• Franz Ferdinand, Night or Day (Alternative)- As the January voting winner, the earworm “Night or Day” from, Glasweigan veterans Franz Ferdinand returns to the Feb playlist.  “Night or Day” is from FF’s 6th LP, “The Human Fear”, released in January, which has already reached #3 in the UK. 

  
  

• Nessa Barrett, American Beauty (Alternative)- The pint-sized 22-year-old Barrett released an extended version of her 2nd LP, “AFTERCARE”, featuring the bonus song “American Beauty” in February.  Nessa has been open about her borderline personality disorder diagnosis and her love of Lana Del Rey, both of which are apparent on “American Beauty”.  Admittedly, I’m bewitched by the huge “I’m not your girl. I’m not your baby. I’m not your girl. you’re f***ing crazy.” hook.

  
  

• Addison Rae, High Fashion (Alternative/Pop)- Common wisdom is that it’s difficult to move a brand upscale/authentic if it doesn’t start that way.  However, Ms. Rae, who became a huge TikTok starlet in 2019 whose initial singles were panned, seems to be defying that wisdom.  In 2024, Addison made the French Vogue cover and teamed with hipster icons like Charli XCX and the Venezuelan experimental producer Arca.  Now, the brooding “High Fashion” featuring an oddly modulated synth loop has been named one of February’s best singles by the highly respected Pitchfork.

  
  

• Drake, Gimme a Hug (Rap/R&B)- Is it OK to feel sorry for a guy who owns a $100 million estate and a Boeing 767?  Maybe some sympathy is justified, with Drake suffering a knockout blow from King Kendrick’s, “Not Like Us” being named the 2024 song of the year and featuring at the Super Bowl. Meanwhile Drake’s own Feb LP, “Some Sexy Songs 4 U” is getting mediocre reviews.

   

Therefore, one would assume a new Drake song named “Gimme a Hug”, which is currently the world’s 3rd most streamed song (just behind “Not Like Us”- OUCH!), is Drake licking his wounds and showing vulnerability………..but it’s not.  While “Gimme a Hug’s” lyric is relatively pedestrian, the song’s instrumental progression from gospel samples to an R&B slow jam is compelling.

• Rema, Baby (Is It A Crime?) (AfroBeats)- Currently #1 in Africa, “Baby….” liberally samples fellow Nigerian, Sade’s silky “Is It A Crime”.  Rema hopes that “Baby……” will continue his Neuphoria success as “Calm Down” won the 2023 Neuphoria Song of the Year voting.

  
  

• BLOND:ISH, Self Love (House)- Canadian DJ, producer and sometimes singer, Vivie-Ann Bakos just released her 5th LP as BLOND:ISH, “Never Walk Alone”.  The LP features “Self Love”, a tropically-infused self-affirmation that would make Stuart Smalley proud. 

• Oimara, Wackelkontakt (EuroTrash)- Currently #1 in Germany and Austria, “Wackelkontakt” is a fine specimen of EuroTrash.  “Wackelkontakt” starts deceptively as a traditional German Schlager singalong complete with a polka tuba bass, before abruptly layering in a shameless hardcore electronic beat, a Teutononic group “call and response” chorus, and the goofy refrain of “Wackelkontakt”, which translates to “loose connection”. Exquisite.

  
  

• Olly Alexander, When We Kiss (Pop)- Still fresh from letting down a nation (the UK) in his loss in 2024 EuroVision, the former Years & Years front man, Alexander released his first LP, “Polari” this month.  Fans of the Pet Shop Boys, ABC and Erasure will love “Polari”, featuring Alexander’s smooth tenor voice, fine pop songwriting and Danny J Harle’s (Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, Clairo, Ed Sheeran) crystalline production.

  
  

• LISA (featuring Doja Cat and Raye), Born Again (Pop/K-Pop)- LISA, the Thai member of Blackpink, released the poppy banger “Born Again” last week, which debuted at #1 in Southeast Asia and in the top 15 in the UK.  The addition of Doja and Raye give “Born Again” a polished rap break and an En Vogue espirit.

  
  

• Ruger, Jay Jay (AfroBeats)- Ruger reinforces his claim as the upcoming AfroBeats Loverboy with Jay Jay……and I’m sold due to his offbeat syncopated, but flowing vocal and reference to football cult hero; Nigeria, Eintracht Frankfurt and Bolton Wanderer’s Jay-Jay Okocha, a truly magician.  Look de wey Jay-Jay dribble; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oflyB1HIacM

  
  

• Bon Iver, Everything is Peaceful Love (Alternative)- After getting a taste of pop stardom from being featured on Tay-Tay's "Folklore" LP, esteemed Indie Folksters Bon Iver seem to be doubling down. Employing a drum machine and a falsetto vocal in “Everything is Peaceful Love”, Bon Iver take an unexpected veer toward old R&B and yacht rock- a charming surprise. 

  
  

• Myles Smith (feat. Lainey Wilson), Nice to Meet You (Pop/Country)- A case could be made for Myles Smith being the UK’s Shaboozey, as Smith emerged out of nowhere in 2024 to chart a top 5 global country pop-tinged singalong, with “Stargazing”.  The follow up to “Stargazing”, “Nice to Meet You” is another crowd pleaser, with twangy Lainey Wilson accompanying the Jamaican/British Smith on this foot stomper.

  
  

• Sam Fender, Little Bit Closer (Alternative)- Sam Fender released his new LP, “People Watching” tonight and like his previous two LP’s, it is expected to go to #1 in the UK.  Mr. Fender is at once, both the most British and most American-influenced British songwriter, with him citing storytelling influences like Springsteen, but singing about specifically British life.

   

“Did Sam Fender just come out as gay?” is an emerging social media topic as of tonight, based upon the “Little Bit Closer” lyric. However, smart money is that Fender has co-opted a religiously-conflicted gay character for storytelling purposes on “Little Bit Closer”.

• Lilly Hiatt, Man (Alternative)- “Man” is from Ms. Hiatt’s critically-acclaimed sixth album, “Forever” and features Lilly's pristine vocal, vintage echoey production, a weeping slide guitar and the timeless, yet contemporary sentiment “I would never ask anyone to tell me where we stand.  I just know that you’re my man.”  Hiatt is the daughter of lauded singer-songwriter, John Hiatt.

  
  

• Morgan Wallen, I’m the Problem (Country)- In the fast-changing unpredictable world of pop music, there is still one constant; that Morgan Wallen will release a new chart-topping quality song every other month.  “I’m the Problem” is the new one.

  
  

• John Glacier, Home (Alternative/Rap)- Ms. Glacier’s February debut LP, “Like a Ribbon”, featuring “Home” has received a highly notable 8.2 review from Pitchfork.  Pitchfork describes Ms. Glacier as a “resolute, unflappable vocalist with a deep, unyielding deadpan that bleeds across the page.”  And yes, John is a non-trans female.  Maybe her folks were expecting a boy? 

  
  

• Jonathan Hulten, Riverflame (Grunge/Ballad?)- No, this isn’t a lost tape from Soundgarden.  “Riverflame” is by Jonathan Hulten, the former leader of Swedish black metal band, “Tribulation” who has a grunge-worthy baritone and looks like a cross between The Cult’s Ian Astbury and a silent film actress.