Best of 2026.5 (Josh)

2026 hasn’t been much of an improvement on the previous year (at least so far). One of the few things that’s not sucking these days is the steady stream of music artists continue to release worldwide. We’re checking in on what we’ve loved midway (roughly) through 2026.

Albums (Top 15 unranked but kind of in order)

SML – Spontaneous Music Live

Panda Bear & Sonic Boom – A ? of When

Jeff Parker – Happy Today

Bill Orcutt – Music in Continuous Motion

Satoshi & Makoto – Mirage Cafe

Isaiah Rashad – It’s been Awful

The Field – Now You Exist

Wendy Eisenberg – S/T

Imaginary Softwoods – Center for Tactical Magic

[Ahmed] – Play Monk

Vince Staples – Cry Baby

Suss – Counting Sunsets

Tara Clerkin Trio – Somewhere good

Lauren Pike – Possible Utopias for Jazz Quintet

Object Hours – Solved by Walking

Minnesota Albums / Songs

Andrew Broder – Winter Martyrs

Cole Pulice – 13 Sided Dice

Visible Lights – Sierra de Luquillo: A Living Soundscape

Dosh – Insurance Mix

American Cream Band – Twin

Concerts

Drone Not Drones at Cedar

Takkat at The Contended Cow

Chuck Johnson and Clarice Jensen at Cedar

L’Rain at Walker Art Center

Wendy Eisenberg at Whitney Museum of Art

Rev. Vince Anderson at Union Pool

American Cream at Eagles Club

Totally Gross National Product Sundays at Icehouse (made 3 of 4, all were outstanding)

Pavement at Palace Theatre

Many sets, but especially Julianna Barwick + Mary Lattimore at Eaux Claires Fest

Every show I was able to see at Pattern Room and every Tiny Tuesday, as always