The Best Albums Of The 2020s
The NATIVE roundup spotlights the decade’s most influential African albums, from Wizkid’s protest‑era "Made In Lagos" to Kabza De Small’s Amapiano double‑disc, Burna Boy’s Grammy‑nominated "Twice As Tall" and a host of genre‑spanning releases. Each record showcases how African artists have turned the album format into a vehicle for cultural expression and global streaming success. The list underscores the continent’s shift from single‑track dominance to cohesive bodies of work that command international attention. Collectively, these albums illustrate the diversification of Afropop, highlife, Amapiano and experimental sounds that now shape worldwide pop culture.
Premiere: Hillsboro Shares New Track “HotGirlTM”
Pacific Northwest indie rock outfit Hillsboro premiered their new single “HotGirlTM” ahead of the upcoming EP *A Party In Your Name*, slated for release on May 29, 2026. The track showcases a slower, effects‑laden blend of shoegaze, dream pop and...
🎧 Approved: WIDGET
British indie collective WIDGET, formed by members of Big Joanie, All Cats Are Beautiful, Junodef and Zahra Haji Fath Ali Tehrani, is set to release its debut album "CLASSY HITS VOL.2" on Friday via their own Peach Records. The album...
Fanbase API: “Artists Aren't Just Musicians, They're World-Builders”
Openstage has launched Fanbase API, a toolkit that lets artists build custom fan experiences on their own domains, retaining full control over design, data, and monetization. The API already powers Yungblud’s YBHQ community and Gorillaz’s Kong Studios virtual world. By...
White Fence
Tim Presley, performing as White Fence, releases his first album since 2019, titled Orange. The record is produced by longtime collaborator Ty Segall, who also shares drum duties with Dylan Hadley, while newcomer Alice Sandahl adds keyboards. Orange blends psych‑pop,...
Blu & Exile - Time Heals Everything
Blu & Exile’s new album *Time Heals Everything* arrives as a competent addition to their West Coast catalog, offering smooth production and solid verses but no major artistic leap. The record follows a prolific 2024 for Blu, who released multiple...
No Expectations 143: Something Worth Waiting For
The No Expectations newsletter returns with its Taste Profile interview series, featuring Chicago indie rock band Friko’s frontman Niko Kapetan. Friko’s new album “Something Worth Waiting For,” recorded with producer John Congleton and released on ATO Records, is highlighted as...
Guitar Solo Ghosts: A 2020s Alt-Country Survey
The 2020s alt‑country scene has surged, with British bands like Brown Horse, Fazed On A Pony, and Westside Cowboy embracing a twangy, all‑American indie rock aesthetic. Brown Horse’s third album, Total Dive, deepens their Crazy Horse‑style guitars and stormier tempos, confirming...
Office Dog Deliver Another Hit
New Zealand indie rock outfit Office Dog has released a new single, “Gold Things,” showcasing a heavier, sludgier sound than previous releases. The track features louder drums, gritty bass lines, and distorted guitars, signaling a shift toward a more aggressive...
New Tune From Beck Zegans
Beck Zegans released his new single “Engraving of Armor” on May 22 through Exploding in Sound Records. Critics highlight the track’s balanced melody, nuanced vocal shifts, and polished indie‑scene craftsmanship. The song demonstrates Zegans’ growing command of songwriting and production techniques....
No Peeling – “Mascot Fight”
No Peeling is set to release its second EP, “Mascot Fight,” on May 1 through indie label Feel It Records. The record continues the band’s aggressive blend of No Wave, post‑punk, and synth‑driven textures, building on the high‑energy momentum of their...
Music as a Mirror: Kurt Cobain & Nirvana ‘Unplugged’
The piece reflects on the 1993 MTV Unplugged performance by Nirvana, describing how Kurt Cobain’s raw, acoustic set left a lasting imprint on a 21‑year‑old viewer and, a decade later, on her child. It weaves personal memories with cultural observations,...
Products Band Share Winner
Products Band, a pop‑rock outfit from Minneapolis, dropped a new single today that critics describe as a tension‑filled guitar‑driven track. The song’s tight riffs and vocal bursts create a winding energy that sets it apart. Simultaneously, the group launched a...
Odd Marshall – Seconds
Odd Marshall’s second album, *Seconds*, dropped last month, featuring Blind Melon guitarists Christopher Thorn and Rogers Stevens. The record leans heavily into rock‑and‑roll, with tracks like “Run” and “Way Out” delivering heavy riffs and socially‑charged lyrics. Marshall, a filmmaker and novelist turned musician,...
Lady Twostar’s The Great Planes: Living Up To The Hype
Lady Twostar exploded onto the scene when a mid‑2025 TikTok of their debut single “Fortunes Found” amassed nearly half‑a‑million views. A year later the band released their first EP, “The Great Planes,” which mixes grunge‑laden riffs, 70s‑rock aggression, and acoustic...
Seven American Orchestras Will Serenade Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie
The Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg has unveiled its tenth‑anniversary season, featuring seven premier American orchestras. Highlights include the Cleveland Orchestra with Golda Schultz, the New York Philharmonic’s debut under Gustavo Dudamel, and the Boston Symphony’s Beethoven‑Stravinsky dialogue. Composer Missy Mazzoli will...
Romanticize the Dive
Canadian indie‑rock stalwarts Metric have released their tenth studio album, Romanticize the Dive, reuniting with longtime producer Gavin Brown. The record opens with “Victim of Luck,” a reflective track that sets a tone of artistic self‑examination, while later songs blend...
Adorn Reveal Debut Album, ‘Let Love Remain’
Dallas‑based post‑hardcore outfit Adorn released its debut full‑length album, Let Love Remain, on April 10. The 11‑track LP blends melodic intensity with heavy metalcore riffs, echoing influences like Saosin and Thrice while carving a distinct sonic identity. Lyrically, the record...
Lukka – Tomboi
Lukka released the single “Tomboi” in 2026, drawing praise for its propulsive beat and haunting vocals. Critics liken the track’s atmospheric vibe to the 1990s‑era sounds of Broadcast and Stereolab. The song showcases a sleek blend of synth‑pop swagger and...
Israel Phil Concertmaster Takes Job in Germany
Dumitru Pocitari, a concertmaster of the Israel Philharmonic, has been named the first concertmaster of the Philharmonisches Orchester Hagen in Westphalia, Germany. He already holds the concertmaster chair at the Wiener Symphoniker, a position he assumed in April 2024. While...
Bathing Suits Bring Clubland Chaos to the Underground with Debut EP KILL BATHING SUITS
Bathing Suits, a Leeds quartet, released their debut EP KILL BATHING SUITS via Underplay Recordings, the label’s first signing. The five‑track record fuses post‑punk aggression with early‑2010s dance‑pop, featuring the seven‑minute noise‑trance piece “Empathy” and the club‑ready single “Swan Princess.”...
Teksti-TV 666 – Fast and Furious
Finnish indie outfit Teksti-TV 666 dropped the 2026 single “Fast & Furious,” a track that fuses math‑rock precision with post‑punk swagger. The review likens its guitar‑driven energy to early The Strokes while noting spoken‑word flourishes reminiscent of Ian Dury. A...
Baby Ghoul Share Debut Single “Horseshoe”
Baby Ghoul, a London five‑piece, released their debut single “Horseshoe” on April 23, 2026 through Agent Anonyme Recordings, the independent label founded by Daphne Guinness. The track features layered guitars, a slow‑burning arrangement, and lyrics that explore luck, love, and personal choice,...
AKA Shares Debut Single “It Grows On Trees (Money)”
Liverpool‑based musician and The Mysterines guitarist Callum Thompson, performing as AKA, released his debut solo single “It Grows On Trees (Money)” accompanied by a chaotic video directed by Charles Gall. The track, a gritty, punk‑inflected anthem, marks Thompson’s first release...
Shigeto
Shigeto, a Japanese‑American producer and percussionist from Ann Arbor, blends jazz training with hip‑hop production to create experimental electronic music. After studying jazz at the New School, he self‑taught music production and released his first solo work under his middle...
Sylvie + Ursula – ‘New Eve’
Sylvie Noble and bassist Ursula Harrison debut as the duo Sylvie + Ursula with the album “New Eve.” The nine‑track, half‑hour record showcases original compositions that blend deadpan wry lyrics with adventurous vocal lines and supple bass work. Their chemistry...
Preview: Niia at Blue Note NYC
Los Angeles‑based goth‑jazz vocalist Niia will perform a two‑night engagement at New York’s historic Blue Note, with early 8 p.m. and late 10:30 p.m. sets each night. The concerts promote her fifth studio album, V, released last year on Candid Records and...
Bob Dylan Goes to Disney World
Bob Dylan and his Rolling Thunder Revue took the stage at Disney World in Orlando on April 23, 2026, concluding a five‑night run of shows across Central Florida. The concert, highlighted by Joan Baez’s Mickey Mouse shirt, drew a sizable...
Meltt – “Never Let Go”
Vancouver psych‑rock band Meltt released the single “Never Let Go,” the lead track from their forthcoming album Pathways, slated for June 12 on Nettwerk. The song blends psychedelic rock with early‑2000s synth textures, drawing comparisons to Washed Out, early Tame Impala and...
Jada Di’Larosa – ‘To Love Is To Perform’
Jada Di’Larosa’s debut album *To Love Is To Perform* delivers an intimate blend of New Orleans‑infused jazz, cinematic strings, and late‑night brass. Written after her night shifts as a Bourbon Street dancer, the record uses performance metaphors to explore love, ambition,...
FH HF – Rewind / Hey, Can I Pick Your Ears?
Georgian experimental artist FH HF releases *Rewind*, a "blindly intuitive collage" that shuns traditional album structure in favor of fragmented, momentum‑driven soundscapes. The record explores memory as a fluid process, pairing glitch‑laden textures with playful humor and personal narratives, such...
Weezer, Olivia Rodrigo, Tyla, Sombr | Weekly Track Roundup: 4/19/26
Anthony Fantano’s Weekly Track Roundup dissected a wave of new releases, labeling Sombr’s "Potential," The Kid LAROI’s "I CONDEMN," and Kacey Musgraves’ "Middle of Nowhere" as missteps while highlighting stronger entries from Weezer, Tyla, Tori Amos, and Olivia Rodrigo. He...
Dean Grenier – Four the Eight
Dean Grenier, long‑time California electronic producer, has reinvented his sound under his real name on the newly founded Handworks label. After a career defined by dark drum‑and‑bass, dubstep and techno, his latest album “Four the Eight” embraces lush, progressive‑trance textures....
False Advertising Take Aim at the ‘Next Big Thing’ Myth
Manchester’s False Advertising is set to release the single “Next Big Thing” on May 1, 2026, ahead of their sophomore album The Sorry Window. The track, co‑produced by Luke Pickering of Fontaines D.C. and Arlo Parks fame, blends post‑punk energy...
TuneCore Lets Artists “Give Nature a Split” Of Their Streaming Revenue
TuneCore has launched “Give Nature A Split,” letting independent artists allocate a portion of streaming royalties to environmental projects. By adding “NATURE” as a collaborator, artists can automatically route chosen percentages to the EarthPercent‑run Sounds Right Fund, which backs Indigenous...
Smerz Announce New EP, Share New Track "Spring Summer"
Norwegian art‑pop duo Smerz announced a new EP titled Easy, slated for release on May 15 via the independent label Escho. The EP’s lead single, "Spring summer," showcases a hazy, synth‑driven sound that diverges from the narrative‑driven style of their...
Ssonne – Night Admin
Barcelona‑based producer ssonne has released his debut ambient album, night admin, adding a fresh voice to the city’s emerging electronic scene. The record weaves weightless, static‑laden textures with pitch‑shifted rap snippets, drawing comparisons to Burial, Gas, and Alva Noto while...
The Anchoress Shares Video for New Single "I Had a Baby Not a Lobotomy"
Welsh singer‑songwriter Catherine Anne Davies, known as The Anchoress, has unveiled the video for her new single “I Had a Baby Not a Lobotomy.” The track, recorded on Steve Townshend’s ARP 2500 synthesiser, satirises the barrage of unsolicited advice new...
Fela Kuti :: Live in Detroit 1986
Fela Kuti’s 1986 Detroit concert, recorded at the Fox Theatre, was captured on a smuggled tape less than a year after his release from Nigerian prison. The bootleg, later dubbed and re‑dubbed, preserves the raw energy of his first U.S....
Gaahl Moves From The Shadows to the Word on “…by the Word…” (Trelldom Interview)
Norwegian artist Gaahl, known for his work in black metal, is set to release his fifth album in two years, "…by the word…," the second Trelldom record since the band’s 2024 comeback. The album, due May 29 on Prophecy Productions,...
Styrofoam Winos – “Next Thing”
Styrofoam Winos released the single “Next Thing” on April 22, 2026, offering a folk‑country hybrid that previews their forthcoming album Any River. The track showcases gritty guitar work and a steel‑stringed vocal texture, positioning the band for playlist placement and radio...
Setting
American experimental folk group Setting returns with a self‑titled album that leans heavily into kosmiche synth textures while retaining their folk heritage. Drawing on members’ histories with acts such as Mind Over Mirrors, Califone, and Black Twig Pickers, the record...
Phil Berg – Iso
Phil Berg’s four‑track EP *Iso* strips techno to its core, relying on tight drum loops and minimalist synth chirps to drive each piece. The opening title cut launches like a freight train, layering relentless percussion with a low‑end bass that...
Metric on “Romanticize the Dive”
Canadian indie rock veterans Metric are set to release their tenth studio album, "Romanticize the Dive," on April 26, 2026. The record deliberately taps the sonic DNA of their breakthrough 2009 album "Fantasies," reuniting the original production team while exploring...
Donato Dozzy – Hypno Trance
Italian techno pioneer Donato Dozzy has issued a new EP titled *Hypno Trance*, released on limited vinyl and digital platforms. The six-part record eschews conventional dance‑floor trance in favor of slow‑burning, industrial‑tinged compositions that evoke a hypnotic state. Tracks like...
Inferno, Boards of Canada’s First Album Since 2013, Is Out in May
Boards of Canada announced their first studio album since 2013, titled Inferno, slated for release on May 29. The duo broke a year‑long social‑media silence with a teaser video and confirmed pre‑orders for vinyl, including a deluxe transparent red limited...
Jeff Parker IVtet – “Like Swimwear (Part Two)”
Jeff Parker’s experimental jazz ensemble ETA IVtet has released a six‑minute live video of “Like Swimwear (part two)”, offering a preview of his forthcoming album. The clip, filmed during the Lodge Room performance that birthed the record, also serves as...
Tristan Arp – (Re)weave
Objekt, a heavyweight in experimental electronic music, has released Tristan Arp’s new EP “re(weave)” on the Kapsela label. The record reflects Arp’s trans‑continental journey—spanning Detroit, New York, Mexico City and London—through jittery, percussion‑driven tracks that reference gamelan, IDM, and even...
Mean Jolene Share Private Plane Video + Single Release Show
ATH Records, an independent label founded 13 years ago, celebrates its latest release from longtime partner Mean Jolene. The Seattle‑based band dropped the single “Private Plane,” a blend of fuzzy pop and surf‑punk guitar that adds a sugary swagger to...
Mikaela Davis, Queen Of The Jamband Harpists, In Conversation
Mikaela Davis, a classically trained harpist turned singer‑songwriter, is releasing her new album Graceland Way this Friday. The record blends psych‑country with West Coast influences and features collaborators such as Dan Horne, Karly Hartzman, Madison Cunningham, Neal Francis and James...