What I listened to January 2026
I’ve been messing with Canva for too long so we’re doing it this way
-Overall Stats-
Total Songs: 206
Total Runtime: 660
Total releases: 19
Total traditional albums (8+ songs): 12
Total songs: 168
Total runtime: 549
Total me albums* (10+ songs): 11
Total songs: 159
Total runtime: 524
-Genres-
Pop: 4
Rock: 1
Pop Rock: 3
Indie: 2
Country: 1
Kpop: 6
Mix: 1
R&B: 1
-Gender-
Female: 8
Male: 11
-Language-
English: 12
Korean: 6
German: 1
Top 3 favorite releases:
1. Take Me Home (Extended Edition) - One Direction
2. 5 Seconds of Summer - 5 Seconds of Summer
3. Breach - Twenty One Pilots
Top 3 Songs:
1. Ain’t My Fault - Zara Larsson
2. Drum Show - Twenty One Pilots
3. Kiss It - Jae Stephans
-individual breakdown-
Kansas Anymore - Role Model
Top 3 songs:
1. Scumbag
2. Frances
3. Somehow Somewhere Someday
Comments: Its nice, I don’t think I like it as much as I think others may like it. Frankly it became forgotten during the month but I will keep him in my back pocket for future releases because I did like some songs off it.
Internet Girl - Katseye
Top 2 songs:
1. Gabriella
2. Internet Girl
Comments: I do like Internet Girl more than Gnarly, which wasn’t a high bar to cross, but I still hope this isn’t going to be their permanent sound. I don’t think this sound will help them in the future, I have to agree with others that it feels like Hybe chasing Tik Tok vitality more than a solid fame based on good lyrics. It’s also this dichotomy where their style and dance feel very mature but their lyrics still feel very juvenile which I don’t think helps them.
So Good - Zara Larsson
Top 3 songs:
1. Ain’t My Fault
2. Lush Life
3. Symphony (Feat. Zara Larsson)
Comments: It’s fun, I definitely like her more recent album more overall but I like singles off this album more than the overall midnight Sun album. Does that make sense?
Hellevator- Stray Kids
Top 3 songs:
1. School Life
2. Spread My Wings
3. YAYAYA
Comments: You can tell they are going for their sound but haven’t hit it yet because some songs off this were fun but I did like their actual debut better.
I Am Not - Stray Kids
Top 3 songs:
1. Mirror
2. ROCK
3. 3rd Eye
Comments: This was a better choice for a debut then the pre release mixtape as I liked the overall sound of this release more than mixtape.
Breach - Twenty One Pilots
Top 3 songs:
1. Drum Show
2. Downstairs
3. Days Lie Dormant
Comments: It’s nice, it feels like one of those albums that it takes a week of sitting for me to find how I like it because I like this album much more 2 weeks after listening than I did on the first day. Days Lie Dormant is such a good song that I can’t listen to as it sends me into a spiral on if my decision to change majors for a more stable job was a good choice 😀, love the transition between One Way and DLD
Take Me Home (Extended Edition) - One Direction
Top 3 songs:
1. Magic
2. Cmon Cmon
3. I Would
Comments: I never understood the “it’s played too much” people until Live While Were Young because I’ve heard that song TOO MANY TIMES. It’s a good song don’t get me wrong but I’m just tired of it now. This whole album is just nostalgia to the veins, I literally had the non-extended version on my IPod which I listened to constantly in middle school. I remember loving Little Things so much.
XO, My Cyberlove - Chuu
Top 3 songs:
1. XO, My Cyberlove
2. Love Potion
3. Limoncello
Comments: Fun, I find myself liking it more than I did her first album but I still think I’m more of a casual listener for her. I love how she is finding her own sound through her solo work, I think it suits her well and separates her from other kpop acts.
Meet The Vamps - The Vamps
Top 3 songs:
1. Risk It All
2. Somebody to You (feat. Demi Lavato)
3. Oh Cecilia (Breaking My Heart)
Comments: if you like 5SOS1 then this is also up your alley. I don’t like this as much as that song but it’s in the same sub-genre of male teen band in the mid 2010s.
5 Seconds of Summer - 5 Seconds of Summer
Top 3 songs:
1. Voodoo Doll
2. End Up Here
3. Amnesia
Comments: frankly this is currently my favorite of the 5SOS albums over heard so far. You can also tell they’re young, not in a bad way but it’s obvious their teenagers. Really fun still, I can tell why they were on tour with 1D at some point as this feels different but still in line with them.
Sounds Good, Feels Good - 5 Seconds of Summer
Top 3 songs:
1. Saftey Pin
2. Vapor
3. Airplanes
Comments: the whiplash I felt going from the nice boy album of their debut to “my girlfriend’s bitching”. I liked the song still but wow was that a shift from like end up here. I think I need to relisten to this as I don’t think it stuck with me as much and maybe doing it right after the first one instead of letting it sit was a bad idea.
&OurVibe - SAY MY NAME
Top 3 songs:
1. Hard to Love
2. Bad Idea
3. UFO (ATTENT!ON)
Comments: It’s nice, I miss the old covers where they had the cat. I liked the music overall more than previous times but I don’t think I’m more than a very casual listener for them.
The Crux - Djo
Top 3 songs:
1. Basic Being Basic
2. Charlie’s Garden
3. Back On You
Comments: It’s fun, it’s a vibe, it feels like something I can put in the background and not get distracted while listening. Except for Basic Being Basic, love that song.
BORDER:CARNIVAL - Enhypen
Top 3 songs:
1. Drunk-Dazed
2. Fever
3. Mixed Up
Comments: I am always a little annoyed when a mini album has an intro/outro because you’re already giving me so little music and now I get less sometimes as those aren’t always full songs. I forgot how good drunk-dazed was. Not For Sale felt a little out of place as it was more tropical than the others, not a bad song but just didn’t fit.
ROTE FLEGGAN - Berq
Top 3 songs:
1. Echo
2. ROTE FLAGGEN
3. Achilles
Comments: I was trying to listen to something German and I found this. I don’t know how the feel about his voice, maybe I just didn’t like how it was with these particular songs. I am thinking on checking out an actual album of his and seeing how I feel afterwards.
The Core - XG
Top 3 songs:
1. ROCK THE BOAT
2. HYPNOTIZE
3. GALA
Comments: Far more RnB than I was expecting based on Gala and Hypnotize. Was a little disappointed as I wanted more how music but their RnB sound it really good so I wasn’t disappointed long. Some songs I didn’t like was PS118, which I understand its place it feels like RnB Rap which fit well I just wasn’t into it, and O.R.B, which I was excited for as it reminds me of like whatever sound Dirty Little Secret is but I just couldn’t get into it past that which sucks cause I like the sound.
Delulu Pack- KiiKii
Top 3 songs:
1. Delulu
2. MYUNGNYANG
3. 404 (New Era)
Comments: I do like the songs, let me make that clear, these are really good songs. I was just surprised that this felt far safer than their debut. Like I was expecting more experimental sounds like GROUNDWORK but it seems like they are leaning more into Dancing Alone I feel like. I am going to wait for their next comeback as this could be part of their more fun concept, changing it up each comeback ya know.
21st Century Blues - RAYE
Top 3 songs:
1. Environmental Anxiety
2. Oscar Winning Tears
3. Escapism
Comments: I originally had this in my top albums but I realized I don’t actually listen to this that much so I took it out and added Breach. I do have this marked as needing a relisten as I do remember thinking it’s a great album but I need to try again with more intent
TOTAL SELLOUT - Jae Stephans
Top 3 songs:
1. Kiss It
2. Afterbody
3. Body Favors
Comments: It’s a fun time, I highly recommend it. Like it’s not crazy like RAYE’s album but frankly that’s a high bar but it’s fun pop. Especially for a debut album it’s good.
*I personally view albums as being at least 10 songs long but I still included both. That’s why there’s a difference
#music #twentyonepilots #zaralarsson #straykids #onedirection
Diving into the music I enjoyed in January 2026 was a rewarding journey that broadened my appreciation for diverse genres and artists. Listening to 206 songs gave me a comprehensive perspective on what’s trending as well as hidden gems that might fly under the radar. One thing I noticed throughout my month-long listening was how varied the K-pop genre can be. Groups like Stray Kids and Enhypen each bring a distinct flavor, from high-energy tracks to more experimental sounds. My exploration of K-pop solo artists such as Chuu was particularly interesting because I could see how solo projects enable artists to carve unique identities separate from their group styles. For example, Chuu’s "XO, My Cyberlove" felt more personal and differentiated, showing growth and individuality. In western pop and rock, revisiting classics like One Direction’s "Take Me Home (Extended Edition)" was a nostalgic highlight. Despite hearing some tracks countless times over the years, experiencing the album again reminded me how these songs shaped my musical taste growing up. Meanwhile, 5 Seconds of Summer’s albums revealed their evolution — from youthful themes in their debut to more mature yet sometimes jarring shifts in "Sounds Good, Feels Good". Indie and alternative sounds also stood out with artists like Role Model and Jae Stephans. I appreciate their relatable lyrics and compelling melodies that stick with me well beyond the first listen. Similarly, Twenty One Pilots’ "Breach" required multiple listens to really sink in, proving that some albums grow on you over time. I made it a point to sample music in different languages, including Korean and German, which added another layer to my listening experience. Trying out Berq’s German album "ROTE FLEGGAN" challenged me to appreciate vocals and production styles outside my usual comfort zone. It reminded me how music truly transcends language barriers and can connect emotionally in unexpected ways. In summary, this extensive dive into a wide range of artists and genres reaffirmed the joy of musical exploration. Keeping stats on runtime, song counts, and diversity helped me stay organized, but personal connection to each album and song ultimately defined my experience. If you are thinking about refreshing your music playlist, I highly recommend mixing in some K-pop, revisiting iconic pop albums, and taking a chance on emerging indie artists — you might just discover your next favorite track.
This is honestly so late, I started this like mid February when I couldn’t figure out how to do a Canva thing and I also wanted to get Feb’s done too but my semester was like actual hell March-April (still passed all my classes!!). So that’s why this is posted in May 🙃