauser's "Knockin' Heart" at #6. The aforementioned Franz Ferdinand have the single "Hooked" from the week's #1 album at #7. The first tie of the top ten is at #8 between Blondshell's album-announcement track "T&A" and last week's #1 single "Like You Did Before" by Circa Waves. Finally, there's a three-way tie at #10 including "S.N.C" by DARKSIDE, "Portrait of My Heart" by SPELLLING, and "Building 650" by Squid.

A few of those same names occupy the top tier of the top ten albums as well, starting with Panda Bear's upcoming Sinister Grift at #2. Circa Waves' Death & Love, Pt. 1 is tied with Hamilton Leithauser's This Side of The Island at #3. Next at #5 we get the other biggest album release of the week - Lambrini Girls' debut Who Let The Dogs Out. The new Interiors EP from Strokes' guitarist Nick Valensi's band CRX is tied for #6 with Phonetics On and On from Horsegirl. Those two are followed by Mercury's Swarm The Hive Mind EP at #8 and a three-way tie at #9 to close out the top ten. That's populated by Art D'Ecco with Serene Demon, Ecce Shnak with Shadows Grow Fangs, and Party Nails with Pillow Talk.

There is of course, lots more to see on the full charts HERE. And you can see that 2025's deluge of new music continues on the Available For Airplay list. Some highlights for the coming week include singles from Annie DiRusso, Babe Rainbow, Girl Talk (with T-Pain and Yaeji), Miki Berenyi Trio, Ora the Molecule, Perfume Genius, and Σtella, plus full albums from Ela Minus, Elephant Stone, zzzahara , and lots more... Back with you again next week and as I sign off, I'll once again send my best thought and love out to all those in L.A. dealing with the fires. Take care everyone.

~ Josh T. Landow