10. RUN SAKAMOTO RUN – Vaundy

Sakamoto Days is one of my favorite Shonen Jump titles, and I was excited to see the anime adaptation on Netflix, which I loved. The opening theme was catchy enough to me to enter my daily rotation and the video itself is pretty fun with its little nods to Sakamoto Days, both in the character of the low key dangerous store clerk who can be seen in one scene reading from the manga.

9. Dance in the Apocalypse – Eden

I continue to be hooked by Ensemble Stars!! Music, a rhythm game where you play the part of a producer to a variety of mostly male idol units. I generally enjoy all of the music but Eden is one of my favorite units.

8. Game Over – DATS

No Guns Life is an anime that was recommended to me based on the fact I was wearing a Chainsaw Man hoodie. My wife and I checked it out and found it much to our liking, with it’s cyberpunk setting and the delightful weirdness of an anime where a man with a gun for a head was special sure but also something that happened in their world. As you’ll see I liked both the end (this track) and the opening (the next track).

7. Motor City – Kenichi Asai

Just a good solid action anime opening! I highly recommend No Guns Life, even though the anime doesn’t really have an ending. Maybe this year I’ll try and check out the manga.

6. My Big Day Off – TWRP

My wife and I would be introduced to TWRP by going to see Ninja Sex Party live. We enjoyed their part of the show so much that when they announced they’d be back in the area later that year, I made note to keep track of when tickets sold. I spent the year delving into their back catalog, and according to Apple’s year end highlights, I was in the top 1000 listeners for TWRP on that platform.

5. Enkan no Refraction – Eden

I’m definitely not above skipping ahead of Ensemble Stars!! songs especially when it’s one of my favorite units. Eden never disappoints me.

4. Kill Us All – the Living Tombstone

My algorithms have been recommending the Living Tombstone to me for years, and their songs that deal with anxiety and burnout resonate with me a lot. This track from their newest album definitely captures some of my energy/mood for this past year and beyond.

3. RATATATA – BABYMETAL & Electric Callboy

I delved into some of Electric Callboy’s back catalog a few times this year. I really enjoy their combination of dancy music and heavy metal riffs. This track with Babymetal lasted most of the year on my daily playlist.

2. stone cold – mididuck & Sofuu

It would be weird to not have a mididuck song on my year end favorites list! I’ve long found comfort in their melodies that to me speak to a mix of anxiety and optimism.

1. Blooming World – MaM

It’s my boy! My favorite idol in Ensemble Stars!!, Madara Mikejima, who for some reason is in a unit by himself, called MaM. I was surprised this was my most listened to song of the year considering I’ve been playing the game for a couple years now, but it is! It’s a bit cheesy, but the cheery mood and positive message keeps it in regular rotation.