Julien Baker, The Hold Steady, and 21 more albums we can’t wait to hear in February
Music Features Alex McLevy
Julien Baker (Photo: Burak Cingi/Redferns), Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images), Craig Finn of The Hold Steady (Photo: Al Pereira/WireImage) Graphic: Natalie Peeples
So much of the past year has felt interminable, but after the wild events of January, we’re having a different reaction to it being February: What the hell, 2021 is one-twelfth of the way over already?! Honestly, it’s kind of a refreshing feeling! So let’s embrace this newfound spirit of optimism and time moving at a semi-normal clip, and turn our eyes—and ears—toward the sonic delights awaiting us over the next few weeks. There’s something for everyone, whether it’s the ebulliently soulful R&B of Pink Sweat$, the signature sugar-rush pop punk of stalwarts NOFX, or the cathartic beauty of Mogwai. Hell, there’s even an Alice Cooper record coming out, if you’re feeling especially nostalgic. So strap on your headphones, pretend you can’t hear the ping of your coworkers bugging you on Slack, and check out some of the best new music this month has to offer.
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37 Comments
Can you believe we’re only four months away from the 10th anniversary of the infamous “We love the new Dawes album and here’s why you should too!” shitshow?Feast your eyes on this sweet, sweet Laurel Canyon soundhttps://news.avclub.com/we-love-the-new-dawes-album-and-heres-why-you-should-1798225885
Boy the way Glen Campbell played….
I would love a remastered version of this article for this momentous occasion.
Yeah, I miss the old AV Club, too.
wtf is Starz lol
Where’s Firefly?Something something Leonard Pierce predicted this two years ago (Fuck I can’t believe this was more than a decade ago now)
Word on the street is, Stereolab has a new compilation album being released on February 26th, entitled Electrically Possessed (Switched On Vol. 4), but you didn’t hear that from me.
I’ll always stan Stereolab but the 00’s weren’t great for them so outtakes and reissues from that era aren’t that appealing.
We’re looking forward to NOFX? It’s come to this?
One of their better records since the Punk In Drublic days, if you’re a fan of that genre of music. But no, you don’t have to look forward to it, recognitions! Don’t let it come to that if you don’t want to!
I can’t believe I agree with recognitions on something! This is truly end times…
I mean I am definitely excited to hear more from the guy who thinks mass shootings are a joke
Can we really say ‘the quirky outfit is still going strong’ when the entire band quit in 2012 (except the drummer who held on for two more years). The band is just Alec Ounsworth solo or with work-for-hire these days.
Yeah, this. He released some albums under his name and maybe under another stage name, but it’s shitty that he’s using the name of a band that ditched him, apparently for good reasons. This doesn’t seem to me like a Mountain Goats where it’s Darnielle and whoever else, and even though they have now been a set band for several years if the other guys bailed I don’t have a problem with him using the name (as he did without the band for the great Pierre Chauvin). To the best of my knowledge CYHSY was a unit, and they ain’t no more. That said, even if the guy is an ahole, I haven’t heard about him doing anything super bad and I’m sure he can still write some decent songs.
Yeah. I mean, I’m good with outfits like The Lightning Seeds being a revolving door, because it has always been a revolving dour. By CYHSY was solid as hell when I saw them on the ‘Hysterical’ tour, and had been for nearly a decade. When I saw them come back around a few years later with ‘The Tourist’, the performance didn’t even come close to that same level.
Hey that’s Alexis in the Wild Pink video! Looks like she’s living in upstate New York now.
I’d like to imagine that Alice Cooper listened to Nada Surf’s “Popular” and said “Hold my chicken……oh.”
Where can I get a sample of encumbered sentimentality so I can appreciated it more when it is unencumbered?
“He gives Lou Reed’s “Rock ’N’ Roll” the teeth that song has always been missing” – who the fuck writes this crap?
I am quite excited for new Alice Cooper!
I guess I don’t like music anymore.
the Julien Baker album is certainly the one I have been waiting for. “Faith Healer” is incredible, I actually just wish it was longer. There are a ton of bands who are due for a new album and I would really like to hear from. Particularly Panda Bear, Neon Indian, M83, Neko Case. I’m trying to find new artists but nothing has been catching me lately, the Ms. Grit and Lael Neale sound promising though, thanks.
What I’d really like to know is if Milwaukee has elected any more socialist mayors.
I had to look it up. The answer is no. Frank Zeidler was the last, and he served from 1948-1960. In fact, he is the most recent socialist mayor of any major American city.
OK then, I just hope that doesn’t keep the city from receiving more interesting visitors.
I’m an old dude and love me some Alice Cooper, but wow that track is … not my favorite. Yikes.
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Now you tell me!
“Shame Shame” is anything but plodding. I’ve been singing it almost nonstop since seeing FF’s electric live performance on SNL in November. Grohl’s been clear that it isn’t reflective of the rest of the album, too.
Iceage released a new track, and for my money continues to be one of the most interesting band out there. They definitely aren’t for everyone, and the lead singer, who looks like Harry Styles evil brother and sounds like Dracula on Oxycontin but for my money they’re the closest we’ll get to the Bad Seeds.
Worst live band I’ve ever seen. Apart from Babyshambles.
Alice Cooper. I hope he lives, and tours, long enough for the pandemic to be done for good so that I can see him live again before he, or I, die. He’s my favorite living Republican and was my 2nd favorite when Mr. Rogers was alive.
Enjoying this album.
Is Mogwai still “post-rock” after 25 years? What’s after “post-rock”?
I know I’m supposed to love the Hold Steady, but I’ve tried repeatedly, and I don’t. Craig Finn reminds me of the guys who used to work in used cd stores on St. Mark’s Place in the 90’s and would roll their eyes when they looked through the discs you were trying to trade in.
I’m still waiting for Rouse The Boroughs to finish Liminal Frequencies, the way they’ve been releasing it one song at a time has been driving me insane …I got really interested when I heard Afterglow but it’s been all quiet since then …https://rousetheboroughs.bandcamp.com/track/liminal-frequency-1-afterglow
Ya missed out on KG&tLW’s ‘LW’ (to be fair, it was a rather sudden surprise drop) and more importantly, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio’s ‘I Told You So’