Obsessions (April 2026)
I started Five Obsessions as an homage to my long defunct Pigeons and Planes column “5 On It.” Why confine myself to five of my favorite songs or albums when I could simply list more things I like? Each month, typically every second Saturday (though definitely not the second Saturday this month), I’ll share some new songs. Some old. Some new to me. Some revisited. All the music I have on repeat.
You can listen to the running list of Applied Science favorites in the Spotify playlist below and read about this week’s specific picks below that. And if you’re looking for an archive of all my 2025 Obsessions, voila. Also, my return to the newly relaunched P&P should be happening next week.
TR Gobrazy - “DEM MAN”
Even though music videos are a dying art form there are still great music videos to accompany good songs.
Yakiyn - “GET THE LOOT”
Aggressively infectious. Infectiously aggressive. An aggressive infection.
Sideshow, El Cousteau - “3EEP IT 2OGETHER”
My esteemed friend Micah Peters called El Cousteau the best rapper in the world rn and truly the crown is up for grabs enough that that’s a good bet (I’m not sure who my pick would be at this point).
Active Child - “Needed You”
The sound of a real good heartache.
Wednesday “Got Shocked”
Rock and roll is back, in case you haven’t heard!!
Kelela - “Rewind”
The biggest song of 2015 of 2026 / one of the of those ones that should absolutely have been a hit.
Aaliyah - “Hot Like Fire (Timbaland’s Groove)”
Still the soul of the future.
Elmiene - “Reclusive”
Infectious loneliness.
Goodie Mob - “Goodie Bag”
Threw this on in a car of people who’d never heard it this month. Everyone paused at Cee-Lo’s show stopping final verse. To my ear and to this day one of the most acrobatic, captivating feats of rapping ever accomplished.