Music
Welcome to my music room. I am deeply obsessed with Math Rock, Fusion Jazz, and Midwest Emo.
Music is not just background noise to me; it’s a structure of logic and emotion. Maybe more than that, it’s a sanctuary for me in this chaotic world. Here are the albums that have shaped my taste.
Racing Mount Pleasant - Racing Mount Pleasant
Genre: Indie Rock / Post Rock / Art Rock
Release: 2025
It's the first Indie Rock album I truly fell in love with. Hailing from UMich, this band is mainly composed of undergraduate students. With complex rhythms and some jazz elements, their music is both intricate and accessible.It strikes a great balance between emotional expression and softness. Without any exaggeration, it's the best Indie Rock album of the year for me.
toconoma - VISTA
Genre: Math Rock / Fusion Jazz
Release: 2020
For some reason I hold a special attachment to this album. It was at the Xihu Music Festival on Nov 1, 2024, that I first saw this band. And I purchased my first disc in my life right after their set. There weren't many copies left, and my friend chose this for me. After long time, I gave it as a gift to a girl. On July 19, 2025, I raced from SJTU to VAS for their live show. I arrived at 7:56, with only 4 minutes to spare. Fate, it seemed, had kept the last copy waiting for me. There it was, right in front of my eyes: VISTA.
toe - For Long Tomorrow
Genre: Math Rock / Post-Rock
Release: 2009
This album is the absolute gold standard of Math Rock. Unlike typical American Math Rock which focuses on tapping, toe emphasizes the raw, acoustic dynamics of the drums (Kashikura Takashi is a beast).
The track "グッドバイ" perfectly captures my emotions at night. It's chaotic yet beautifully structured.
American Football - American Football
Genre: Midwest Emo / Math Rock
Release: 1999
"Never Meant" is the anthem. The twinkling guitars in non-standard tuning create a nostalgic atmosphere that hits hard. It feels like the end of summer.
🎧 Live Performances
Just enjoy it.
- American Football - 2025.3.22 Live at 万代南梦宫BANDAI NAMCO SHANGHAI BASE in Shanghai
This is their 25 aniverary tour. And I cried when they played “Never Meant”. Can any emokids can resist this song?
- toconoma - 2025.7.19 Live at Vas in Shanghai
One of my favorite math rock or fusion jazz bands in Japan. Full of energy and passion, everyone will be moved by their performance. When i first saw their show, there were two people dancing in front of me. Just for relaxation and pure joy.
- Fayzz - 2025.11.21 Live at EchoSpace in Hangzhou
Easily one of the best math rock bands in China. Their live performances mirror their music perfectly: restrained and calm. During a difficult period in my life, their music provided much-needed stimulation. Interestingly, the concept behind their new album, Patch, is drawn from a term in Computer Vision known as the ‘Adversarial Patch Attack’.
- Tiny Moving Parts - 2025.1.11 Live at EchoSpace in Hangzhou
Midwest Emo band from Minnesota. Full of energy and passion. The encore song was “Medicine”, and everyone sang together. I still remember that night. That was just after my finals, an exhausting week and I almost messed up everything then. Their music healed me deeply.