The Plug’n Play: February (‘24)

February 29, 2024

Illustration by Malaaya Adams

You can listen to the full playlist on Apple Music, Spotify, or Tidal

Throughout the month, Kevin and I select some of our favorite releases. In a lot of ways, this playlist — The Plug’n Play — is an extension of our text thread where we send new music to each other. We hope you dig it!

Songs 1 - 10 were selected by me, Stanley. Songs 11 - 24 were selected by Kevin. As always, we hope you find a song you like and check out the larger body of work, whether it’s an album or an EP.

The Olive Tape

Earlier this month, 24 artists came together to release The Olive Tape, a collection songs and poems in support of Palestinian liberation. The songs and poems on The Olive Tape are of home, hope, and frustration; at once celebrating Palestine and Palestinians and offering a searing critique of colonialism and imperialism. Musically, the varying sonic traditions each artist emerges from, and brings to the album, makes for a wide ranging sonic landscape - one that’s both interesting and enjoyable! The album is available via Bandcamp with a suggested donation of $12. Proceeds from The Olive Tape will go to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) and anera.

To be Still — Brittany Howard

One of the things I admire most about Brittany Howard is her dexterity as an artist; the technical capabilities as a vocalist and composer to go in any manner of directions. Her latest album, What Now, was primarily recorded during the shelter-in-place period of the pandemic, yet again displaying the artists versatility. The album’s title, fittingly posed as inquiry, and its songs reflect the range of emotions of the time. To Be Still, which was produced by Howard’s longtime guitarist, Brad Allen Williams, offers a quiet groove. In the song, Howard wonders, daydreams, of what it would be like to be a flower: to be planted, watered, and to grow. Though short, To Be Still, is dynamically composed. It’s one of my favorites from a stellar album.