February flew by. I guess that’s no surprise given that it’s a few days shorter than every other month on the calendar.

Still, a lot has happened in the last 28 days. Remember those stupid balloons? I was in Jakarta when all of that was happening, and I was legitimately worried that my plane was going to crash into one them on the flight back to North America. My brain never fails to find new and totally outlandish things to stress about. What will I be afraid of this coming month? There’s no way to know for sure, but I recently read a pretty disturbing article about the possibility of a “space debris apocalypse.” That seems like a good place to start.

There was more to February than balloons. We got some great new music too. The month got off to a bit of a slow start in terms of new releases, but by the 25th or 26th I was struggling to narrowing it my favourite songs of the month down to three or four.

After hours of careful deliberation and scrutiny, I did it.

Scroll on for ALT-MART‘s favourite new alternative (and alternative-adjacent) songs of the month, in no real order.

Love Song – Softcult

Softcult might be the best band right now. Yes, you read that sentence correctly. Not the best alternative band. Not the best Canadian band. Not the best band created by sisters Phoenix and Mercedes Arn-Horn (Softcult isn’t their first). The best band. I know that is a massive statement to make, and one that will probably spark intense debate among the four or five people that read this blog, but I’m standing by it. The band has never written a bad song. Every single thing they’ve put out has been very good at the very least, and their newest release, Love Song, is no exception.

A few years ago, Softcult put out a track called Bird Song. That one had some of the most beautifully layered harmonies I’ve ever heard, and the same came be said of Love Song. Vocally, it’s the kind of song that Harriet Wheeler would be proud to have written. Musically it’s just as good. As for the lyrics? I also get so carried away.

douglasland.v1 – Her New Knife

douglasland.v1, the newest track from Philadelphia’s Her New Knife, is probably my favourite new song of 2023 so far. If you enjoyed DIIV’s Deceiver and They Are Gutting a Body of Water’s Destiny XL, listen to this song right now. It will immediately blow your hair back, and by the time it’s ending nearly five minutes later, you will feel like you are flying a fighter jet with the cockpit open.

This new song will feature on the band’s forthcoming EP, lead dreams/flayed so light, which is set for release on March 17 via Julia’s War. The band graciously gave ALT-MART a preview of the EP, and it is one of the best things I’ve heard in a long time. People are going to be talking about this one, I can feel it.

Cramps – Slow Pulp

I really missed Slow Pulp. They’re one of the bands I’ve most enjoyed over the last four or five years, but they had gone a bit quiet until the end of this month, when they released a new track called Cramps – just in time for me to include it on this list, which I’m sure was a major part of their plan.

The new song is Slow Pulp at the height of their powers. It’s a dreamy and rollicking three minutes that should appeal as much to fans of pop punk as it does to fans of college rock and shoegaze. It also seems like the starter pistol for a huge year for the band, who just signed with Anti-Records, and are set to hit the road with Pixies in May.

Involved – James Ivy

I don’t know what James Ivy is cooking right now, but he’s put out two songs in 2023, and that’s probably a sign that there’s an EP or even an album on the way from the New Jersey native. If those two tracks are an indication, it’s going to be really good. The first, Under Tongues, was one of ALT-MART’s Best Songs of the Month for January, and the second, Involved, was a shoo-in for February from the moment I first heard it. Like most of his stuff, it oozes so much poppy sweetness that it could probably attract wasps. Yet it’s also clear evidence of the songwriter’s affection for alternative music, and of his gift for making it. It’s jangly and fuzzy and best enjoyed loud. Recommended for fans of Junior Varsity and Harry Teardrop.

Lead photograph via Softcult/@softcultband on Instagram