Now Playing... | July 2026

07/06/2026 - Now Playing...

Albums for July 2026...

Slayr

Half Blood/Bloodluxe (2026)

Favorite Tracks: 1,2,5-8,10,12-14,16-20

I've been listening to Slayr quite a lot recently since my youngest brother has been out of school for the summer. I had once listened to his music before and didn't quite think much of it since I felt that music catered much more to a younger crowd, but then my brother played his album when I took him to the beach and I realized that this kid extremely talented and at such a young age too. Not only that, there are times where he makes statements in his lyrics that are quite relatable. I think a common theme in this album that comes up is about his future potential and how people (specifically, a romantic partner) will attach themselves to that potential and make it apart of their own identity and future, but according to him "Just because I told you my goals. Don't mean that you make my goals all your goals."

DOUBLE

Crystal (1999)

Favorite Tracks: 1-10

This album has been taking care of me for the last few months to be quite honest. In an earlier installment of 'Now Playing..' I shared a song from a later album by Double, but this album has solidified itself as one of my favorites. It's very nostalgic. There are so many addicting choruses and great instrumentals throughout this record. And I'm just a huge fan of the Japanese language. Even translating the lyrics to English, it's beautifully written.

Kid Cudi

Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven (2015)

Favorite Tracks: 1-4,8,9,11-15,21-24

I listened to this album about 10 years ago for the first time after hearing an interview from another artist I appreciate mention it as one of their favorite albums. Luckily for me, I discovered this album in a particular time in my life where I felt I had "sonically"understood it. Kid Cudi is formerly known as a rapper, but this particular project steps away from what's known of him. I think when you're a rapper it's hard to exactly define genre because it's spoken word so it can fall into many "genres", but if I had to describe this album it's melancholy, it's grunge (similar to Nirvana), it has some punk rock notes in it being rough around the edges but full of energy. Around the time of this album, I had been newly introduced to midwest emo music and they both felt quite similar. It was about passion, angst, and shared sorrow. I think it's fun to occasionally rotate some songs on this album into my playlists. I really like the Speeding Bullet 2 Heaven (Acoustic Demo), Insides Out, Trauma, and WAIT (Rehearsal Demo)songs toward the end.They are the more raw sounding tracks that are mostly stripped down.

Akemi Kakihara

yes (1998)

Favorite Tracks: 1-11

This album caught me by surprise. The lyricism and instrumentation is phenomenal. Everything is quite simple, but it covers a lot of ground musically. I think that it's composition has a signature sound throughout but will slightly break away into jazz and bossa nova. I really enjoy how smoothly each song connects until those particular genre changes happen later in the album. It keeps everything interesting throughout. I absolutely love her voice as well. Quite honestly, I have been looking for this physical CD around town and I have (yet) been unsuccessful. Hopefully, I can come across it on the internet second-hand somewhere.

Featuring...

KOJI 1200

Blow Your Mind

America Daisuki! (1996)