February

Presumably Joshua Schramm titled his album February because that was the month in which he composed the majority of its songs—Schramm wrote and recorded nine of these tunes during this year’s February Album Writing Month. Speed-writing gimmicks aside, though, the music’s sedate, snowed-in feel embraces the title like a mitten hugs a cold, chapped hand. With quiet acoustic orchestration and thoughtful lyrics, February inspires the feeling one gets when staring at a gray late-winter sky and wondering why spring doesn’t just get here already. The subtle nature of these tracks lends itself to pensiveness, without ever turning morose. Schramm left Sacramento for Seattle this year, where he’s likely to find more of the sort of weather that complements his work.