Your eyes are not deceiving you! New music for September 2026 is HERE!!!

Our dedicated music staff reviewed a ton of new albums and wrote some beautiful reviews for you to catch up on. Give them a read, and give these albums a listen!

Lambchop - Punching the Clown

Label: Merge
Genre: Alt Country, Folky Indie
Reviewed by: Finn Stephens
Lambchop's latest album, Punching the Clown, tells its campfire stories among cold, acoustic backdrops. Stripped back to Kurt Wagner's vocals, underlying banjo plucks, acoustic strings, and the hum of a choir to complement, every track provides beautiful soundscapes with minimal production. To some, this could be considered too flat or minimalist, but I truly think it hits a wonderful sweet spot that should get much more love in the studio and beyond.

Sweeping Promises - You Say I Romanticize

Label: Sub Pop
Genre: Art Rock/ Punk Rock
Reviewed by: Alicya James
Girl punk to the 1st degree. Tracks like 'Shooting Shadows" cater to those ready to headbang and rock out, all while wearing your pink sparkly shoes. Amidst unapologetic cries, sharp guitar figures, driving basslines, restless drums, and Lira Mondal’s expressive vocals...creates a denser and more intense punk sound compared to their earlier work. Beware!!! There is absolutely no misses with this album.

Slow Joy - Esteban Flores

Label: MDDN
Genre: Punk Rock
Reviewed by: Marcus Mason
Esteban Flores by Slow Joy is sometimes shoegazy (Tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 10) and sometimes emo with a touch of slowcore (Tracks 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11). Lyrics go over many shades of a difficult heartbreak and eventually the grief that comes with leaving someone. This album is made for the brooding vibes that the end of Summer and the arrival of Fall bring. Slow Joy’s vocals provide a solid sense of yearning to every track, from desperate groaning screams to soft croons and whispers. Some very great emo-like riffs are paired with distorted guitars throughout.

Karate Boogaloo - Access All Areas

Label: Cole Mine
Genre: Cinematic Soul
Reviewed by: Len Comaratta
Vivid instrumental funk/soul – traditional shapes drawn with KB’s unmistakable crooked lines. ‘Access’ was the one-word maxim philosophically guiding The Old Kar-Boo’s this innings. If a tune became convoluted, to the bin it went. Only those that could be hummed by any and all were kept. This sieve was on hand throughout the whole process; arrangements and forms were kept watertight, bells and whistles to a minimum. RIYL Surprise Chef, Parlor Greens

April + Vista - Traditional Noise

Label: Third & Hayden
Genre: Experimental / Downtempo / Trip Hop
Reviewed by: Len Comaratta
Washington, DC natives April George and composer/producer Matthew Thompson (aka VISTA) debut explores their formative influences, fusing genres like downtempo, electronic, alt-rock, soul, and art pop; taking cues from bands that raised them (Radiohead, Gorillaz, Gnarls Barkley, Grizzly Bear, Madlib, Portishead, Hiatus Kaiyote, Gustavo Cerati, etc.) The noise they conjured is not all that traditional, even if there are countless reference points swirling within the album's blend of orchestral movements, electronic beats, and rock instrumentation.

Ringo Starr - Long Long Road

Label: Universal
Genre: Country / Country Pop
Reviewed by: Len Comaratta
Starr teams back up with T-Bone Burnett to follow up their 2025 effort Look Up. This follow-up is cut from the same rootsy country-esque cloth as its predecessor, though perhaps with a more mature pop sound

Squirrel Flower - Say a Prayer to the Gods of Getting Going

Label: Polyvinyl
Genre: Alt Indie
Reviewed by: Judah Horrell
The fourth studio album from Squirrel Flower is a vessel through which Chicago-based singer/songwriter Ella Williams can capture and interpret her feelings, thoughts, and recent experiences. The album is quiet and twangy at times, but also loud and grungy at others, perfectly encapsulating a tumultuous life on the road. Williams' stunning vocals really shine through on this project thanks to the production by Alex Farrar. This album is angsty and thoughtful all at the same time, and provides a really fantastic listen for just about anyone.

Portraits of Tracy - Q: From Where Do Our Primal Instincts Originate? A: MTV!

Label: Self
Genre: Art Pop, Synth-Pop
Reviewed by: Sarah Naimy
Incredibly fun, cinematic, and immersive. PoT creates a delectable sonic blend of synth-pop, punk, and R&B. Songs seamlessly transition from ethereal ballads into cosmic rock operas that swell into satisfying crescendos. PoT showcases an impressive vocal range, from raspy screams to Kate Bush-esque falsetto runs. This ambitious project is every bit as gorgeous as it is manic, theatrical, and futuristic. PoT's commanding presence and artistic prowess are a breath of fresh air. There's truly something for everyone here!

James Ivy - The Seams

Label: Fader
Genre: Alt Rock, Indie Rock
Reviewed by: Finn Stephens
James Ivy's debut album, The Seams, is nothing short of incredible. Strained, longing vocal performances laid on top of full band backings of strings, soft drums, and guitars of acoustic and electric variants create an environment that feels so authentically "James Ivy" while calling back to other influences. Track 6, Eye For An Eye, most clearly draws on this influence (in this case, Radiohead), ending up as much more enthralling as it builds and builds to its end. Other tracks such as Morphine, Lima, and PT show Ivy's range on this album, making for cohesive but memorable tracks. While listening, you will run into some favorite tracks, but you won't run into any weak ones. AOTY contender; please give it a listen.

Phoebe Bridgers - Lost Weekend

Label: Dead Oceans
Genre: Indie Folk/ Indie Pop Rock
Reviewed by: Judah Horrell
Devastatingly beautiful as always. Phoebe Bridger's third studio album Lost Weekend is packed full of incredibly dense, contemplative, creative, and yearning lyricism. This album makes you think and feel all sorts of emotions throughout. The instrumentals are still very rock/folk heavy at the core, but they also lean much more into the synthier/experimental/distortion elements Phoebe has always had hints of. Amazing album, will make you sad. I get a kick out of how most of these songs are about Bo Burnham or Paul Mescal.

Westside Cowboy - It Goes On

Label: Island Records
Genre: Alt Rock, Indie Rock
Reviewed by: Judah Horrell
The pinnacle of college radio station music, Westside Cowboy's It Goes On is a testimony to the indie/slacker/sleaze scenes popular at universities all across the United States and U.K. The England-based band's debut LP reflects aspects of many artists before them, while also providing something entirely unique to the genre. This album checks all the boxes you might want in a similar vein, and I'll be damned if you give it a listen and dislike it.

The Animeros - Que Barbaro!

Label: Easy Eye Sound
Genre: Latin Pop Rock / Instrumental / Surf-adjacent
Reviewed by: Len Comaratta
Hailing from Austin, Texas, The Animeros craft a genre-blending sound that drifts between the lush jungles of Colombia, the palm-lined streets of 1960s coastal Mexico, and the dusty cantinas of West Texas.