It is strange how you begin to find themes in the music you listen to in any given month and how tonal shifts can happen without you even noticing. Last month, it felt like a lot of the new music I was listening to was heralding a return of mid-60s guitar riffs. This month, on the other hand, I am hearing a lot of electronic drums and bit more dance pop.

Some of the standouts from this month are: 1) The return of Frightened Rabbit, who I fell in love with after hearing a choral version of their song “It’s Christmas, So We’ll Stop”; 2) New material from Starfucker (now STRFCKR), who blew me away in 2011 with their album Reptilians; 3) Lana Del Rey (who I cannot stand 70% of the time, but when she is on in that other 30%, I just can’t get enough of) with one of her better releases since her Icarus-like fall from grace post-SNL; 4) new music from Torres; and 5) the highlight for me, new music from shoegaze all-stars My Bloody Valentine.

As always, I have included a link to the playlist on Grooveshark: http://grooveshark.com/playlist/Best+Of+February+2013/83100124

1. CHVRCHES – The Mother We Share

2. Foals – My Number

3. Frightened Rabbit – Backyard Skulls

4. Gliss – Weight of Love

5. Grouper – Vital

6. Lana Del Rey – Burning Desire

7. Justin Timberlake – Suit and Tie ft. Jay-Z

8. Kurt Vile – Walkin on a Pretty Day

9. Lil Wayne – Bitches Love Me ft. Drake & Future

10. The Little Ones – Forro

11. Millionyoung – Lovin

12. Mitzi – All I Heard

13. Mountains – Living Lens

14. My Bloody Valentine – Only Tomorrow

15. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Jubilee Street

16. Rhye – Open

17. STRFKR – While I’m Alive

18. Torres – Honey

19. Veronica Falls – Teenage

20. Young Galaxy  – Pretty Boy

Past Playlists:

Best of January

Best of 2012