First Listen: New Releases for 17 and 24 July 2026
Album: If I Let it Quiet
Quick Thoughts: Josaleigh Pollett had my favorite album of 2023, and there are several songs from that record, three years later, that remain in heavy rotation. I'm not going to say, after a few days, that If I Let It Quiet is better, but I am obsessed nonetheless. On what is functionally their third fuill-length collaboration with Jordan Watko / Crowd Shy, it's incredible to see Pollett's songwriting and presentation leap forward from album to album. The lush electronics underpinning so many of these songs are perfect: the ambient bed below "Cherry" feels like a sequel to "YKWIM," "Bed of Quiet" incorporates some Chris Walla guitar work for some modern crunch, "The Witness" trades Pollett's understated, lower-register vocals with a truly full sound behind their lyrics, and even lead single "Radio Player" feels whole and complete as it builds toward its end. If In the Garden was an indie breakthrough of sorts, this is the album that should, if there's any justice at all, propel Josaleigh Pollett to new heights. A brilliant listen, easily my favorite of the year thus far.
Songs of Note: "Cherry," "The Witness," "Bed of Quiet," "Escape Routes," "Radio Player," "We All Got It Right"
Album: Nothing I Can't Undo
Quick Thoughts: There's a lot of Madi Diaz in Taylor Bickett, and I love the album as a result. This comparison should not take away from Bickett's effort at all here, which feels unified in its starkness and approach, but only speaks to the familiarity she brings to the table that other artists often fumble. "The Arsonist" grabbed me from the start, "Nothing I Can't Undo" tapping into that Madi Diaz vein perfectly, but the album stands on its own as a folk-forward achievement with staying power. Make some time for this.
Songs of Note: "The Arsonist," "Goldstar," "Nothing I Can't Undo," "Genesis"
Album: Cumbiavision
Quick Thoughts: I admit to having little overall experience with cumbia until this year, where it feels like the Latin American genre is having some sort of moment in English-speaking musical areas (or maybe it's just the algorithm trying to tell me something). Either way, Sonido Gallo Negro offers up a record that provides great beats, a wacky cover, and a ton of fun. Give it a spin.
Songs of Note: "Cumbia Disco Energy," "Whip It," "Cumbia Del Gallo Negro," "Bali Hai"
Album: Set in Stone
Quick Thoughts: Rick Ross is a name I'm familiar with more due to his features (someday it will be okay to listen to Kanye's "Monster" again, right?) or the iconic producer tag attached to his work, but I'm glad I gave this one a shot. In some ways, this feels like a throwback rap record, with songs like "Living Large" sounding like they came straight out of a time capsule. A pretty solid listen on a whole, worth your time.
Songs of Note: "Minks in Miami," "Living Large," "City Lights," "Do It One Time"
Album: Different When It's Silent
Quick Thoughts: I can't say much more about Tricky that others haven't; we're going on somewhere around 40 years of his work going back to The Wild Bunch and Massive Attack. The new album, a largely collaborative effort, still feels urgent and modern even as Tricky's music has morphed and changed over the decades. I liked this quite a bit, and the highlights in particular grabbed me, so give this a spin.
Songs of Note: "I'm Yours," "So Cold," "Paris Maybe," "Because I Don't Know," "Out of Place"
Album: Get Over It, Underdog
Quick Thoughts: Ken and I both enjoyed Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!, so I was very interested to see where Aaron Lee Tasjan would go next. Underdog definitely feels more pointed and direct in its messaging, an album very much for the now, and I don't think anyone wants to hear "Clown Show" or "Lydia's Boots," for example, as independent from the moment we're living in right this minute. Tasjan deftly balances all these ideas on this album, and I'm really into it.
Songs of Note: "Clown Show," "Lydia's Boots," "Twilight Zone Blues," "Shiver"
Album: Emotional Junglist
Quick Thoughts: Nia Archives hit the scene somewhat recently, providing a bit of a confessional style to electronic-forward beats and music. Emotional Junglist her second full-length album, shows a lot of polish and musical growth across its runtime without losing what made her stand out to start. A great listen this week.
Songs of Note: "Around Tha Bend," "This Could Be...," "Get Me Down," "Boys in Blue"
Album: Shiverstruck
Quick Thoughts: Speaking of leveling up, IAN SWEET's done some masterful indie pop for some time now, but Shiverstruck feels like a statement in several ways. The songwriting here is sharper and fresher, with even more memorable hooks even given how good she already was at this. I feel like, between so many other albums that might steal the spotlight, this might get overlooked when it's actually one of the best listens of the summer. Don't miss it.
Songs of Note: "Criminal Kissing," "Jillian," "Deadweight," "Shiverstruck," "La La Love," "Wild Heart"
Of Note:
* Charli xcx - Music, Fashion, Film (It's fine, but "Camera" is the best Strokes song released this week.)
* N NAO - Nouveaux Langages
* Catherine Moan - CM Ultra
* Yard Act - You're Gonna Need a Little Music
* O'Flynn - Kairos
* Brian Ennals and Blockhead - Boatshoes
* Swapmeet - Mount Zero
* Rico Nasty - RX
* Banda AL9 - Hey Hey! We're Banda AL9
* Darren Hayman - Trains
* Steve Lacy - Oh yeah?
* Body Type - Tally
* Willow - The Thread
* CR and the White Lights - My Old Self
* Creekbed Carter Hogan - Peasants Revolt
* Holy Wave - I'm DADA
* Spearmint - Chase Me
* Sam and Louise Sullivan - Love & Devotion
* Pete Yorn - All the Beauty
* Sofie Birch - Bivabippabualukka
* Lido Pimienta - Caribenya
* Mesh - No Fun At All
* Bleached Cross - Wrath
* Eartheater - Heavenly Body: If I'm The Bottle You're The Message
* Dux Content - Lifestyle
* Amy Shark - Soft Pop
* Robyn Hitchcock - The Confuser
* Alls - She's Got Jowls
* Cypress Hill - Dios Bendiga
* Quicksand - Bring on the Physics
* Punch Brothers - The Unsung Adventures of Punch Brothers
* Black Sites - For Eternity
* Luke Haines - Izzy Wizzy Let's Get Busy
* sundayclub - sundayclub
* Cinder Well - A Blooming Body
* Lesley Mok - transient
* V★SILVER - The Cost of Light and Everything I Couldn't Say
* Ultra Lights - Pleasure's All Yours
* Cel Ray - Cel Rayzer
* Victor Jones - The Construct
* Oxis - Oxis 9
* Larry June - Who Coppin
EPs:
* Day We Ran - Naked at Your Door
* Pearly Drops - The Voices Became Louder
* wing! - (Worth Scanning For)
* Portraits of Tracy - Q: From Where Do Our Primal Instincts Originate? A: MTV!
* Chad Crouch - Newcastle, UK Soundwalk
* Hercules and Love Affair - Danseur Part One
* Mixol - The Fool
Live Albums / Compilations / Reissues:
* Madonna - Confessions II: Afterhours
Also Out:
* Maggie Rogers - Daughter From Hell
* Wizard of Loneliness - Pixel Playa
* The Strokes - Reality Awaits
