First Listen: New Releases for August 2026
Album: Podium
Quick Thoughts: Cheekface is prolific, unique in their sound, and still somehow puts out winner after winner. This album actually does mess with the blueprint a bit, with some different vocal choices and some sonic additions (like the record scratches in "Hostile Street"). Overall, though? Another great listen from your favorite local band.
Songs of Note: "Hostile Street," "MFT," "Black Site, "U Can't Do It," "I Decline"
Album: Resonance Frequency
Quick Thoughts: I generally enjoy what Homeboy Sandman does, but this collaborative listen is likely to become one of my favorites of his catalog. Lots of interesting samples compliment his flow perfectly and it creates a really fun album that's worth your time.
Songs of Note: "TWENTYFOURSEVEN," "Weed Stores Everywhere," "Signal," "A1"
Album: Days
Quick Thoughts: Speaking of prolific, the new Mountain Goats record is out and I might come right out and say that this is their best album in a decade. "Shallow Grave" is great, as is "Candlebox," but this is more an album that recaptures the magic of the band that made them a favorite to so many.
Songs of Note: "Shallow Grave," "Song for Layne Staley," "Candlebox," "Best Hard Rock Albums 2013," "Going to Fennario"
Album: Cannonball
Quick Thoughts: Perhaps one of the more highly anticipated new releases around these parts, this album met my expectations and then some. There's an effortless, epic, theatrical vibe to this that makes it truly sound unlike anything else out there, and it means it's a truly great record that shouldn't fly under the radar. There's so much to love here, make sure to give it a spin.
Songs of Note: "Only Girl," "Canyons," "Goddamn, Lizard Man!" "Flick of the Wrist," "The Thing," "Still Angry," "Something Else to Give"
Album: Dragon's Breath
Quick Thoughts: I don't know what it is about the last few years of Wu-Tang-related albums being absolutely great, but Inspectah Deck's newest keeps the trend going. So much to love here, ranging from great guest spots to the standard high-quality production. Don't miss this one.
Songs of Note: "Lighter Fluid," "Divine Protection," "Cold Case," "Possession," "Czariana Grande"
Album: Bad Things Feel Good*
Quick Thoughts: I have a strong positive bias toward country-folk, and Rowena Wise's latest is a true winner. There are so many great songs here, but "Blood Ties" is perhaps my favorite song of the summer, and "No Angel" and "Diamond in the Rough" are both solid, epic winners, as well. A true highlight of the summer, if not the year.
Songs of Note: "More Horizon," "Blood Ties," "No Angel," "Diamond in the Rough"
Album: Megasound
Quick Thoughts: A collaboration between members of Bad Bad Hats and Party Nails, this is the sort of alt-rock/power pop I'm here for. This album is just banger after banger, and "Dog Leash" in particular feels like it came right out of alt-rock radio. I'm also paertial to "Speck of Dust," which feels like a parallel universe Self song. This is so, so good, and mixes the best of everyone involved. Make time.
Songs of Note: "Record Baby," "Keep on Running," "Dog Leash," "Heart in My Throat," "Speck of Dust"
Album: dollhouse
Quick Thoughts: We love ourselves some shoegaze and Slow Fiction brings it this week. I fell in love with this the moment I heard the title track and shared it with several people, and honestly, you should too. A great listen.
Songs of Note: "dollhouse," "satellite," "bottle episode," "what the night told me"
Album: I've Missed You All These Years
Quick Thoughts: Those of us who love the sort of alt-country stuff are eating well this week. Between Rowena Rise and this new album from Sera Cahoone, it's just solid roots music across the board. "Say Something" is amazing, "Horse Runnin'" addictive. Just wins all around. Make time.
Songs of Note: "Horse Runnin'," "Say Something," "Tangled Nights"
Album: Czarface Meets Frankie Pulitzer
Quick Thoughts: One more rap album this week. Interestingly, Czarface featured a few weeks earlier on the Inspectah Deck album ("Czarina Grande" is an all-time track title), and the proper full length with Frankie Pulitzer provides more of the same beats and bars that sets Czarface apart. An excellent listen.
Songs of Note: "Raw Forever," "Mad Technology," "Omega Beam"
Of Note:
* Alabama Shakes - I Must Be Dreaming (A worthy return.)
* Trashcan Sinatras - Ever the Optimist (Surprisingly solid listen.)
* Rapsody - God Gotta Afro and Gold Hoops (Solid old-school rap.)
* Chelsea Wolfe - The Dark (Has Lana Del Ray vibes for some reason.)
* Afghan Whigs - Soft Control
* Chris Pierce - Songs for the Heavy Hearted
* Lorg - I Fell for Fantasy
* MyVeronica - I Hope There's Music in Heaven
* dj galen - Nu Jock Swing
* Squirrel Flower - Say a Prayer to the Gods of Getting Going
* Fielded - Some Kind of Animal
* Whalefall - Count With Me, I'm Getting Lost
* Weezer - Weezer (The Gold Album)
* Off Contact - Can You?
* Hovvdy - Big World
* Ok Cowgirl - Rhinestone Cowgirl
* The Animeros - ¡Qué Bárbaro!
* Julia Holter - Materia
* Cocktail Slippers - Joyride
* Johanna Samuels - Sorry, Kid
* Getdown Champions - Massive Champion
* Peking Duck - Paradise
* Paul Spring - Barnstorm
* BAABES - Rampage at the Plaza
* Hana Stretton - tiarn
* Wild Pink - Still Coming Down
* Dent May - The Big One
* Laura Veirs - Temple Songs
* god of war - molly picture
* Kiwi jr. - Blowin' Up
* Prairie Princess - Jewish American Prairie Princess
* Human Tetris - Side
* Real Numbers - Was It Always This Way
* Nina Winder-Lind - Wild Love
* Heather the Jerk - Scroll if You Love Devil
* John Carpenter - Cathedral
* Honeymoan - Love Destroy Me
* Grace Cummings - Bloodhorse
* Paper Tigers - East Coaster
* W O L F C L U B - City of Once
* Enneads - Enneads
* Amanar de Kidal - Kel Tamasheq
* Elanor Moss - The Knife, The Needle
* GA-20 and Charlie Musselwhite - Blues Now
* Overmono - Pure Devotion
* Russian Circles - Nine
* Arca - XXXXX
* Mama's Broke - Reunion
* Chad Crouch - Holland Park Soundwalk
* Chad Crouch - Vondelpark Soundwalk
* DOMi & JD BECK - WHO ASKED?
* Collective Soul - Touch and Go
* Elizabeth Cook - Great Television
* PNAU - AHHCade
* prisoner - prisoner
* Wealthy Women - Children
* This is Sky - Say Less, Speak More
* Better Living. - Fix Your Heart
* Trashcan Sinatras - Ever the Optimist
* Reb Fountain - Water for Gasoline
* Patricia Wolf - Music to Watch Seeds Grow By 009
* Sweeping Promises - You Say I Romanticize
* Roy Montgomery and Martha Skye Murphy - Nebular
* Ceremony - Tell Me Your Dream
* talker - Runaway Jane
* Riley Downing - Landfill Poetry
* Jeremiah Moon - Myth
* Jay Worthy, George Clinton, and LNDN DRGS - Generation P
* DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ - Magikraft
* HaHa and the Hairpiuns - Honest Feeling Album
* Margaret Glaspy - I Am Both
* Icona Pop - Ritual
* Black Rave Culture - Black Rave Culture Vol 4
* Billy Strings - So Much foir Goodbyes
* John Vanderslice - FOCUS
* Marci - Mask Lady and Late Night Girl
* Tyondi Braxton - Splayed Werks
* Dinosaur Jr. - There Near
* Liim - A Sunflower Garden in Harlem is Hard to Find
* Floating Points with the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra - Mere Mortals
* Lara Somogyi - a [time] patterned
* Erykah Badu - Before the World Blows
* Sarah Davachi - The Will of Tongues
* Maripool - Rotten Luck
* Son Volt - Sound Signal Serenades
* flowerovlove - Mini Skirt Warrior
* Phoebe Ryan - Yours
* The Linda Lindas - Gotta Get Out
* Sarah and the Safe Word - The Disappearing Girl
* Lusine - Melting Days
* The Northern Belle - Even Cowgirls Get Sad
* The Anchoress - As We Once Were
* Cornelius - Refractions
* Open Mike Eagle and Kenny Segal - DOOMED!
* Interpol - This Mirror Weighs a Ton
* God's Hate - God's Hate
* Lambchop - Punching the Clown
* Martin Kohlstedt - Kluft
* Frances Chang - been thinking bout confession
* Grandma's House - Baby You're a Winner
EPs:
* Girl Talk, Michael Christmas, and Chris Crack - Don't Come to My House Sharing Your Location
* Cussing - Have You Seen Cussing?
* Regulator Watts - kWh
* Djrum - I Wander
* Hotel Pools - Billie
* Aisha Vaughan - Water World
* Karin Ann - Orion
* Basia Bulat - Bouquet
* Ingvild Flottorp - Hourglass
* Abracadabra - Peel Away
* Darren Hayman - Blue House
* Lex Walton - Ultimate Love Forever
* Nayan - In the Dirt
* Tinie Tempah - 9pm
* The Secret Plan - Word Weapons
* Darren Mayman - DOG
* Cinema Stare - Stink EP
Live Albums / Compilations / Reissues:
* Darren Hayman - Music to Watch News By
* Sittin' With Blaze: A Tribute to Blaze Foley
* Turnstile - Never Enough: Versions
* Velocity Girl - 1989-1992
Also Out:
* Ariana Grande - petal
* Everlast - Embers to Ashes
* Andrew WK - Temptation to Exist
* Mike D - Thank You
* Phoebe Bridgers - Lost Weekend
* Prince - Timeless
