Staff Picks: Favorite Albums of February 2024
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
The post Staff Picks: Favorite Albums of February 2024 appeared first on Consequence.
February may have been a short month, but it was still jam-packed with loveable new albums from some old favorites and rising stars. While many artists and bands kicked off 2024 tours and released new singles throughout February, we were given some memorable return records from IDLES, Little Simz, Helado Negro, and Erick the Architect. Meanwhile, Liquid Mike and Mk.Gee had some of our favorite 2024 breakthroughs yet.
Listed in alphabetical order, here are the best albums of February 2024 as selected by Consequence writers and editors.
Allie X — Girl with No Face
Synth-laden and bouncing with bright bass lines, Allie X’s Girl With No Face is a collection of playful pop that feels remarkably cohesive as a full album. The through-lines of ’80s flourishes and lyrical self-assuredness tie the LP together, with the full listen landing somewhere between Dua Lipa and The Weeknd, sprinkled with something self-aware, edgy, confident, and just a tad dark. All eleven tracks offer something fun, but “Off with Her Tits” shows of Allie X’s vocals the most. — Mary Siroky
Listen via Apple Music
Erick the Architect — I’ve Never Been Here Before
The mastermind behind the boards of Flatbush Zombies is back with another solo project, and holy shit is it easy on the ears. Every beat on I’ve Been Here Before is crafted with care and the progression from song to song is the kind of thing you can only get from a capital A Album. His flows are richly percussive and well-measured against the beat, and his lyrics have more punch than most producers who rap. I’ve Never Been Here Before is one of the strongest hip-hop albums of the early year. — Wren Graves
Listen via Apple Music
Friko — Where we’ve been, Where we go from here
Friko is a particularly fun band with which to play the “sounds like” game. There are hints of the grand, theatrical blend of chamber pop and indie rock that ran through Arcade Fire’s best work; there are catchy, fuzzed-out cuts that bring to mind the DIY sensibilities of an act like Teen Suicide; and, especially with the quivering lead vocals, there’s the swelling, angsty drama you’d expect from a band like Bright Eyes. Such comparisons are fun to make and might help on-board some new listeners, but at the same time, Friko have struck a tone that’s all their own. With songwriting chops to back up the heightened emotions of the record, Friko have successfully come through with a debut that’s much more than the sum of their influences. — Jonah Krueger
Listen via Apple Music
Helado Negro — PHASOR
Spring arrived early in my part of the midwest and with it came PHASOR, the searching, contemplative new album from Roberto Carlos Lange’s Helado Negro project. Flitting between folk and experimental, English and Spanish, PHASOR is a gorgeously irresistible work that languishes in a mood of breezy contemplation. From the simple romance of “I Just Want to Wake Up with You” through the cracked dreams of “Flores,” Helado Negro’s latest is full of surprises. — Wren Graves
Listen via Apple Music
IDLES — TANGK
IDLES’ whole discography has been full of life-affirming, liberating concepts — but on TANGK, they keep their sound as murky and uncertain as ever. Sentiments that are supposed to feel joyous and even serene are marred by a chaotic synth or an unnerving guitar stab. They cycle between pure majesty and desperation, best evidenced by the album’s unique ballads: “Grace,” “Roy,” and closer “Monolith.” With Kenny Beats returning and the recruitment of Nigel Godrich behind the boards, IDLES execute one of their most complicated efforts yet. — Paolo Ragusa
Listen via Apple Music
Lætitia Sadier — Rooting for Love
On her fifth solo album, Lætitia Sadier finds solace in misery by leaning into love. The Stereolab mastermind is unafraid of being consumed by the chaos, if it leads towards a much-needed transformation. Sadier undergoes a whirlwind of emotions with the existential opening track, “Who + What,” the hopeful and cinematic “Une Autre Attente (Another Wait),” and the unsettling “Don’t Forget You’re Mine,” whose violent undertones lay buried under a dreamy soundscape of luscious arrangements. Through philosophical thoughts and ruminations, the record aims to guide listeners towards the light at the end of the tunnel. Rooting for Love encapsulates the need to break free. — Sun Noor
Listen via Apple Music
Liquid Mike — Paul Bunyan’s Slingshot
It’s tempting to say that Liquid Mike’s excellent new album, Paul Bunyan’s Slingshot, is strictly for Midwestern folks (we almost said as much in our full review). With its local references, polite charm, and beer-stained sound, my Midwestern heart wants to claim it all for myself. But, alas, the hooks are just too damn catchy, the guitars too damn fun, and the riffs too damn air-guitar-worthy for me to hoard. No matter where you’re from, these power-pop jams are bound to hit and hit immediately. Just pay your respects and throw an “Ope, let me just slide right past you” someone’s way while listening. — J. Krueger
Listen via Apple Music
Little Simz — Drop 7 EP
Little Simz’s latest project sees her celebrating her victories, reflecting on her growth, and enjoying the present moment — all while she remains at the top of her game. The latest installment of her “Drop” EP series showcases some of her most ambitious work to date, as she incorporates elements of Brazilian funk and Jersey club. The London rapper boasts, “Can you believe that we made it this far? Still the same me that I’ve been from the start,” in the Baile funk-tinged, “Fever.” She effortlessly switches flows, alternating bars in English and Portuguese. Each track blends seamlessly together, taking the form of a cohesive club record. — S. Noor
Listen via Apple Music
Mk.Gee — Two Star & the Dream Police
Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Mk.Gee’s debut album is so masterful, it suggests he’s been refining his hybrid indie rock-R&B-pop sound for 15 years. His experience writing and producing alongside Dijon and Omar Apollo certainly prepared him to embrace more unique phrasing and exercise his shimmering voice, but Two Star & the Dream Police lives in its own universe — moody, uplifting, odd, and completely original. There are plenty of majestic modes found in the album, but closing track “Dream Police” is one of the most emotionally palpable. — P. Ragusa
Listen via Apple Music
Real Estate — Daniel
It’s been a long 15 years since Real Estate put out their debut album, but after all this time, they’re still producing gem after gem. Daniel, the band’s sixth album and their first full-length since 2020’s The Main Thing, is covered in classic chord progressions, contemplative moods, and majestic warmth. Perhaps the greatest aspect of Daniel arrives in its namesake — the band named their new album after its producer, Daniel Tashian, and it’s easy to understand why. It sounds immaculate, and all the while, there are subtle left turns that make Daniel one of Real Estate’s best albums yet. — P. Ragusa
Listen via Apple Music
Staff Picks: Favorite Albums of February 2024
Consequence Staff
Popular Posts
