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Justin Timberlake (‘Man of the Woods’) and a pair of film soundtracks (‘Fifty Shades Freed’ and ‘Black Panther’), highlight the monthly music shopping list for February 2018.

Another month, another crop of new music releases.  February 2018 features one surefire blockbuster release, Man of the Woods, the fifth studio album by pop superstar Justin Timberlake. Beyond Timberlake, there are two notable soundtracks – Fifty Shades Freed and Black Panther: The Album – which arrive on the same day. Other notable releases include comeback albums from Dashboard Confessional (Crooked Shadows), Franz Ferdinand (Always Ascending), and MGMT (Little Dark Age). Without further ado, here’s the monthly music shopping list for February 2018.

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February 2, 2018

1. Justin Timberlake, Man of the Woods

RCA 

“I think the album has a wide range of sonics to it, but, I guess I would describe it as modern Americana with 808s.” Justin Timberlake lays claim to arguably the most highly anticipated album of February, Man of the Woods.  As aforementioned, Timberlake describes Man of the Woods as a modern Americana album.

While promo singles “Filthy” and “Supplies” don’t feel Americana or country in the least, final advance single “Say Something,” featuring Chris Stapleton, fits the bill. The follow-up to The 20/20 Experience (2013) is comprised of 16 tracks.  In addition to a guest appearance by Stapleton, Alicia Keys guests on the album’s eighth song, “Morning Light.”

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2. AWOLNATION, Here Come the Runts

Red Bull 

The biggest claim to fame for Aaron Bruno, aka AWOLNATION, remains breakthrough hit, “Sail”. Even so, the gem from Megalithic Symphony arrived way back in 2011.  AWOLNATION returned in 2015 with second album, Run, but it featured no notable hit like “Sail.” Following a three-year hiatus, Bruno is back at it again with Here Comes the Runts. Comprised of 14 tracks, singles “Passion”, “Miracle Man,” “Handyman,” and “Seven Sticks of Dynamite” were issued in advance of the album.

Additional New Releases:

Montgomery Gentry, Here’s to You; Various Artists, NOW That’s What I Call Music, Vol 65; Skooly, Don’t You Ever Forget Me – EP; The Wood Brothers, One Drop of Truth; Rhye, Blood

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February 9, 2018

✓ Main Attractions: Fifty Shades Freed (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack); Black Panther: The Album

1. Fifty Shades Freed (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Republic

The final Fifty Shades of Grey film has arrived: Fifty Shades Freed.  That also means that the there is a star-studded, original motion picture soundtrack. Previously, soundtracks from the film have performed well on the Billboard 200, hence why Fifty Shades Freed is among the more notable releases of February 2018.  Among artists appearing on the 22-track compilation are Hailee Steinfeld & BloodPop® (“Capital Letters”), Liam Payne & Rita Ora (“For You (Fifty Shades Freed)”), Julia Michaels (“Heaven”), and The Spencer Lee Band (“The Wolf”).

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2. Black Panther: The Album

Interscope

Black Panther: The Album is the second high-profile soundtrack to grace this month’s music shopping list.  While Black Panther (the film) is definitely a big deal, the big attraction to the soundtrack is a key Grammy-winning rapper: Kendrick Lamar.  Comprised of 14 tracks, “All the Stars” (Kendrick Lamar & SZA) and “King’s Dead” (Jay Rock featuring Kendrick Lamar, Future & James Blake) were released in advance of the compilation.

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3. Dashboard Confessional, Crooked Shadows

Fueled by Ramen

As hard as it is to believe (at least for those of us whose musical heyday was primarily the 00s), Dashboard Confessional frontman Chris Carrabba is approaching his 43^rd year. Personally, the last Dashboard Confessional album that found a home in my collection was 2006’s Dusk and Summer, which included the single, “Don’t Wait.” The last album released by the band prior to their 2018 comeback album Crooked Shadows was Alter the Ending, released in Fall 2009.  That’s an eight-year gap between full-length projects. While Crooked Shadows is considered full-length, it’s only comprised of nine songs, including advance singles “We Fight” and “Heart Beat Here.” Featured guests include Lindsey Stirling (“Open My Eyes”) and Chrissy Costanza (“Just What to Say”).

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4. MGMT, Little Dark Age

Columbia

Finally, Andrew Vanwyngarden and Ben Goldwasser are back.  Both are better known as alternative duo MGMT, in all their trippy, psychedelic glory.  After a four-year hiatus (MGMT, September 2013), the band is back with their fourth studio album, Little Dark Age. Comprised of 10 tracks, “Little Dark Age”, “When You Die”, and closer “Hand it Over” were released in advance of the album.

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5. Brian Fallon, Sleepwalkers

Island

Brian Fallon, the frontman of The Gaslight Anthem, returns with his second solo album, Sleepwalkers.  Sleepwalkers arrives just shy of two years after his debut, Painkillers.  Sleepwalkers is comprised of 12 tracks, including advanced singles “If Your Prayers Don’t Get to Heaven,” “Forget Me Not,” “My Name is the Night (Color Me Black),” and “See You on the Other Side.”

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6. Franz Ferdinand, Always Ascending

Domino

Scottish alternative band Franz Ferdinand is back following more than a four-year hiatus between ‘proper’ studio albums (Right Thoughts Right Words Right Action, 2013). The height of the band’s popularity was their self-titled album (2004) with hit single “Take Me Out” and the homoerotic highlight, “Michael”. Always Ascending is comprised of 10 songs, including advance singles “Always Ascending”, “Lazy Boy,” and “Feel the Love Go.”

Additional New Releases:

Elevation Collective, Evidence; G Herbo, Humble Beast [Deluxe Edition]; Wade Bowen, Solid Ground; Pop Evil, Pop Evil; Social Club Misfits, Into the Night; The Wombats, Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life;

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February 16, 2018

1. Nipsey Hussle, Victory Lap

Atlantic

Rapper Nipsey Hussle has in the rap game for a minute. In April, he’ll be 33 years old. Despite this, his long-awaited debut album Victory Lap doesn’t surface until 2018.  Comprised of 16 tracks, singles “Rap N*ggas” and “Last Time That I Checc’d” (featuring YG) were issued in advance of the album.

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2. Brandi Carlile, By the Way, I Forgive You

Elektra

Singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile returns with her sixth studio album, By the Way, I Forgive You. The album marks her first new album in nearly three years (The Firewatcher’s Daughter, 2015). Comprised of just 10 songs, advanced singles include “The Joke,” “The Mother,” and “Sugartooth.” Notably, Carlile’s past two albums (Bear Creek and The Firewatcher’s Daughter) debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard 200.

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3. Marlon Williams, Make Way for Love

Dead Oceans

Marlon Williams isn’t a household name, but the 27-year old alternative New Zealand musician definitely deserves to be. Make Way for Love, his second studio album, arrives almost two years to the date after his self-titled debut. Stellar singles “Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore” and “What’s Chasing You” were issued in advance of the 11-track effort.

Additional New Releases:

Slaves, Beautiful Death; Brian Culbertson, Colors of Love; Senses Fail, If There is Light, It Will Find You; Lee DeWyze, Paranoia

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February 23, 2018

1.Vance Joy, Nation of Two

Atlantic 

30-year old Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy returns with his sophomore album, Nation of Two.  Nation of Two arrives more than three years after his debut album, Dream Your Life Away, known for hit, “Riptide”. Nation of Two is comprised of 13 tracks, including advance singles “Lay it On Me”, “We’re Going Home”, and “Like Gold.”

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