10 Albums to Look Forward to in August 2026

After a relatively quiet July, it’s wonderful to look at August’s release schedule and feel ever so slightly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of promising releases. Narrowing this preview down to ten picks was a genuine challenge, and we must acknowledge the likes of Julia Holter, Lambchop, Squirrel Flower, Mike D, Wild Pink, Hovvdy, Phoebe Bridgers, and the Afghan Whigs, all of whom just missed out.

Too much good music—it’s a pretty great problem to have!

7 August

Man/Woman/Chainsaw – Cannonball (Fiction)
[Bandcamp] Art-punk 🇬🇧

I will be the first to admit that not every artist from South London's Windmill pub scene has instantly resonated with me, but something about Man/Woman/Chainsaw feels different. Based on what I’ve heard from their debut full-length, Cannonball, the art-punk sextet boasts an impressive musical range—veering from the gleefully madcap (“Goddamn, Lizard Man!”) to the genuinely spellbinding (“Something Else to Give”). I’m not sure how it will all come together, but that uncertainty only makes me more excited to hear the full album. (JR)

14 August

Kiwi Jr. – Blowin’ Up (Perennial/K Records)
[Bandcamp] Indie rock 🇨🇦

Blowin’ Up is the fourth full-length from jangly Toronto-based indie rockers Kiwi Jr., and their first for Perennial/K Records. While the band’s 2019 debut Football Money remains their strongest effort to date—a pair of respectable releases for Sub Pop didn’t quite recapture that early magic—the early signs are strong for this one. It’s telling that Blowin’ Up is the band’s first record for four years. Perhaps they needed some time to take stock before moving forward? (DC)

L’Rain – Fata Morgana (Mexican Summer)
[Bandcamp] Experimental pop/Psychedelia 🇺🇸

Taja Cheek is no stranger to high concepts, and Fata Morgana, her fourth LP, is no different. Described as a “fearless reckoning with self-doubt and the mirages of belonging and alienation,” the Brooklyn-based experimental artist, better known as L’Rain, explores questions of identity and alienation in intoxicating ways. Listen to the striking “soulless cycle” below, and you’ll see what I mean. I had nothing but praise for 2023’s I Killed Your Dog, which landed at #28 on our year-end list of the same year, so here’s hoping the three-year wait was worth it. (JR)

Open Mike Eagle & Kenny Segal – Doomed! (Backwoodz)
[Bandcamp] Hip Hop 🇺🇸

Despite knowing each other for decades, Doomed! is the first full-length collaboration between acclaimed MC Open Mike Eagle and master producer Kenny Segal. It’s also a break-up album of sorts. I’ve only heard one track, but it’s a banger—this could be seriously special. (DC)

Sweeping Promises – You Say I Romanticize (Sub Pop)
[Bandcamp] Indie rock 🇺🇸

Sweeping Promises’ second LP, Good Living Is Coming For You, immediately won me over with its new wave-leaning, homegrown lo-fi. At the time, I appreciated how the Lawrence, Kansas trio would’ve fit in perfectly within their hometown’s cult label Fresh Sounds in the ’80s (Get Smart!, The Embarrassment, and Start are some of my favourites from that scene). You Say I Romanticize does sound more polished, but it’s just as rough around the edges, which should accentuate their playfulness even more. (JR)

21 August

Weezer – Weezer (Gold Album) (Reprise/Warner)
[Official] Rock 🇺🇸

I mean, it’s no surprise that I’m highly anticipating Weezer’s latest self-titled release, The Gold Album. I only ranked all of their fifteen studio albums earlier this year, after all! Featuring guest appearances from acclaimed modern alt-rockers Wednesday, and transitioning into a decidedly heavier sound, expect another familiar, yet invigorated approach from the Los Angeles greats. (JR)

Westside Cowboy – It Goes On (Island)
[Bandcamp] Indie rock/Americana 🇬🇧

I feel like I’ve written so much about Westside Cowboy that it’s hard to believe this is their debut album. But I think they’re so much more than just another hyped new artist. They’re talented, versatile, and as I witnessed firsthand at Tramlines last week, they can put it all together in the live arena, too. So the real deal, basically. I’m excited about It Goes On, and if you like your indie rock anthemic with a faint country twang, you should be too. (DC)

28 August

Alabama Shakes – I Must Be Dreaming (Island)
[Bandcamp] Blues rock / Southern rock 🇺🇸

With Brittany Howard now firmly established as a powerhouse solo artist, Alabama Shakes’ return easily ranks among the year’s most compelling musical comebacks. On I Am Dreaming, Howard, alongside core band members Heath Fogg and bassist Zac Cockrell, embraces a soulful, slow-burning sound that moves away from their fierce garage rock roots. There’s little reason to believe this new incarnation of the band will be any less electric than before. (JR)

Dinosaur Jr. – There Near (Jagjaguwar)
[Bandcamp] Alternative Rock 🇺🇸

I know it seems pretty lazy to pick a pair of records by legacy artists, but I think the latest Dinosaur Jr. one sounds pretty promising. J Mascis’ guitar is buzzing like a swarm of wasps, the rhythm section sounds as visceral as ever, and “Blowin’ Up”—not to be confused with the Kiwi Jr. album of the same name—is the best Lou song in ages. While it hasn’t always thrilled, Dinosaur Jr.’s second act has always been incredibly consistent. There Near could well be one of their best post-reformation releases. (DC)

Interpol – This Mirror Weighs a Ton (Partisan)
[Bandcamp] Indie rock 🇺🇸

At the time of writing, I’ve heard three songs from This Mirror Weighs a Ton, and I really appreciate the variety on display. “See Out Loud” sounds like vintage Antics-era Interpol, but the title track and “Iron City” find the NYC band in a much more contemplative mood, with deft percussion, eerie synths, and minimal guitars. After nearly three decades in the game, Interpol are still developing on their own terms. (DC)