First Listen: New Releases for 8 and 15 May 2026
Album: Born to Kill
Quick Thoughts: Often, when an old or longtime wrestler comes out and does well, the crowd starts a "you still got it!" chant. While I don't know if that implies Social Distortion ever lost it, never mind needing to qualify "it" with "still," the reality is that Born to Kill is exactly what I wanted from a Social Distortion album in 2026. We're coming up on 50 years of Social Distortion and they're still consistent and interesting, and still unafraid to drop an unexpected cover song. Sure, it took 15 years to get here, but Born to Kill was ultimately worth the wait for me.
Songs of Note: "No Way Out," "Tonight," "Wicked Game," "Never Goin' Back Again"
Album: Villain Era
Quick Thoughts: There are plenty of women doing the classic country thing, and some are more successful than others. I place India Ramey fully in the "successful" part with Villian Era, just as much a love letter to classic country as it is to modern musical sensibilities. Every song here is a winner, but the highlights have something for everyone. It's good fun, check it out.
Songs of Note: "We Ride at Dawn," "Welcome to My Villian Era," "Six Feet Under," "Cryin' in My Lingerie"
Album: Shadow Child
Quick Thoughts: I think I was about 30 seconds into "Whistle Song," the lead track from this album, when I thought to myself "man, I should really listen to more Abigail Lapell. She's not reinventing folk music by any means, but what she is doing is nearly completely perfecting it. There's so much to love here, from the unexpected songwriting approach in the lead track to the very compelling guitar work in "So Long" with Pharis Romero. Such a great album from a great artist, give this your time.
Songs of Note: "Whistle Song (One in a Million)," "So Long," "Talking To Myself," "Shadow Child," "Little Cannibal"
Album: The Pretty Graves
Quick Thoughts: I really enjoyed this album for a lot of reasons, perhaps most importantly because they sound like an amalgamation of all my favorite bands. It sometimes jangles, it sometimes sounds like Ash, it sometimes feels like mid-aughts blog rock... it's difficult to pull off and somehow The Pretty Graves do it. Give it a spin.
Songs of Note: "Feels Good," "Queen of Lies," "Shadows," "Carry Me Away," "Nothing Passes Like Time"
Album: Train on the Island
Quick Thoughts: This is what I wanted the latest Courtney Barnett album to be in a nutshell. Roots-forward indie rock with a little bit of aggression mixed in, this is an album that surprised me over and over again. Just a lot of great songs; absolutely a favorite this week.
Songs of Note: "Train on the Island," "Worms," "If Lady Does It," "What Am I Gonna Do?" "Coats"
Album: I Think That I Might Love You
Quick Thoughts: I've been a fan of Carla J Easton for some time (read: before I knew about her role in so many great Scottish indie bands); her approach to indie pop has a particular sensibility that resonates a lot with me. Learning that Darren Hayman of Hefner has some songwriting credits on a handful of songs was icing on what is ultimately a bright, delicious cake. Maybe my favorite of hers up to this point, give it a spin.
Songs of Note: "Red Kites in the Sun," "Pillars Crash Down," "Let's Make Plans for the Weekend," "Really, Really, Really, Really Sad," "Start It Again"
Album: Too Much Not Enough
Quick Thoughts: Everyone's favorite Eurovision alum is back with another synthy, danceable record. It's anthemic and it doesn't stray far from a template that works all too well. While some might think it's perhaps a little safe, for me, it's really just a great slice of pop music. And besides, "With You" is a different approach and it's one of the best songs on the album. Give this some time.
Songs of Note: "Me and You," "With You," "P.E.R.F.E.C.T.," Beautiful Day," "Give a Fuck"
Album: Redstar Wu and The Worldwide Scourge
Quick Thoughts: Gonna come right out and say that this latest album from Genesis Owusu blew me away. It's got so many thematic elements that work, the beats are vicious, and it throws curveball after curveball while still somehow feeling like a cohesive whole. "Stampede" couldn't be more different than "Most Normal American Voter" and yet it feels like it fits in perfectly. Looking forward to spending more time with this.https://jobimusic.bandcamp.com/album/face-the-feeling
Songs of Note: "Stampede," "Pirate Radio," "Life Keeps Going," "Most Normal American Voter," "Runnin' Out of Time"
Album: Face the Feeling
Quick Thoughts: Jobi Riccio is a buzzy name right now, and for good reason. Her sort of Americana-flavored approach is reminscent of so many of the singer-songwriters that have come up over the last decade, but the musicality and lyricism stands out and sets her apart. I don't remember if I heard Whiplash, her debut, but I'm definitely going back. Make time for this.
Songs of Note: "A Little at a Time," "Love of the Song," "Buzzkill," "Doesn't Matter"
Album: Iron Mountain
Quick Thoughts: This came out of nowhere this week. The sort of bedroom folk music that reminds me a lot of Tomberlin's debut album from nearly a decade ago, I'm pretty sure this is just Ivy Knight four-tracking nine brilliant, gorgeous songs and it deserves a lot of attention. "Headlamp" is a winner right off the top, and "Swimming in Blood" layers vocals and guitar beautifully in a truly great closer that feels both sparse and epic. Might be a favorite of the year.
Songs of Note: "Headlamp," "Red Rock," "Steel," "Swimming in Blood"
Of Note:
* Jim E. Brown - Dirt (It is what it is, and if you like Jim E. Brown, you'll like this.)
* Discovery Zone - Library Copy Do Not Remove
* Khun Narin - III
* Lord Sko and static Selektah - Elevator Music
* lucky break - made it!
* Whait - Icarus in Training
* New Idea Society - Fire on the Hill
* Gun Outfit - Process and Reality
* Graham Reynolds - The Portcullis
* Basement - WIRED
* Rostam - American Stories
* Pinklids - Electrician's Fever Dream
* Jesus the Dinosaur - Nothing to the Branches
* Ellen Froese - Solitary Songs
* Loraine James - Detached From the Rest of You
* Chinese American Bear - Dim Sum and Then Some
* Eluvium - Virga II / Virga III
* Merwulf - In the Golden Age
* The Asteroid No. 4 - In Praise of Shadows
* Kevin Morby - Little Wide Open
* SUSS - Counting Sunsets
* Diamondtown - What We Always Were
* Anastasia Kristensen - Bestarium Sombre
* Jena Malone - Flowers for Men
* My Heart, an Inverted flame - My Death is More Beautiful Than Your Life
* Zsela, Daniel Aged, and Taui Katz - 4 Dreams
* 1-800-GIRLS - Love
* Touch Girl Apple Blossom - Graceful
* Future Teens - Still Life
* Telehealth - Green World Image
* Victory Kid - Catalyst
* GIRLI - it's just my opinion
* Djif Sanders - Tangkoa II
* muna - Dancing on the Wall
* Sam Mulligan - Pizza Forever
* Claptone - Wanderer
* Namasenda - Limbo
* Shakey Graves - Fondness, Etc.
* The Woggles - Stop and Take a Minute
* Tokimeki Sequencers - Magic in Your Sparkly Face
* Fleur bleu-e - Question Marked Upon the World
EPs:
* Dead Pony - Eat My Dust (No other band is doing the sort of turn-of-the-century alt-rock throwback better.)
* Clem Snide - Turpentine Rags: The Songs of Bob Havlena
* Mattie Leon - 607 West College Avenue - Part One
* Colombian Drone Mafia - Sueno en Floor
* JWords - Sound Therapy
* Denzel Himself - Neighborhood
* runo plum - Bloom Again
* Little Simz - Sugar Girl
* Y - Enter
* The Northern Line - The Northern Line
Live Albums / Compilations / Reissues:
* Blockhead - Quar and Peace
* The American Analog Set - Destroy Destroy Destroy
Also Out:
* Broken Social Scene - Remember the Humans
* Lykke Li - The Afterparty
* Fire-Toolz - Lavender Networks
