Monthly Listening: March 2021
This month's rundown of great new releases by For Tracy Hyde, Hallkarimaako, Kayoko Yoshizawa and many more
Hi! This is March’s Monthly Listening list, a quick rundown of new Japanese albums I checked out this month that I enjoyed. You can browse past Monthly Listenings in the archives.
How has music releases been for you during the first quarter of 2021? It really picked up for me in March with this month’s listening period giving me records that I’m taking note as a contender for Album or Songs of the Year. For Tracy Hyde, for one, put out one of the best rock albums of the year so far. Hallkarimaako’s “Terminal,” the title track to their new EP, is up there as my SOTY. If you haven’t found any yet, or if you don’t know where to look next, hope this month’s Monthly Listening list can aid you.
As usual, here is a Spotify playlist of songs that didn’t make the cut for the main newsletter. And here are the albums I checked out in March. Happy listening!
Doshitatte Tsutaerarenaikara by Aiko | pop
► “Jishaku”
CARTHIEFSCHOOL by CARTHIEFSCHOOL | indie rock
► “Abura”
Ethernity by For Tracy Hyde | shoegaze / dream pop
► “Interdependence Day (Part 1)”
Terminal by Hallkarimaako | pop
► “Terminal”
*Read more about the album on issue #29.
Akaboshi Aoboshi by Kayoko Yoshizawa | pop / folk
► “Shishu”
Sleepless 364 by Lil’ Leise but Gold | R&B
► “Nonono”
BLMS by The Mellows | indie rock / psych soul
VI by Mitsume | indie rock
► “Fiction”
Ms. Machine by Ms. Machine | metal / electronic
mimi no kioku by muffin | folk
All Shimmer in a Day by My Lucky Day | indie rock / dream pop
Kyousou by Pure White Canvas | idol / pop
► “Loser Girl”
c.o.q by qulague | indie rock
► “hoshimachi”
Kokyu by sassya- | post-hardcore
► “Saisei”
Remember by Spangle Call Lilli Line | indie rock / new wave
► “after squall”
Bridge by Various artists | indie rock / emo
► “First Step” by Haiki
Per Capita by Various artists | ambient
► “Transition” by I.P.U.
Z-POP by Yung Kiss | pop