Monthly Listening: Jan 2026

[adevyish]

We are fully in the swing of winter now (I say, while leaving my parka unzipped outside). We are also nearing the Olympics, so I will take this opportunity to make a PSA and say: under no circumstances should you support the French ice dance team and here is why.

On to the music.

• N·Feni / Nanika Iikoto Aru to Iina
  • A bit of pop punk about everyday annoyances.
• Helsinki Lambda Club / Tomerarenai!
  • I’ve been listening to a lot of mid-2010s indie Canadian rock lately for reasons, and this new HLC song reminds me of that era in the best ways possible. Dancey while still firmly guitar-driven and topped with a singalong chorus.
• Louis Tomlinson / Last Night ★
  • It was really hard to pick a song to feature from Louis’ latest album. The album is full of fanmix material, and as much as I enjoy fst core, I think this is the song that best showcases Louis’ musical growth. (And also would be great for a fanmix.)
• Manic Sheep / Tawdry (Cinemaphonic live session)
  • Dark pop through a shoegaze filter.
• yuunari / yosega (CW: suicide mention)
  • Although I would not call this song cheery, it has more major chords than you would expect from its lyrics.
• odol / Denwa (a phone call) ★
  • The beginning of odol songs are deceptive — they start so mild, that you are even more surprised when the layered instruments and musical shifts punch you in the gut.
• blesse / (Tragédie)
  • *notes the baseball-themed MV* ah I see, this is a song about the Jays loss. (Actually, I adore the lyrics to this song.)
• Guiano / Sekai no Shikumi ★
  • Guiano comes from a Vocaloid background, meaning he brings Hatsune Miku backing vocal and glitchy anime opening vibes to outright nihilism.
• Maika Loubté / Kingyo-bachi (live @ Shibuya WWW X)
  • In the years I’ve been following Maika Loubté, her musical concept has been a bit opaque to me. However, this electropop number — speedy to the point of anxiety but hopeful nonetheless — shines with live drums.
• Yuri / Tokidoki Dokidoki
  • I’m about to bestow this Haraguchi Sasuke–produced song with the highest praise possible: it sounds like it could be on a Katamari Damacy soundtrack.

Bonus: Songs About Posting Fanfic

• valknee / Puni (CW: motion sickness)
  • This MV is the only acceptable use of the instant camera POV shift.