January 2026 Mixtape (Otto Benson, SUNDL, ALPHAWHORE, Elliott Sharp, WaSaBi Trio, Negative Bias, Mirabelle Skipworth, Nina Garbus, Status/Non-Status & more!)

... pieces of reviews ... or ... I'm not entirely sure yet ...

[01.02.2026]

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We cannot really, fully and truly begin the New Year until we visit 2025 one last time, as WNOADIARWB released the album "Peanut" by Otto Benson digitally on the very last day of the year.  This album also releases on cassette, which ships out around February 12th, 2026 so you can begin listening to these songs now and then get the full cassette experience in a little over a month.   Otto Benson begins "Peanut" with a smooth, calming type of synth sound that can be both minimal and daring at the same time.  The vocals come out on "Red and Neon", with lyrics such as "I've been here for hours / or maybe days" and this is just a fun sing-along type of acoustic song.  From Adventure Time vibes to those drum machines which make me think of Phil Collins, part of the beauty in this album is that even when it's instrumental you can still find a way to sing along.    It can twist and turn like Chris Isaac or the guitars can make me think of Tracy Chapman and Weezer.   Definitely enjoy that there are lyrics in here such as "Is it okay if I sleep next to the warehouse where they store our dreams", as this album overall just feels to be one of the first releases I'm hearing this year and it's really resonating with me.   

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CUT SURFACE announced the release of the new album "Goth Housing" by SUNDL on January 25th, 2026 and kicked it off with two songs, "Gothic House" and "Organ Piece 1".   The electro-industrial-dub album releases on cassette as well, so it is definitely worth a listen not only digitally but on cassette when the time comes because mixing up your musical tastes never hurt anyone and this song, "Gothic House", just feels so strong, so powerful.  

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Two new recordings, sort of, released by zoar records on January 2nd, 2026 as well. "Alphawhore" by ALPHAWHORE, which was recorded back in 2016 gets a release for the world to hear this free- style experimental type of jazz sound that I love so much.  Also, "Haptikon" by Elliott Sharp gets a 24-bit remaster after being released back in 2012 on CD by Long Song Records.  This is that funky type of jazz/soul that just pushes the very boundaries of sound yet feels all grounded in a Jimi Hendrix way as well.  

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    577 Records announced "WaSaBi Trio" by Walter Thompson, Sam Day Harmet and Billy Martin, coming in full on March 27th, 2026.  They lead off with the single "Red Bend" and it is all sorts of free-jazz and experimental with a heavy piano keys and guitar sound.  This is definitely going to be one of those albums to look forward to in March but also one we'll likely be talking about the entire year.  

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If you're looking for short songs (under a minute in length on average) that go fast and hard, then you'll love this new album "NOBODY'S PERFECT" by Negative Bias.   Somewhere between CurlUpAndDie and Good Clean Fun, this is punk at times and hardcore at others.   It hits fast, it hits hard and it will leave a mark.  

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[01.09.2026]

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    Derek Piotr announced the release of the new album "Divine Supplementation".

    Daniel Land released the 7" "Pearl Daddy'.

    Ruptured Records announced the release of "Phase I" by Zone Null, which will be available on cassette.

    Ruptured Records also announced "Callings Of The Owed نداءات الموعودين" by Mi3raj معراج, which will also be available on cassette.

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Mirabelle Skipworth has released the beautiful song "The Feast" which is a sort of Americana / folk / country storytelling type of experience.   With winding strings and the slow strums, "The Feast" is a song which comes out at a pace that we need more of these days.  Everything seems to be so fast and happening all at once (as made even more apparent by the fact that I'm doing so many of these mini-reviews every week now) so sometimes we just need that slow down.  Sometimes we just need a pause and this is that musical break.  

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    Candlepin Records announced the release of "Secrets of the Fifth Angel" by Nina Garbus, which releases digitally in full on February 27th 2026 and a physical cassette comes out about a month after that.    This release announcement came with two singles- "Our Demise (You & I)" and "Javelin of Truth".   These songs have those rock with electronic influences, like The Killers or Death Cab For Cutie, but then during "Javelin of Truth" there is some great distortion, like from the Hum era of grunge.   This is definitely an album to keep an eye on this year.  

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    Topshelf Records released a live album from Elephant Gym called "Live in THE WORLD", as it features live versions of songs from Boston to Japan.   This also doesn't repeat any songs, so whether you are already aware of Elephant Gym or this is your first time hearing them, this is so special because nothing quite captures the true art form such as live music.  

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    Status/Non-Status has a new album coming out, "Big Changes", on You've Changed Records.   It releases both digitally and on physical record February 6th 2026 but is kicking off with the lead single "At All".   This song is a great way to kick off a record because it makes you want more.   The song has melody, but also some distortion- somewhere between All Get Out and Silverchair.    This is an upcoming album this year not to be missed.

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    Chaser Eight has released the most rocking single "The Trooper", which just feels like a more metal version of a song by Heart.   There is so much energy in this that it feels impossible to listen to it without getting psyched up.   May this energy carry you into 2026!

[This actually came out December 31st 2025 so I'm not sure how it ended up here]

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    Storey Littleton- and Don Giovanni Records- have announced the new album "At a Diner", which is set to release on February 6th 2026.   This comes out both digitally and physically (record/CD).  The first single released is called "January", which is appropriate because it is the month in which I am first hearing the song.  The revving of a motorcycle engine begins, as voices talk about how bad ass Johnny was and how Storey Littleton used to go with him.  This is something straight out of that 1950's era of rock but also that one music video Paula Abdul did with Keanu Reeves in it.   Pianos and vocals come in as this just has the sound of pleasant rock and reminds me a bit of Sabrina Carpenter.    This melody also just finds its way into a really dreamy bass line.   The second song released right now, which happens to be the titular track, has soft acoustics and big vocals.   I'm saying this a lot early on, but this is definitely an album you'll be listening to throughout this year and it's a good album of the year contender as well.  

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Tinned Meats is one of the best finds of the modern era of punk rock music, as they would have fit in well during the days of CBGB's.   Somewhere between Talking Heads and The Clash, a modern sound is mixed in with one which can feel familiar on the new single "Piece of Mind" via I Heart Noise.  

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    A new album from Bitter Branches called "Let's Give The Land Back To The Animals" is coming March 6th 2026 via Equal Vision Records and oh boy does the song "Cave Dwellers" remind me of all of the best parts of The Hope Conspiracy and Drowningman.  Brace yourself for this ride, it's going to hit hard.  

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[01.23.2026]

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Pocket Vinyl announced an upcoming covers album, this time for "Give Up" by The Postal Service.  The album in full releases on February 6th 2026 but is up for pre-order.  The first single, "Such Great Heights", one of my favorite songs on the album, is dare I say even better with that Pocket Vinyl influence.  

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Steam Engines have released a new single called "Through You".  This is that pop punk / emo sound that reminds me of bands such as Schatzi and The Anniversary.   It's a rather fun, sing-long type of anthem that I enjoy and would even put with the likes of Day At The Fair.

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    Rite Field Records announced the new song "Wilt" by Trembler, which is in advance of Trembler's upcoming EP "Total Sorry".  The EP will be out streaming Janaury 29th, 2026 and will release on CD, cassette and record at various points   The song is just plain beautiful, with elements of Dashboard Confessional and lyrics about flowers.  

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The Reds, Pinks & Purples have released a new song, "New Leaf", via Fire Records and it just simply filled with melody while haunting, as this type of music has a way of doing.   It's just the build in the chorus which makes you feel safe but also uncertain at the same time.  This song just feels like it's leading us somewhere we've never been before, but we're okay with it.   We feel safe taking this journey together.  

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A new dreamy and fuzzy single from nyxy nyx is out and it is called "Devil hands".  What a trip!

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Along with a new album (more on that elsewhere), Myles Bullen has released two new singles.  "Rock Bottom" (ft. RAP Ferreira) and "Want to go for a ride?"  These both appear on the new Myles Bullen album "Afterlife", but the singles came first!  

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Xqui and Pyramids of Phobos announced a new EP called "In Control".   It will release on February 27th, 2026 on digital and CD.  The lead single- one of four songs- is the last song on the EP and it's called "Divine Porcupine".  

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Indigaux has released what the kids call a banger with "333".  This is a great dance song that could really become the anthem of Janaury 2026 and maybe even the entire year.  I love the line "Underdog at home, But they love me outta state", which just seems to let you know how underrated and under-appreciated the Connecticut music scene is.  

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One of the greatest singer/songwriters of our time, Frank Critelli has released the new song "The Way of the World", which was recorded live at Lyric Hall in New Haven, CT so you can hear it begin with the applause.   This is just such a great commentary on the state of the world today but in such a way that doesn't feel threatening or violent, more just like a discussion of how did we get here and how can we make it out.  

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The Darts are back with the most infectious single titled "Midnight Creep".   Equal parts Groovie Ghoulies and Scooby Doo, this song has as much of those organs coming through as it does fuzzy guitars.   A haunted song you will be singing along with sooner rather than later, as this is going to get stuck in your head and hit real big when Halloween comes back around.  Though, for real ones, Halloween is all the time.

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        Big, loud and somewhat dreamy sounds come through in the new single "Overtime" by Jody Glenham.  This feels a bit like Audio Jane and K's Choice, how it can just echo through whatever speakers are playing it to shake the very foundation of every wall and stable body in sight.  

[01.30.2026]

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On January 29th 2026, Fai Laci released the new song "Have You Nothing Left To Say" which is just so much fun and distortion.   It's not quite Jet and it's not quite The White Stripes, but it has a sound along those same lines.   If you're a fan of that fast paced rock n roll then this is definitely one you should add to your playlist now.  

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January 23rd saw Club 8 release the song "Echoes Of Our Time" which has a great electronic retro feel.   Somewhere between being in "Breakfast Club" and modern shoegaze, it reminds me a bit of SPC ECO but I definitely enjoy this song and it makes for a nice mix if you happen to be taking these all into a big playlist.  

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We'll finish January 2026 with a song called "Young Man" by Haylie Davis, released on January 29th 2026.   It's a nice kind of slide country song, which just feels closer to rock and Americana than country, but there is definitely a strong country rock influence.  "I refuse to let the blues begin again" is such a great line and I'm very pleased that this song will take us out of the first month of the year and into the next month!