The end of the year is upon us, and it's time to reflect on your favorite music of 2026! Here are Zach McCormick's favorite songs of the year.

Once you've made your own list, vote in The Current's Top 89 poll by Monday, Nov. 16, and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a pair of coveted tickets to both nights of Brandi Carlile: Burn the Setlist (The All Request Tour) taking place Tuesday, Nov. 17, and Wednesday, Nov. 18, at the State Theatre in downtown Minneapolis.

The Current will count down your Top 89 of 2026 at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 31.

My music headline for the year

2026 felt like the year of the “live in the studio” album. Lots of the artists that I talked to were leaning into the organic feel of recording with multiple musicians in a room and chasing the ephemeral magic of happy accidents. Many of these records were made with touring bands, leaning into the well-worn chemistry of a tight-knit group of real human beings. The reasons for this were varied, some were reactions to the isolated COVID bedroom albums folks were forced to make earlier this decade, some represented the drawing of battle lines against the uncanny, boring perfection of AI music. I loved this shift, hoping it’s a trend that continues!

My Top Current Albums and Top Tracks (Alphabetical)

Courtney Barnett - Creature of Habit - “Stay in Your Lane”

Great to have a new record from our favorite Aussie southpaw. Was hoping for one more uptempo track like “Stay in Your Lane” but the whole record is still great!

Leon Bridges - Happiness Anytime - “Light the Way”

Jungle were the perfect producer pairing for Leon on this record, and their breezy take on afro-pop and tropical funk will make this an easy one to revisit when the winter gets oppressive.

Johnny Blue Skies & The Dark Clouds - Mutiny After Midnight - “Stay on That”

I love the raunchy, political side of Sturgill Simpson’s lyric book that we’re seeing on this record, and I love the uptempo boogie-rockin arrangements even more. The most fun I’ve had with one of his albums since Sound & Fury.

Greg Freeman - All Set the Bone - “Loser’s Prize”

The future of indie rock is in good hands. A great record made even more impressive by the speed at which it followed its quite good predecessor. Bracing and clear-eyed about the world but not completely bleak, full of monster riffs and great quotable turns of phrase.

Genesis Owusu - Redstar Wu and the Worldwide Scourge - “MOST NORMAL AMERICAN VOTER:”

Filter The Coup’s brainy, righteous rap militancy through a TV On the Radio meets Mad Max version of afrofuturism and you’ve got Genesis Owusu’s latest effort. Political songwriting is hard to do but Genesis never lets the message devolve into slogans or overwhelm the music.

Ratboys - Singin’ to an Empty Chair - “Anywhere”

I’ve got a soft spot for Chicago bands and Ratboys feel like favorite nieces and nephews of Wilco’s heartland indie family tree.

This is Lorelei - The Singer in my Band - “The Kid With the Crown”

Speaking of Wilcoesque records, Nate Amos’s latest reminds me of AM mixed with The Lemonheads. To my ear, this record is a bit hookier and more straightforward than his previous albums which might make it an easy entry point for newbs like me.

Brennan Wedl - S/T - “Let’s Be Models”

While she’s still in her twenties, Brennan Wedl’s lyrics and vocals have the whiskey flavored worldliness of Lucinda Williams, filtered through the grit of alt stars like Liz Phair and Courtney Love. Waxahatchee co-produced this record and encourages Wedl into big crunchy rock moments and some Jenny Lewis-esque sweetness too.

Yard Act - You’re Gonna Need a Little Music

Smart without ever being too clever for its own good, …A Little Music feels like Yard Act hopping around between sounds influenced by their britpop predecessors with lyrics that capture the anxiousness of our digital age with good humor.

The Womack Sisters - S/T - “Chauffer”

Daptone can do no wrong, especially not with Sam Cooke’s grandkids, and it’s fun to hear what they do with the traditional girl-group vocal setup like The Womack Sisters provide.

Local Faves

Constant Insult - This Injury

Ditchweed - Sweeter Than Life

Fret Rattles - As the World Falls Apart

I Will Die in This Jean Jacket - Hang From a Cloud

Humbird - Morning When it Comes

LaSalle - S/T EP

Mary Jam - Rest in Piss EP

Megasound - S/T

Nato Coles & The Blue Diamond Band - Join Us For A Few

Nur-D - Hell

Personal Faves

All Them Witches - House of Mirrors

Southern stoner metal / heavy psych gods back with another ripper.

Friko - Something Worth Waiting For

A big level up for the young Chicago rockers, can’t wait to see where they take it next.

Gurriers - Nobody’s Coming to Save You

Ended up preferring this one to Fontaines’ latest for my Irish post-punk fix thanks to its propulsiveness and urgency.

King Tuff - Moo

King Tuff’s brand of glammy good time ‘70s rock’n’roll is catnip for my ears, glad to have him back!

The Tubbs - Hard Life

Jangly power-pop gold that will hit especially well for fans of Richard Thompson and Bob Mould. Might be my sneaky AOTY!

Twisted Teens - Blame the Clown / Florida Water Blues / The Holy Cross Tigers

Inventive album trilogy (Quartet if you count last year’s S/T) from the now-NOLA based band who specializes in soulful slacker garage punk. Pressed by local vinyl valentines Outta Wax!

Honorable Mentions

Joyce Manor - I Used to Go to This Bar

Alabama Shakes - I Must Be Dreaming

Ecca Vandal - Looking for People to Unfollow

Helado Tropical - S/T

Kevin Morby - Little Wide Open

The Mary Wallopers - Paddywhackery

Cardinals - Masquerade

Death Cab for Cutie - I Built You a Tower

Haywire - I Don’t Wanna Say Goodbye

Rifle - S/T

Top 89 of 2026: Staff Picks Playlist