OG Brian's Favorites of 2026... So Far

Time to be honest. I’m really having trouble compiling my favorite albums from the first half of this year. Partially because the album releases have been a bit scattershot, partially because January feels like five years ago. I’m looking back at 2026’s releases so far and… wait, Dry Cleaning’s latest album came out this year?

Back in the sepia-toned days of January 2026, we were completely different people. We had neither the reality of UFC-altered flight patterns nor the fantasy of algae-related sabotage. And not even the most optimistic person alive thought this monumental event was possible…

You thought this bit would be over by now? Ha! I’m in my 50s and have waited literally my entire life for a Knicks championship. I might still reference it in my Best of 2028 post, assuming we all make it that far. And I’m not the only one reveling in the brilliance of Jalen Brunson & co.

I mean, come on! How can I focus on 2026 album releases when that dreamy Democratic Socialist is rattling off some serious ball knowledge fresh off doing the “lean back” with Karl-Anthony Towns?

OK, OK, I’ll get to the business at hand. Listed below in no particular order (and with an accompanying playlist) are 10 of my favorite albums from the first half of 2026. After reading, if you haven’t already done so, please check these albums out. In the meantime, I’ll be rewatching Alicia Keys singing “New York State of Mind” AND “Empire State of Mind” in front of City Hall (my own personal favorite musical moment of 2026 so far). Enjoy!

Ratboys – Singin’ to an Empty Chair: I wrote about this one in February, and everything I felt then still stands. Ratboys have been at it for a long time and their latest album brings together a litany of styles into a reliable, solid, fun indie rock album. When tracks like “Anywhere” or “Penny in the Lake” pop up on satellite radio it puts me in a good mood. Ratboys a great live band and, having seen them twice, it’s clear they’re enjoying the moment as much as the fans are.

GUV – Warmer Than Gold: GUV (formerly Young Guv) is the solo project for Ben Cook, guitarist for Canadian punk band Fucked Up. Whereas Fucked Up is pure unfiltered hardcore, GUV is Britpop-influenced guitars and beats. And Warmer Than Gold is Cook’s apex. Throughout the album I hear a little Stone Roses, a little Joy Division, a little Happy Mondays, and a lot of Jesus and Mary Chain. Takes me back to buying Darklands on CD at the local record store.

Cardinals – Masquerade: When we visited Ireland two years ago I fell in love with Dublin. Absolutely adored the city. My only regret is that, due to time constraints, we didn’t see more of the country aside from a day trip to Kilkenny. If we had made our way to Cork, who knows? We might have wandered into a club and gotten a glimpse of local post-punk band Cardinals years before their debut LP made an impression. Masquerade is a confident and powerful debut from a band that walked through the door that Fontaines DC kicked open (as Dave recently noted regarding another Irish band). We still hope to make it to Cork one day, but Cardinals’ reach will be much farther and wider by then.

Brown Horse – Total Dive: Another than I’ve written about in 2026. An English band doing Americana as good or better than most American bands? What’s next? Team USA beating England in the World Cup? It could happen! OK, maybe I need to settle down. (Side note: the USMNT really needs to change their victory song. John Denver’s “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” doesn’t up the team’s cool factor. Make the change now, or I’m switching allegiances to the team that plays The Beatles and Oasis after each win.) Planning to see Brown Horse when they play DC in September.

Cola – Cost of Living Adjustment: More post-punk, this time from the great city of Montreal. Their third album is relentless without being overbearing, political without being obvious. Cola can be angry on one song, poppy on the next, moody on the one after that. Through it all, the chords and the rhythm section work together to propel the listener from one feeling to the next. Another band I’m eager to see live when they come to DC next month.

ELUCID & Sebb Bash – I Guess U Had to Be There: ELUCID is a New York rapper, one half of the duo Armand Hammer with billy woods. Sebb Bash is a Swedish DJ and producer. Their pairing produced my favorite hip hop album of the first half of 2026. This album is cleaner and more direct than the Armand Hammer and billy woods releases from 2025 (while I enjoyed those as well, I noted at the time that their occasional lack of focus kept them in the Honorable Mentions section of my “Favorites of 2025” list). ELUCID raps about gentrification and parenthood and political issues impacting daily lives while Sebb Bash provides straightforward beats and production with the occasional flourish that supplements rather than distracts.

Ovven – Gnawing at the Cord: We’re in the midst of an alt-country renaissance, even if no one wants to call it that. Ovven is the band/stage name for Owen Burton, a Nashville-based musician who released his debut album this year. Looking for a connection to recent alt-country hits? Check. See producer Alex Farrar, who also worked with Wednesday, Fust, and MJ Lenderman. What about past alt-country influences? Check. Listen and you’ll hear echoes of Drive-By Truckers, Jason Molina, and Son Volt. You might even hear a couple of songs that remind you just a little too much of recent Lenderman songs. No matter. We’re not into full-on Lenderman karaoke yet (spoiler alert: a recently released single from a different band tells me we might have that conversation later this year) and Ovven’s debut LP is a fun ride regardless.

Mod Lang – Borrowed Time: Guitar-heavy power pop from four kids clearly enamored with Big Star. What’s not to like? As I noted earlier this year, this album was practically crafted in a lab for me. “TV Star” derives its sound from “In the Street” without sounding derivative and the band shouts out multiple Big Star songs both in their name and in lyrics. We’ll see if Mod Lang has more in the tank for future releases, but right now for anyone into mid-2020s power pop this album is a blast.

The Lemon Twigs – Look For Your Mind!: ‘60s guitar pop and ‘70s power pop combined with Gen Z theater kid energy. As I wrote last month, the D’Addario brothers – who are the creative mainstays of this band – live and breathe their influences. The Beatles/Beach Boys/Big Star flourishes might not be for everyone, but The Lemon Twigs stop just short of laying it on thick. In doing so, they put together their best album yet and one of the most enjoyable from the first half of 2026.

Mildred – Fenceline: We hear a lot about slacker-dude musicians trying to emulate The Band or Pavement or Silver Jews. Few accomplish this better than the four dudes in Mildred, the Oakland-based band that released their excellent debut LP in April. The guys started off jamming together and the album sounds like that’s still the case, like an updated Midnight Ramble filtered through David Berman’s sensibility. Four songwriters, four vocalists, all sharing the load with each taking a moment to shine. “Fish Sticks” is one of Fenceline’s standout tracks and an early front-runner for my favorite song of the year, blending folk-rock with a freakout guitar solo that disappears into nowhere at the end. Shambolic and smart, Fenceline is what slacker-dudes should aspire to. (Brian)