music released during the first half of 2026 that i liked
despite having apparently listened to well over 25k minutes of music (according to apple music's milestones, at least), i feel like there's so much i still haven't listened to (which, yeah, i know it's impossible to listen to everything, but you get what i mean). but i guess part of the joy of being an avid music listener is finding new tracks and artists!
anyway, i figured i'd share my favorite eps/albums that were released during the first half of this year, because i actually do keep track of this, ahaha. i'd also list singles, but then the list would be too long 💀
also going to list the country origin and, to the best of my ability, their "genres" or styles (i hate genre as a concept but whatever)—
anyway, feel free to share with me your favorite eps/albums! i'm sincerely open to any and all genres, regardless of language!!
january
motherland by fukushige mari
japan | acoustic…ish? (it's kind of hard to describe)
the abyss by natori
japan | pop
memory overdrive by azikazin magic world
south korea | electronic (dnb, i guess?? but you've gotta see the music videos too)
be water, my friend by insun park & generals
south korea | experimental rock (it's a really interesting mesh of korean traditional music/dance and rock!)
delulu pack by kiii kiii
south korea | pop (heavily leaning into elements of house)
february
golden hour : part.4 by ateez
south korea | pop (heavily leaning into various edm genres)
waves by moonchild
usa | neosoul
nothing's about to happen to me by mitski
usa | alternative
the romantic by bruno mars
usa | pop
the mountain by gorillaz
england | "worldbeat" smashed with synthpoppy stuff (i hate "worldbeat" and related terms as a genre for an array of reasons, but it's hard to describe this album any other way)
petal rock black by willow
usa | jazz fusion, progressive pop of some kind, idk???
march
tough love by onew
south korea | pop
bad room by yeon and pil
south korea | altrock
pluto by maliya
japan | r&b
dawn always comes by summer
south korea | indie rock
biggest fan by irene
south korea | pop
is there anybody home? by rum.gold
usa | r&b
this music may contain hope. by raye
usa | pop with orchestra and blues and stuff?? (i hate genres so much oml)
sexistential by robyn
sweden | synthpop (but other electronic vibes)
city lights and stars by the vanished people
italy | pop but very akin to jpop (it's weird ngl)
for mary by olive jones
england | acoustic
grace (deluxe edition) by yonyon
japan | electronic/dance stuff
a brief stop by deca joins
taiwan | indie pop/rock
april
ambiguous desire by arlo parks
england | alternative pop idk
glhf by muque
japan | styles and genres are all over the place
may
crysalis (coda) by jenevieve
usa | r&b (okay kind of cheating by adding an album that was technically released last year that i loved, but the expansion is also great!!
heavy serenade by nmixx
south korea | pop (with random edm elements)
jeune & laide by camille yembe
belgium | pop (but then there are those elements distinct to french pop in there)
i,god by xlov
south korea | pop (jumping around edm stuff)
ordinary ever after by kangziwon
south korea | pop/r&b
june
atmos by shinee
south korea | pop (heavily leaning into elements of house)
micro dance by natsudaidai
japan | pop/r&b (but there are some city pop vibes)
daydream radio by hanbee
australia | indie pop (leaning into city pop vibes)
lovers by hathaw9y
south korea | indie pop
my century by thornapple
south korea | rock
golden hour : part.5 by ateez
south korea | pop (heavily leaning into dance and latam styles, and tbh, kind of was on the fence about adding this one to the list lol, but i enjoyed it enough)
the book for, by yoasobi
japan | electronic pop
here comes that crow by leenalchi
south korea | experimental rock (lots of pansori with rock)
4 steps 'fore the spiral by ghost bookstore
south korea | indie rock
i built you a tower by death cab for cutie
usa | indie rock
breakway by aho
south korea | indie pop with some folksy vibes
