I Love My Computer came out last year, and I can't stop going back to it.
It's technically the debut album from
Ninajirachi (she's
released music for a long time, just not an "album"). After release, and I
guess the singles as part of the rollout too, she had a bit of a breakout year
last year, and hopefully she continues to break out.
Nina is one of my favorite musicians at the moment. She really embodies the
idea of "follow what you're passionate about and practice, practice,
practice". This album is all about that.
↗
2025
I Love My Computer
Ninajirachi
edmelectro housebubblegum bass
Although it's very different than the rest of the album (basically a ballad),
I think Sing Good is the best one to start with, because the lyrics set
the tone. Nina is a role model to me because of the sentiment in this song,
which spreads through the rest of the album.
I read it as "I'm not good at this now, but I'm really passionate about it.
Even though I'm going to struggle, I'm going to keep pushing.", said in a much
more poetic way.
iPod Touch is probably the song I should recommend to start with, but I
think London Song might be my favorite if I had to choose. Choosing a
second favorite would be impossible.
Give It a Day
New one to me from earlier this year, that I remembered earlier this week and
have also kept in heavy rotation:
↗
1991
Foxbase Alpha
Saint Etienne
indie dancedowntempoindie pop
It's basically really chill european club music, and sounds way ahead of its
time. Very cool blend of indie dance with 1960's girl pop.
Hearing that, if all these words are familiar to you, you're likely hesitant.
Potentially thinking I have no credibility for recommending a dance cover of
one of Neil's more intimate songs. But turn it on. You'll listen once through
and likely not like it.
Give it a day and it'll click. At least that's what happened to me.
This is the London-based
trio's debut album,
and it had solid critical reception, but I think that reception over here
across the pond was more rare.
I'll almost certainly be writing more about this
live album next week.
Piano melody on this opener is fantastic, Cameron's voice sounds great, and
most importantly the lyrics here are incredibly thought provoking. How is he
writing this stuff in his early 20's? Before I get myself going I'll stop
now... beautiful piano ballad.
I've underrated The Stone Roses for way too long. I love how, on this
song, you hear a lot of 80's influence with the new wave of 90's starting to
creep in. I don't think my Gen Z brain understands how forward thinking this
song was when it came out.
My 3 year old daughter has really attached herself to this song recently. I
don't know if it's the fun, lighthearted lyrics, the amazing vocals from both
Ella and Louis (in such polar opposite ways) or vintage jazz sound, but I
learned she knows how to work my phone now because she played this song from
it and looked very proud.
This is an electronic duo getting some buzz recently (maybe because they
just signed to A24's record label),
up and coming in what I'd consider a new genre called collage. It's essentially a lot of
musical textures layered and pieced together.
It's been popularized recently by an artist named
Quadeca, when he
transitioned his large YouTube audience into his music audience. It's got a shocking similarity to
Bon Iver with some
Björk type production
influence.
It's glitchy, trippy, nostalgic, and terminally online.
That's the desk this week. Reply and tell me what's on yours.
