February is a hard month. The last dregs of winter seem to stretch forever as we slowly stumble into springtime. Although we’ve made it halfway through the month, those last couple of weeks leading into March are always the hardest. Here’s some music that I believe will keep you afloat until then.
THE MOUNTAIN GOATS: “BLEED OUT”
I would be remiss if I didn’t put the Mountain Goats at the top of the list. Having kicked off a tour this month, which I was lucky enough to attend, nothing gets rid of February blues like getting right next to a stage and screaming “This Year” at the top of your lungs; the Mountain Goats continue to produce hit after hit. “Bleed Out” is the Mountain Goats’ newest album, inspired by action movies that frontman John Darnielle watched in 2020. Starting off with the adrenaline-rushing “Training Montage” and winding down with the titular “Bleed Out,” this album is bound to get your blood pumping. If that’s not enough for you, check out some other music from the Mountain Goats’ long-running discography. With 21 studio albums, you’ll definitely find your new go-to song to get you through the final weeks of February.
THE ARCS: “ELECTROPHONIC CHRONIC”
“Electrophonic Chronic” was published in honor of The Arcs band member Richard Swift, who passed away in 2018. The music itself is slow and possesses an almost dreamlike quality, while many lyrics express feelings of loneliness and grief, like the opening song “Keep On Dreamin’.” The track “Sunshine” is similar but expresses some hope for the future. “Electrophonic Chronic” is a great listen any day, but especially so during our departure from the suffocating darkness of winter, which is a difficult season for many.
The Crane Wives’ folksy sound is fitting for the coming springtime and the cathartic nature of “Foxlore” makes it the perfect album to listen to as we leave behind the winter and enter the warmer months. Many of the songs off “Foxlore,” such as “Ribs” or “Can’t Go Back,” echo a theme of rebirth, a fitting frame for the transition between seasons. While The Crane Wives’ last release was this 2016 album, it recently announced three new music videos coming for March. Consider catching up on the band’s music during these next few weeks before the new releases.
Flow’s most recent EP, “Second Dinner,” is addictive, filled with music you’ll find yourself listening to again and again. A band with roots in Athens, In Flow’s “Second Dinner,” boasts an array of songs that you can’t help but jam out to. Between the electrifying “Sky” and the earworm that is “Poseidon,” there’s no doubt that you’ll have “Second Dinner” on repeat for the next couple of weeks. If that’s not enough to satisfy you, check out In Flow’s debut EP, which is also a 2022 release.
February is one of the dreariest months of the year, but it’s nothing you can’t make it through. Enjoy the warming weather and brightening sky in the next couple of weeks with a few new albums in your rotation.
Lillian Barry is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to share your thoughts? Let Lillian know by tweeting her at @lillianbarry_.
