May 2026
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Same Fangs by Spencer Krug
a spectral-feeling collection of indie rock songs that I haven’t been able to shake. A must-listen for anyone who enjoys a bit of Destroyer now and then.
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Symbols by Sergeant
very ghostly, mostly in how the band seem to shred up their sound and paste it back together to create a detached, but psychedelic sound.
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For Love of Grace & the Hereafter by Iceage
as someone who has been mostly immune to this band’s charms until this point, I found this record to be incredibly catchy, energetic, and full of addictive 2000’s nostalgia. It’s the most I’ve enjoyed Iceage.
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Members… Don’t! by Tyshawn Sorey
in a time where a lot of jazz-adjacent music is focused on dreamy atmospherics, this reimagination of Max Roach’s work feels ironically like a breath of fresh air. It is truly fiery and immediate.
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Remember the Humans by Broken Social Scene
a surprising and jammy record that rivals this band’s best work! I loved the romantic feeling of it, the symphonic choices, and I was pleasantly surprised to see/hear Hannah Georgas on here!
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the color of rain by aja monet
a combination of jazz, hip hop, sound collage, and the power of the spoken word! On it, aja lets her insightful humanism unfurl and addresses a myriad of topics, from everyday growth and love to the tragedies happening in Congo.
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Look For Your Mind! by The Lemon Twigs
another entry in the D’Addario brothers’ generational retro run. But this one has a special bite to it for its particularly great production, and psychedelic flourishes that feel a bit Rundgren-esque.
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Fenian by Kneecap
a pretty electrifying follow-up to “Fine Art” that sees the band deliver blistering critiques of colonialism over production that nods to both U.K. grime and old school West Coast hip hop.
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Rumspringa by Ear
a pretty special album with a sprawling, yet quaint sound. Pitchfork dubbed their sound as “laptop twee” which feels like an annoying but pretty accurate microlabel. Lyrically, the album is preoccupied with the complexities of adulthood, which makes it feel truly “coming of age.”
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EXIT 2B by BOYG1RL & NOVAGANG
one of the most bombastic albums of May! It’s a reinvigorating combination of reggaeton, industrial hip hop, and Haitian kompa, and a testament to how exciting “online” genres can be when they’re reworked to incorporate global influences.
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Poem 1 by Ana Roxanne
this is a follow-up that I have been waiting for for YEARS! After being enamoured by “Because of a Flower” in 2020, I was so excited to see that Ana Roxanne had another project cooking, and “Poem 1” does not disappoint. Where her debut was smaller-scale but haunting in ambience, “Poem 1” sees Ana herself occupy a fuller presence in the music. She leans more into her vocals and the choir-like qualities of her compositions, which makes many songs feel like prayers.
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Detached from the Rest of You by Loraine James
Since I’ve been following her work, Loraine James has been one of the most glitchy and exciting producers in the London scene. “Detached from the Rest of You” sees her take her singular sound and apply it to more direct, pop-forward song structures. While still having odd touches (such as the pitched-up vocals on tracks like “A Long Distance Call”), it feels like the most immediate record she has ever put out, even as she addresses painful topics like self doubt and detachment.
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status update music by leroy
one of the best recent examples of truly audacious sample-dependent music. On “status update music,” leroy draws from viral sounds and all kinds of iconic songs (“If You Can’t Hang” by Sleeping with Sirens????) to create their own wayward hits. It’s the sort of album that goes 110% from start to finish, and the resulting 50 minutes are euphoric. While being experimental and utterly unique, it’s also indisputable pop perfection - particularly on songs like closer “Summer Fling.”
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Theft World by Lip Critic
completely a frenetic, dark mess inspired by identity theft and conspiracy after an obsessed fan stole frontman Bret Kaser’s identity and made hundreds of purchases in his name. The fan believed that Lip Critic had hidden messages and mythology in their music. So, Lip Critic drew from this insane experience to craft an album that is equally insane. By plunging headfirst into these conspiratorial themes and building on the dark, heavy electronics of their sound, Lip Critic have created one of the knottiest and gnarliest records of the year so far.
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REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE by Genesis Owusu
another masterful record from an artist who has seemingly been pouring every fibre of his being into his work since he burst onto the scene in 2021. Just as before, Genesis proves his knack for combining industrial leanings with global influences, while also making some of his most overtly political music yet. “STAMPEDE” addresses bootlickers around the world, calling for the unity of the working class over a propulsive beat. Later, “THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE” sees Genesis denounce the genocide in Gaza, showing his willingness to see these horrendous global issues for what they are. In an industry where the mainstream is constantly selling out and disappointing fans, there will always be a place for direct and truth-telling artists like Genesis Owusu.
