Best Music of 2026: Jan - May

MX LONELY - All Monsters

Released: Feb 20 2026

find it on Bandcamp or wherever you stream music

This is my favorite album of 2026 so far. It’s just fantastic and will be hard to beat I imagine. Genre wise, it rests somewhere between shoegaze and grunge. If you were only going to listen to one from this list, make it this - it’s worth it.

Stand out songs: Big Hips, All Monsters Go To Heaven

Backengrillen - self titled

Released: January 23 2026

find it on Bandcamp and maybe only on Bandcamp

This album was a great one to start off the year. Descibed on their bandcamp page as ”anti-fascist, anti-racist, free form death jazz” and yeah that description fits. It’s heavy and chaotic, has saxophones and flutes and the hardcore signer Dennis Lyxzén (from Refused). It gets regular play time in my care when I’m on my own or with my daughter (my wife and son can’t stand it).

Stand out songs: A Hate Inferior, socialism or barbarism

Joyce Manor - I Used To Go To This Bar

Released: January 30 2026

find it on Bandcamp or wherever you stream music

This is much more conventional pop punk but really will done. It’s hard not to find your foot tapping or head bobbing in time with the music. 

Stand out songs: Falling into it, All My Friends Are So Depressed

Held. - GREY

Released: May 15 2026

find it on Bandcamp or wherever you stream music

This is definitely a new addition but it’s quite good. It’s a collab from members of The Sleeper and Coheed and Cambria and is some fantastic post-hardcore music. I’m absolutely loving it so far. 

Stand out songs: Constant Tension, I and I Against You All

Koyo - Barely Here

Released: May 8 2026

find it on Bandcamp or wherever you stream

Great emo with a hardcore edge. This is another new one that is really sticking with me. It reminds me a lot of an album I loved in college - Finch’s What it is to Burn.

Stand out songs: Jet Stream Wish, It Happens To The Best Of Us, You Hate Me

Broken Social Scene - Remember the Humans

Released: May 8 2026 

find it on Bandcamp or wherever you stream

Straight up good quality indie rock. BSS have been around forever and their music is always worth a listen. This particular album feels a bit more ambient - at times when I’ve listened I’ve found it fading into the background in really pleasant ways. 

Stand out songs: Life Within the Ground, Think of You, Hey Amanda

Raye - This Music May Contain Hope

Released: March 26 2026

find it on Qobuz or wherever you stream

Raye’s story is eye opening in regards to the music industry. I’m so glad she’s able to release on her own terms now - she’s amazingly creative. This album is fantastic pop with deep soul and, as the title implies, hope. It also breaks the fourth wall of an album in interesting ways - she’s unafraid to be herself with her music. 

Stand out songs: Life Boat., Click Clack Symphony, Joy.

Honorable Mentions:

These are albums I’m still exploring and could easily find themselves on my end of year list. 

• American Football - lp4
• Kneecap - Fenian
• Miss Grit - Under My Umbrella
• Prince Daddy & The Hyena - Hotwire Trip Switch
• Friko - Something Worth Waiting For