I lost my password to the site late last year, so I wasn't able to post until recently, but the new Utada song kind of motivated me to try again this year.

Produced with A.G. Cook, and I have to say it's one of my favorite Utada songs. I also can't wait to see the final Eva rebuild film.
https://youtu.be/0Uhh62MUEic

I think the songwriting here is a bit better and more memorable than their last record, Dreams Come True. However, it's still not quite as good as 2015's ghost is dead. The closing track, "nearby," is probably my favorite, especially the last minute or so.

https://open.spotify.com/album/7JNPhrfsxak3xMSzsyfoXl?si=GSzJTxVVSQCupnCxathKjQ

https://music.apple.com/us/album/remember/1550403267

Album is available on Bandcamp for whatever price you choose:
https://parannoul.bandcamp.com/album/to-see-the-next-part-of-the-dream

YouTube: https://youtu.be/tGaz4EJObiw

The album seems to be getting a bit of attention lately:
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/parannoul-to-see-the-next-part-of-the-dream/

Aimyon is someone I had high hopes for because of one of her early singles, but most of her output has been pretty boring since then. This is probably her most enjoyable song in the last few years.
https://youtu.be/SrazvevTn1s

This is one of the b-sides from their latest single. A pretty light and fun city-pop inspired song.
https://youtu.be/GMElC5PJWIM

Still the same mitsume with their summer-y lazy surfer sound. It's pleasant but not exactly breaking new ground.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0If3g2EcWHojqmkdeiguT6?si=htOQ6tzzT_SvV7zXCBMTzg

Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/album/vi/1551629282

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6Vq6frI8HsXVoYZiQG8v9e?si=Fdf7RE0vRKaU5GCDF1xywg

Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/album/ghost-album/1554473572

really laid back album with a lot of that singing-rapping style throughout

favorite song from the album (どっかの土曜日): https://youtu.be/B17GMQHc4Jo

R: https://youtu.be/zcYhFuHWadg

じゃむ (feat iri): https://youtu.be/_zUsxN1ZBGY

Um, I'm still around, and the new tricot album is also really good. "いつも" (track 9) is probably my favorite overall; I just love all the melodies and Motifour's guitar. The title track is also one of my favorites, and I think as a whole they've done a really good job of adding interesting and poppy elements while maintaining their distinct sound. They've been pumping out album after album since the beginning of 2020 but haven't disappointed me yet.

Also, I might take some time during the holiday period to just make a list of stuff I liked.

I was pretty disorganized in 2021, and it kind of reflected in my music listening habits. I honestly have a hard time recalling a lot of my impressions about music or what I even listened to, so I'm sure I'm forgetting and omitting something (or a lot).



Albums or EPs:

Spangle Call Lilli Line - Remember: This one and their last album from 2019 (Dreams Never End) really grew on my over the last several months as things just suddenly clicked.

LeeHi - 4 ONLY: H.S.K.T. (https://youtu.be/ww9hZfgC2d8) and Red Lipstick (https://youtu.be/GLlP-CNlY9I) were the standouts on here for me, but overall it's a pretty solid album .

Parannoul - To See the Next Part of the Dream: It feels like this was the Asian album that managed to break out and reach a wider audience, and the praise it's getting is well-deserved.

tricot - 上出来: I don't think you guys need to read more from me on them.

Asian Glow - pt.2345678andstill (https://youtu.be/O1AzTHeaLiQ) Is this a single or EP?



Singles or B-Sides:

Eiko Ishibashi - Drive My Car (Kafuku) (https://youtu.be/govpaPZgt40) Really beautiful song from the Drive My Car soundtrack. Still haven't been able to watch the film yet, and it's about a 2 hour drive to the nearest theater screening it.

Hikaru Utada - One Last Kiss (https://youtu.be/0Uhh62MUEic) My most played song of 2021 according to Spotify, and its use as the ending song for the last Evangelion Rebuild movie just adds that extra sentimental and emotional attachment for me on a personal level. It's kind of wild thinking about how Evangelion and also Utada's music has been a part of my life for over two decades. Hell, that's more years than my age when I started on these boards.

jeebanoff - LEAVE ME. (https://youtu.be/lYn8jHiOsEc) This song got a lot of play from me last year, and I'll need to give his album another listen.

wave to earth - nouvelle vague (https://youtu.be/-LvfeaJagsA) Honestly don't know much about this band, but I've been listening to it quite a bit for the last month or so.

Taeyeon - Weekend (https://youtu.be/RmuL-BPFi2Q) Kind of city pop + disco-ish and perfect for the summer.

TWICE - Alcohol-Free (https://youtu.be/XA2YEHn-A8Q) Kind of an unexpected low key song from this group with some poppy bossa nova elements.

Red Velvet - Knock on Wood (https://youtu.be/PHINkx2So0s) The entire mini album is decent, but this was the standout song for me.

BamBam - Who Are You (feat. Seulgi of Red Velvet) (https://youtu.be/dmBRyBvAEy8) Released right at the end of the year but worth putting on the list.

aespa - Savage (https://youtu.be/WPdWvnAAurg) Their company (SM) likes to experiment and use a lot of relatively weird songs as singles, and I wasn't really sure what to think of this one at first listen, but I quickly found myself putting it on repeat. If you find yourself not enjoying the first two-thirds of the track, I still recommend sticking around long enough to hear the bridge. It sounds like it belongs on a totally different song, but it's kind of amazing and somehow works.

EVERGLOW - Don't Speak (https://youtu.be/HVeyOiD8jms) and DON'T ASK DON'T TELL (https://youtu.be/fQNLS77ah1c) The verses on "Don't Speak" stylistically aren't my favorite, but the pre-hook and hook are pure pop ear candy.

STAYC - STEREOTYPE (https://youtu.be/Xmxcnf2v_gs) & ASAP (https://youtu.be/NsY-9MCOIAQ): Both singles produced by Black Eyed Pilseung (BEP), who is responsible for some of the biggest and catchiest K-Pop songs ever.

Mamiko Suzuki - どっかの土曜日 (https://youtu.be/B17GMQHc4Jo) It made sense that her track with iri was the single (https://youtu.be/Ed-K0pm6DuE) for her album, but I really enjoyed this song a lot more.

んoon - Sniffin' (https://youtu.be/SHyFFNcNq3U) Don't know a single thing about this artist, but the Spotify algorithm apparently knew and sent it my way.

Kai - Peaches (https://youtu.be/GUdnTGnm6Yk)

Whee In - water color (https://youtu.be/ShFKF2YN7H0)

Sunmi - You can't sit with us (https://youtu.be/V0wInr_xATk) The little rap in this is so bad, but the rest of the songs 80s style really worked for me.
Vaundy - 踊り子 (https://youtu.be/7HgJIAUtICU) Vaundy has been kind of a letdown for me after the high expectations I had for his music after Tokyo Flash, so I haven't been following him as closely, but I decided to check out this video just because it had Nana Komatsu, and the song has grown on me a bit.

SHINee - Attention (https://youtu.be/CcfvqArWI6k)

Kana Hanazawa - SHINOBI-NAI (https://youtu.be/5TVWRBB26z8) Song composed by Shizuku from Polkadot Stingray, and there's a version sung by Shizuku herself (https://youtu.be/PMP4PFi2cog).

SHISHAMO - ドライブ (https://youtu.be/U9nOnf_enEM) Don't think their latest album was as good as the last couple/few, but there were still some nice moments.



New to me in 2021:

OGRE YOU ASSHOLE - また明日 (Alternate Version) (https://youtu.be/ODonpOKZUVU)

Quruli - Highway (https://youtu.be/B5IMum6hfJw?t=44) I think I've been meaning to watch Josee, the Tiger and the Fish for over a decade. I think I'll finally stop putting it off, and this song will be the main reason I do so.

never young beach - やさしいままで (https://youtu.be/OuxVZV-CRJY) 2020.

Tomita Lab - OCEAN (https://youtu.be/er7oXrWXF8c)

Shadow Community - Restless Song (https://youtu.be/AE6Xyv-yEiA) I was going to say this sounds like Mid-Air Thief, but it turns out it actually is the same person. The Grizzly Bear influence always stands out when I listen to this.

Sunny Day Service - Setsuna (https://youtu.be/gfmoWR6jQ0M)