The Top 10 Pop Albums of 2026 ...so far

 

 That time of year again. These lists serve as a decent snapshot of where the year is heading in terms of music. I have already received promos for albums dropping as far out as August in my inbox, so they are really going to need to bring it to compete with the top five albums on this list. When it comes to pop, what you are not going to see much of are big mainstream radio artists that are part of the music industry machine that spits bullshit out on an assembly line with two dozen producers and even more songwriters making a product for the sheep to consume. Maybe two are adjacent to that machine, though are unlike the bulk of their peers. 

What I want from my pop is catchy songs that have actual instruments being played, rather than just empty calories being pumped into my ears. My people refer to this sort of thing as their guilty pleasures, and I do not use that term, as anyone on this list is better than vapid shit kids on TikTok are dancing to. Hip Hop has pretty much been garbage this year; only two artists have managed to rise from that trash pile to form music with depth.  There are links to full reviews if you want to check these out, and with all that said, here are the top 10 pop albums of 2026 so far. 

10-Mothica-'Somewhere In-Between"

In a shift from the dark synth pop of "Kissing Death," Mothica is shifting into a more modern metal sound that is not unlike what artists like Poppy and Spiritbox are doing. You can't accuse her of making the same album twice, which I admire.  

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/mothica-somewhere-in-between.html

9-Qveen Herby-"Isle of Qveen"

Her second album proves to be one of the few on this list that delivers what you expect you are going to get, going into though, she is much more polished this time around. She combines a catchy blend of rapping and singing. The wheel is not being re-invented, but what she does have is a smart streak of creativity and perhaps more attitude now than when I first heard her. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/qveen-herby-isle-of-qveen.html

8- Nine Inch Noize- "S/t" 

Nine Inch Noize is a collaborative album between producer Alex Ridha, aka Boys Noize, and Nine Inch Nails, which is now basically just Reznor and Atticus Ross.  If you are looking for big arena-rock riffs, that is not happening, as the songs reimagined here are strictly electronic. That's not to say the synths don't have heft, and Reznor's voice roots it in the sound you expect from him. The track listing replicates their Coachella set list.. Pretty much just dance versions of  the originals, making them suited for the Coachella crowd indeed. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/04/nine-inch-noize-st.html

8-    

8-Cobrah- "Torn" 

If you combined the otherworldly alien nature of Poppy and mixed it with the hyper sex of Slayyyter, the results would be similar. Musically close to Poppy, with the electronic throb keeping the songs together. This is also an apt description of the title track that opens this album. On the second song, which is about Instagram is seductively lures you to check out her Instagram. There is a bit of a Charli XCX attitude involved in what goes down here as well. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/03/cobrah-torn.html

7-Nine Inch Noize- "s/t"

Nine Inch Noize is a collaborative album between producer Alex Ridha, aka Boys Noize, and Nine Inch Nails, which is now basically just Reznor and Atticus Ross.  If you are looking for big arena-rock riffs, that is not happening, as the songs reimagined here are strictly electronic. That's not to say the synths don't have heft, and Reznor's voice roots it in the sound you expect from him. The track listing replicates their Coachella set list. If you ever wanted to hear gay house remixes of Nine Inch Nails, well, here you go, get to boofing your Molly.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/04/nine-inch-noize-st.html

6-Ghost Bells - "Caracoture"

This duo blends various sub-genres of dark electronic music into a moody but buoyant pop that feels like it is haunted by the 90s. The female vocals offer a childlike sing-song cadence to their chant. Repetition is king here and works. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/01/ghostbells-catacoture.html

5-Charli XCX-"Wuthering Heights"

  This soundtrack finds her deviating from the normal ode of operations, which are club classics, and instead draws more avant-garde classical music with weird atmosphere coating the bulk of these songs in a smart shift away from having another Brat Summer.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/charli-xcx-wuthering-heights.html

 

4-Dalek- "Brilliance of a Falling Moon"

The new Die Antwoord has not dropped yet, so the competition when it comes to hip-hop is not as thick this year, but he broke into the top 5 this time around, thanks to songs that work off of what made hip-hop great in the 90s, but with more sonic depth and lyrical integrity. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/03/dalek-brilliance-of-falling-moon.html

3- Lights - "A6EXTENDED"

 Canadian pop songwriter Lights released an extended version of her "A6" album with 8 new songs, which is a whole ass album, that proved to be better than what the Instagram divas on the radio were rolling off the assembly line so far this year. Hooks with smarts to them in abundance here. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/lights-a6extended.html

2-Joji- "Piss in the Wind"

He sidestepped expectations with an oddity of an album that continues to grow on me. More organic than previous releases but also more experimental as it dips into shoegazing at times, which was not on my bingo card. More artists need to take these kinds of chances.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/joji-piss-in-wind.html

1- Slayyyter- "WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA"

This one was almost too close to call, and who knows what the competition for these albums might turn out to be by the end of the year, but She delivered less experimentation andd took a hookier groove approach that sticks to your ears harder than Joji's more atmospheric musings, which were still pretty potent. But this is the pop list, not the shoegaze list, so she took the top spot, as her attitude oozes what you want from pop stars in 2026.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/03/slayyyter-worst-girl-in-america.html

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February's Top 10 Albums

Another February is done, so let's get you abreast of new releases. This might help you, casual readers, with what you might have missed.  I am not doing little blurbs on them, just linking the reviews. This helps me organize my lists for the end of the year by listing the album's genre. This does not mean that these albums have been released this month, but it is a list of new or upcoming albums I have enjoyed the most. I have albums in my in-box that are not coming out til June, so I am normally way ahead of the curve in this regard. They are ranked in order of what I have listened to the most. This month, there is a wide variety from pagan folk pop to grind-core to black metal, so perhaps you will find your new favorite among them. Here are the Top 10 albums for February of 2026.

10-Mothica- "Somewhere In Between." 

Pop

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/mothica-somewhere-in-between.html

9-Final Gasp -"New Day Symptoms." 

Dark Hardcore 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/final-gasp-new-day-symptoms.html

,

 8-KMFDM-"ENEMY" 

Electro / EBM

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/kmfdm-enemy.html

7-lights,-"A6EXTENDED" 

Pop

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/lights-a6extended.html

 6-Puscifer, -"Normal Isn't" 

Alternative Rock

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/puscifer-normal-isnt.html

5-Worm- "Necropalace"

 

Black Metal 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/karnivool-in-verses.html

4-Joji-"Piss in the Wind" 

Pop

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/joji-piss-in-wind.html

3-Karnivool-"In Verses." 

Prog Rock

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/karnivool-in-verses.html

2-Converge-"We Were Never the Same." 

Hardcore

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/converge-love-is-not-enough.html

1-Rob Zombie- "The Great Satan." 

Industrial 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/rob-zombie-great-satan.html

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Joji : "Piss in the Wind"

It's been a minute since we've gotten an album from Mr Miller. I guess he has been busy with Sleep Token. Part of the pop machine, there are 15 producers and 25 songwriters on the album, 21 tracks,
and one of the strongest songs, the lead single "Pixleated Kisses" he created as he was left to his own devices. I appreciate the hip-hop cadance to "Cigarette" that keeps it from being the James Blake school of balladry. There is a little more of a drum n bass beat going through."Last of a Dying Breed". 

"LOVE YOU LESS" has shoegazey guitars ringing out with their woozy haze in the background. An entire album of this sort of thing with instruments plugged into amps might be intersting though at this juncture it could just as easily be AI, as there are no instruments or musicians in the credits,s just engineers and producers. At a minute in length, "If it only gets better" is more of an interlude than a song. The moving beat to "Love Me Better" works well and he offers more vocal contrast, dropping down into a lower register and going up into his head rgister. 

By the time we get to "Piece of You" we are beginning to get into the ballads. Giveon appears on the track, and it's really stereotypical millennial R&B. "Hotel California" is not a cover of the Eagles song but a moody pop song. which works better than the previous song. "Tarmac' is also effective with its slight hip-hop influence coloring the beat. "Forehead Touch the Ground" is more experimental and less focused. The 3rd single from the album"Past Won't Leave My Bed" is a ballad, but at least there is more going on dynamically, so it works. 4batz might be on "Fade to Black ' but it's a minute long and is more of an idea than a fully-realized song, so writing it off as an interlude. First exposed to 4batz, and he sounds like a child. 

"Can't see shit in the club" is a down-tempo, chill ballad. I like it when he picks up the pace of his melodies to keep the song moving, which really saves the song, as it's pretty minimal otherwise. The beat to 'Sojourn" goes harder and is more of what I want from him. Dylan Brady from 100 GECs lent a hand on that one. "DYKILY" has an uptempo beat that is balanced by ambience as his vocals sit back in the mix. "Rose Colored" finds Yeat joining him, who is trying to make the most of using FUTURE's auto-tune tactics. Joji keeps his head in the game and works around this. 

Don Toliver is on "Fragments" and is just a different shade of what is already being done here, so not much in terms of a dynamic shift. Joji works better on his own with "Horses to Water". "Strange Home" is both a work of the more tradmark Joji sound, which is a more melancholy pop ballad style. They work best when the beat is offering more support. The last song took an additional listen to sink in and carried a very familiar sound for him. I'll give this album a 9.5, and see how it grows on me, but one of the better pop offerings so far this year. 

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the Top 10 Pop Albums of 2020

Pop speaks for itself. There is some hip hop woven in because it is basically pop. Experimental hi hop go put on the electronic list as well as some of the more avant garde pop artists. Ok now that that is out of the way, much like in years past sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year list. I know many of you are ready for 2020 to be over with. Hate to break it to you but nothing is getting better next year. As far as 2020 goes there more new bands on this list than most. 

 The fact these artists made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Sure you can bitch and complain about your favorite artist  not being on the list. However I listen to five new albums a day so yes I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No I do not care what you think about it .I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 Pop albums of 2020.

 

10-the Weeknd- "After Hours"

It was not too long ago he would have been taking the top spot. When he finds his footing on this album, he returns to his magic. I could stand for him to be a little more depressed and drugged out. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-weeknd-after-hours.html

9 Shabazz Palaces- "the Don of Diamond Dreams"

Where the Weeknd sounded to be slightly more sober, this album proved that drugs still do some wonderful things. Perhaps not as catchy as it could be , but instead takes you on a more surreal journey than expected . 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/04/shabazz-palaces-don-of-diamond-dreams.html  

8 Poppy- "I Disagree" 

Granted the novelty of this album wore off after a while for me, but I still think this album was well done for what it is. If you see this on anyone's metal list rest assured they do not know what metal is and let me know so I can shame them to death.  

Abysmal Hymns: Poppy : " I Disagree"

7-Eminem- "Music to Be Murdered By" 

I like how this album almost feels more like a mix tape. He feels like he  has regained some of the edge getting sober took away first. The first album in a minute from him that I have felt compelled to listen to more than a couple time. His flow is almost immaculate. 

Abysmal Hymns: Eminem : "Music to Be Murdered By "

6- Taylor Swift- "evermore" 

A late entry that came out while I was making this list. Songs that are left over from the "Folklore" sessions. Her left overs are better than most can muster normally .  It is still growing on me, more sedate than "Folklore" which was a more introspective album to begin with. Subtle hooks and delicate songwriting.

Abysmal Hymns: Taylor Swift : "Evermore"

5- Run the Jewels- "RTJ4"

Some might expect this to be number one since it was on other lists. While it is obviously a great album as it edged out Taylor Swift's leftovers, if  lyrically it was not so topical given the current climate do you think it would be as big of a deal. Really it is just a matter of these guys know how to read the room.

  https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/06/run-jewels-rtj4.html

  4-Joji- "Nectar" 

This highest placing male on this year's pop list is nothing to sneeze at . This album is not dark, but moody, with emotions bared in shades of gray. He has a really interesting take on pop and I am looking forward to hearing where he does from here. He stole 4th place due to me just listening to him more. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/10/joji-nectar.html

4- Miley Cyrus - " Plastic Hearts" 

 Yeah last year she took the number one spot, but competition is tough this year and this is not as big of a banger, but Miley is only competing with Miley at this point , this album just came out on Black Friday, where the ones that beat her for the top 3 have stood the test of time over the year.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/12/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts.html

 

3-HAIM- "Women in Music Part 3" 

This could have been the number one album any other year. But it was a real tough call. They certainly belong at the top and number 3 is nothing to be ashamed of this and the other two albums that placed higher will be in the top 10 of the year for sure. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/09/haim-women-in-music-pt-3.html

2- Charli XCX- "How I'm feeling now" 

How did Charli beat out HAIM? After all they are playing instruments and everything. It came down to the fact I listened to this album more. This album is going down as being under rated, just like Charli herself. I mean she is gaining some steam in the states , but when it comes to hot pop chicks she has Selena Gomez and the like not even coming close. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/charli-xcx-how-im-felling-now.html

1- Taylor Swift- "Folklore" 

Pop was the easiest place to put this album as it was not quite folk , the pop sensibilities of her songwriting are intact, just very matured. She has proven herself a song writer to be taken as seriously as the National or Bon Iver. Not that I have not been taking her that seriously since I came across 1989.But not the rest of the world is catching up with the Swifties . 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/07/taylor-swift-folk-lore.html

Joji : "Nectar"

 I downloaded this album knowing next to nothing about this artist. He is a former Youtuber from Japan who got serious about making music. There is a dark feeling to his brand of pop music that does not follow cookie cutter expectations. He uses interesting arrangements, I hear trip hop influence but I do not think that is where his music falls. He is somewhat soulful at times . Not the world's greatests pipes but he works well with what he has. In some ways I suppose this the perfect music for moddy Tik Tokkers. There are some interesting intervals being used. His melodies often have hip hop cadences in the chanted patterns they follow. Diplo joins him on the song "Daylight". All I know about Diplo is he makes electronic music , what his talent in that arena is unknown to me. This song has a more organic almost 70s funk feel. 

"Upgrade" is the first song that feels more like filler. There are 18 songs so I am prepared for a couple. "Gimme Love" is uptempo , but his vocal works well with it. Between some of string arrangements and vocals layers there is at times a Beach Boys feel. "Run" is not only the best song on this album , but one of the best songs this year. It has some rock punch in places in the way the beat sits and a guitar solo at the end. His vocals work well over the relaxed beat to 'Sanctuary" . Sometimes his falsetto is stronger than other. He does not havea Prince like power to them as they are more breathy.  I like how the Eastern instrumentation gives a more sedate feel to some of the grooves. The dancier "Nitrous" is OK, but doesn't work as well as some of the songs that raised the bar for what you expect from him. The more trap like thump of "Pretty Boy' features Lil Yachty. It took me a minute to recognize his voice. I think "Normal People" is a better song. 

The beat to "Afterthought" is strong, but the vocals kind of sit back in a very relazed fashion. There is an odd ambiance to "Mr Hollywood" . The production kind of varies from song to song though there are staples to the over all sound. There is a more Weeknd like tone to the playful pop of "777" . "Reanimator" might dip into synth wave, but it is more about sounds than being a song. "Like You Do" leans toward being a piano ballad. I will give this one a 9.5 it's pretty solid pop music that shows it can even be great .  This is dark for pop, yet fun at the same time.