Fushigi
Akina Nakamori
1986 / album
Akina Nakamori
1986 / album
Here's what's currently on my iPod.
Another week, another update. I'm starting to think that a weekly update is a good enough cadence; it's something to look forward to, and it beats being consumed by music on a daily basis.
This week I made simple adjustments. I swapped the Cocteau Twins' Stars and Topsoil compilation for Treasure. It's a reduction in the number of songs, but there's something about this album that keeps me coming back. It was my introduction to CT last fall, and "Lorelei" exists on both albums (it being my favourite song by the band). I also quite enjoy listening to "Domino" when the weather gets chillier.
I removed Phobia by Breaking Benjamin, Tunes 2011 to 2019 by Burial, The La's self-titled (and only studio) album, and Loose by Nelly Furtado. I can verify that I only enjoy "There She Goes Again" by The La's, and I wasn't as compelled to listen to the other three as I thought I would be. Again, there was a time when I really dug those albums by BB and Nelly Furtado, but I think my life is lacking the prerequisite angst or passionate crush to really enjoy them!
In their place I've added Colour Trip by Ringo Deathstarr; Despondent Transponder by Fleeting Joys; Gala by Lush; and Pubic Fruit by Curve. The first two are based on how similar they are to MBV's Loveless. I'm not opposed to music that sounds derivative or clone-y if they sound good, and I love listening to Loveless for how it helps me to dissociate from my surroundings. It doesn't hurt to have more options in my book. The remaining two are compilations of each band's early work. (Continuing my apparent fixation with 1990s shoegaze from the UK, both bands are from London, England.) I encountered them before and they left me curious. Lush, in particular, warrants a closer listen.
Since these commentaries are meant to be conducted weekly, I'm situating them after the list of albums moving forward. While I previously mentioned how tedious finding and uploading album art covers can be, if it's ~5/week, I can manage.
I had plans to game last night after a decent week, but they fell through. Since I was going to be spending time on a hobby anyways (see how I rationalize?), I made a couple adjustments while fighting to maintain constraints.
Basically, I realized I didn't need Substance by New Order given that most tracks are found across the five other albums (mainly in the bonus CDs). The 1987 version of "Temptation" is great, but I still prefer the original 12" version. I can also do without "The Kiss of Death". (This is a really cool development in that I love the compilation, but I'm earnestly exploring the band's deep cuts which I've been missing out on.) In its place I have the Halo 4 soundtrack for nostalgic continuity.
I also removed Box by Gas, replacing it with his last album Der Lange Marsch. The latter is what originally got me interested in his work. I know it makes callbacks to his earlier albums, and it was my intention to get into Box to develop an appreciation, but I haven't been eager to listen to the compilation. So I'm just focusing on the finale, with its Wagnerian overtones! This is another interesting development because I'm dispelling the idea that I have to "get" an artist in a certain way. I'm curbing my obsessive tendencies.
I've edited the list below to account for these changes, to remind myself that it's a bit tedious finding and then converting album covers. I'm glad that this update takes place more than a week after the initial premise: I know there's a balanced approach to appreciating and exploring music, but I have to keep working on boundaries.
On August 30, 2025, I developed an appreciation for music and stepped outside my comfort zone to explore different genres. It's been an enjoyable year: I've developed a rich inner life through music. But I've come to realize that (a) music will be a lifelong companion, so there's no rush to "get to it all"; and (b) there are some things that require my attention and exploring music takes time and energy away from those priorities. So, I synced my iPod with a set of albums that I think will last me for a while so that I curb my desire to explore new music. Many are highlights from my exploration in the past year, while some are classics in my personal canon. Some are still new to me, and are included because I'd like to get better acquainted with them.
In making this list (which entailed enough effort that I wish to avoid revising it), I made some interesting observations. First, most of the music that I discovered in the last year are rooted in the United Kingdom in the 1980s and 1990s. I was already familiar with England's New Order, but Scotland's Cocteau Twins and The Jesus and Mary Chain were precursors to what's become one of my favourite genres, shoegaze. Bands from the original scene include England's Chapterhouse, Ride, and Slowdive. (This cohort led me to revisit contemporary English bands: The La's and The Stone Roses have self-titled albums I desire to appreciate more now that I have a better sense of the music scene.)
On the topic of shoegaze, one of my favourite discoveries is My Bloody Valentine. I didn't get them at first, but when they clicked, they clicked. Loveless is within my Top 5 favourite albums, even if I don't readily recognize the other four. (The band is from Dublin, Ireland, which is not a part of Northern Ireland and therefore not a part of the UK. Music has also taught me some geography.)
Rounding out my selection are some picks from a narrow timespan: 2004–2007. Breaking Benjamin; the soundtracks for Halo 2, Halo 3, and Revenge of the Sith; and Nelly Furtado were constant companions back when I had an iPod in high school. Nostalgia warrants that I include these bangers.
I also deemed it prudent to include ambient works, for when the mood strikes. Burial, Gas, and Steve Reich are discoveries from the past year that left an impression on me.
The works by Akina Nakamori, Faye Wong, and Lorde represent strong moments in each artist's career. I don't get tired of them.
For fun, I included Joy Division as a prequel/contrast to New Order, and Crayon Case as a sequel/contrast to first-wave shoegaze.
Last but most definitely not least, I included ten albums by Thomas Bergersen—the artist I listened to the most from 2011–2025. His music makes facing trials and tribulations less daunting—and even enjoyable.
* Fleeting Joys. I've got the 2010 Japanese edition with two bonus tracks.
ᵃ Joy Division. Substance was released in 1988, but I have the 2015 remastered edition with bonus tracks.
* Lush. Originally released in 1990, a 35th anniversary edition was released in 2025.
ᵇ My Bloody Valentine. Domino reissued these four works in 2021, which includes the best edition of Loveless to my ears.
ᶜ New Order. I have the Collector's Editions of the band's studio albums from the 1980s. The initial 2008 batch had problems fixed in 2009.
ᵈ Ride. On the release of the band's 4 EPs in 2022, Wichita Records reissued their first two albums.
ᵉ Steve Reich and Musicians. The original work and recording (ECM Records) is from the 1970s, but I am fond of the performance recorded for Nonesuch Records.
ᶠ The Stone Roses. I've got the version with "Elephant Stone" and "Fools Gold".