best albums 2026 (so far)

Another year, another pile of great records.

We're at the halfway mark, so here's a selection of my favourite albums of 2026 so far. Hope you find something you like.

Dig in and let me know what you think in the comments.

Ali x Charif Megarbane — Tirakat

Habibi Funk Records, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music Tidal

Alice Costelloe — Move On With The Year

Moshi Moshi Records, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music

Anadol x Marie Klock — Manivelles

Pingipung, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music

A$AP Rocky — Don't Be Dumb

AWGE / RCA Records, 2026

♪ Web Spotify Apple Music Tidal

Ásgeir — Julia

One Little Independent Records, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music

Bernal — Vida y Milagros

Discos 17 Dolores, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify

Blackwater Holylight — Not Here Not Gone

Suicide Squeeze Records, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music

Blanket — True Blue

Adventure Cat Records, 2026

♪ Spotify Apple Music

Charli xcx — Wuthering Heights

Atlantic Records, 2026

♪ Web Spotify Apple Music Tidal

Chet Faker — A Love For Strangers

BMG, 2026

♪ Web Spotify Apple Music

Daniel Shake x МЫ — VAMOS A VER (EP)

Daniel Shake, 2026

♪ Spotify Apple Music

Danny L Harle — Cerulean

XL Recordings, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music

Daphni — Butterfly

Jiaolong, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music Tidal

Evangeline — Evangeline

Fourteen One Four, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music

Friko — Something Worth Waiting For

ATO Records, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music

Gorillaz — The Mountain

Kong, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music

Haute & Freddy — Big Disgrace

Atlantic Records, 2026

♪ Web Spotify Apple Music

Jalen Ngonda — Doctrine of Love

Daptone Records, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music

Kacey Musgraves — Middle of Nowhere

Lost Highway Records, 2026

♪ Web Spotify Apple Music

Lexa Gates — I Am

48 Lights / GoodTalk / Capitol Records, 2026

♪ Web Spotify Apple Music Tidal

Maig — PROU

Atlantic Records, 2026

♪ Spotify Apple Music

MØL — DREAMCRUSH

Nuclear Blast Records, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music

Nia Archives — emotional junglist

HIJINXX / Island Records, 2026

♪ Spotify Apple Music

Otro — Peanut Ballads For A Lone Star

Drowned By Locals, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music Tidal

Saidan — Fangdriller: Scars Beneath Memory's Wrist

Avantgarde Music, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify

Sydney Ross Mitchell — Cynthia (EP)

Disruptor Records, 2026

♪ Spotify Apple Music

The Blue Van — Recording Club of 1996

Nordic Music Society, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music

The Olympians — In Search of A Revival

Daptone Records, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music

The Sophs — GOLDSTAR

Rough Trade Records, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music

Tyler Ballgame — For The First Time, Again

Rough Trade Records, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music

underscores — U

Mom + Pop Music, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music

Veronica Maggio — Sciura

Universal Music, 2026

♪ Web Spotify Apple Music

Vince Staples — Cry Baby

Loma Vista Recordings, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music Tidal

waterbaby — Memory Be a Blade

Sub Pop, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music

Yumi Zouma — No Love Lost to Kindness

Nettwerk, 2026

♪ Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music

as always, my internet friend, plenty of great albums came out this year — but also some killer standalone songs worth a spin on their own. give them a listen here and keep the good times rolling!

The Rare & Bizarre series Vol. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 + BONUS

Hi there! If you knew me as Yoshime from The Revival Blog during the golden years of the blogosphere, probably remember my most well-known and carefully curated series: The Rare & Bizarre compilations.

But, if you never heard of these quirky comps or didn't get the chance to grab them back in the day — I've good news! Because I decided to repost the entire series — all 5 volumes — right here.

Call me nostalgic, or just someone who's into the details — but I think these little pretty things they deserve a place of honor in this new project.

Oh, and I've even created brand-new covers for the occasion!

Grab them, enjoy them, and feel free to share! And comment :)

btw, you'll find a little surprise at the end of the post. Hope you like it!

· · ·

Rare & Bizarre Vol. 1

1. Karl-Heinz Schäfer – La Victime
2. Alexey Ribnikov – Vertolet
3. Piero Piccioni – Camille 2000
4. Jerry Goldsmith – Escape From the Planet of the Apes
5. Eddie Warner – Brutas Drums
6. Janko Nilovic – La Romance D'Helene
7. Moğollar – Haliç'te Gün Batisi
8. John Cameron – Heat Haze
9. Sven Libaek – Misty Canyon
10. The Duke of Burlington – Flash
11. Roger Webb – Assignation
12. Nino Nardini – Bumbling Along
13. Ennio Morricone – Quasi un Vivaldi
14. Johnny Hawksworth – The Whistler
15. Jean Vassilis – Psycho 2000
16. Piero Piccioni – Night Club
17. The Animated Egg – Sock it my way
18. Les Baxter – Prelude in C minor (Rachmaninoff)
19. Jean-Claude Vannier – Je M'appelle Geraldine [Up-Tempo]
20. Steve Groy – Snowmans Stomp
21. François De Roubaix – Les Dunes D'ostende
22. Alan Parker & Alan Tew – Pulse of Events
23. I Gres – Restless
24. Mikael Tariverdiev – Moy Mladshiy Brat
25. John Cameron – Swamp Fever
26. Guy Pedersen – We Love You
27. Placebo – Humpty Dumpty
28. Alan Tew & Bullet – The Spic
29. La Malle – Rougerouge
30. Brian Bennett – Discovery

♫ Listen on Spotify   |   ⬇ Download via Mega

· · ·

Rare & Bizarre Vol. 2

1. Mike Manieri – Minnesota Thins
2. Mr. Bloe – Sinful
3. Henry Mancini – Here's Looking at You, Kid
4. John Barry – Kinky
5. Henry Mancini – Experiment in Terror
6. Laurent Petitgirard – Mr. Green Genes
7. Dr. Böhm – Easter Afternoon
8. Gary Burton Quartet – Las Vegas Tango
9. The Sounds & Co. – La Terre est Ronde
10. The Rob Franken Organ-Ization – Hunky Dory
11. Sohail Rana – Soul Sitar
12. Los Mac's – El Evangelio de la Gente Sola
13. Johnny Hawksworth – Cool Comic
14. Ennio Morricone – La Festa
15. Juliette LeBlanc – Theme from Nights Of Sin
16. Piero Umiliani – Blood River
17. Ananda Shankar – Jungle King
18. François De Roubaix – Générique
19. Alain Goraguer – Maquillage de Tiwa
20. Francis Lai – Plus Fort Que Nous
21. Lalo Schifrin – Danube Incident
22. Ennio Morricone – Doricamente
23. Bob James – Nautilus
24. Adrian Younge – Untitled II (with Yuseef Lateef on drums)
25. Modern Mixture – Spell Binder (A)

♫ Listen on Spotify   |   ⬇ Download via Mega

· · ·

Rare & Bizarre Vol. 3

1. Lee Gagnon – Joie
2. Bill Doggett – Honkey Tonk
3. Eddie Warner – Come
4. Los Brasilios – No Te Esconde
5. Donald Byrd – Wee Tina
6. Riz Ortolani – Il Ricordo di Serena
7. Mia Farrow – Lullaby (Theme From Rosemary's Baby)
8. Stu Philips – Nazarae
9. Les Baxter – Tropicando
10. Gary McFarland – And I Love Her
11. Bruno Nicolai – In Automobile
12. Joao Donato – Amazonas
13. Ray Coniff – Park Avenue Speak
14. Stu Philips – A Little Speak
15. Ennio Morricone e Edda Dell'orso – Metti Una Sera a Cena
16. Menehan Street Band – Make the Road by Walking
17. Sea Train – Flute Thing
18. The Georges Arvanitas Jazz Quartet – I Like It Cool
19. Wet Willie – The Beggar's Song [Raremarc edit]
20. Egg – Fugue In D minor
21. Lefties Soul Connection – Organ Donor
22. Ananda Shankar – Dancing Drums
23. Lord Sitar – The Sitar and The Rose
24. Johnny Hawksworth – Rhythm Maker
25. Les Baxter – Dunwich
26. Barry Gray – Theme From Space 1999 [Raremarc edit]
27. The Earthquakers – Lunar Module
28. Piero Piccioni e Edda Dell'orso – Lagoa Sketch
29. Maurice de Thou et son Orchestre Mid Tempo – Mist on the Pool
30. Claudio Marzo e Regina Duarte – Depois da Queda

♫ Listen on Spotify   |   ⬇ Download via Mega

· · ·

Rare & Bizarre Vol. 4

1. Pete Moore – Asteroid
2. Johnny Mandel – Harper Does It Better
3. Eddie Warner – Last Whisky
4. Roger Webb – Grey Sigh
5. Poyuschie Gitary – Nocturne
6. Franco Micalizzi – M2
7. Francis Coppieters – Sales Talk
8. Paul Mauriat – Attends Ou Va T'en
9. James Clarke – Boogaloo Smith
10. Jack Arel & Pierre Dutour – Leaving To-morrow
11. Bruno Nicolai – Gin
12. Ananda Shankar – The River
13. Lalo Schifrin – Bossa Antique
14. Gianni Marchetti e Nora Orlandi – Amore in Contraluce
15. Jerry Goldsmith – Justine
16. Alan Parker & Alan Hawkshaw – Sweet Summer
17. Romano Rizzati – Vocal '700
18. Alan Moorhouse – Angelic Gas
19. Berto Pisano – Tema di Oscar
20. John Barry – Theme From The Persuaders!
21. The Earthquakers – Whistlin' in the Sunshine
22. Francesco de Masi – Altalena Party
23. Sandro Brugnolini – Giuggi
24. François Cousineau – Pavre Amour II
25. Moğollar – Ilgaz
26. Luis Enriquez Bacalov – Theme From Il Grande Duello

♫ Listen on Spotify   |   ⬇ Download via Mega

· · ·

Rare & Bizarre Vol. 5

1. Michel Legrand & The London Symphony Orchestra – Theme and Variations For Two Pianos and Orchestra
2. Francis Lai – Le Peur [Raremarc edit]
3. First One – Bacchus Dream
4. Brazilian Octopus – Pavane
5. RJD2 – De L'alouette [Raremarc edit]
6. Soul Machine – Twitchie Feet
7. Mulatu Astatqé – Yègellé Tezeta
8. Stepchild – Obstinacy
9. Ben & The Platano Group – Black Waders
10. Lanzerot – Cool Pants
11. Silvano Spadacino & Iller Pattacini – Amarsi Male (Bossa Nova)
12. Roberto Pregadio e Romano Mussolini – Seq. 16 [Raremarc edit]
13. Hybear Don Walker – Children of the Night
14. Ennio Morricone – Amore Come Dolore [Raremarc edit]
15. (no artist) – La La La
16. Gianfranco e Gian Piero Reverberi – Maledettamente Donna
17. Roger Webb – Open Horizon [#]
18. Jacques Siroul – See
19. Serge Gainsbourg – New Délire Again
20. Nico Fidenco – La Via della Prostituzione (M9)

♫ Listen on Spotify   |   ⬇ Download via Mega

· · ·

Play Rare & Bizarre on Spotify.

· · ·

Bonus Album

Rare Vocals Vol. 1

1. Etta James & Sugar Pie DeSanto – In The Basement Pt. 1
2. Dusty Springfield – I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face
3. Sly & The Family Stone – Family Affair
4. Jimmy Van & Richard Hierenymus – I Weigh With Kilos
5. Marlena Shaw – California Soul
6. Billie Davis – Nobody's Home to Go Home To
7. Freddy Cole – Brother Where are You?
8. Joe Pass – A Time For Us
9. Serge Gainsbourg et Jane Birkin – Ballade de Melody Nelson
10. The Walker Brothers – I Can't Let It Happen To You
11. The Climax – Persuasion
12. Ennio Morricone e Gianni Morandi – La Fisarmonica
13. Mario Nascimbene et Jula De Palma – Le Cafard
14. Piero Piccioni e Shawn Robinson – Once and Again
15. Stelvio Cipriani e Olympia – Femina Ridens
16. Bappi Lahiri & Parvati Khan – Jimmy Jimmy Aaja
17. C.K. Mann & Carousel 7 – Funky Hilife
18. The Paragons – Got to Get Away
19. Timebox – Beggin'
20. Gunther Kallmann Choir – Daydream
21. Golube Gitari – Veter Severniy
22. Ludmila Senchina – Zolushka
23. Helen Merrill – Smog
24. Jeff Alexander feat. Bonnie Beecher – Come Wander With Me
25. BONUS TRACK — Little Sally Jane Bruce sings "Pretty Fly" on Walter Schumann's theme for "The Night of the Hunter". (Pretty but creepy as fuck)

♫ Listen on Spotify   |   ⬇ Download via Mega

· · ·

Play Rare Vocals on Spotify.