Monthly Listening: May 2020
A round-up of favorite new Japanese albums I checked out in May from Mei Ehara, RAY, Yonige and more
May is over. I hope you’ve been well. Here’s a quick round-up of new albums I enjoyed this month. I covered a few more new records for the newsletter’s Rap Issue if you like some rap. I got a special, genre-focused issue similar to that edition in the works for June, so stay tuned. And as usual, here’s a Spotify playlist of the month’s finds. Happy listening!
BenjaminJasmine by BenjaminJasmine | idol / rock
► “Saibou”
Lonely EP by Haruru Inu Love Dog Tenshi | rap / hip hop
► “Disappear”
*Read more about the album in issue #10.
Season by Lil Soft Tennis | rap / hip hop
► “Season”
Impure by LLLL | electronic
► “Weep”
Unfinished by Malcolm Mask McLaren | idol / pop punk / skate punk
► “Unfinished”
Ampersand by Mei Ehara | pop / R&B / nu-city pop
► “Saisho No Hi Wa”
New Dawn EP by Nana Kitade | alt rock
► “Limited Edition”
Pink by RAY | idol / shoegaze / dream pop
► “Everything About My Precious You”
I Am Sakuran Zensen by Sakuran Zensen | punk
► “Taximan”
*Read more about the album in issue #11.
Otohime by Toiret Status | electronic / IDM
► “#76.5”
Himawari by Toricago | idol / alt rock
► “Kujira”
Miso by Uminecosounds | indie rock
► “Akakunaru”
#AFLOW by Week Dudus | rap / hip hop
*Read more about the album in issue #10.
Kenzen No Shakai by Yonige | indie rock
► “Kenzen Na Asa”
The nest This Side of Japan issue is out June 10. You can check out previous issues here.