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Muna – Wall Dance
This album is a fun, punchy dance track that will definitely be my summer song. It’s catchy, full of great joy, sarcastic songs, and the right insecurity when they keep complaining about their “puberty” like famous singers of the 30s. It will undoubtedly be an amazing live show and it’s proof of the importance of artists to be able to take a break, go out and have a rest before coming back with new things to say and events in detail. Jane Tytla, New England, USA
Maya Hawke – Maitreya Corso
Maitreya Corso by Maya Hawke is the first song of this year that reminded me of the joy of just getting into a record. I’ve seen it dismissed as twee in the comments but it feels a little (perhaps mildly random) sketched out. It’s kind of a breather, but, to me, it feels like an insight into a person’s inner consciousness rather than any manic pixie dream girl talent. There are some excellent articles here. Some of them sound comfortingly similar to the (not-so-) silly poems I read as a child. Some of them are surprising and unpleasant. The record touches a lot of songwriting ground – living in the shadow of its older brother; find that the pipe-dream job is not really fulfilling. I also love female songwriters who show their unfussy style and refusal to clean it up or make it difficult – based on their ideas. By the time you get to the low-key romance of Dream House, it feels like you’ve been in Hawke’s formative years and learned a lot of his lessons. Kate Koell, Leeds
Arlo Parks – Unexpected Desire
I have become a fan Arlo Parks from the beginning, and was lucky enough to see him open for Clairo in 2022. But every part of this new album touched me. I love his look, his voice, his voice. You can tell that everything is professionally designed and executed. But I think what makes it the best of the year for me is the emotional vulnerability, and that it doesn’t ask you to have a resolution to the problems it shows. Just getting caught up in that feeling is what makes live dance hits so powerful. Sam, Missouri, USA
Jalen Ngonda – Doctrine of Love
Jalen Ngonda’s Theory of Love is a successful technique for modern life. Growing up in the classics of 1960s Detroit and Chicago, Ngonda weaves gospel-kissed backing vocals, soulful vocals and cinematic horns. His incredible falsetto breathes new, tender life into timeless traditions, with a high-energy, vintage vibe – yet released in 2026. David Kelly, Glasgow
Aldous Harding – Train on the island
For me, a return to form after his previous album. Hypnotic vocals, fuzzy vocals and great music and vocals. All the things I love about him. It’s a shame it’s not mentioned, but they still sell out the concert venue. I arrived first Aldous Harding when a friend invited me to a gig back in 2016 at Crofters Rights in Bristol. It was just a small stage at the back of a shopping mall, but it had a magnetic pull, amazing and very dry. He was also able to create a beautiful version of Wuthering Heights. I fell in love with his music right away and he has continued to release catchy songs ever since; the meanings of some of his songs are difficult to understand, which only adds to the magic! I’ve seen him four times since that first gig (all in Bristol, his favorite city where he recorded his albums) and I’ve never known an artist who could change his audience the way he did. In the room of thousands, you can hear a pin drop! Richard Hill, Frome, Somerset
Ellie O’Neill – Time To Fall
There have been many hits this year but the record that stands out the most is Time of Fallow by Ellie O’Neill. Like the first album, it’s very popular and not a second is wasted. Anna with Silver Arrow may be the earworm, but it’s Bohemia with her eclectic voice that provides the foundation. Combine this with his amazing performance and he’s one to keep an eye on. For fans of Laura Marling, Nick Drake. Paul Thomas, Hemel Hempstead
Tyler Ballgame – For The First Time, Again
Tyler Ballgame’s For the First Time, Again pulls off that unique trick of sounding like a slice of old-school Americana, even though it was released earlier this year. Tyler’s voice drips with emotion – his delicate and subtle falsetto makes you sit up and take notice. The album starts strong right out of the gates with the title track and I Believe In Love being an earworm, but there’s a lot of depth beyond, with intelligent and vulnerable lyrics on display throughout. I had the great pleasure of seeing him play at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds last month, and it was amazing to see how grateful Tyler seemed to be sharing his talent with the world. Hywel Sedgwick, West Yorkshire
Flea – Honora
It’s hard for me to pick my favorite album of the year, but it’s easy to pick my favorite of the year, and that would be Honora, her debut solo album. Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist singer. I’m not a huge RHCP fan, but I’m a fan of Flea’s bass skills, so I was intrigued when he announced that his album would have an electric jazz fusion vibe – which is true, and he’s gone back to his childhood trumpet instrument and has been working hard for the past few years. On paper, this shouldn’t work, especially her cover of Funkadelic’s Maggot Brain, but the song sounds beautiful, and the album as a whole is one warm, lovely song that still tugs at your ears. Matthew Reed Baker, Massachusetts, USA
Canadian boards – Inferno
Where do I start? It’s their first release in 13 years and the first release since I fell in love with 2022 so I was really excited to hear new music from them. I heard it for the first time at a record store listening party where I could only buy merchandise and I bought the vinyl on the spot. And it’s so good! Every song on Inferno feels like a lot of effort, and while most of them are a little dark, some of them are downright silly and goofy. I doubt anything else this year will be successful. Athanasios Trochalakis, Washington, US
Kneecap – Fenian
I like the new Boxing album! I like hard, aggressive, bad hip-hop, but a lot of old stuff by other artists has things that make it hard to listen to, especially homophobia (I’m transgender so this affects me a lot). I’m excited to have a new, aggressive, hard hitting, devil-may-care hip-hop album that I can stand with all my heart! Aggressive delivery and a few hits of Gael Phonics make it stand out to me. Lily, Florida, USA
Gorillaz – Mountain
My favorite album of 2026 is The Mountain by Gorillaz. Like most popular albums they present themselves on multiple listens. Conceptually and musically, the album confirms Damon Albarn’s legacy as a truly great songwriter. There’s an Indian feel throughout, with the opening track having a note that’s picked up over and over, if not every track. The Happy Dictator and Orange County showcase Albarn’s musical talent and compelling songwriting skills respectively. The album, which was made close to the death of their parents, reflects on personal and global mortality. Seeing the album performed live was an unexpectedly moving experience, with Jamie Hewlett’s animation reminding us that this is a collaboration of equals in their band. Ed Wilkinson, Malvern
Raye – This Song May Have Hope
For real love, for chutzpah, for the personality of its creator, nothing beats Raye’s This Music May Contain Hope as my album of the year so far. I’ve been a fan of his since I caught him at Glastonbury 2024 on TV, not a fan of his music until now. This album changes that, and it’s an album: a start-to-finish, undeniably long listen that’s just as enjoyable for a day as it is for a high life. It’s a record with a giant heart on its hands and a great goal. With the gift of his character, humor and light, he happily received the last few months of exhaustion. Oh, and it’s wonderfully written, acted and composed and oof, can they sing! Nick Black, London
Brian Jackson – Now More Than Ever
Brian Jackson was Gil Scott-Heron’s main singer and producer partner in the 1970s when Gil was the voice of Black America, expressing anger and alienation. This amazing album, released 15 years after Gil’s death, sees Brian finally getting around to not only pleasing his singing friend by putting himself back in the news, but secretly renovating some of today’s complexities. Beyond the three LPs or two CDs we also find classic classics such as The Revolution Will not be Televised, Winter in America, The Bottle and Home is where the Hatred Is; all supported by many modern, funk, club and hip-hop stars such as Omar, Moodymann and Rahsaan Patterson. It has to be the song of the summer! Gerry Hassan, Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway
The Cribs – Selling the Vibe
They’ve been a cult classic for almost 20 years, but Selling the Vibe is Fish is their best material since 2007’s Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Everything. It shows a group adjusting to life in their 40s, touching on personal and commercial turmoil and showing that their family bond is unbreakable. The Jarmans are truly a national treasure. Chris, London
J Cole – The Fall-Off
It took a few listens to begin to understand the song. Undoubtedly, a long time but, after having this collection for several months, it grows and grows to undeniable facts: J Cole is one of the most versatile singers alive and he takes the time to create his voice with music and instruments that go together. Pure thought, and he’s definitely not retiring anytime soon. Hugh Ogilvy, Oxfordshire
