Lost Corner by Kenshi Yonezu Feels Like a Greatest Hits Album

Kenshi Yonezu is one of those musicians that it feels like is everywhere lately. He releases songs on his own. He appear in commercials. He’s tapped to create themes for anime series like Chainsaw Man and games like Final Fantasy XVI. So with the new album Lost Corner, which is available both to buy for $13.98 or stream on various services, it feels like every single Kenshi Yonezu song is familiar. As a result, I felt it came across more as a greatest hits album than a typical release, due to the fact that so many of these pieces for specific endeavors is pulled together for it.

Now, because of this, Lost Corner doesn’t feel like the type of album created with an overarching theme in mind. There will be commonalities from time to time in terms of overall sound or tone. However, it’s mainly coincidental or due to Yonezu’s general talent and artistry. When you look at the track listing, even if you aren’t immediately familiar with the artist, things are going to jump out at you. There’s so much here that is immediately recognizable because of how other creators and companies have come to rely upon the singer to create perfectly suited songs for situations.

For reference, here is the full track listing of songs from the Kenshi Yonezu album Lost Corner:

1. “RED OUT”
2. “KICK BACK”
3. “MARGHERITA + AiNA THE END”
4. “POP SONG”
5. “Shinigami”
6. “Mainichi – Every Day”
7. “LADY”
8. “Daydream”
9. “Sayonara, Mata Itsuka! – Sayonara”
10. “Stop Look Both Ways”
11. “LENS FLARE”
12. “Tsuki wo Miteita – Moongazing”
13. “M87”
14. “Pale Blue”
15. “Garakuta – JUNK”
16. “YELLOW GHOST”
17. “POST HUMAN”
18. “Spinning Globe”
19. “LOST CORNER”
20. “OHAYO”

That length stands out, and it should because this is a collection. Lost Corner isn’t a typical album release from Kenshi Yonezu. Sony pulled together all sorts of tracks from his projects over the last four years since Stray Sheep debuted in 2020. This does mean that tracks from that album that are also incredible hits, like “Umi no Yuurei,” aren’t here. But trust me when I say it’s absolutely fine. Given Yonezu’s career so far, I don’t doubt that in 10 or 20 years, we’ll see a massive 2-3 CD set that is a full “greatist hits” release. 

But what’s also shocking is listening to Lost Corner, looking at the track list of songs, and realizing how influential Kenshi Yonezu is on our modern media landscape. I hear it, and I’m immediately remembering the shows, movies, and games that were tied to it. “Tsuki wo Miteita – Moongazing?” That’s from Final Fantasy XVI. “Kick Back?” Chainsaw Man. “Spinning Globe?” I heard that a day ago when watching The Boy and the Heron for the first time. “Lady,” “Mainichi – Every Day,” and “POP SONG?” All of those were in commercials, and at least one of them was popular enough to be notable outside Japan too due to it being a PlayStation ad.

Lost Corner is one of those types of albums where every song on it is amazing, and listening to it makes you appreciate what Kenshi Yonezu is capable of. It’s an incredible collection. The nature of it means that everything feels incredible and familiar, with songs pulling you in. In fact, it might even make you feel nostalgic! I know I had that impression when some of the tracks came up. It’s like a tribute to everything he’s contributed to in the last four years, and may even help the listener appreciate how well-rounded and prolific he is as an artist.

The album Lost Corner by Kenshi Yonezu is available worldwide now, and you can find it streaming or for sale on various stores and services.