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The Afghan Whigs  Soft Control

Soft Control would be a great place to dig in if you’re new to the Afghan Whigs, but it is also another rewarding collection for devotees PopMatters

The Afghan Whigs  Soft Control

For those concerned that they’ve lost their guitar-driven swagger, fear not, as Soft Control features some of the band’s most fiery and uplifting material that fuelled classics like 1965 and Gentlemen No Ripcord

The Afghan Whigs  Soft Control

The brooding "Duvateen" builds to an epic finale that's testament to a band who've only got better with age. Print edition only Mojo

The Afghan Whigs  Soft Control

Can the Whigs sustain the cinematic potency of the three albums released since their return to the studio in 2014, after 16 years away? Spoiler - they can. No caveats. Print edition only Uncut

Westside Cowboy  It Goes On

There are multiple moments throughout this album where, if played loud enough, you feel as if you are in the room with them, your head inside the hurricane frenzy that this band is so competent operating within Clash

Westside Cowboy  It Goes On

The Manchester outfit have made a terrific, wildly confident debut album that's crammed with ideas musicOMH

Open Mike Eagle & Kenny Segal  DOOMED!

DOOMED! is a wonderful record that draws the very best out of these two singular talents. Vulnerable, laugh-out-loud funny, and occasionally even hopeful, its sharp beats and even sharper couplets make it one of the leading Hip Hop albums of 2026 No Ripcord

Hovvdy  Big World

Reflecting candidly on aging, forgiveness, and self-improvement, the indie-pop duo returns with a charming new album that takes the world in stride Pitchfork

Lambchop  Punching The Clown

With acoustic guitar and banjo, Lambchop return to their Nashville roots, while the choruses create yet another idiosyncratic background for musings on America PopMatters

Westside Cowboy  It Goes On

Manchester outfit Westside Cowboy release their debut album, performing the same movement throughout to (mostly) irrestible effect The Skinny

Open Mike Eagle & Kenny Segal  DOOMED!

On DOOMED!, Open Mike Eagle and Kenny Segal have found a pocket that keeps you coming back – this is easily up there with one of the best hip-hop releases of the year The Skinny

Laura Veirs  Temple Songs

By closing her artistic process off to the people and places around her, Laura Veirs has fully opened herself up to love and, hopefully, creative collaboration once again Spectrum Culture

Westside Cowboy  It Goes On

Doubling down on their initial rough’n’ready brilliance to make good on their potential and then some DIY

Westside Cowboy  It Goes On

What an undeniable rock inferno this British band has unleashed, where even the quiet parts will swallow or split you Paste Magazine

Westside Cowboy  It Goes On

It Goes On is about as fine a record as any debut album of the last 20 years Beats Per Minute