Some old play on the Alt18 Countdown this week with Modest Mouse and Coldplay both making debuts. MM is back with We Are Between, while Coldplay joins with Higher Power.

No change in the Top 2 with Twenty One Pilots holding at the top with “Shy Away,” while Manchester Orchestra follows with “Bed Head.”

Here’s a little countdown trivia. There have been nine No. 1 songs on the Alt18 in 2021. How many can you name? Answers posted later this week. I missed one before going back to check the blog.

Dropping off this week: Royal Blood and Typhoons, Mike Shinoda, iann dior, and UPSAHL with Happy Endings, AJR and Way Less Sad, and SHAED with Two Feet’s Part Time Psycho.

Blog Update

A few updates on the blog:

First, I’ll keep updating the Alt18 list each week, but the Spotify playlist is dead. I’m not even allowed to rename playlists anymore. That said, I created a new one that I’ll update with a variety of alternative bands on different countdowns. You can follow My Playlist #84 here. It’ll be a mix of familiar, past, and upcoming songs in the spirit of the countdown.

Second, it does appear the Pandora playlist below is updating on some kind of delayed schedule. If you want the official countdown, that’s the source of truth.

Third, I updated the YouTube playlist with “Finding Alt” songs on current alternative music charts, including the Alt18, Billboard, the New Alternative 40 Chart, etc.

Finally, Doug D. who reads the blog shared old countdowns that I’m getting into a searchable spreadsheet for anyone who wants to geek out on past Alt18s. For example, the No. 1 song this week in 2010 was “Giving Up the Gun” by Vampire Weekend. Thank you, Doug!

I love hearing from you all. Drop a comment or email me at: finding.alt18@gmail.com

Along with this blog, here’s a few channels I update:

• Finding Alt’s weekly playlist on Spotify
• Follow the updated Pandora playlist.
• Here’s the Alt18 YouTube playlist (I’ve been slow on this one)
• Sign up for the Finding Alt18 newsletter
• Join the Finding Alt18 Discord. We’re just getting started, but I hope it’s a place to talk and share music — and make this site a little better. Open to all. Come share your thoughts on the countdown or anything alt-music related.
• Twitter: @findingalt18

Cheers!

Alt18 Countdown, 5/15/21

18. Modest Mouse, We Are Between

17. Billie Eilish, Your Power

16. Joywave, After Coffee

15. Coldplay, Higher Power

14. All Time Low, Once in a Lifetime

13. Imagine Dragons, Follow You

12. The Happy Fits, Hold Me Down

11. KennyHoopla w/Travis Barker, ESTELLA//

10. Blu DeTiger, Vintage

9. Black Pumas, Colors

8. CHVRCHES, He Said, She Said

7. The Band CAMINO, 1 Last Cigarette

6. Weezer, All My Favorite Songs

5. girl in red, serotonin

4. Glass Animals, Space Ghost Coast to Coast

3. The Neighbourhood, Stargazing

2. Manchester Orchestra, Bed Head

1. Twenty One Pilots, Shy Away

Feedback? Spot a mistake? Get in touch any time at: finding.alt18@gmail.com

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