February was a month of miracles for any avid music listener, as well as those looking to discover new music. I had to cut down my list of all the great albums released this month! Because I’m always sifting through future favorite albums, I thought I’d save you some time and share the ones I’ve found.
The Last Dinner Party released their long-awaited debut album “Prelude to Ecstasy” on Feb. 2. Their breakthrough single “Nothing Matters” is an earworm I will happily welcome into the corners of my mind and had me instantly hooked on this girl rock band. Singles like “The Feminine Urge” and “Sinner” will have you screaming and spinning like a corset-clad Victorian woman with a vengeance and an electric guitar.
Declan McKenna has always been a favorite of mine, going back to songs “Brazil” and “The Kids Don’t Wanna Come Home” from his 2017 album “What Do You Think About the Car?” McKenna’s newest album, “What Happened to the Beach,” released on Feb. 9, delves into his more ethereal, funky side. I have had the single “Nothing Works” on repeat since it was released on Sept. 13, 2023. McKenna is an exciting artist to get attached to because he is at the point in his career where his shows on tour aren’t unreasonably priced just yet!
You may have heard their TikTok famous cover of “Murder on the Dance Floor,” but Royel Otis’ album, “PRATTS & PAIN,” should not go unnoticed. Singles “Fried Rice,” “Sofa King” and “Velvet” will have you instantly mad for this alternative Australian duo.
The first notes of Little Simz’s “Drop 7” had me in literal clutches. I felt the synthetic, rhythmic beats coursing through my veins. Listen to this seven-song album straight through, and you’ll be shrugging your shoulders and bopping your head to Simz’s entrancing sound before you know it. Even though Little Simz just released this album on February 9, I’m on the edge of my seat waiting to see what she comes up with next.
I was surprised to see a new release from MGMT. Their singles “Electric Feel” and “Time to Pretend” stay on a consistent rotation of my crowd-pleaser playlists, but I had no idea they were still releasing music. Upon a little more digging, MGMT has been releasing consistently since 2007. Their newest album, “Loss of Life,” contains gripping singles “Nothing To Declare” and “Mother Nature” that embrace their stratospheric roots but in a more raw, acoustic way than ever before.
I fell in love with Mother Mother the first time I heard their single “Arms Tonite” from their 2008 album “O My Heart.” When I saw the new album “Grief Chapter” dropped on Feb. 16, I dove headfirst into their psychedelic, jazzy-punk, alternative universe. Get hooked on the album with song “Nobody Escapes.”
This EP may be only four songs deep, but Bleachers’ “Me Before You” might be the perfect addition to your spring playlists. I’ve always been entranced by Jack Antonoff’s bandwidth in producing for some of the biggest names in music while creating his own unique sound for his band Bleachers. “Tiny Moves” is the sweetest song about a man in love and it will have you in tears, running, jumping and dancing all around.
Some new singles that deserve attention too are “I’m in Love” by Jelani Aryeh, “alone” by Cavetown, “Power To Undo” by Brittany Howard and “Running” by JAWNY.
May your playlists be long, your songs be catchy in the best way and your March be fueled by the staggering releases of February!