Obsessions (March 2026)
I started Five Obsessions as an homage to my long defunct Pigeons and Planes column “5 On It.” But why confine myself to five of my favorite songs or albums each month 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.
A few quick updates. I’ve been less active on Applied Science this year because I’ve been focusing my writing energy on a few other projects. Working on my return to the recently relaunched Pigeons and Planes (an honor and thrill). Polishing a novel and pushing a few other narrative projects forward while I can keep my eyes open at night. Doing my normal job, whatever that means in an industry that seems to be cracking (though what doesn’t feel like it’s splitting at the seams in this moment?). For Applied Science, I am working on a third installment of Lessons & Observations and some thoughts on how we consider and capture value in music.
While all that percolates, 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.
Cam’ron, Juelz Santana - “I Just Wanna”
Some lyrics are deep because they’re cryptic. Others are deep because they’re blunt. I will always come back to Juelz Santana rapping “I just wanna be happy not stressed/ I just want my girl to know right now I’m not happy, I’m stressed.”
girlsweetvoiced - “Tonight”
Surely alluring.
Phoenix James - “Hold On”
You can’t always explain the things that feel good when they feel good.
Choker - “Rae Town”
Lots of highlights from Choker’s subtle, absorbing new album, but I keep coming back to “Rae Town”
Jenevieve - “Head Over Heels”
Second straight month I’m obsessed with a song called “Head Over Heels.” Pray I keep the streak alive in April.
The Beach Boys - “Surf’s Up”
The past haunts the future.
Die Spitz - “Throw Yourself to the Sword”
Punch me in the face over and over, please!
Clyde Crooks - “38 inch loveseat”
I’m not even going to try to figure out what genre this is, but I’m paying attention.
Marlon Funaki - “Skin”
Feel the desert winds rippling across your mind.
Gucci Mane - “Finesse the Plug Interlude”
When does an interlude become a song? In any case, this is the best Gucci Mane song of the last decade and was probably my favorite rap song of 2017. Glad to have remembered it exists.
DJ Shadow - “Six Days”
When I checked the Doomsday Clock last week, it was at 85 seconds to midnight.
Trick Daddy, Big Boi, CeeLo Green - “In da Wind”
One of the first songs I remember burning onto mix CDs with an external CD burner.