We are here for my birthday month for February Sweatdown 2K26 now only on YouTube!

The Sweatdown has existed since April of 2018 as a monthly collection of music I’ve been listening to. Sometimes it’s old tracks but it’s usually new music. Everything from indie to synthwave to rock to alternative and more. Every December is a culmination of the music I’ve listened to. Originally posted to Spotify, these playlists can now all be found on YouTube where they will be updated monthly for YouTube Music.

Some of what’s Here For February

Had to put Hotel Mira from their After Party EP’s song Re: Valentine’s Day since this is coming out right before Valentine’s Day.

The Pink Skies album American Mood Ring was a favourite of mine from last year and I didn’t have Forever on a playlist prior to this so it made sense to slip it in right here before we get into newer music in 2026.

My current favourite right now song is ROMES song DISSOLVER which is the perfect mix of Innerpartysystem with 90s Nine Inch Nails nihilism. I honestly can’t remember the last time an artist said to not even listen save this song if they die. It’s an absolute breakdown of self esteem and acceptance of the nothing. “Just want to fucking dissolve” to an industrial dance beat is the kind of shit I miss from the 90s. ROMES brings it hard. I’ve had it on repeat for weeks now.

So here’s my thing with Video Game by Sick Joy. I think it’s a slick song. Slick joy. Ho ho. I love the mood, I love the drums, I love the shaky creepy vocals. My only issue with it is it feels like it’s going to go somewhere… much harder. It feels like the drums and everything is going to swell into a crashing, thunderous guitar and drum assault. Think of last month’s TRASH DECADE by HEALTH and the machine gun drums that eventually went into. This doesn’t do that. It just builds to a point and stays there. It doesn’t ruin the song but I would have considered it a best song of the year if it hit that crescendo at 2:25. We get a little guitar solo but I wanted something much harder. I still like it I swear! It’s here!

Really enjoy the vibe and lyrics of Analog Man by Marlon Craft he’s one of my favourites in hip hop as of late.

Great to see the return of Daughter and while it’s not really a Sweatdown type song I have it at the end as a cool down.

February Sweatdown 2K26 Features:

Hotel Mira – Re: Valentine’s Day
Pink Skies – Forever
ROMES – DISSOLVER
ALEXSUCKS – Autopilot
Sick Joy – Video Game
Marlon Craft – Analog Man
Koethe – One Liner
Kasador – Ultraviolet Daydream
TIGERCUB – I’M BREAKING OUT
Metric – Victim of Luck
The Bracknall – Falling Out of View
Chief – Edge of the World
Haute & Freddy – Dance The Pain Away
Brigitte Calls Me Baby – Slumber Party
Daughter – Not Enough
DEVORA – What Doesn’t Kill Me

Thank you for reading, thank you for listening, and hope you look forward to another year of The Sweatdown!

Photo from a foggy day on the road December 24, 2023 by me.