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Aran Tomoko, Fuyuu Kuukan

I have no clue why city pop became such a niche interest in 2024, but I support any trend that gets Nakamori Akina’s early albums into more ears. Aran Tomoko was an impulse purchase because someone had sold a vinyl reissue to Sonic Boom Records, and I bought it because … hey, it’s Japan!

It’s become one of my most-played albums of 2024. This album is so much more than city pop. It bends genres and indulges in experiments, all the while hewing to the confines of Japanese pop music. It predates the adventurousness of Shiina Ringo by two decades.

Beyoncé, Act II: Cowboy Carter

My immediate reaction after hearing Cowboy Carter for the first time was: “This is the closest an American artist has come to making a Shiina Ringo album.” If Renaissance felt symphonic, Cowboy Carter is operatic. (It helps that Beyonce quotes Tomasso Giordani on “Daughter.”) I’m not even going to get into whether this album is “country” — country is far too restrictive a genre to encompass the ambition on this album. To make a comparison only long-time readers might understand, Cowboy Carter operates on the level of Shousou Strip.

Shiina Ringo, Hojoya

It does seem Shiina has been releasing albums just to compile the last half dozen of singles, but Hojoya is something different. Perhaps borrowing from Beyoncé, Shiina announced the album just days before its release. Half the tracks feature collaborations with female singers, and Shiina sounds positively energized by it.

Nocchi from Perfume sounds unrecognizable without Nakata Yasutaka drowning her voice in effects, but she more than holds her own on “Ui K.O. Kachi.” Ai’s husky voice makes for a great contrast with Shiina on “Shuusha no Koushin.”

Not since Tokyo Jihen’s Sports has a Shiina Ringo album sounded so focused. It’s her best writing in years.

Haim, Women in Music, Pt. III

If I had to judge a band by their press photos, I would have pegged Haim as being an indie folk outfit. So I was surprised to hear they’re way more pop.

La Bouche, Sweet Dreams

Sweet Dreams was a huge hit in my last years of college, but I was too busy trying to get imports of John Zorn’s Masada to pay attention. The title track is indeed a banger, but the rest of the album is no slouch.

Yellow Magic Orchestra, Naughty Boys

This album is my first encounter with Yellow Magic Orchestra. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long.

Brian Fennell, Safety Songs

Before there was SYML or Barcelona, there was an album with a fresh-faced Brian Fennell going by his own name. Safety Songs is essentially a proto-Barcelona album. Even at this early stage, Fennell’s writing chops already feel well-honed.

Tags: aran tomoko, beyonce, brian fennell, haim, la bouche, picks, purchase log, shiina ringo, utada hikaru, yellow magic orchestra