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The 60 Best Albums Of 2026 (So Far…)
Clash Magazine has published its mid-year list of the 60 best albums of 2026, spanning genres from jazz and pop to electronic, R&B, folk and rap. The list, compiled by the magazine's staff and contributors, highlights releases from January to July, mixing breakthrough newcomers with veteran musicians and including some long-form projects and mixtapes alongside traditional albums.
Featured entries include Alewya's debut "Zero", a genre-blending record recorded over four years; Jalen Ngonda's "Doctrine of Love", a soul-influenced follow-up to his debut; Olivia Rodrigo's break-up album "you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love"; and "The Pleasure Is Yours" by GENA, a collaboration between Liv.e and Karriem Riggins. The full list runs to 60 titles, with each entry accompanied by a short critical write-up from a named Clash contributor.
– Clash's mid-2026 list names 60 standout albums released between January and July.– Highlights include Alewya's "Zero", Jalen Ngonda's "Doctrine of Love" and Olivia Rodrigo's break-up record.– The selection spans genres including jazz, pop, electronic, R&B, folk and rap.
Explained simply
Clash Magazine is a music publication that reviews new releases and covers artists across different styles. Its album lists are chosen by staff and contributors, who write short comments on the records they select.
A mid-year list looks back at music released during the first half of the year. The albums named here range from debut records by newer artists to later releases by established musicians, and include projects that do not follow the usual album format.
Such lists offer readers a guide to a wide range of recent music, while reflecting the tastes of the people who compiled them. The featured artists include Alewya, Jalen Ngonda and Olivia Rodrigo, alongside many others.
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