00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today, we're counting down our picks for the top 10 best albums to
00:12have been released in 2026 up to this point.
00:16Tell me, why do I crave your attention? I got someone at home who treats me right.
00:25Number 10, Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally, Harry Styles.
00:39As the next step in Harry Styles' evolution into one of this era's defining pop stars,
00:45the former One Direction member decided to move to Berlin ahead of this album's creation,
00:50citing David Bowie's own German residence as an influence, Styles succeeded in making something that stood apart from his earlier
00:57work.
01:06Synthesizers and elements of disco take the front seat here, as Harry showcases his desire to move away from stadium
01:13pop formulas.
01:14Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally, is a far groovier listen than any of his past LPs,
01:20and the fact that it topped the charts in virtually every country shows just how excited people were for it.
01:33Number 9, This Music May Contain Hope, Ray.
01:41There are not many albums released this year that have a title quite as bold as Ray's This Music May
01:47Contain Hope.
01:48It doesn't just earn its spot on name value alone.
01:57With this release, Ray has succeeded in melding together a range of genres
02:01to create something undeniably effective and cohesive.
02:05Critics praised the 73-minute concept album for its hopeful notes,
02:10despite heavy themes of love, death, and heartbreak.
02:20Upon its release, it was a smash hit, reaching the top spot on the UK charts,
02:25while also going to number 11 in the US.
02:27Bonus points must also be given for getting Hans Zimmer to do a feature on Click Clack Symphony.
02:42Number 8, Arirang, BTS.
02:53Considering just how unavoidable BTS have been in recent years,
02:57the fact that they hadn't released a new studio album since 2020
03:00left quite a lot of room for a major return to form.
03:03The group hadn't come together in their full lineup
03:05due to the mandatory military service each of their members needed to complete.
03:17The question on many fans' minds was just how much BTS had grown and matured
03:22in the time since 2020's B.
03:25Their comeback record, Arirang, showed us exactly where they stand.
03:37They addressed the feelings of separation and reconnection head-on,
03:40while bringing some truly maximalist instrumentation,
03:44showcasing a sound that even borders on experimental from time to time.
03:55Number 7, Middle of Nowhere, Kacey Musgraves.
04:06Now a veteran of the music scene,
04:08Kacey Musgraves was clearly in need of some soul searching in the lead up to this album.
04:13By her own admission, Middle of Nowhere came out of a period of time
04:16where she was living a life of prolonged singlehood.
04:19The record's lyrics explore that experience head-on,
04:22dealing with themes of isolation quite well.
04:32Upon its release, critics were quick to describe it as a return to the type of form
04:37that brought us 2018's Golden Hour.
04:39Musgraves leans pretty heavily into country music too,
04:42picking out a wide range of styles and traditions
04:45that come together to give a much warmer and more organic end product
04:49than her recent releases.
04:58Number 6, The Apple Tree Under the Sea, Hemlock Springs.
05:09The quirkiness and eccentricity that put Hemlock Springs on the map
05:13are on full display on her debut LP, The Apple Tree Under the Sea.
05:17After first catching our attention with 2023's Going Going Gone EP,
05:22fans and critics were intrigued to see how she could expand her vision into a full album.
05:34All of the elements that made her first release special were more refined on this fully-fledged product.
05:40Despite the chaos and the abrupt tonal shifts that the album has built in,
05:45Springs still comes across as sincere and earnest for the most part.
05:49It's unconventional, unapologetic, and one of 2026's most unique listens.
06:01Number 5, The Great Divide, Noah Kahn.
06:13Now four albums deep into his career,
06:16it's pretty clear that Noah Kahn is a force to be reckoned with in the songwriting department.
06:20The Great Divide succeeds in taking Kahn's talents to another level
06:24by broadening the folk intimacy of stick season into something a bit more expansive.
06:34At 77 minutes, it's more of a drawn-out listen than anything Kahn had done before,
06:39and he even released an expanded version with four bonus tracks.
06:43This album clearly showcases a prolific artist operating at the peak of their powers,
06:48and his fans were quick to jump on board with this enthralling listen.
07:00Number 4, Wendy Eisenberg, Wendy Eisenberg.
07:12Self-acceptance is the key theme that runs through Wendy Eisenberg's self-titled eighth studio album.
07:19It's a fitting name for the LP in that case,
07:21and she cuts no corners when it comes to addressing her life and her younger self.
07:26Lyrics aside, the music here is just as daring.
07:28With Eisenberg showing an eclectic mix of styles and influences,
07:32without ever throwing the album off course.
07:39Upon its release, it was met with huge acclaim from audiences,
07:47with many calling it her strongest and most confident release.
07:51It's experimental and challenging at times,
07:53but never loses its listenable quality,
07:56which can be a tricky balancing act for any artist to get right.
08:07Number 3, You Underscores.
08:17The constantly evolving world of pop music needs albums like Underscores You
08:22to give us an insight into where it could go next.
08:25It's a big and uncompromising listen,
08:28going for a maximalist style that does not let up.
08:38Although it's a hyper-pop album on its surface,
08:41there are elements of dance pop, dubstep,
08:43and influences from artists as varied as Beck, Justin Timberlake, and Cascada.
08:48It was a huge hit with the critics,
08:50and while it was a modest seller,
08:52it's the type of album that will grow in stature based on its hype and reputation.
09:03Number 2, Worst Girl in America.
09:06Slater.
09:13When you have a natural knack for crafting pop hooks,
09:16you can really take your sound in a wide range of directions.
09:20For Slater, she took a more abrasive approach with this year's Worst Girl in America,
09:24bringing us a masterwork of unapologetic excess.
09:28The album is still remarkably catchy and features some of Slater's finest vocal work yet.
09:40Thematically, the record deals with Slater's own experience growing up in St. Louis,
09:45proving her status as a genuinely ambitious and skilled pop auteur.
09:49It reached the number one spot on the Billboard Top Dance Albums chart,
09:53and will likely only grow in its acclaim as the year goes on.
10:04Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
10:07Icon.
10:09Brent Fayaz.
10:10An album that balances vulnerability and bravado perfectly.
10:20Superbloom.
10:21Jessie Ware.
10:22A confident and self-assured continuation of Ware's artistic journey.
10:26Every day, just like before.
10:30Don't let me go.
10:33Girlfriend.
10:34Grace Ives.
10:35A standout 2026 album full of radio-ready pop gems.
10:39Baby, you're a part of this.
10:42You're not a victim of my loneliness.
10:47The Mountain.
10:48Gorillas.
10:49The LP that displays Damon Albarn and co. at their most human.
10:53To the moon cave.
10:58Where I bought my tears.
11:02F.I.G.
11:03Naomi Scott.
11:05One of the year's most promising debut studio albums.
11:08And I wish I had more grace in my hands.
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11:42Number 1.
11:44Nothing's About to Happen to Me.
11:45Mitski.
11:54Few artists, if any this year, have succeeded in creating an album that's quite as thought-provoking as Mitski's Nothing's
12:02About to Happen to Me.
12:03It's an incredibly precise album that takes a look at fame, overexposure, and a desire for anonymity, among other subjects.
12:17It has elements of art pop, Americana, and symphonic pop, crafting an end product that feels experimental and intimate in
12:24equal measure.
12:25It reached the top 10 in many countries, including both the US and UK, and left Mitski with some of
12:31the best reviews of her career.
12:40But what's your own personal favorite album of 2026?
12:44Let us know in the comments.
12:46.
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