PLAYLIST OF THE WEEK 2024 #44

Even on holiday, we’re sharing music! And for this scheduled playlist of the week, I did a little catch-up.

Having arrived in the land of the rising sun, we just had to kick off this week’s playlist with a local banger that’s been on repeat for me. KANA-BOON has come out of hibernation and dropped LOVE & MASTERPEACE! A total hit! mirabelle. Follows proudly and keeps the groove going with Kiss Of Death, super catchy, motivating, and leaning more into pop-punk. With equal confidence, Earth to Cheska becomes a new favourite of mine with Bleach Blonde! She’s followed by IOTA and the intoxicating Rose. Much darker but just as effective, the track is highlighted by a remarkably powerful voice.

We get old-school punk vibes that stick to your shoes with the next track, Glasnost by Slug Boys. It’s obviously perfect for letting loose, making it ideal for our holiday soundtrack. We continue with Brit-rock from The Sherlocks, who add some beautiful strings to their discography with Man on the Loose. Then, Franz Ferdinand brings their signature pop-rock style on Audacious, a teaser from their upcoming album in January. Time to dive into the epic with the glam rock and gospel flourishes of Miss Velvet with Strut, her latest single.

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Next, we discover Fionn with Snake Behavior, and I fell instantly for the music universe of these twin sisters. After that, we dive into the politically charged blues of ILUKA with the gripping Wings. PAVÉ follows, delivering a double-edged message with aren’t YOU scAREd to be ALONE? The vibe is intense, dark, and even mystical—I love it. Finally, we wrap up this week’s playlist with UNDER and OVER by THE ORAL CIGARETTES, a lovely Jrock track tied with the seinen anime Yakuza Fiancé. And it hints at the theme for the upcoming playlists too… Stay tuned.