Here are some of the cool and awesome releases from the first week of February 2026!
Singin’ to an Empty Chair – Ratboys
Genre: Alt Country
Listen if you like: Waxahatchee, Wednesday, Illuminati Hotties
Whether you call it alt-country, y’allternative, or twangy rock, I think you will agree Ratboy’s new record Singin’ to an Empty Chair is downright good. Arriving just in time for the warmer weather bringing on the start of Spring, this album is a perfect mix of emotionally vulnerable lyrics, airy vocals, and beautiful guitars. Frontwoman Julia Steiner’s poetic delivery on navigating complicated familiar relationships draws you right into the story she’s telling and is sure to keep you coming back. Highlights include eight and a half minutes long “Just Want You to Know the Truth” and “Penny in the Lake”, but you should really just listen to the whole thing.
-Kathryn
It Always Starts Mid-Winter – Arranged In April
Genre: Screamo, Emo
Listen If You Like: I Hate Sex, Vs Self
It Always Starts Mid-Winter is an expressive and charming emo record that brings the energy of screamo into a softer sound. It isn’t very lengthy, but packs lots of interesting instrumentals and poetic lyricism into its short runtime. The parts of the record that utilize both vocalists to create soaring harmonies are highlights, and the simple guitar ties it all together. Definitely captures the lonely sound of mid-winter.
-Jeremy
URGH – Mandy, Indiana
Genre: Electro-Industrial, Noise Rock
Listen if you like: Model/Actriz, Chalk
With their jagged instrumentals and intense French vocals, Mandy, Indiana always seems to make me come back to Industrial music. While I wouldn’t generally call myself a fan of much electronic music, the almost mechanical techno sections are just too good. If you want something noisy and chaotic with emotional French vocals I would definitely check out URGH.
-Z
Piss in the Wind – Joji
Genre: Alt-Pop, Wave, Lo-fi Hip Hop
Listen if you like: Keshi, Rei Brown
Joji’s first release in 4 years is a clear separation from his previous album, SMITHEREENS, moving his sound further towards Lo-fi Hip Hop and Wave while still keeping the sound of his melancholic vocals. While I respect this change, I’m really not a huge fan. I didn’t come in with high hopes or really even expecting much from Joji, but I just don’t love his new sound. If you were a fan of any of his previous works, I recommend you check it out, but if not, I’d save your time.
-Z
The Fall-Off – J. Cole
Genre: Jazz Rap, Modern R&B
Listen if you like: Kendrick Lamar
The title of this album fits a little too well. The Fall-Off is J. Cole’s newest record with 24 tracks and sits at around 1 hour and 40 minutes. I might be more ok with this length if this were 2016 and Cole was in his prime, but 10 years later, I don’t know about it. As for the content of the album, I really just find it pretty boring; it’s nothing new, like at all. I would say to check this out if you are or were a fan of Cole, but even then, I’d still tell you to listen to 2014 Forest Hills Drive.
-Z
Authors
My name is Z Marik, and I am the Digital Media Director at WVUA-FM. I am a Junior, majoring in Operations Management with a minor in Supply Chain Management.
My favorite album is 69 Love Songs by The Magnetic Fields.
Thanks for reading my articles!
