Cindy – Another Country
Cindy’s intoxicating fusion of slowcore and indie pop makes the San Francisco quartet one of the best quiet bands in the business.
Highly Rated
All reviews awarded a score of 7.5 or above.
Kacey Musgraves – Middle of Nowhere
Kacey Musgraves showcases her wit and warmth, as she returns to her country roots on Middle of Nowhere, a sumptuously produced record with enough sharp songwriting to outweigh its occasional missteps.
Weird Nightmare – Hoopla
On his second LP as Weird Nightmare, the ex-METZ songwriter crafts straight-ahead power pop that is easy to get into but impossible to put down.
Friko – Something Worth Waiting For
Friko’s second album is full of thrilling songs and big moments, but its relentless maximalism leaves little room to breathe.
Prism Shores – Softest Attack
Montreal janglers Prism Shores make their bold leap into the indie pop major leagues with Softest Attack.
Makthaverskan – Glass and Bones
Gothenburg’s Makthaverskan return with Glass and Bones, a fiercely confident album that expands their post-punk roots with shades of jangle pop, goth rock, and shoegaze.
U2 – Days of Ash/Easter Lily
Politics, love, and faith—three key tenets of their work—inform the Irish veterans’ two surprise EPs of 2026. Juan reflects on what they achieve, and considers how they might shape their forthcoming 15th studio album.