The "Best" Albums of 2026...So Far
The year is almost halfway over, and there have already been so many incredible new releases. Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot share their personal best albums of 2026 so far. Plus, they’ll hear picks from the production staff.
Best Albums of 2026...So Far
It's all a matter of personal preference when it comes to "best albums." We have lots of experience as critics, but we also have enough humility to admit we can't evaluate every album. Enjoy these picks and please share your own list with us.
Jim’s Picks:
- Peaches, “No Lube So Rude”
- Dry Cleaning, “Secret Love”
- Jill Scott, “To Whom This May Concern”
- Ratboys, “Singin’ to an Empty Chair”
- Robyn, “Sexistential”
- Lucinda Williams, “World’s Gone Wrong”
- Courtney Barnett, “Creature of Habit”
- Charli XCX, “Wuthering Heights”
- Boiled in Lead, “The King of the Dogwoods”
- Joyce Manor, “I Used to Go to This Bar”
Greg’s Picks
- Jill Scott, “To Whom This May Concern”
- Genesis Owusu, “Redstar Wu & the Worldwide Scourge”
- Bloodsucking Maniacs, “Bloodsucking Maniacs”
- The Twilight Sad, “It’s the Long Goodbye”
- Ratboys, “Singin’ to an Empty Chair”
- Twisted Teens, “Blame the Clown”
- Ora Cogan, “Hard Hearted Woman”
- Robyn, “Sexistential”
- Dry Cleaning, “Secret Love”
- District Five, “Glut”
Producers’ Picks
Andrew - Ye Vagabonds, "All Tied Together"
Alex - Kacey Musgraves, "Middle of Nowhere"
Max - Squarepusher, "Kammerkonzert"
Featured Songs:
Twisted Teens, "Circus Clown," Blame the Clown, Jazz Life/ Chain Smoking, 2026
The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967
Courtney Barnett, "Sugar Plum," Creature of Habit, Mom + Pop, 2026
Ora Cogan, "Bury Me," Hard Hearted Woman, Sacred Bones, 2026
Lucinda Williams, "The World's Gone Wrong (feat. Brittney Spencer)," World's Gone Wrong, Highway 20 and Thirty Tigers, 2026
Ye Vagabonds, "Mayfly V3," All Tied Together, River Lea, 2026
Robyn, "Blow My Mind," Sexistential, Konichiwa and Young, 2026
The Twilight Sad, "GET AWAY FROM IT ALL," It's the Long Goodbye, Rock Action, 2026
Kacey Musgraves, "Everybody Wants To Be A Cowboy," Middle of Nowhere, Lost Highway, 2026
Ratboys, "The World, So Madly," Singin' to an Empty Chair, New West, 2026
Blood Sucking Maniacs, "Red Leg Boy," Blood Sucking Maniacs, Paradise of Bachelors, 2026
Ora Cogan, "The Smoke," Hard Hearted Woman, Sacred Bones, 2026
Squarepusher, "K7 Museum," Kammerkonzert, Warp, 2026
Dry Cleaning, "Cruise Ship Designer," Secret Love, 4AD, 2026
Genesis Owusu, "STAMPEDE," Redstar Wu & the Worldwide Scourge, Ourness, 2026
Peaches, "Panna Cotta Delight," No Lube So Rude, Kill Rock Stars, 2026
Jill Scott, "Right Here Right Now," To Whom This May Concern, Blues Babe, Human Re Sources, and The Orchard, 2026
Golems of the Red Planet, "Hadrial," Surf Masala, Heyday Again, 2026
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