Mid-Year 2026 Lists (Best of 2026 ... So Far) • Page 2

Discussion in 'Music Forum' started by soggytime, Jun 3, 2026.

  1. Carrow Jun 20, 2026
    (Last edited: Jun 27, 2026)
    Carrow

    maybe this time, I won't be alright Supporter

    1= Enter Shikari - LOSE YOUR SELF
    1= The Twilight Sad - IT'S THE LONG GOODBYE
    1= of Montreal - Aethermead

    The rest of a mid-year top 30 in alphabetical order...

    Archive - Glass Minds
    Big Sleep - Holy Show
    Blackwater Holylight - Not Here Not Gone
    Boards of Canada - Inferno
    BRSR - A Field of Manmade Fires
    Cable Boy - Forever
    Cardinals - Masquerade
    CHALK - Crystalpunk
    Colour of Fire - All the Wolves I Have Known
    Converge - Love is Not Enough (not heard the newer one yet)
    Dance With the Dead - Malombra
    Death Cab For Cutie - I Built You A Tower
    Exploring Birdsong - Every House We Built
    Footballhead - Weight of the Truth
    The Format - Boycott Heaven
    goo - Oh Wow, Oh Well
    Joyce Manor - I Used to Go to This Bar
    KNEECAP - Fenian
    Love Rarely - Pain Travels
    Madeon - Victory
    Prince Daddy and the Hyena - Hotwire Trip Switch
    Ratboys - Singin' to an Empty Chair
    San Holo - TRUE LOVE IN A MADE UP WORLD
    Sly Withers - To Be Honest
    THUMPER - Sleeping With the Light On
    Tigercub - Nets to Catch the Wind
    underscores - U
     
  2. Jbent Jun 21, 2026
    (Last edited: Jun 22, 2026)
    Jbent

    Trusted

    Lip Critic - Theft World
    Mandy, Indiana - URGH
    Heathen Axe - S/t
    Coward Syndrome - Xanax & Horses
    Modest Mouse - An Eraser And A Maze
    Powerplant - Bridge of Sacrifice
    Portrayal of Guilt - ...Beginning of the End
    Weird Nightmare - Hoopla
    Summer of Hate - Blood and Honey
    Hater - Mosquito
    Cola - Cost of Living Adjustment
    Cathedral Bells - parallel dreams
    Real Farmer - Two Wrong's Don't Make a Right
    Heel - Segmentation
    Bosse-de-Nage - Hidden Fires Burn Hottest
    Fruit Bats - The Landfill
    Fantastic Cat - Cat Out Of Hell
    Archaic Faces - You're More Alive Than You Think
    Plaaaato - brightdeadstar
    Wildernesses - Growth
    Parent Teacher - Tricks for Meds
    Discovery Zone - Dreaming For Miles
    The Blue Herons - Demon Slayer
    Webb Chapel - Vernon Manner
    Deadharrie - Eternity, Make Believe
    Deer Fang - Forest For The Trees
    The Suncharms - Darkening Sky
    Landowner - Assumption
    Future Magics - Sparkle Tapes
    King Slender - There Is Your Image In Light
    Meltt - Pathways
    Girl Scout - Brink
    Darksoft - Everydayness
    Draag - Miracle Drug
    Lucid Express - Instant Comfort
    Silversun Pickups - Tenterhooks
    Styrofoam Winos - Any River
    Iceage - For Love of Heather & the Hereafter
    Magon - Yours unchanged / Sun, Moon, Mushroom, Man
    Pye Corner Audio - More Songs About The Sun
    Sex Shop Mushrooms - 131217
    Vince Staples - Cry Baby
    Boldy James, Rome Streets - Manhunt
    Boldy James - Trappers Alley 3: Hell or Highwater / Salvation for the Wicked / Hook, Line & Sinker
    Action Bronson - Planet Frog
    Miike, Earl Sweatshirt - Pompeii // Unity
    Philty Rich - T$GO
    Ahnklejohn - Everything Beautiful Dies Early / Self Made
    Mickey Diamond - Blood Of The Lamb / Black Sheep
    Rigs - I Got Samples 3
    Estee Nack - Al-Andalus
    Gaza Glock, Illinformed - Cocaine Anonymous
    Trapmat Savior - Scottie Trippin
    Hus Kingpin - Wavo Forever
    DJ Muggs - Soul Assassins II
    The God Fahim - The Dark Shogun / Dump Gawd Vols
    Dave East - Eastmix Vol 1 & 2 / For The Love 2
    JR Writer - Writer Block 6
    Tony Shhnow - Flood
    Ok Goodnight - Stop/Go
    Orc - S/t 7"
    Wraith - S/t 2026
    Cheek Bone - Storm the Castle
    Dumbo - Gunga Rao / Guess Again, Dumbo
    Funeral Home - Your Funeral
    Deathmarch - Violent Retaliation
    Banisher - Metamorphosis
    Stranguliatorius - Flies Dont Lie
    Chainlacing - Messuage
    Harboured - We're Only The Love We Lead
    Inherits The Void - The Sileny Abscission
    Genghis Tron - Signal Fire
    Iron Reagan - Demonitization
    Malist - Eternal Echo Of The Fall
    Converge Hum Of Hurt / Love Is Not Enough
    Horn - Apokalyps 1618
    Funebrarum - Beckoning The Void Of Eternal Silence
    Gutrectomy - Slamdown Is Not A Phase, Mom
    Belexum - S/t
    Bone Reaper - Obsessed With Death/Driven To Kill
    Corrosive Agent - Vastator Mundi
    Non Est Deus - Blessings and Curses
    Chamber - this is goodbye...
    Hellripper - Coronach
    Mt. Dagger - Nothing Personal. Just Misery.
    Crush Your Soul - Ice Water
    Commitment - Fear Of
    Machete Law - Liturgy of Violence
    Double Life - Please Delete This
    Rod of Correction - Future Class
    Primitive Future - 1st Attack
    Witch Piss - Hot Bog
    Thee Oh Sees - Off Course / Cara Malcuro

    not in any order just ~100 albums from this year ive rly liked
     
    OotyPa and OhTheWater like this.
  3. beatingheartsbaby

    fka sophos for those unaware Supporter

    quick top 10, not really in order outside of the first one

    portrayal of guilt
    free throw
    tigers jaw
    koyo
    neurosis
    converge (x2)
    poison the well
    knumears
    static dress
    slayyyter


    other good shit:

    i promised the world (ep)
    100 demons
    the field
    bosse-de-nage
    chamber
    boards of canada
    death cab for cutie
    dj seinfeld
    joyce manor
    skrillex
    august burns red
    a wilhelm scream
    bodysnatcher
    manchester orchestra (live album)
    the format
    terror

    plenty more i need to get around to and/or spend more time with
     
    waking season and Jbent like this.
  4. serotoninsummer

    Queer as Heck

    lil top ten w/ the first five in order and second five a bit interchangeable!

    Gladie - No Need to Be Lonely
    Alex Melton - The Process
    Remember Sports - The Refrigerator
    Namasenda - Limbo
    Ecca Vandal - LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO UNFOLLOW
    Haute & Freddy - Big Disgrace
    Lande Hekt - Lucky Now
    Nova One - how to kiss
    Hemlocke Springs - the apple tree under the sea
    Joyce Manor - I Used to Go to This Bar
     
  5. Damien Davies

    The Joker is a wanted man Supporter

    My rough top 10:
    I Am the Avalanche - The Horror Show
    Joyce Manor - I Used To Go To This Bar
    Sly Withers - To Be Honest
    Muse - The Wow! Signal
    Koyo - Barely Here
    Super Sometimes - Show The World What’s Underneath
    Gorillaz - The Mountain
    The Flatliners - Cold World
    Piebald - Tales For the Rages
    Karnivool - In Verses
     
    Carrow likes this.
  6. waking season

    Trusted Prestigious

    Stuff I’ve liked so far:

    Death Cab for Cutie - I Built You a Tower
    Elder - Through Zero
    Tigers Jaw - Lost on You
    Courtney Barnett - Creature of Habit
    Snail Mail - Ricochet
    Converge - Hum of Hurt
    Converge - Love Is Not Enough
    MØL - DREAMCRUSH
    Vince Staples - Cry Baby
    Sweet Pill - Still There’s a Glow
    Fiddlehead - Baby I’ll Change

    Still need to listen to American Football, Kurt Vile, Modest Mouse, Slift, and Basement. I’ve mostly been listening to 70s/80s prog these past few months.
     
  7. waking season

    Trusted Prestigious

    Oh yeah, Neurosis was really good too. I need to listen to that more often.
     
  8. onionbubs

    Trusted

    karnivool - in verses is my favorite but the enter shikari is not too far behind

    biggest surprise of the year has gotta be modest mouse. even with us getting a bunch of albums that i thought would never even exist like boc and poison the well. just brought them back for me in such a blindsiding way

    biggest letdown of the year for me is without a doubt the new erra album. off the top of my head i dont think ive sat down with an album ive outright not liked this year though
     
  9. Dinosaur Dave

    Grief is only love that’s got no place to go Supporter

    Some of these will stick around on my Top 10 list at EOY but I have high hopes for a few upcoming releases and imagine some of these will drop out.

    Varials - Where The Light Leaves
    Levi Turner - Road Recordings
    Noah Kahan - The Great Divide
    Josiah And The Bonnevilles - As Is
    Chamber - This Is Goodbye
    Ella Langley - Dandelion
    Future Teens - Still Life
    Bodysnatcher - Hell is Here, Hell is Home
    Above, Below - I Guess it Was Nowhere
    Keyland - Knuckle Sandwich
     
    beatingheartsbaby likes this.
  10. Friendjamin

    Trusted Supporter

    I've listened to less new music than any year for the last 10 but I've got a few I like.

    Ratboys - Singin' to an Empty Chair
    underscores - U
    Joyce Manor - I used to go to this bar
    Topiary Creatures - Greenhouse Oubliette
    Seahaven - S/T
    Ferris Wheel Regulars - Back in the Jetstream
     
    Carrow and wheneyeawoke like this.
  11. mattav152

    Soul Divide

    No ranking but here is what I've enjoyed the most this year so far:

    • Basement - WIRED
    • Ratboys - Singin to an Empty Chair
    • Angel Du$t - Cold 2 The Touch
    • Converge - Love Is Not Enough
    • Cashier - The Weight EP
    • Ferris Wheel Regulars - Back In The Jetstream
    • Tigers Jaw - Lost on You
    • Newhvn - Spring Time Blues
    • Soft Curse - Liminal Ritual
    • Isaiah Rashad - It's Been Awful
    • Capillary - In Remembrance
    • Courtney Barnett - Creatures of Habit
    • Lucid Express - Instant Comfort
    • Trauma Ray- Carnival EP
    • Blandest - As She Drifts Away...
     
    Friendjamin likes this.
  12. inagreendase

    Newbie

    In the spirit of the news post, is posting 30 chill? Will anyone read the whole list? We may never know.

    1. The Twilight Sad - It's the Long Goodbye
    2. A Wilhelm Scream - Cheap Heat
    3. Station Model Violence - Station Model Violence
    4. Feels Like Heaven - Within Dreams
    5. Joyce Manor - I Used to Go to This Bar
    6. Seahaven - Seahaven
    7. New German Cinema - Pain Will Polish Me
    8. World I Hate - Total Nuclear Annihilation
    9. Modest Mouse - An Eraser and a Maze
    10. Poison the Well - Peace in Place
    11. Tigers Jaw - Lost on You
    12. Junius - Sotera
    13. The Saddest Landscape - Alone With Heaven
    14. American Football - American Football
    15. Converge - Love Is Not Enough
    16. Rifle - Rifle
    17. Bitter Branches - Let's Give the Land Back to the Animals
    18. I Am the Avalanche - The Horror Show
    19. Ritual Bronze - Ritual Bronze
    20. Piebald - Tales for the Rages
    21. Eyelet - Solenoid
    22. Death Cab for Cutie - I Built You a Tower
    23. Basement - Wired
    24. Failure - Location Lost
    25. Sparta - Cut a Silhouette
    26. Fotocrime - Security
    27. TV Star - Music for Heads
    28. Wears Me Out - Splenetic
    29. Converge - Hum of Hurt
    30. Dry Cleaning - Secret Love
     
  13. SteveLikesMusic Jul 6, 2026 at 12:08 PM
    (Last edited: Jul 7, 2026 at 7:53 AM)
    SteveLikesMusic

    approx. 3rd coolest Steve on here Supporter

    Here’s where I’m at today


    1. MUNA - Dancing On The Wall

    2. Slayyyter - Wor$t Girl In America

    3. Charli XCX - Wuthering Heights

    4. Bleachers - Everyone For Ten Minutes

    5. Tigers Jaw - Lost On You

    6. Converge - Love Is Not Enough + Hum Of Hurt

    7. Poison The Well - Peace In Place

    8. Muse - The Wow! Signal

    9. Death Cab For Cutie - I Built You A Tower

    10. FCUKERS - Ö


    Shoutouts


    Metric - Romanticize The Dive

    Snail Mail - Ricochet

    Olivia Rodrigo - You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love

    Zach Bryan - With Heaven On Top

    The Format - Boycott Heaven

    Koyo - Barely Here

    Charley Crockett - CLOVIS + Age Of The Ram

    Vince Staples - Crybaby

    Edit: big goof, Joyce manor is in the top 10
     
    SpyKi likes this.
  14. artbynickferran

    nickferran.com

    In order:
    1. Ratboys
    2. Boards of Canada
    3. The Format
    4. Poppy
    5. Olivia Rodrigo

    6. Static Dress
    7. Joyce Manor
    8. Johnny Blue Skies
    9. Noah Gundersen
    10. I Promised the World

    11. El Ten Eleven
    12. Bilmuri
    13. American Football
    14. Seahaven
    15. Hilary Duff

    16. Emperor X
    17. Lost in Kyiv
    18. '68
    19. Junius
    20. Unwed Sailor

    Honorable Mentions:
    A Wilhelm Scream, The Academy Is…, Alex Melton, The All-American Rejects, Angine de Poitrine, Arlo Parks, Converge, Death Cab for Cutie, Fcukers, Flying Lotus, Foo Fighters, Footballhead, Iceage, Lantlôs, The Maine, Mitski, Muna, Neurosis, New Found Glory, Nothing, Poison the Well, Slift, Story of the Year, Sunn o))), Super Sometimes, Sweet Pill, Tigers Jaw, Vince Staples, We Stood Like Kings, YHWH Nailgun, Zach Bryan

    I also have a long list of stuff that I need to check out but haven't had a chance to, and obviously that list is constantly growing.
     
  15. cherrywaves

    Prestigious Prestigious

    Division of Mind
    Boards of Canada
    Killing Pace
    Thundercat
    Lone
    Converge
    Yambag
    Charli XCX
    Final Gasp
    Poison Ruin
    Dry Cleaning

    idk haven’t felt moved by a lot
     
  16. OhTheWater

    Let it run Supporter

    Peep that Elori Saxl and Henry Solomon album
     
    cherrywaves likes this.
  17. OotyPa

    fall away Supporter

    so much has already wowed me this year. I am consistently adding to my list on the first page to keep track of it all. a couple great rock records here and there but finding much of the stuff that's hitting lately leans dance-oriented.
     
    Carrow likes this.
  18. torres Jul 7, 2026 at 11:00 AM
    (Last edited: Jul 7, 2026 at 11:24 AM)
    torres

    Regular

    2026 top 5 albums.png

    Sublime - Until The Sun Explodes
    American Football - LP4
    Oakwood - Blurred Away
    Tigers Jaw - Lost On You
    Sincere Engineer - Probable Claws

    I am impressed with everyone's ability to absorb so many full length albums. I'm so behind. These are the only 5 I have been really in love with, but it goes beyond the music in them, which is great. I definitely cannot assess any of these objectively though.

    Sublime is on here because they have been my favorite band of all time for 28 years now. I have a legitimate personal and emotional attachment to them. Among them, opening for Jakob early in 2023 and getting to talk to him at length before he reunited Sublime late in the year. Also getting to see Eric Wilson with his other band Spray Allen at a small venue in Long Beach late in 2022 with other Sublime-related legends. He was so happy to be there, had me help him get his bass strap on him while he was setting up on stage, and after the show, he had his wife send me the soundcloud link to Spray Allen's album before it came out. So to see Sublime's story continue to unfold, it inspires to continue moving with my life.

    American Football, got to see them perform LP1 at the first Best Friends Forever. Ran into Mike Kinsella before the festival at the Walgreens by the venue. He was super kind. The venue I run was also one of the very few venues that got to show their concert film before they released it on YouTube. Another band with a story that continues to unfold.

    Oakwood, just absolutely incredible that a band with merely a few EP's from 2013-2015 can out of nowhere come back over a decade ever and release such a cohesive and strong full length album.

    Tigers Jaw, a band that survived one of their integral members leaving 12 years ago, but managed to take it as an opportunity to build upon their sound and expand it. Also allowed for Brianna to really shine now.

    Sincere Engineer, got to see them in Atlanta once. Deanna Belos has a heart of gold. Her songwriting style is so unique to her. I have connected with all of their albums. I'm hoping for way more success for them in the future.
     
  19. anberlin44

    Newbie

    By far and away the album I have listened to the most this year is
    Calling All Captains- The Things I've Lost

    my other favorites
    The Format- Boycott Heaven
    Super Sometimes- Show The World What's Underneath
    The Maine- Joy Next Door
    Story of the Year- A.R.S.O.N.
    New Found Glory- Listen Up!
    Daisy Grenade- So Much to Say E.P.
    The All-American Rejects- Sandbox
     
  20. WadeCastle

    Trusted Supporter

    [​IMG]
     
  21. Jacktheskipper

    Regular

    So far this year:


    Footballhead - Weight Of The Truth
    Leisure Hour - ...And To Think
    Joyce Manor - I Used To Go To This Bar
    I Am The Avalanche - The Horror Show
    Tigers Jaw - Lost On You
    Feels Like Heaven - Within Dreams
    Capillary - In Remembrance
    Death Lens - What's Left Now?
    Between Bodies - Hands To Hold Each Other
    Super Sometimes - Show The World What's Underneath
    A Wilhelm Scream - Cheap Heat
    Captain Asshole - I'm Having More Fun Than You
     
  22. mattfreaksmeout

    Trusted Supporter

    Top 10:
    1. The Maine: Joy Next Door
    2. Olivia Rodrigo: you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love
    3. Bleachers: everyone for ten minutes
    4. The Format: Boycott Heaven
    5. Ratboys: Singin' to an Empty Chair
    6. Kacey Musgraves: Middle of Nowhere
    7. Basement: WIRED
    8. The Academy Is...: Almost There
    9. Turnover: Down on Earth
    10. Tierra Whack: Whack's World

    Also enjoying:
    Charli XCX: Wuthering Heights
    Ecca Vandal: LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO UNFOLLOW
    Gay Meat: Blue Water
    Harry Styles: Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.
    Kehlani: Kehlani
    Mitski: Nothing's About To Happen To Me
    Palette Knife: Keyframe
    Paul McCartney: The Boys of Dungeon Lane
    Sella: Well I Mean
    Vince Staples: Cry Baby
     
    JRGComedy likes this.
  23. onionbubs

    Trusted

    threw together a mid year playlist for myself that is lookin

    1. american football - man overboard
    2. wild pink - round of applause at the end of the world
    3. enter shikari - dead in the water
    4. modest mouse - third side of the moon
    5. erra - cicada siren
    6. haste the day - gnasher
    7. lower definition - spires
    8. loathe - revenant
    9. poison the well - melted
    10. august burns red - new horizons
    11. madonna - the test
    12. karnivool - salva
     
  24. OotyPa

    fall away Supporter

    I liked the Kacey Musgraves but keep forgetting about it. Looking forward to hearing the songs performed live this fall- hoping it’ll all click then
     
    WadeCastle likes this.
  25. WadeCastle

    Trusted Supporter

    I just got my dad a couple tickets to see her next month here by me for his birthday
     
    OotyPa likes this.