February 2026
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Heaven Ain’t Sold by Choker
after a 7 year hiatus, Choker has delivered a soft yet surprising record that warrants Frank Ocean comparisons more than anything else I’ve heard in years.
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Marathon by Maria BC
an uncannily beautiful gothic folk release that feels quietly aggressive in its textural depth, despite having a soft-spoken surface.
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MAN BITES DOG by femtanyl
I put this on during my bus commute to work and was instantly swept into auditory euphoria like none other at 7 a.m. It’s a project so bitcrushed it’s like someone’s ramming a flail into both of your ears, and it completely rips.
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The Pleasure is Yours by Gena (Liv.e & Karriem Riggins)
a cosmic fusion between Riggins’ seasoned and extensive beatmaking and Liv.e’s fluid, unpredictable neo-soul. From the retro, neon-colored “This Is So Crazy” to the smoky “Lead It Up,” the duo achieve a lot of variety within their luxurious sound.
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Nothing’s About to Happen to Me by Mitski
between this record and The Land is Inhospitable, I am realizing that Mitski’s voice and lyrics are such a natural fit for Americana that it’s incredible she didn’t experiment with it earlier. Lyrically, this new record is one of Mitski’s most ambitious as she puts herself in the shoes of a reclusive woman with an unkempt home. Within this character, she elegantly explores a host of themes like desperation (“I’ll Change for You”) and suicidal ideation (“Instead of Here”).
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The Apple Tree Under the Sea by Hemlocke Springs
this was a long-awaited project for me! I have had my sights set on Hemlocke Springs since she debuted in 2023 with some of the best pop songs of the decade so far (particularly “girlfriend”), and her debut full-length record is every bit as playful, adventurous, and catchy as I hoped! But in the years she took to develop this project, she also honed in on some overarching concepts like temptation and unrequited love that make her an even more exciting voice in the pop landscape.
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Laughter In Summer by Beverly Glenn-Copeland
one of the most moving projects I’ve listened to in a long time. In 2023, music veteran Beverly Glenn-Copeland was diagnosed with dementia, a diagnosis that has left many desolate. After receiving this diagnosis, Glenn-Copeland decided to continue with his career, go on tour, and continue penning songs and reimagining older ones alongside his partner, Elizabeth Glenn-Copeland. The resulting album is a nourishing fusion of folk, new age, and neo-classical music, crafted with a community of Canadian musicians such as Helena Deland who were eager to uplift Glenn-Copeland and his artistry.
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To Whom This May Concern by Jill Scott
on her first album in 10 years, Jill Scott’s voice is both hopeful and lived-in. The warm instrumentals and production of this album work to center her vocals - particularly on tracks like “Offdaback” where she sings more conversationally over pensive piano chords. There are lots of flourishes over the record’s warm neo-soul palette, like the grandiose horns on “Be Great,” but none of them ever crowd Scott’s vocals and lyrics. Touching on themes of black joy, community and love, as well as reflection and aging (see the excellent jazzy single “Pressha”), To Whom This May Concern is a career-defining album and an early highlight of 2026.
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URGH by Mandy, Indiana
on their sophomore project, the French electro-industrial duo really step it up, with beats that feel meaner and even more bass-boosted than their debut, and songs that feel significantly more fleshed out. The song structures are still very experimental (especially considering moments like the unexpected string outro in the glitched-out opener “Sevastopol”), but somehow pack in some unfathomable grooves - especially on lead single “Magazine.” Vocally, the band seem to be most influenced by hip hop, and bring in highly visceral energy as well as off-kilter, rhythmically surprising flows. From start to finish, URGH embodies chaos in an inventive and satisfying way.
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The Mountain by Gorillaz
I’m still digesting this one since it’s only been out for around a week as of writing this, but I know for a fact that it is very good! On The Mountain, Damon Albarn steers his omnivorous musical interests in the direction of Indian classical music, and enlists talented musicians that include Anoushka Shankar, Asha Bhosle, and Asha Puthli (whose Indian pop/disco albums I highly recommend) to realize this sound for the album. Conceptually, the album focuses mostly on death, and even features posthumous contributions from previous Gorillaz collaborators like Dennis Hopper and Dave of De La Soul. Despite loving the singles “The Happy Dictator” and “Damascus,” I don’t think anything could have prepared me for how much I love this album - it is without a doubt their most well-executed creative vision since Plastic Beach.
