Year in Review — The Minor Second

2026: Reviews of albums

2026 Reviews of albums (small ones) I have heard so far this year that will just be for quick thoughts on what I am listening to. These are not full reviews and many will be below a 75% rating, and some will be expanded along their own pages later.

Agnine de Poitrine - Vol. II - 81%

Mostly instrumental prog rock with goofy outfits, but its not just a gimmick. Songs like "Angor" build to a climax but most songs here are long, shifting suites of crazy enough technical prowess- "Mata Zylek" being probably the best example. Impressive playing and impressive songs.

Amos, Tori - Time of Dragons - 82%

On Tori's new album, her first in quite some time, there are a wealth of ideas. Plenty of material as usual, it spans 17 songs in 77 minutes. And as usual there are some amazing tracks: the typical piano journeys of "Provincetown", the topical but passionate "Ode to Minnesota", and the new classic 'Strawberry Moon". Everything is more laid back and more psychedelic than her albums of 20 years prior. There are also songs that start off sort of 80's Cocteau Twins but evolve slowly into something very Tori Amos, such as the lovely "Stronger Together" and album closer "23 Peaks" which channels Jane Siberry a bit. Other instant crowd pleasers like the Joni Mitchel-esque "St Teresa", the rocking "Pyrite", and "Angelshark" show her in top form all these years in. But yes many songs play as b-sides, ("Flood", "song of Sorrow", the far too long "Blue Lotus") diluting the power some to make it a good album, it could have been great at 11 or 12 songs long.

Andrews, Courtney Marie – Valentine – 62%

It’s too bad nothing really stands out on this record, as Andrews is a promising Americana influenced singer-songwriter based on previous albums. Though her voice is solid throughout, not many songs really distinguish themselves and though it sounds well made and pretty, beyond “Only the Best for Baby”, “Everyone Wants to Feel Like You Do” and “Little Picture of a Butterfly” nothing sticks with me. Not awful, just a bit too normal.

Barwick, Julianna w/ Mary Latimore - Tragic Magic - 69%

Barwick works with harpist Mary Lattimore (of the Valarie Project) on this album, to make more of her trademark atmospheric and wordless music. Ambient type soundscapes are abound, most successful on opener “Perpetual Adoration” and the seven minute “Stardust” but its nothing Barwick hasn’t done better elsewhere. Another long closing song, “Melted Moon” is pretty and uses repetition to the extreme to carve out some indistinguishable vocals in a lovely and harmless way. This is a minor work from artists who have made some magical music in the past.

Beatglider - Dreaming of Roads - 88%

Country psychedelia that sounds more at home with music twenty years ago- because it was originally recorded in 2003 but not released until this year. It's crazy that is true, because the music contained here is truly timeless. Some a long trips- "Dreaming of Roads" wins that prize at seven and a half minutes. but others are a nice mix of Slowdive and Wilco that deserves to be heard by everyone.

Black Crowes - A Pound of Feathers - 74%

I haven't heard The Black Crowes in a while, but each song here is a pretty strong hard rock force, as old fashioned as it can be. Favorite's include the darker ones, closer "Doomsday Droggel" and "High and Lonesome". The Robinson Brother's prove they are still very relevant to classic rock roll.

Blackshaw, James - Fractures on the Horizon - 78%

Two long instrumentals, the 25 minute title track (the best song, many songs within as usual on acoustic) and the 10 minute "Three Interlopers" mainly a drone piece. Blackshaw is becoming a little bit predictable in the albums he creates, in format, but that doesn't mean the results are not pretty great music every time.

Blu and Exile - Time Heals Everything - 88%

Blu (raps) and Exile (production) have been around the L.A. scene for like 20 years now, and as prolific as they can be sometimes they hit gold. This album, employing many of amazing guest spots by Black Thought ("TSOD"), IceColdBishop ("Crumbs") and Ahmad Anwar ("Shoe Laces"), makes hip hop that is both catchy and complex. A nice trade off between innovative beats, that often create multiple songs in one, and an unbridled emphasis on bold lyricism.

Boards of Canada - Inferno - 66%

Although they have forged their sound in IDM, I have never truly loved a BOC album. This one is no different, for every song that flirts with greatness, there are one or two i really do not care for. The use of 'vocal sound effects' also gets rather tedious. The album as a whole feels like a bunch of half-baked ideas that don't relate to each other beyond some elegant production.

Brown Horse - Total Dive - 61%

Well, after the amazing blend of Americana and Neil young inspired guitar on the first two albums the band shows us what can happen when you follow up too quickly making 3 albums in three years. While nothing is awful here and the guitar work is often amazing (“Comeback Loading” and “total Dive”) most of this lacks real staying power. They just need to wait for the time to think up more great songs next time. All I hear is Zuma Zuma Zuma.

Callahan, Bill – My Days of 58 – 55%

Tempted to rate it a “58” haah, it doesn’t quite get that high due to the fact that this album is too long and too samey throughout. Ol’ Smog can’t seem to hum the great melodies he used to, as many of things song barely have anything going on. “Lonely City” and “Pathol O.G.” manage to rekindle some of the old magic, but rarely have I cared less about an album by this great songwriter.

Dalek – Brilliance of a Falling Moon – 60%

Endangered Philosophies (2017) was probably the last great album by Dalek, a group that raps but constantly resists convention making their songs more like industrial collages than hip hop rhyming beats. They succeed when the music is great, but here is sort of all blurs together. “Knowledge” is probably the standout, its dark and weird but its just not memorable.

Dry Cleaning - 35%

I sort of feel like Dry Cleaning should make a choice: either concentrate on making creative, catchy songs or choose to be completely random on purpose. With the lead 'singer' reading random poetry and the guitarists playing pseudo riffs in the background, it just comes across as half-assed to me. If that is what they are going for well, more power to them.....but it's not my thing.

Earth Tongue - Dungeon Vision - 76%

A nice little female singer led heavy psych band out of New Zealand, often sounding like the kiwi version of 70's heavy metal. "Harvester" is a not so subtle nod to Blue Oyster Cult, many songs ape Black Sabbath "title track and "Living Hell". Some work better than others, but some songs- especially on the second half really stand out, like "Orbit of a Witch" which is like a prog rock metal song written by girl scouts. Closer "Ritual" has Abba and Queen style harmonies.

Foo Fighters - Your Favorite Toy - 25%

The FF have not been relevant for a long time, but there is one song on here that must be heard because he repeats a phrase about 100 times. It’s unintentionally hilarious to me: The Song is called “Child Actor”-

“Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off! Turn the Camera’s off!” - for real…..Dave Grol does NOT want the cameras on.

Harding, Aldous - Train on the Island- 71%

Definitely has its moments of fun, quirky genius- "Coats" and "One Stop" come to mind. But a lot of this has qualities of style over substance, too many songs full of "sounds" that are interesting but not truly engaging as pieces of music ( "Train on the Island", "If the Lady Does It", "What Am I Gonna Do" ) I know this has been a long critique of Harding, but i found her last two albums far more entertaining. At times, I really want the songs to be over- like "San Francisco"- but at times i am enthralled in a good way- like "Venus in the Zinnia". Pretention is in the eye of the beholder, but i tend to always recommended Harding's music, even if this is not my favorite album of hers.

Heavenly - Highway to - 84%

Heavenly return after many years, as innocent and pure in the realm of Twee pop as they ever were, sort of like the last 20 years never happened. they were always one of the most easy listening pop bands around. "Deflicted" (is that a word?) owes something to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory's "World of Pure Imagination" in the chorus, and all of the songs here have that same nostalgic trip- you may have heard it 100 times but it still sounds good. "Excuse Me", "Portland Town", "A Different Beat"- these songs burrow in your mind and refuse to leave. “Press Return” proves that theirs is a style that remains influential on modern music, and “She’s the One” and “Good Times” mark themselves as some of the best pure-pop songs ever written.

JPEGMAFIA - Experimental Rap - 83%

This might be the album that separates the true fans from the non-believers. People seemed very, perhaps to eager, to jump on Jpeg for finally making a bad album after 6 albums of near perfection and major consistent quality in the last ten years. But really, this is just a continuation of what he was doing on his last album- instead of 14 songs its 25, and the tunes are generally shorter and yes more experimental in that way.

Not everything works, how could it? Most of it rules though, he is one of the best rap artists out there.

King Tuff - Moo - 87%

Combining the best of classic rock like CCR and Tom Petty on songs like "East of Ordinary" and "Twisted on a Train", while also tossing off like garage rock nuggets like White Stripes or The Psychotic 5 like "Oil Change", King Tuff takes his nice production touches. and matches them to unbelievable guitar solos and impeccable song-writing. the nostalgic, messy, and addictive stuff. See the pop-rock silliness of "Unglued"

Lampreys, the - Sacrifice for Film - 81%

Glitch pop duo also take cues from 100 Gecs and The Books to make a fun album. Sometimes you can't tell where the songs they wrote begin and the samples end. In all a great spirit of parody and creativity permeates the proceedings.

Long Ryders, the - High Noon Hymns - 65%

Definitely the least essential album since this band returned after a 30 year hiatus from the last 1980s, most songs on here sound a bit too much like generic country and this band is better than that. “Stand a Little Further in the Fire” plays with the old T-Rex riff. The cover of “forever young” by Dylan sounds a bit tired. Still a lot of this would be great to hear in your local country bar – no psychedelics to be found this time around. The closest to greatness are the jangle of “Down to the Well” or the fun “Rain in Your Eyes” and “World Without Fear”. Those can recall the great days of the Paisley Underground in 80’s LA, but few else do.

Harding, Aldous - Train on the Island - 71%

Heathen Axe - s/t - 83%

Crashes and burns toward the end, but but those first four songs are so are some blissed out, psych distorted guitar rock glory.

Hoop, Jesca - Long Wave Home - 90%

Another winner for Hoop whose discography is one of the most diverse of all time at this point. This album has songs serious about Palestine "Playground", new folk classics "Viv Over Drink" that are uniquely hers, quirky but topical like "Designer Citizen", and the 60's throwback that unlike anything she has done before the classic "Big Storm". "Love is Salvation" also shows us the emotions and knowledge Hoop makes look so easy, it's one of the better albums she has done which is saying a lot in a 20 year career.

King Tuff - Moo - 87%

Mclusky – I Sure am Getting Sick of this Bowling Alley EP – 88%

A nice companion to their blistering return last year (The World is Still Here and So Are We (2025) ), this EP is six songs of pure punky silly joy. The best two songs are first, the descending riff of the spastic “I am Computer” and one of the best songs they ever did in “Had a Dad” with the insanely catchy chorus of “In the Piranha was another piranha!” But the charm of bassist Damien Sayell’s “Hi, Were’ on Strike!” and the calmest ballad they have ever done “That Was My Brain On Elves” are also successes, proving the band’s return to form was not a fluke but a resurgence.

The Messthetics and James B Lewis - Def the Currency - 79%

Messthetics 4th album and 2nd collab with Brendon Lewis take the noise and cacophony up a notch. Where many of the these songs do float around a central theme- the hard hitting “Clutch” and more controlled and jazz influenced “Rules of the Game” has moments of absolute wisdom- a lot of this feels more improvised and messy (on purpose) then ever before. The Messethetics started as a band that seemed more controlled and math rock influenced in their instrumental powers, and now they have evolved into being more jazz band than rock band here and it’s not just the addition of a saxophone (James Brandon Lewis adds a lot to their sound). “30 Years of Knowing” sounds like a completely different band than this group was on their 1st two records.

The instrumental skills are beyond most other bands around, just see opening track “Deface the Currency” for some of the best saxophone and guitar playing you will ever hear. Also the Fugazi rhythm section of Lally and Canty still is top notch- the slight return of closer “Serpent Tongue” from their 1st album and the twist and turns involved in “Gestations” and noisy “Universal Security” are a more impressive look back into 20th century John Coltrane style workouts. I’ll give them this, this is the exact opposite musically of Fugazi.

Montgomery, Roy - Guitars Infernal - 66%

Several songs recall a Montgomery of old, but overall a lot of this is noise for noise sake. Too bad, because the best songs are still better at what they do than most others- the guitar as a psychedelic tool- "Lucifer's Generation" and "Psychotic Ideation."

Morgan Nagler - I’ve Got Nothing to Lose and I’m Losing It - 94%

After helping write songs for some of the best female artists of the last ten years or so (oh go look it up) Nagler finally releases a solo record in her late 40's drawing on her whole life experience. Effortless country rock ("Ball and Chain", the hilarious "Grassoline) and old fashioned laid back grungy sounds ("Cradle the Pain") remain sounding fresh and vital, as well as the occasional psych trip like "Dad's on Acid"

Music City - Welcome to Music City - 46%

Songs like "A Little Favor" reminded me of the power pop of The Shazam, but mainly the hooks are not there even though it's all preformed pleasantly enough.

Nude Party, the - Look Who’s Back - 40%

Faceless power pop, in an era where that is the last thing we need. Saw them live recently and....my opinion stayed about the same. No songs to back up the style.

OOIOO/ Lightning Bolt - The Horizon Spirals/ Virials - 84%

The OOIOO song "The Horizon Spirals" which is split into two movements, especially make this a great release. Both bands have the spirit of great fast paced noise makers, but OOIOO (Boredoms under a new moniker) really impress.

Puma Blue - Cloak Dream - 84%

taking his cue from Radiohead, Perfume Genius, and other Depeche Mode type dance influences, Puma Blue really comes into his own on this album. Songs like the title track show there is still plenty of room to stretch and grow in this mix of genres. some Truly moving tracks, and others that grow on you such as "Desire", "Fool" and "Silently."

Ratboys, the - Singin’ to an Empty Chair - 91%

Definitely a nice surprise, a band with a very versatile singer (Julia Stiner) that at first comes across like they just writer cute pop ditties. They do write some good ones (“Strange Love” is very special, how it stops in the middle) and openers “Open Up” and “Know You Then”. But the other side of Ratboys’ music has more of a Built to Spill influence, a sort that makes longer songs that are either dirges that explore complex emotions (“Just Want you to Know the Truth”) or multi-faceted wonders that ever evolve in shape and form (the loud dynamic shifts of “Burn it Down”, cataclysms inside the walls of “Light Night Mountains All That”). In all, pop mixes with experimentation inside the confines of a four-piece rock band, and great songwriting makes it all worth it.

Rodrigo, Oliva - You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So In Love - 69%

the newest Rodrigo I was really looking forward do, and it's a slight disappointment. She seems to be going backwards not forwards, especially on the first three songs which are among the most mundane I have heard form her. Luckily there are some really good songs after that, especially the alt rock of "U+Me=heart" and the venture into electronic dance "Expectations". Certain ballads also work, like "Purple" and its nice crescendo, but too many songs use the same melodies and don't expand on her last albums Guts innovations.

Sallis, Richard – Casino – 73%

Since his last record was just about my favorite rock record of 2025, I had big expectations and this album seemed like a step backwards. Then I read in an interview that this was actually an old 2010 or so group of ideas Sallis had for songs and he wanted to release something between Felix (2025) and his next big emotional attempt (unnamed project). Ah, makes more sense now. Well, there still are some amazing tunes especially the complex hard rock of “Mandolin gun” and ballad “Contact Hours”, but it feels a bit lazy and undercooked for a ‘follow up’ to Felix.

Sault - Chapter One - 75%

Sault return again, ever prolific to the point of near irrelevance, with a little bit of an effort this time. Each of these songs has a nice groove, and it's nice to hear decent ideas once again, recalling the amazing first five albums by the band. The first half of the album fares much better, as the second half almost seems to fade into nothingness until the finally- "Puppet" which points to a bright future once more with some real verve.

Slayter - Worst Girl in America - 82%

I can get with pop music that is unique and self aware like this, with just song titles alone like "Gas station" and "Brittany Murphy" speak volumes. While the record would be stronger is they cut out 4 or 5 songs, what is here are some amazingly fun singles in "Dance" and "Crank". Also, the reason it sort of rises above the norm of electro-pop is the way the production maximizes on songs like "St Loser" and especially "Yes Good", sort of building on bands like 100 Gecs mixed with Michael Jackson levels of dance craze (pop perfection of "Old Fling") and Crystal Castles and Sleigh Bells are definitely other influences. Maybe too much reverb and echo on the vocals, but still....fun.

Staples, Vince - Cry Baby - 87%

Vince Staples comes back in full force with a live band behind him, channeling Nas' Illmatic (1994) in more ways than one. For the most part he is an unstoppable force- The blistering opener "Blackberry Marmalade" with its commentary on modern society and race relations and concepts; "the Running Man" which is like pure punk rock / hip hop hybrid; "Only in America" and actually great political song; "the Big Bad Wolf" and "Do You Know The Devil" which showcases Staples ability to drag us down with him into his dark subconscious.

Strokes, the - Reality Awaits - 38%

Auto tuned vocals, slow paced songs....at this point count me out Strokes unless you can find your way back to good songwriting.

Telehealth - Green World Image - 87%

A great, timely album full of topics ranging from earning a living in the modern world ("Silver Spoon"), modern language on the internet ("Yassify Me") and biological warfare ("Age of Muralcide"). They quote their own contradictions, like each song being shorter than 4 minutes and being very influenced by the 1970's era of mechanical punk rock- Devo and Kraftwerk for sure- on closer "Living Laughing Loving Trying". Some songs to get a little homogenous, "Maria Machine and "Cost of Inaction” come to mind. but most of this is super enjoyable and catchy rock music with incredibly intricate playing. IN a great way, they create their own modern language.

Thompson, Teddy - Never Be the Same - 77%

Some of his best songs in a while, especially closer "Same Old Song". Teddy T can get by on just his amazing voice, but his songwriting for old fashioned singer-songwriter standards is pretty on point here.

Tividad, Harmony - Lifetime - 67%

Some of the lo-fi influenced pop songs ‘gone big’ have their place, like the first two, but the rest can get far too chill and forgettable to fast. There is potential here.

Underscores – U – 48%

Unfortunately, Underscores did not go off the promise of the brilliant moments of their 2023 record Wallsocket. All of the fury and innovation has been replaced with a sort of laid back, electro pop with annoying auto tuned vocals. I guess she is trying to appeal to the teenage crowd, but there is a way to do that and still have decent music. Beyond “Do It” which is objectively a better song than the others to me, I can’t latch on to much here.