Monthly Listening: May 2022

This month's round-up of great new Japanese releases from Wednesday Campanella, RAY, tofubeats and more

Hi! This is May’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.

It’s been a minute since we’ve caught up! During my month-long break from the newsletter, I went to go see Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and Twice live. And I just did minimal amount of writing for a couple of weeks with a weekend spent almost fully logged off. It felt good! I recently got back into the grind, and I’ve been slowly putting together the upcoming new issue, which I’m excited for it to hit your inbox in a few weeks.

Writing was on hold during most of May but not the music. Here are new releases I enjoyed this month.

And of course, here is this month’s playlist of the newsletter’s top 40 selections. Happy listening!

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Drop by AMEFURASSHI

R&B / idol | ► “SENSITIVE”

THE EARTH EARTH by THE EARTH EARTH

indie rock / shoegaze | ► “peel slowly and see”

Paleozoic by H.Takahashi

ambient | ► “Drift”

Intentions by HETH / ONLY THE LAST SONG

punk / hardcore | ► “Kage To Nase” / “Moreru”

Rebound by Kudaranai 1Nichi

indie rock / emo | ► “Yarusenai”

Nessence by my sister circle

indie rock | ► “lonely”

Ai No Teigaku by Philosophy No Dance

pop / idol | ► “Double Standard”

Green by RAY

dream pop / idol | ► “Koharuhi”

Bochi Bochi Galaxy by Satoko Shibata

pop / singer-songwriter | ► “Understood”

REFLECTION by tofubeats

pop / electronic | ► “REFLECTION” ft. Kaho Nakamura

RAW by TORIENA

EDM | ► “RAW”

Neon EP by Wednesday Campanella

pop / electronic | ► “Maneki Neko”

STRESS de STRESS by ZOMBIE-CHANG

pop / acid | ► “GRANNY SQUARE”

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