4 great new albums (10/2/2026)
New albums from some of the best up-and-coming names in indie music– Shout out to my friend Jay for putting me on to Whisper Doll (through their excellent radio show, The 6th Degree) and to my pals Russ and Frankie for inadvertently introducing me to Holidays in United States (their band LiveYou is opening for them this week!). I hope you take the time to listen to these albums and get introduced to some great LPs.
Whisper Doll - Lucky Clover
Dream-Pop, Jangle Rock
On their substack, NY-based dream pop band Whisper Doll mentioned that they recorded their new album, the whimsical Lucky Clover, “in February 2026, when it was icy cold outside,” but aimed to bring a warmth to their new record that would balance that out. You can definitely hear this warmth on the album, a love letter to ‘90s bands like The Sundays and Mazzy Star that brings that signature brand of bright, loose alt-rock into the modern era like not many other bands could accomplish. Fiona Tagami’s ghostly vocals perfectly complement the glistening guitars and synths on songs like “Bluebells,” “Bloody Knees,” and the catchy “Sunsigns.”
Greg Freeman - All Set the Bone
Southern Rock, Alt-Country
The third album from Burlington-based artist Greg Freeman, who has been one of the most exciting voices in country music for the past few years, is his most fully-realized yet. At over an hour, the record knows how to keep the listener engaged, from the biting guitar riffs of “Totaled” and “Indu” to the pained balladry of “Withdrawn” (one of a few songs featuring backing vocals from Trinity Ace, who also released one of the best country records this year). The songs on All Set the Bone are often quite long, unrelenting, and passionate, with Freeman’s voice straining as he describes hopeless environments and stories of struggle in the American wasteland.
Holidays In United States - How to Count to Five
Midwest Emo, Post-Rock
As admittedly not the biggest fan of emo or math rock (although I’m always open to recommendations!), I was won over by Holidays In United States for a very specific reason– I love when a band has both male and female vocalists. Members Annika Haakonsen and Connor O’Doherty complement each other perfectly on tracks like “Topics for Discussion,” seemingly able to go from chilled-out to full on screaming in a millisecond. It’s easy to get lost in the addicting and technically impressive guitar riffs, puncturing drum fills (see my favorite track, “Girl Problems”), and dreamlike vibe of this record.
Lily Seabird - Lightspheres on Their Way
Folk Rock, Singer-Songwriter
I have so much to say about Lily Seabird, and the best way I can hint to how phenomenal this album is is that the first three songs alone each sound completely different from each other (while still being bound by Seabird’s twangy voice and contemplative lyricism). On Lightspheres, Seabird (also based in Burlington and a collaborator of Greg Freeman) sounds like she’s striving to touch every corner of the singer-songwriter metagenre, from the stately country-rock of “Bindlestiff” and “The Afterglow” to hard-hitting fuzzy rock bangers like “Election Day” to beautiful cinematic folk ballads like “Slipswitch.” If you couldn’t tell, this album also wins my personal award for the most unique song titles of the year.
