Rating: 9.18 (A-)

mary in the junkyard is an indie band from London that I’ve been following for the last year or so, mainly through live performances on YouTube, as the hype around the band built up to the debut of their first album, Role Model Hermit. Musically, they combine the post-rock sounds of bands like English Teacher, Slint, and Joan of Arc, with the melodic aspects of Big Thief, Elliott Smith, and PJ Harvey.

The debut is everything the hype hinted at and more. It’s a very mature collection of songs for such a young band, both in terms of releases and age – they are all in their early 20s. They have, however, put in a lot of time on stage, performing regularly in South London’s music scene, touring with Wet Leg, and playing the summer festival circuit. On top of that, Clari Freeman-Taylor and Saya Barbaglia met at a string-quartet rock camp when they were just fourteen.

Big things are in store for this band, I can’t wait to see where they go from here.

Tracks

1. Mantra III
2. Blood ✨
3. Seek And Destroy ✨
4. New Muscles
5. Myrtle ✨
6. Peter The Dog ✨
7. Crash Landing
8. Welcome Break
9. Candelabra
10. Thou Shalt Sprout
11. Mouse ✨

Rating: 8.836 (B+)

Chanel Beads is the stage name of NYC musician Shane Lavers, who puts the dream in dream pop, through his hazy dreamlike lofi pop songs. Your Day Will Come is the follow-up album to his debut, also named (and not to be confused with) Your Day Will Come (from 2024)… both released on Jagjaguwar.

This latest album is a nice chill vibe, perfect for a relaxing evening. But not too chill to put you asleep… there are some nice melodies and driving beats to keep you interested.

Tracks:

1. Drums Only
2. Song for the Messenger ✨
3. The Coward Forgets His Nightmare ✨
4. Profane Break
5. JBL in the Fireplace
6. Tyler Richard
7. Outside Your Life
8. Dust in the Wind ✨
9. Silver Cup
10. Opening in the Gate
11. Spirit Showing
12. Drunk Stupid in the Structure
13. Boss
14. Beaten With Sticks

Rating: 9.1 (A-)

Frankie Morrow (aka Maz McMillan) is an English singer-songwriter and Way Out West is her debut album. Frankie Morrow has been on “English bands to watch” lists for years after releasing a well received EP in 2022 and a number of singles over the last few years. The full-length album is finally here and it’s glorious.

Far Out Magazine has a much better and in-depth review of the new album – a better review than I could ever put together so head over there to dig into that…

The TLDR is, basically, you have someone that obviously loves Neil Young and Gillian Welch and other folk/Americana superstars… but you also have a little bit of indie too – think Feist or Sharon Van Etten – which gives the songs a bit of an edge. She’s a fantastic songwriter and has great, emotive vocals that really mesh well with each and every song.

Highly recommended.

Tracks

1. Way Out West ✨
2. There is a Place ✨
3. The Peach
4. I Know You ✨
5. Where Sky Meets Horizon
6. All On
7. Star Jasmine ✨
8. Drying Out ✨
9. January
10. To Be Loved is to Be Known

Rating: 8.85 (B+)

Dari Bay is an indie rock band from Burlington, VT fronted by Zachary James, who is one of the main songwriters in Robber Robber, who also released a featured album in 2026, and plays drums for Unknown Mortal Orchestra.

Dari Bay’s sound combines lo-fi indie rock, with psych and power pop to create fuzzy, catchy ear worms. If you are a fan of bands like glitterer and Liquid Mike, Dari Bay will fit right in…

Tracks

1. Finder
2. Video ✨
3. Chevy ✨
4. The Joke ✨
5. How Can You Tell
6. We’re Gonna Be Okay ✨
7. On Your Side ✨
8. Bet On The Feeling
9. Background

Rating: 8.91 (B+)

Office Dog is an indie rock band from New Zealand. Prime Corner, is the followup to their debut album Spiel, which came out in 2024. Spiel was on my top 100 albums list for that year and Prime Corner is better in all aspects: better hooks, more consistent start to finish, and more confident songwriting… as you’d expect from any band putting out their second album.

From the band:

Dynamically, Prime Corner is a mixed bag; the album contains both Office Dog’s heaviest and softest tracks to date — and speaks to the push and pull of “normal life” as well as the feelings brought about by having no real roots in the ground. The title of the record itself was borrowed from a sign outside of a soon-to-be-developed building site at the “best spot on the street”.

Favorite tracks:

• “Reins”
• “Front Row Seat”
• “Futures”

Rating: 8.94 (B+)

Tierra Helena Whack aka Tierra Whack is a rapper/singer/actress from Philly. Prior to releasing WHACK’S MUSEUM, she put out a critically acclaimed debut mixtape, Whack World, in 2018 and a follow-up in 2024, World Wide Whack.

Musically, Whack cites Outkast, Erykah Badu, Busta Rhymes, and Kelis as influences. Those influence shine through on this album, combined with Whack’s eccentric personality and artistry, making this a standout album for me… specifically her word play and flow, which are some of the best around.

Like the first verse on “WAX PAPER”:

Time to face the harsh truth, you all spoof Acting bad but this is not Zeus Sharper than a shark tooth, Whack God, I’m Doc Seuss They say that I’m uptight that just means I’m not loose I got proof, bodies in the basement He ain’t my type, he basic, it be difficult to fake it Whenever I get tested, nine out of ten, I’m gonna ace it Run for president in Asics, never complacent, I was chasing Since my brother was in placement, the disrespect was blatant Mama said, “Once you make it, don’t end up like Yazz the Greatest” Lights are on, the house is vacant, I’ma jerk 'em like Jamaicans I’m the hottest in the world and I won’t do no persuading, no Wonder why I don’t rap much ‘Cause when I rap, somebody’s bound to get wrapped up They yellin’, “Oh, shit”, like my stomach is backed up I’m so sick, I really think you should mask up

Or on “EARWAX”:

You fightin’ it Typin’ it, deletin’ then writin’ it Supreme hyphenate Caked up so I’m icin’ it Gunnin’ to the top, you know I licensed it Why ask the price of it? He ain’t hot, you spicin’ it I’m so ahead, it’s lice in it When you in the field, you see mice in it Phonе ring, He wifin’ it With the pin, I’m strikin’ it Bitin’ it like thе glove Mike Tyson bit Mirepoix, dicin’ it So many carrots, my heart skipped You get roasted like parsnips We stand out like hard nips Much motion, my carsick Pull strings, guitar pick I feel lethargic Doc said, “You are sick” I’m like, “Aw, shit” Throw my hood up for me

Whack is one of the most unique and talented hip hop artists going today and I’m glad she’s releasing full projects again.

Rating: 9.06 (A-)

Wiki aka Patrick Morales is a NYC hip hop artist who has released three solo albums and four collab albums with the likes of Navy Blue, Tony Seltzer, Nah, MIKE, and The Alchemist.

My introduction to Wiki was through his group Ratking that released one full length in 2014 (So It Goes) before disbanding in 2018. In 2017 he released a stellar solo debut, No Mountains in Manhattan, which finished on many end of year lists. That record sounds just as fresh now as it did almost 10 years ago.

Following that release, my favorites from him include OOFIE (2019) and the collab with Navy Blue, Half God, released in 2021. This new release tops both of those and gives No Mountains… a serious run for best record in his discography and one of my favorite releases so far this year.

Highly recommended!

Rating: 8.9 (B+)

As I mentioned in the last 2026 Converge review for Love Is Not Enough I wrote:

My history with Converge goes all the way back to 1995 when a friend I met on the hardcore BBS during my freshman year of college sent me a tape with some new recordings from a local band she raved about named Converge. The songs, like “The Saddest Day” would go on to be on the Petitioning the Empty Sky record that would eventually come out in 1996. Converge would eventually make it to Buffalo a handful of times over the next few years, so I was able to see them live, which was absolutely amazing.

I gave the album a B+ and it’s one of my favorite hardcore adjacent records in 2026, so far:

Love Is Not Enough by Converge

B+

Released: February 13, 2026 on Epitaph Records

FFO: Botch, Dillinger Escape Plan, Every Time I Die, Terror, Coalesce

Your first song: Bad Faith

Support: BandcampListen

→ Read Review

Four month’s later, Converge released their 12th full length, Hum of Heart, and I think I actually like it more than the last. It’s still heavy and brutal as shit, but it’s also more noisy and punk than Love… – think Unsane and Bitter Branches – with vocalist Jacob Bannon also doing more of the spoken lyrics thing vs. his usual brutal vocals.

Anyway, big fan here. If you are into heavy music, I highly recommend.

Favorite tracks:

• “Slip the Noose”
• “Detonator”
• “Doom in Bloom”
• “It Only Gets Worse”
• “Nothing is Over”
• “Dream Debris”

Rating: 8.86 (B+)

Death Cab for Cutie is an indie rock band originally from Washington state, formed in 1997. I Built You A Tower is their 11th full length album and first since 2022’s Asphalt Meadows.

I have an interesting relationship with Death Cab. They were a huge part of our life during the Seattle years (1999 to 2004). We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes came out shortly after we moved there and I remember the excitement surrounding that release and going to Sonic Boom Records on release day to pick up the album. Over the five years we lived there I saw Death Cab 10+ times and their music was the soundtrack of many of our days.

Then came The Photo Album (2001) and Transatlanticism (2003, still their best) before we moved back to New York. Plans (2005) was enjoyable and I got to see them in Rochester, NY on tour supporting that record. Narrow Stairs (2008) followed and I liked that record as well… but after that I really haven’t connected with any of the four Death Cab albums that followed, until this recent one.

So, while I might not have the intense relationship with Death Cab as I did in my late 20s, this new album brings back many of the memories and feelings of those earlier years. And that I can really appreciate.

Rating: 9.11 (A-)

Iceage is a punk band from Copenhagen, Denmark that formed in 2008. For Love of Grace & the Hereafter is their sixth full length album after New Brigade (2011), You’re Nothing (2013), Plowing Into the Field of Love (2014), Beyondless (2018), and Seek Shelter (2021).

Beyondless was my introduction to Iceage, mainly through one of their singles, “Pain Killer”, featuring Sky Ferreira. Their next album, Seek Shelter, was a top 20 favorite album of 2021. I am thankful I got to see them on tour supporting this album in May of 2022, with Wiki opening. What a strange and wonderful show – I think there were maybe 50-100 people in the crowd.

Almost 5 years later, we have For Love of Grace & the Hereafter, which I think is my favorite album of theirs to date. It’s lively, bright and catchy, and their most complete album from start to finish. If you aren’t familiar with their music, I like to say that it’s kind of like if Wire decided to play Rolling Stones songs. A bit of swagger, angular, tuneful, and at times noisy and abrasive.

Favorite tracks:

• “Ember”
• “Star”
• “The Weak”
• “No Fear”
• “Tender Blades”
• “1835”
• “Lifetime”

Rating: 8.837 (B+)

Kurt Vile is a vibe. I saw him for the first time a few months ago and was just mesmerized watching him play guitar. He’s a magician for sure…

In terms of this new album, it’s one of my favorites from him since probably 2013’s Wakin on a Pretty Daze and 2011’s Smoke Ring for My Halo. I’d put 2015’s b’lieve I’m goin down in close proximity, though I think I like more songs off this new one…

If you are a fan of any of the bands listed above, I’d be shocked you didn’t know Kurt Vile… but if you are new to him, this is a great entry point… then work through the other 9 albums in his discography, starting with the ones mentioned above – you’ll thank me later!

Favorite tracks:

• “Chance to Bleed”
• “Zoom 97”
• “99 bpm”
• “Rock o’Stone”

Rating: 9.26 (A-)

feeble little horse is an indie rock band from Pittsburgh, PA who have been together since 2021, releasing two full length albums before this latest record: their 2021 debut Hayday on Julia’s War (and re-released in 2022 on Saddle Creek), their 2023 follow up Girl With Fish on Saddle Creek. Girl with Fish was my #1 favorite record from that year.

Girl with Fish was my main introduction to the band (I also grabbed Hayday on vinyl when they announce the signing to Saddle Creek) and I was completely enamored with that second record. As I wrote:

The whole package of 11 songs finish in under 30 minutes, so there are no wasted moments or throw away parts. It’s equal parts beauty and chaos…

and

I absolutely love bands that expand on and experiment with their influences to create something new and fresh.

So Girl with Fish was that good… and I think this album is even better. All of the parts I loved about the band, the weirdness, the chaos, the beauty, is all still there… AND they’ve improved on their songwriting quality… so every song is that much more memorable. It’s a complete work… AND it’s 11 songs, 25 minutes. So there’s no way you get bored or decide to put on another record.

As of writing, I still think the Ratboys album is a touch better, but it’s close… we’ll see how the end of year review process unfolds, but feeble little horse has a serious chance at a second #1 pick from me.

Enough reading… dig in!

Rating: 8.84 (B+)

Lowertown is an indie rock duo (Olivia Osby and Avsha Weinberg) that formed in Atlanta in 2018. The duo later relocated to New York City. Their music blends elements of indie rock, folk, and experimental pop.

Ugly Duckling Union is their third full length album, following their 2019 self released debut Friends and 2022 album I Love to Lie on Dirty Hit Records. I was introduced to the band via their 2021 EP, The Gaping Mouth, on Dirty Hit and really enjoyed their quirky take on lofi indie rock and folk.

The first seven songs of Ugly Duckling Union are solid to great, with the final five songs veering off course a little bit as they venture a little too much into the experimental side at worst, and slow/plodding at best. Overall, the album as a whole is worth your time as they continue to grow as songwriters and build confidence to venture outside the expected.

Rating: 9.12 (A-)

Thomas Dollbaum is a Tampa-born, New Orleans-based singer/songwriter. Dollbaum enlisted some stellar musicians for this album: MJ Lenderman (best known for his solo work and Wednesday), Nick Corson (from The Convenience), and Josh Halper (best known for his solo work). The results are top notch.

Birds of Paradise is the followup to his 2022 debut album, Wellswood. This album is my introduction to his work. The nods to Molina and Jurado were enough to get me interested. While his influences may be obvious, his songwriting and storytelling are nothing to discount. I’m certainly excited to see where he goes from here, because this album is great.

From the label:

“Birds of Paradise is a goodbye letter to lost loved ones and former selves. These songs find Dollbaum searching for acceptance in the transient in-between places: Florida’s pine flatwoods, backroads leading to I-95, where birds fly across the water. And even though the ghosts of his alt-county predecessors Townes and Molina are definitely present, on Birds of Paradise, Dollbaum emerges from their shadows – waving to the past, sounding all the more like himself.”

To show his storytelling chops, here are some of my favorite lyrics from the song “Coyote” – definitely Molina-esque:

Heard the coyote howl Looking for your cat for dinner All the birds fly south, the whole damn sky is red Sitting with you on your rooftop you’re high and drunk You’re ready to jump but you just fly away

And as you rose, you glimmered with gold before you burned out Bet you’d set this house on fire just to watch it burn down Bet you’d set this house on fire just to watch it burn down Bet you’d set this house on fire just to watch it burn down

Rating: 8.91 (B+)

Rostam is Rostam Batmanglij, an Iranian American musician who was best known as a founding member, songwriter, and producer for Vampire Weekend, before focusing on his producing and solo career. Rostam has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, two with Vampire Weekend (winning Best Alternative Music Album for Vampire Weekend’s Modern Vampires of the City) and one nomination for Album of the Year for his work with Haim on Women in Music Pt III. In addition to Haim, Rostam has also worked with artists such as Clairo, Hamilton Leithauser, Vagabon, Jenny Lewis, Charli XCX, Carly Rae Jepsen, Ra Ra Riot, Santigold, and Frank Ocean.

American Stories is third solo album, following 2021’s Changephobia and 2017’s Half-Light. His latest hits hard for it’s mix of Americana and traditional Persian music and instrumentation, creating an upbeat, bright soundtrack for a time that’s full of chaos, especially for immigrants and people of color in America and the people of Iran and Middle East… as our reckless, racist president reeks havoc around the world.

“The Weight” is a perfect example of this, with the song building as Rostam battles with living in America right now, to a point where the Persian influence takes a more pronounced placement in the song ending on almost a resolute note after the final lyrics: “You got courage on your side”:

Head high like a halo Warm hands on the pavement Eyes glowin’ in the heat lamps Callin’ out a broken government Walkin’ home in a rainstorm Mom and Dad don’t believe you Every word at commencement Moved to the administration

You feel the weight come down to you 'Cause you know the truth You’ve got courage on your side You feel the weight come down to you And you know it to be true You’ve got courage on your side

It’s a perfect ending to the album.

The beginning features two of the strongest songs on the album: “Like a Spark” and “Back of a Truck”…

On “Like a Spark” he tries to disconnect the idea of love and possession:

Some nights we slide up together Side by side And some days you wake in the moonlight I’m not around

Everybody Wants you Tied up easily except for me

I only ever wanted you to feel freed of it I only ever wanted you to feel freed of it I only ever wanted you to feel freed of it To feel freed of it

And “Back of a Truck”, which is my favorite track, Rostam takes inspiration from Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” “Like A Rolling Stone,” and The Supreme’s “Keep Me Hanging On,” reminding us that lyrics are ours to interpret as we need.

Sometimes I wake up feeling happy honey And sometimes I wake up sad as hell But no one wakes me up the way you would When you would roll on to my side of the bed

I’m trying to hold on to what I remember I’m trying to write down what I might forget You never knew exactly who I was But you can’t change your mind about what you said

It was written on the back of a truck Six words from a song you loved Don’t don’t think twice no it’s all right Sometimes the words mean what you like

Thought I’d find you up in front But you weren’t who I thought you was Blow a kiss to the gods above Hit play on the console turn it up

It’s a wonderful album that I think is only going to grow on me with future listens.

Rating: 9.1 (A-)

New Zealand’s Aldous Harding has released 5 albums, ranging from traditional English folk on her 2014 self-titled debut to more of a sparse, subdued alt folk blended with psychadelic pop sound starting on her 2017 album Party and continuing to 2019’s Designer and 2022’s Warm Chris. With each album, you can hear her confidence grow – songwriting, lyrics, vocals. Train on the Island is just a continuation of all that and it’s sure to stand with any of her previous, well-regarded albums. I’d also wager it will be considered her best and most complete work to date.

Beyond being a well-regarded songwriter, she is known for her performances where she channels the characters and voices she creates for each song, becoming almost possessed by the music. It’s mesmerizing. I’ve included a few older performances below to give you a feel.

Back to Train on the Island, The Guardian has a pretty solid review of the new album with this highlight:

The most striking thing about said songs isn’t their weirdness, but how tightly written, compact and, in their own understated way, punchy they are. Even the longest thing here, the title track that tips over five minutes, never shades into indulgence. The songs that feel episodic never ramble, but deal in impressively acute, stimulating contrasts – as when One Stop and San Francisco move unexpectedly from a hypnotic piano figure and clouds of electric piano respectively into the same, noticeably brighter-hued acoustic guitar-backed refrain. If you aren’t among those listeners inclined to take notes and unravel the lyrics for clues, they work simply as conduits for utterly lovely melodies: the key-shifting Coats, or the sparkling duet between Harding and Evans on Venus in the Zinnia, or the tune that snaps What Am I Gonna Do? into sharp focus. As the heavy-lidded Worms makes its slow but sweet progress, it’s hard to imagine even the most vociferous naysayer of Harding’s oddball approach not being at least a little won over.

I’m won over for sure. I wasn’t a huge fan before this album, but the songwriting and bright sound is such a relief and change of pace for me, I absolutely love this album and expect it to be on my list of favorites for the year.

Rating: 8.85 (B+)

Basement is a post-hardcore/emo band from England and Wired is their fifth full length album and first since 2018’s Beside Myself. Honestly, prior to this release I wasn’t familiar with their music despite a list of influences that are certainly right up my alley. I’m pretty sure it’s due to them hitting right at a time when my kids were little and I wasn’t paying as close attention to music.

Regardless of all that, I’m a fan now. The first 3/4 of Wired is absolutely stellar, with the last 1/4 ending on more of a mellow, slower note that kind of gives a stark contrast to the first batch of songs. Not that they are poorly written at all, but some sequencing changes might have made a bigger impact on my overall feeling of the album. Regardless of all that, the album will certainly be getting repeat plays and I expect it to be one of my favorite hardcore/punk adjacent albums for the year.

Rating: 8.87 (B+)

Broken Social Scene is an indie rock group and music collective from Toronto. Formed in 1999 by Kevin Drew (guitar and vocals) and Brendan Canning (bass and vocals), BSS has featured as many as 19 members… with musicians such as Feist, Emily Haines (Metric), Jason Collett, many members of Stars, Andrew Whiteman (Apostle of Hustle), and members of Do Make Say Think taking part at various points of their discography.

Remember the Humans is their sixth full length album and first since 2017’s Hug of Thunder. Part of the problem with critiquing any new BSS album is the strength of their early work: 2001’s Feel Good Lost, 2002’s You Forgot it in People, and 2005’s self-titled record are a remarkably strong start to a discography. Foregiveness Rock Record was a solid followup in 2010, as well. I wasn’t as high on 2017’s Hug of Thunder for much of the same reasons, but I will definitely say this album is better than Hug.

BSS also happens to be one of my all-time favorite bands (both recorded and live – I’ve seen them three times now), so in terms of overall discography tiers, I’d go with this:

• Tier 1: You Forgot it in People and self-titled
• Tier 2: Foregiveness Rock Record and Remember the Humans
• Tier 3: Feel Good Lost and Hug of Thunder

A solid respectable new album. If you are new to BSS, you are fine to start with this new one, but I’d quickly hit up the two Tier 1 records as they will sell you on the group, for sure.

Rating: 9.06 (A-)

Friko is a band from Chicago, IL that started in 2019 by Niko Kapetan, Luke Stamos and Bailey Minzenberger – all graduates of Evanston Township High School. Two EPs followed, one in 2020 and one in 2022.

Friko’s debut album Where we’ve been, Where we go from here, was in my top 50 favorite albums for 2024. Looking back, I think I penalized it a bit too much for coming out early in the year. I was a big fan of it for the first half of the year, but then recency bias took over and it fell down the list.

Something Worth Waiting For is their sophomore album, recorded and produced by John Congleton. Drummer Bailey Minzenberger stated:

“On our first record we were much more involved in the technical aspect of everything, but this time John made it clear that he wanted us to just come in and do our thing. I think that allowed us to let go in a way that we never had before, and because of that we captured something very raw.”

The album builds off all of the influences listed above, as well as others like The Beatles, Mitski, The Beach Boys, Modest Mouse, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The new songs tend to feel more raw and chaotic, but also more confident – both in song writing and execution. I’m a huge fan… and won’t be making the same mistake I made in 2024.

Rating: 8.87 (B+)

Gia Margaret is a singer songwriter from Chicago, IL. She describes her music as “sleep rock”, but I definitely see similarities to artists like Flock of Dimes, Saya Gray, Andy Shauf, and Cassandra Jenkins. In terms of genre, I’d put her in the ambient folk/folktronica realm. Bright, warm sounds that are almost a meditation in many ways.

Margaret also has an interesting story, from the Jagjaguwar site:

Every artist has to discover their voice. Gia Margaret didn’t find herself until she lost hers. With a vocal injury that kept her from singing for years, she developed other musical languages, mastering the grammar of an intricate, homey form of ambient music pioneered by Ernest Hood and perfected by The Books.

Singing is her first vocal album since 2018’s debut album There’s Always Glimmer, with two instrumental albums in between, 2020’s Mia Gargaret and 2023’s Romantic Piano. This album is my introduction to Margaret, and I for one am glad she found her voice. I’m a big fan.