Monthly Album Recap - April 2026
Got through more this month, and it showed some better promise than March. Some great pop albums, some stinkers. Oh, and 2018 still mostly holds up.
New Spins
Tigers Jaw - Lost on You // Pop Punk
Good hooks, sad vibes seem to be a staple I can’t run from. can get a little samey, but the change of vocalists help break any ruts that may be felt.
Slayyyter - WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA // Good Pop
Was not expecting this, but this is a great pop album front to back and just continues to deliver on big hooks, great production and fun songs.
Fcukers - Ö // Pop
I don’t know if it was lackluster because i just finished Slayyyter or if this just feels like a safe pop album. imma go with the latter, but definitely worth a revisit if the itch is there for radio pop.
Snail Mail - Ricochet // Indie Rock
Slow burn of mostly fine songs that doesn’t seem to have a standout. production has been better than everything before, but it still feels flat from start to finish.
Courntey Barnett - Creature of Habit // Singer Songwriter
Feels like a return to form. Even the low moments in the album are lovely, which is the hallmark of any Courtney Barnett album.
The Twilight Sad - IT’S THE LONG GOODBYE // Sad Indies
Some really good songs in here, and some that just feel like filler. James Graham's voice keeps my attention throughout the whole album, but it starts to all blend together.
Raye - THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE // KISS FM Pop
Her voice is great, and the message is nice, but it just seems to be lacking OOMPH (technical term) and talky parts during songs annoy me. this is a personal battle.
Stuck - Optimizer // (f)Art Rock
like walmart parquet courts.
Station Model Violence - Station Model Violence // Post Rock
I's in between of Stuck's album and a Parquet Courts album. Lot of art-rock/post-punk seems to be falling into the shoegaze problem lately
Puma Blue - Croak Dream // Garage Rock
This is like the Kim Gordon albums with less trap influences, but that's not a bad thing. had a good fuzzed out production that kept it fresh throughout, just the "droll talky rock" vibe can only do so much for me.
Robber Robber - Two Wheels Move the Soul // Alt Pop Rock
The tone is set from the opening track and it does not relent in great, fuzzed out production for a very fun noise rock record.
Shep Treasure - Blanket // Singer Songwriter
Lush and confrontation at moments. Didnt think it could be done, but I am sure glad it was figured out.
The New Pornographers - The Former Site Of // Indie Sleaze
Why do they make such chaste music? I feel mislead.
Neurosis - An Undying Love For a Burning World // Black Metal
Metal music for mad dads is a category I guess I don’t hate anymore.
Johnny Blue Skies - Mutiny After Midnight // Disco Country
Sturgill doesn’t miss, and this new pivot continues to surprise and delight.
Melanie Martinez - HADES // Pop
nice little vibe pop album that had some little breakouts, but not enough to distinguish itself. good background music
deary - Birding // Shoegaze
I am glad the next generation is making shoegaze, but it doesn’t feel like any natural progression to bring this genre to its next wave. this album represents that; good, fine but doesn’t go past that
Arlo Parks - Ambiguous Desire // Modern R&B
What a let down as a follow-up. Nothing stands out other than her voice, but that can only do so much.
Angine de Poitrine - Vol II // Instrumental
Really good instrumental album. It's like one long jam band solo, but experimental.
Makthaverskan - Glass and Bones // Indie Sleaze
If this came out in 2012, this would have hit so much different. Right now, nostalgia doesn’t work that well.
Thundercat - Distracted // Jazz
Glad he named the record after my feeling during the whole experience.
My New Band Believe - My New Band Believe // Art Folk
This is the better album of the black midi-verse.
Holly Humberstone - Cruel World // Pop
Pretty forgettable pop album that people will tell me is good. This is The Dinner Party all over again.
tsubi club - trinket // Hyperpop
100 Gecs b-sides. Feels like the start of something fun
upsammy & Valentina Magaletti - Seismo // Flow State
Some good moments, but doesn’t seem to flow like I would expect
Brown Horse - Total Dive // Country
Beautiful songs with heart and yearning. What more can you ask for!
Free Throw - Moments Before the Wind // Pop Punk
This is straight out of the 2008-core where all bands sound the same and there's a random acoustic song.
Cancer House - The Moth // Noise Rock
This is like the Ethel Cain drone album where people are going to try to convince you it's art and not noise.
Twisted Teens - Blame the Clown // Punk
A raspy voice is a must for a punk album.
Melanie Baker - Somebody Help Me, I'm Being Spontaneous // Pop
It's like a Lorde impersonation with other bedroom pop that never hits the same highs as actually good pop.
Jessie Ware - Superbloom // Jazz-Disco-Pop
It feels more stripped down than previous efforts, but not in a good way. I wanted bombastic, and all I got was decent to go radio pop.
drug bug - Hell for a Basement // Post-Rock
this is like boring art folk rock that someone is going to tell I don't understand. which, i don’t.
Wendy Eisenberg - Wendy Eisenberg // Singer Songwriter
What if whimsy was a whole album
Winston Hightower - 100 Acre Wood // Indie Sleaze
The best thing about this album is the groovy basslines in all the songs.
Tokischa - AMOR & DROGA // Latin Pop
Like 60% as good as any Rosalia album.
King Tuff - MOO // Garage Rock
This is garage dad rock at its finest. nothing offensive, but nothing standout.
April + VISTA - Traditional Noise // Neo Soul
Reminds me of the first Arlo Parks but drags a little. It's decent to good.
Carla dal Forno - Confession // Dream Pop
Languid.
Metric - Romanticize the Dive // Yesteryear Indie
Metric walked so Alvvays could run.
Tokyo Shoegazer - Remains // Shoegaze
Good background, almost drowned out too much. Might come back to this
Friko - Something Worth Waiting For // Alt Country
Perfect continuation of their recent work while making it feel more harried in a good way. There's an edge here that I adore.
Re-Spins
Low - Double Negative
Haunting. Amazing.
Courtney Barnett - Tell Me How You Really Feel
Some of her best work, and that's hard to do.
Hop Along - Bark Your Head Off, Dog
I think I just liked Frances Quinlan's voice more than I liked Hop Along as a band. Both seemed to age just fine
Kali Uchis - Isolation
Great pop albums never die.
Iceage - Beyondless
This hits just a certain mood and it's fine at that.