The Best Albums of January 2026
Is the first month of the year supposed to be the least exciting for new music releases?
Some say January isn’t a strong month for albums writ large, but that hasn’t been my usual experience.
In fact, I can’t remember a year that didn’t start out with an album that would eventually end up somewhere high up on my Best Of list at the end of that same year.
2021 had shame’s Drunk Tank Pink and Goat Girl’s On All Fours
2022 had The Weeknd’s Dawn FM
2023 had The Murder Capital’s Gigi’s Recovery and Lil Yachty’s Let’s Start Here
2024 had SPRINTS’ Letter to Self and The Smile’s Wall of Eyes
Last year wasn’t too shabby, either.
I admit this year feels different.
Blame the first snowy winter since 2016. Blame turning 42 (today, if you’re keeping track — I’m obviously not! Psh!). Blame the systematic and unrelenting erosion of civil liberties just pummeling our newsfeeds and neighborhoods at every. Fucking. Turn.
I can’t honestly say whether I’m failing to find joy in recent releases because the music is lacking, or because the walls of the pit I have to crawl out of to actually reach that joy are so high right now.
But never mind all that.
On the one hand, nothing immediately stands out to me as an obvious end of year contender. I also struggled to fill out my monthly playlist with as many exciting picks as I usually do, which is a shame.
On the other hand, having less that (immediately) excited me meant I had more time with everything else. This is a rare treat.
Why is quantity always the goal?
Unwittingly, I’d been sticking to the spirit of listening with more purpose. I veered into a few genres I wouldn’t normally explore. I poked and prodded around more music submissions and reader recommendations. More time meant more indepth engagement. It was rewarding. In retrospect, I wish more months were like this.
I hope the albums in this roundup reflect the care that went into their selection. But first…
What were your favorites this month?
The Best Albums of January 2026
All of the other month-by-month best of lists are here.
The playlist of the month is at the very bottom of the post.
By next month, the Best Tracks of 2026 playlist will be ready to go (and free for all). It just needs a little more time to brew.
9 albums.
First 3 always free.
No rankings.
Not even alphabetical order anymore! Gasp!
Legend:
🎯 = if you only have time for one…
📼 = most nostalgic/accessible
🧩 = most challenging
📼 Home Star - A Binding Life
The first record to truly charm me this month, perhaps unsurprisingly, is a hidden Philadelphia gem. Marietta’s frontman debuts a solo act of sunny, high-octane nostalgia to relieve us from our agonizing winter doldrums. To channel our beloved S.W. Lauden - “Is it power pop?” Yes, oh yes. ‘90s power pop specifically, like Weezer and Fountains of Wayne, will come rushing back to you as you listen. It’s sometimes difficult for straightforward albums like this one to draw me in, because their simplicity has to be overcome with pristine pacing and well-crafted hooks. This one delivers. Start with: “Beam”
Sargent Baker - Loose Ends
Some of the best new music is coming out of Australia, and my most recent discovery absolutely rips. I try to keep a small arsenal of music to convert the die-hard classic rock aficionados who refuse to give new music a chance, and this is my latest weapon. If you’re a fan of arena rock, AC/DC, Iggy Pop, and the oft-neglected guitar solo, get ready to rumble. Start with: “On The Burn”
Annabelle Chairlegs - Waking Up
Ty Segall’s production makes perfect sense for this fuzzy, psychedelia-infused album. I can feel a bit of Velvet Underground and Janis Joplin creeping in, but in the end it’s far more of a nod to the ‘90s reviving the ‘60s than straight up Haight-Ashbury. With vocals more akin to Juliana Hatfield and desert swagger that Beck could get on board with, there’s whole eras to sink your teeth into. Start with: “Patty Get Your Gun”
Still to come — dark pop, proto-punk revival, soulful hip-hop, genre-defying anti-fascism, and much more.
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