B-Side Guys

The Best Albums of 2026

The year so far, ranked by B-Side Breakdown: the reviews from 36 outlets we trust, put on one 0–100 scale. An album needs at least 5 reviews to make the list. It updates itself as new reviews come in; last updated October 26.

  1. 1Album cover for All Set the Bone by Greg Freeman
    Greg FreemanAll Set the BoneOctober 2, 2026 · 7 reviews · 100% liked it · Broad agreement
    87B+
  2. 2Album cover for Hippies, Thugs and Heroes by Richard Thompson
    Richard ThompsonHippies, Thugs and HeroesOctober 16, 2026 · 6 reviews · 83% liked it · Some debate
    84B
  3. 3Album cover for Nothing Lasts Forever by Brock Davis
    Brock DavisNothing Lasts ForeverFebruary 27, 2026 · 5 reviews · 100% liked it · Broad agreement Nothing Lasts Forever, the Santa Cruz-based Americana artist's fourteenth-song collection, was written as a meditation on impermanence and then became something far more personal.
    83B
  4. 4Album cover for You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love by Olivia Rodrigo
    Olivia RodrigoYou Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in LoveJune 12, 2026 · 8 reviews · 100% liked it · Unanimous
    83B
  5. 5Album cover for Dopamine Chamber by Fontaines D.C.
    Fontaines D.C.Dopamine ChamberOctober 15, 2026 · 18 reviews · 78% liked it · Some debate
    83B
  6. 6Album cover for Live at Carnegie Hall by Cameron Winter
    Cameron WinterLive at Carnegie HallOctober 9, 2026 · 7 reviews · 86% liked it · Some debate
    82B-
  7. 7Album cover for Ghosts (100 Days of Morning) by Jamie T
    Jamie TGhosts (100 Days of Morning)October 9, 2026 · 5 reviews · 60% liked it · Some debate
    82B-
  8. 8Album cover for The Boys of Dungeon Lane by Paul McCartney
    Paul McCartneyThe Boys of Dungeon LaneMay 29, 2026 · 8 reviews · 63% liked it · Broad agreement
    80B-
  9. 9Album cover for No Bad Memories by The Avalanches
    The AvalanchesNo Bad MemoriesOctober 16, 2026 · 9 reviews · 67% liked it · Some debate
    80B-
  10. 10Album cover for She’s the Best by Troye Sivan
    Troye SivanShe’s the BestAugust 14, 2026 · 9 reviews · 78% liked it · Some debate
    79C+
  11. 11Album cover for Do Not Dare to Dream by Teenage Fanclub
    Teenage FanclubDo Not Dare to DreamOctober 9, 2026 · 7 reviews · 43% liked it · Divided
    77C+
  12. 12Album cover for I think I spoke too soon by Rachel Chinouriri
    Rachel ChinouririI think I spoke too soonOctober 16, 2026 · 8 reviews · 63% liked it · Unanimous
    77C+
  13. 13Album cover for Confessions II by Madonna
    MadonnaConfessions IIJuly 3, 2026 · 9 reviews · 78% liked it · Some debate
    74C
  14. 14Album cover for Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. by Harry Styles
    Harry StylesKiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.March 6, 2026 · 6 reviews · 33% liked it · Some debate
    73C
  15. 15Album cover for The Romantic by Bruno Mars
    Bruno MarsThe RomanticFebruary 27, 2026 · 7 reviews · 43% liked it · Broad agreement
    72C-
  16. 16Album cover for Foreign Tongues by The Rolling Stones
    The Rolling StonesForeign TonguesJuly 10, 2026 · 10 reviews · 50% liked it · Some debate
    71C-
  17. 17Album cover for Petal by Ariana Grande
    Ariana GrandePetalJuly 31, 2026 · 7 reviews · 57% liked it · Some debate
    71C-
  18. 18Album cover for Bass Persuades by Miley Cyrus
    Miley CyrusBass PersuadesSeptember 18, 2026 · 7 reviews · 29% liked it · Some debate
    62D-
  19. 19Album cover for Megadeth by Megadeth
    MegadethMegadethJanuary 23, 2026 · 6 reviews · 17% liked it · Some debate
    60D-

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