Just as we were getting into the swing of things with Fresh Picks, the holidays rolled in and new releases dried up.
It's still a little slow, but we were thrilled to see enough new tunes to kick off 2026! This is the place to be every Monday to stay up-to-date on the best new music around.
Albums range from one of the leaders of the modern post-punk wave in Dry Cleaning to Northern Minnesota jam band Saltydog. Singles include those from rising Americana star Jobi Riccio, Big Thief guitarist Buck Meek and much more.
Check out this week's suggestions from Music Director Kari Hedlund, Asst. Music Director Malachy Koons and Volunteer Coordinator Dan Gannon.
Albums
Dry Cleaning - Secret Love
Florence Shaw and company take their distinctive blend of spoken word observations and post-punk grooves to new realms on their career-best third album. From the pastoral folk of the anxious “Let Me Grow and You’ll See the Fruit” to the charming and even hopeful indie-pop of “Joy,” instrumentalists Tom Dowse, Lewis Maynard and Nick Buxton never fail to find the perfect setting for whatever direction Shaw’s inner diary leads. -MK
Mike Mattison - Turn a Midnight Corner
Mattison is a Minneapolis-born soul and blues singer and talented songwriter, releasing his third solo album. A backing vocalist and songwriter for Tedeschi Trucks Band, Mattison mines a similar vein of blues, rock and soul in his solo music. Turn a Midnight Corner was recorded with his longtime touring band, Trash Magic, and adds a heavy taste of country music, especially in the back half. It’s a classic case of a great vocalist, a great songwriter and a great band resulting in exactly what you’d expect. -MK
Saltydog - Runnin' Again
Duluth jam-funk band Saltydog have built a dedicated following through relentless gigging and a commitment to experimentation without ever losing their funky edge. Their new third album is the best so far at translating their eclectic live shows into a studio setting, showcasing a more cohesive group sound and maturing songwriting. Highlights include the laid back “Reachin’” (especially the vocals), the disco romp “Drivin’ in the Night” and the bluesy riff of “Bessie.” -MK
Singles
Jobi Riccio - "Buzzkill"
Based on this song and the previous single “Wildfire Season” from her upcoming album Face the Feeling, Riccio is venturing into a more robust sonic territory. The path into adulthood is the theme for the song, where she compares the incredible energy and lightness of a 21-year-old to the reality of life as a 25-year-old. Spoiler alert: It’s not all roses. A notable recipient of the John Prine Songwriter Fellowship from Newport Folk Festival, Riccio has been on the rise for the past few years, and I believe that this new album will continue her on that trajectory. -KH
Altin Gün - "Neredesin Sen"
Our favorite Dutch-Turkish psychedelic rockers are back with a surfy-sounding vibe, lamenting a missing lover. This is a cover of a Turkish folk song by Neşet Ertaş. The drums and bass really stand out here and propel the song forward while the singer brings the sadness of knowing their love is out there somewhere, but where? -DG
McKeon Hugh Roberts - "Milford"
Roberts, the former bass player for Wild Horses, travels a folk path on his new single, which details Minnesota's worst mining accident. Roberts has a gentle voice and uses it to great effect as we learn of this missing piece of Minnesota history from 1924. Beautiful, shimmering electric guitar accentuates the mood with mesmerizing results! -DG
Buck Meek - "Gasoline"
The new year brought an announcement of the fourth solo record from the Big Thief guitarist and vocalist, called The Mirror, due out Feb. 27, 2026. As a member of one of the most supportive and collaborative bands out there, his bandmates can be heard in background vocals from Adrianne Lenker, with drummer James Krivchenia taking on production. “Gasoline” starts off with Buck and his guitar and builds into his and Big Thief’s brand of loose, kinetic and adventurously great, quirky folk-rock. -KH
Ye Vagabonds - "The Flood"
Brothers Brian and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn are gifting 2026 with their version of traditional Irish folk music in the upcoming album All Tied Together Sitric Road, due out later this month. Their blood harmonies are intense on "The Flood," a flawless live recording that features players like Shahzad Ismaily (Laura Veirs) and Sam Amidon. -KH
