February may be the shortest month, but there was no shortage of new music. BLACKPINK returned with the much-anticipated “Deadline”, Charli XCX dropped a soundtrack to “Wuthering Heights” that’s worth listening to regardless of your feelings on the flick, and Bruno Mars released the expectedly great “The Romantic”. As new albums and singles get constantly flooded into our radar, look no further than skimming through the releases of the month.
From legacy acts to long-awaited returns – if you’re wondering which songs we had on loop this February, keep scrolling.
“The Mountain”, Gorillaz
Gorillaz’s release of their ninth album, “The Mountain”, takes in Latin, Arabic, and Eastern influences, having been recorded in locations such as London, Devon, and India. The album features guest appearances from the likes of Bobby Womack, IDLES, Mark E. Smith, Johnny Marr, Anoushka Shankar, Sparks, and Ajay Prasanna, to name a few.
“Wuthering Heights”, Charli XCX
Following “Brat”, Charli XCX landed on “Wuthering Heights”, a companion album to Emerald Fennell’s new film adaptation. It has its fair share of moving, orchestra-heavy tunes and pop gems. Throughout the album, she demonstrates an alternate view of her pop star vision, while also remaining in conversation with the book’s themes.
“Piss in the Wind”, Joji
Joji released “Piss in the Wind”, marking his latest album since “Smithereens” and its leading single “Glimpse of Us” broke records in 2022. The new album offers an experimental departure in sound that maintains some familiarity with the emotionally raw and melancholic lyricism that Joji is known for.
“Deadline”, BLACKPINK
Following a group hiatus of three years, BLACKPINK’s much-anticipated mini-album “Deadline” is here. The 5-track EP features a mixture of EDM, techno, and synth pop including explosive performance tracks built for stadiums and TikTok trends, and subtler, colder break-up records that lean into emotional growth.
“The Romantic”, Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars is all about love on “The Romantic”. He leans into funk, soul, disco, and Latin influences, creating a record that feels nostalgic and refreshingly personal. The tracks are undeniably danceable, tapping into the kind of rhythmic joy that defined much of early 2000s pop.
“GOLDEN HOUR : Part.4”, ATEEZ
ATEEZ’s latest mini-album, “GOLDEN HOUR : Part.4,” arrives in a bold way to the boy group’s ongoing “GOLDEN HOUR” series, serving as a symbolic milestone in their growth. With only five tracks, each song condenses a remarkable range of moods and energies.
“Dracula – JENNIE Remix”, Tame Impala & JENNIE
Tame Impala brings new life to their hit song “Dracula” with a remix featuring BLACKPINK’s Jennie. For her spin on the track, she joins Kevin Parker on some of his verse melodies and offers some whispered ad-libs in the background of the mix.
“Nothing’s About to Happen to Me”, Mitski
Inspired by the singer-songwriter herself, Mitski’s latest album “Nothing’s About to Happen to Me” is another one of her peculiar works, with Mitski doubling down on her theatrical storytelling impulses while also remaining surprisingly calm and collected throughout. Standout singles include “Where’s My Phone?”, “I’ll Change for You”, and “If I Leave”.
