{"id":1767071,"date":"2026-02-13T15:08:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T12:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1767071"},"modified":"2026-02-13T15:08:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T12:08:09","slug":"12-new-albums-you-should-listen-to-now-charli-xcx-feng-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1767071","title":{"rendered":"12 New Albums You Should Listen to Now: Charli XCX, Feng, and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/media.pitchfork.com\/photos\/69161325d242ed92584744e1\/16:9\/w_1280,c_limit\/Charli-XCX.jpeg”]<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

12 New Albums You Should Listen to Now: Charli XCX, Feng, and More<\/h1>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
Also stream new releases from Jill Scott and August Ponthier<\/div>\n
\n
\n
By <\/span>Nina Corcoran<\/span>, Hattie Lindert<\/span>, and Kiana Mickles<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Charli XCX, photo by Paul Kooiker<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

With so much good music being released all the time, it can be hard to determine what to listen to first. Every week, Pitchfork offers a run-down of significant new releases available on streaming services. This week\u2019s batch includes new albums from Charli XCX, Feng, Jill Scott, August Ponthier, and more. Subscribe to Pitchfork\u2019s<\/em>New Music Friday newsletter<\/em>to get our recommendations in your inbox every week. (All releases featured here are independently selected by our editors. When you buy something through our affiliate links, however, Pitchfork earns an affiliate commission.)<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Charli XCX:\u00a0Wuthering Heights<\/em>\u00a0[Atlantic]<\/h2>\n
\n
\"Charli<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

When director Emerald Fennell needed to hire a musician to score her Wuthering Heights<\/em> adaptation, only one person came to mind: Charli XCX. Not only did the British pop star accept the offer, but she used her soundtrack to capture love in all of its grandiose, moody, elusive ways. As she described the soundtrack on her Substack, it\u2019s a \u201cdive into persona, into a world that felt undeniably raw, wild, sexual, gothic, British, tortured and full of actual real sentences, punctuation and grammar.\u201d<\/p>\n

Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Tidal
Listen on Amazon Music
Buy at Rough Trade<\/p>\n

\n

Feng:\u00a0Weekend Rockstar<\/em>\u00a0[Regularisperfect]<\/h2>\n
\n
\"Feng<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

\u201cI take the mundane things and feelings in life and make them interesting,\u201d Feng told Pitchfork\u2019s Alphonse Pierre late last year, fresh off the release of his breakout mixtape of hazy vignettes and off-the-cuff adventures, What The Feng.<\/em> \u201cI know there\u2019s people out there who think I\u2019m lame for it, but I don\u2019t care. I think I\u2019m cool.\u201d The Croydon rapper moves to maintain this homespun ethos on his debut album Weekend Rockstar<\/em>, out now on his own label-cum-collective Regularisperfect. Co-produced with Bilal Hamdi, it traverses twee pop production and the breeziest drill imaginable without losing sight of a greater purpose, spelled out in Feng\u2019s off-the-cuff flow: getting to Friday.<\/p>\n

Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Tidal
Listen on Amazon Music<\/p>\n

\n

Jill Scott:\u00a0To Whom This May Concern<\/em>\u00a0[The Orchard]<\/h2>\n
\n
\"Image<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Jill Scott released her last album, Woman<\/em>, in 2015. That record folded in emotional blues, the strutting horns of \u201960s funk, and organ-filled R&B that sounded like it was recorded from right behind the pulpit. Then Scott went away to live life. Returning on her sixth studio album, To Whom It May Concern<\/em>, the Philadelphia native brings in immeasurable wisdom, blossoming into the effortless positivity and authenticity of past albums\u2014the kind that has assisted multiple generations on their respective healing journeys. Guitar chords and strings laze through love jams, Scott raps over boom-bap, and she even brings in DJ Premier and Tierra Whack to kick off a multi-generational party. Listen to Scott when she reiterates on the opener: \u201cI be good \/ I do dope shit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Tidal
Listen on Amazon Music
Buy at Rough Trade<\/p>\n

\n

August Ponthier:\u00a0Everywhere Isn’t Texas<\/em> [Nowhereland Sounds]<\/h2>\n
\n
\"Image<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

August Ponthier\u2019s Everywhere Isn’t Texas<\/em> captures the cheeky yet polished country-pop of Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan. But in this subgenre, Ponthier embraces the role of an outsider, singing lyrics fantastical enough to satisfy sci-fi enthusiasts while penning Gen Z non-binary ballads to cry to. Across 10 tracks, Ponthier sings like an old friend unloading their worries at a dive bar: They are self-conscious about their youth slipping away, they worry they\u2019re too much like their father, and they wonder whether they want to be with the handsome man everyone loves or be<\/em> him.<\/p>\n

Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Tidal
Listen on Amazon Music
Listen\/Buy at Bandcamp<\/p>\n

\n

Angel Du$t: Cold 2 the Touch<\/em> [Run for Cover]<\/h2>\n
\n
\"Image<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The music Baltimore\u2019s Justice Tripp makes as Angel Du$t can often feel like a reprieve; in contrast to the hard-shelled hardcore he slings with his band Trapped Under Ice, Angel Du$t sounds perkier, more playful, and even poppier. But Cold 2 the Touch<\/em> isn’t interested in hardcore \u201ccrossover:\u201d this is the spiky, shouted real thing. Sure, there are still forays into the zonked-out psych rock Tripp explored on 2023\u2019s Brand New Soul<\/em> (at one point, the band even goes for a full-blown funk breakdown). But the core thread of no-fuss no-muss punk remains strong here, in part thanks to guest vocalists from Terror, American Nightmare, God\u2019s Hate, and Restraining Order. Each new featured player swoops into Angel Du$t\u2019s heady world like a bat out of hell\u2014if hell were someone\u2019s garage rehearsal space.<\/p>\n

Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Tidal
Listen on Amazon Music
Listen\/Buy at Bandcamp
Buy at Rough Trade<\/p>\n

\n

Converge: Love Is Not Enough<\/em> [Epitaph]<\/h2>\n
\n
\"Image<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Calling Converge veterans of the Boston metalcore scene might be an understatement; their new album Love Is Not Enough<\/em> marks their 36th year playing together. Although the opening suite sticks close to the \u201cno frills, no BS\u201d ethos frontman Jacob Bannon presented in a recent interview, Love Is Not Enough<\/em>\u2019s back half expands into lingering melodies and longer-form riffs. Throughout, emotion churns and chafes against a backdrop of political unrest, corporate malfeasance, and the everyday horrors that erode modern life. Even after nearly 40 years, Converge keep on cutting through the bullshit.<\/p>\n

Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Tidal
Listen on Amazon Music
Listen\/Buy at Bandcamp
Buy at Rough Trade<\/p>\n

\n

Hemlocke Springs:\u00a0The Apple Tree Under the Sea<\/em> [AWAL]<\/h2>\n
\n
\"Image<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

When we last heard from Hemlocke Springs, she was a subterranean Rapunzel with a bass synth, in chains and all too aware a dashing rescue was \u201cmiles away\u201d on the new wave-indebted single \u201cSever the Blight.\u201d Captive narrator aside, that 2023 track unlocked the idea for the Nigerian American pop artist\u2019s new album, The Apple Tree Under the Sea<\/em>, a full-blown concept record that casts her not as a damsel in distress, but an Odyssean heroine. According to a press statement, it follows brave Hemlocke as she \u201dconfront[s] the chaos and repression of her past in order to claim the full, liberatory life she once didn\u2019t even know was possible.\u201d One thing\u2019s for sure on this quest: baroque strings and balladeering will be involved.<\/p>\n

Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Tidal
Listen on Amazon Music
Buy at Rough Trade<\/p>\n

\n

Worm:\u00a0Necropalace<\/em>\u00a0[Century Media]<\/h2>\n
\n
\"Image<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

The black-metal band Worm are back four years after the release of their their last album, Foreverglade<\/em>. Expect the never-ending\u00a0guitar solos and monstrous growling members Phantom Slaughter and Wroth Septentrion are known for\u2014plus one sprawling, 14-minute track featuring Marty Friedman. Before you listen, we present to you a disclaimer written in Necropalace<\/em>\u2019s press release: \u201cEnter if you dare but be warned, the darkness may consume your mortal soul forever. The ultimate evil has returned\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Tidal
Listen on Amazon Music
Listen\/Buy at Bandcamp<\/p>\n

\n

Sk8star: Designer Junkie<\/em> [Island]<\/h2>\n
\n
\"Image<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

A cosign from Young Thug? Baseless rumors he’s from England based on his taste for Vivienne Westwood vintage? \u201cExecutive produced by Richie Souf??\u201d As far as Atlanta rap upstarts go, Sk8star has all the goods, and his new tape Designer Junkie<\/em> synthesizes them into one of the smoother leaps into the big leagues. Save for drop-in contributions from fellow \u00d8Way collective members Tezzus and diamond*, Designer Junkie<\/em> is a solo outing steeped in local lore: check the hometown ode \u201cMacon\u201d and Young Scooter homage \u201cRipScooter.\u201d Whether sliding over twinkling keys, bristling rage beats, or championship horns, his eye remains trained on hip-hop\u2019s upper echelon (and yes, there is a song called \u201cUpper Echelon\u201d).<\/p>\n

Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Tidal
Listen on Amazon Music<\/p>\n

\n

Danny L Harle:\u00a0Cerulean<\/em>\u00a0[XL]<\/h2>\n
\n
\"Image<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Despite releasing a solo album back in 2021, Danny Harle is positioning Cerulean<\/em> as a debut. It\u2019s at the very least a shift in form and approach, largely ditching the sliced-and-diced pop and trance of his earlier work for prog, electro, and layered chorale arrangements influenced by Philip Glass\u2019 Einstein on the Beach.<\/em> One thing that remains unchanged, however, is his roster of vocal muses: regular collaborators Caroline Polachek and Oklou join newer recruits Clairo, Dua Lipa, and Julia Michaels across the guest list.<\/p>\n

Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Tidal
Listen on Amazon Music
Listen\/Buy at Bandcamp
Buy at Rough Trade<\/p>\n

\n

femtanyl: Man Bites Dog<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n
\"Image<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Femtanyl is a polarizing band. The music is unabashedly loud, abrasive, and chiptune, the kind you might expect to hear blasting through speakers on a Saturday night at Trans Pecos. Not that palatability was ever the end goal here. Either way, their debut album might finally convince the duo\u2019s haters to join the devoted flock of \u201cfemtanyl truthers.\u201d Drawing from much more than the caustic hardcore the group have made their name on, Man Bites Dog<\/em> throws jock jams, late-aughts electro-pop, and industrial into a huge Margaritaville-sized blender. The 10 songs zip by in a little over 30 minutes, charging through bite-sized loops with as much energy and rage as they start out with.<\/p>\n

Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Tidal
Listen on Amazon Music<\/p>\n

\n

Brent Faiyaz: Icon<\/em> [ISO Supremacy \/ UnitedMasters]<\/h2>\n
\n
\"Image<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Since 2017, Brent Faiyaz has developed a reputation as a debaucherous player; you might know him as the favorite singer of the most toxic person you know. Icon,<\/em> his fourth album, unveils a new level of maturity from Faiyaz, who ponders marriage, how to weather the storm of an enduring relationship, and basks in the comfort of having someone to come home to. He looks to the oldies to capture his new romantic glow, channeling Michael Jackson\u2019s power and sincerity on \u201cWorld is Yours,\u201d while crooning over nu-disco, dusty \u201980s toms, and twinkling guitar that recalls the best of \u201990s Usher. Settling down looks good on him.<\/p>\n

Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Tidal
Listen on Amazon Music<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

[analyse_source url=”http:\/\/pitchfork.com\/news\/10-new-albums-you-should-listen-to-now-charli-xcx-feng-and-more\/”]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/media.pitchfork.com\/photos\/69161325d242ed92584744e1\/16:9\/w_1280,c_limit\/Charli-XCX.jpeg”] News 12 New Albums You Should Listen to Now: Charli XCX, Feng, and More Also stream new releases from Jill Scott and August Ponthier By Nina Corcoran, Hattie Lindert, and Kiana Mickles February 13, 2026 Charli XCX, photo by Paul Kooiker With so much good music being released all the time, it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,54],"class_list":["post-1767071","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-pitchfork-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1767071","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1767071"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1767071\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1767071"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1767071"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1767071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}