The best albums from February

The month of February may be the shortest of the year but we definitely weren’t left with a short supply of amazing new music. With so many albums being critically-acclaimed in 2022 already, it’s fair to say that we’re off to a good start.

Here, we’ve highlighted some of the best albums that we’ve listened to in February and we would highly recommend that you give them a listen at least once. You won't regret it.

Mitski- Laurel Hell

Mitski has never been much of a fan of remaining in the music industry, Wrestling with her own career, she announced in 2019 that she was going on hiatus with no guarantee that she would return. It was a great shame that we could possibly lose one of the best songwriters of the past decade.

Alas, it was announced last year that Mitski was returning, she had used the time to reconvene and collect herself and in that time wrote ‘Laurel Hell’. An album that features a strong anti-capitalist message as well as tackling heartbreak which is often lifted to melodramatic proportions. Everything on this album feels intense, a rushing outpour of conflicted feelings and a need for emotional reprieve. 

It’s a stunning piece of work from a devastatingly effective lyricist.

Metronomy- Small World

Metronomy have been one of the UK’s best indie bands for over a decade now. The group have given us so many memorable melodies, combining indie with dance music to create an endless supply of infectious rhythms. 

On their new album, the band are taking a bit of a step back, assessing where they’re at in their lives now that they’re a bit older with more responsibility. They’re pondering some of life’s biggest questions and in response ‘Small World’ sounds completely serene at times, allowing space for thought. However, the group cannot resist creating tracks that make you get off your feet, there are plenty of tracks that still bring plenty of joy.

alt-J- The Dream

alt-J are another group that have come back from a recent hiatus. The group needed time away from each other in order to come back stronger than they have ever been. The Dream is arguably one of their best albums and definitely their most personal to date, singing songs about the beginning of relationships and the NHS.

They’re also still a band that insists on experimentation and you’ll find plenty of weird and warped sonic textures throughout that will make you feel like you’re on another planet entirely. With stunning orchestrals also thrown into the mix, alt-J are back with renewed vigour. 

Beach House- Once Twice Melody

Beach House make songs that you simply sink into. Once Twice Melody was released in four parts and is easily their most ambitious record to date. With a sense of grandeur coming from a string section, the scale of the record feels huge. Yet it never strays too far from what you expect from a Beach House album.

The production quality makes the songs feel like honey to the ear and it goes to show that Beach House are still able to make music that seems utterly transportative. 

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