Last month provided a remarkably diverse and impressive slate of new music. We witnessed career-best efforts, creative rebirths, and pop records that have dominated our rotation since their release. As a companion to our recent song roundup, we have compiled an alphabetical list of the ten best albums of June 2026 that left a lasting impression on our staff.
Beth Orton: The Ground Above
Following her 2022 breakthrough Weather Alive, Beth Orton returns with The Ground Above, an album that explores themes of grief and motherhood with profound intelligence. Her folk sensibilities are bolstered by Paul Butler’s evocative string arrangements, creating a work of immense control and creative zenith.
Chanel Beads: Your Day Will Come
Chanel Beads, led by Shane Lavers, continues to blur the lines between pop and the surreal. With contributions from Mary McGrory and Zachary Paul, Your Day Will Come is an intoxicating, hypnotic record that balances hummable melodies with disquieting, experimental undertones.
Death Cab for Cutie: I Built You a Tower
Emerging from a period of personal transition, Ben Gibbard and Death Cab for Cutie deliver their most urgent record in years. Produced by John Congleton, I Built You a Tower captures the raw, unfussy energy of a band rediscovering its indie-rock roots.
Kelsey Lu: So Help Me God
Kelsey Lu’s So Help Me God is an eclectic, experimental chamber folk odyssey. Featuring collaborators like Kim Gordon and Kamasi Washington, the album showcases Lu’s chameleonic vocal range and a fearless approach to genre-bending.
Navy Blue: Sir Render
Sage Elsesser, known as Navy Blue, delivers a profound meditation on grief and spiritual growth. Sir Render stands as a masterclass in rap world-building, featuring contributions from the late Ka and Earl Sweatshirt.
Nirosta Steel: MY SKYSCRAPER
Steven Hall’s MY SKYSCRAPER is a fascinating reconstruction of forty years of recordings. By treating his work as a “work-forever-in-progress,” Hall creates a nostalgic yet untethered disco-punk experience that feels both ancient and modern.
Olivia Rodrigo: you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love
Olivia Rodrigo continues to refine her signature sound, incorporating new wave and post-punk textures into her latest release. you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love is a testament to her growth as a songwriter, offering clarity and confidence in every track.
SML: Spontaneous Music Live
Recorded live at Zebulon, Spontaneous Music Live captures the raw, improvisational brilliance of SML. The album thrives on the imperfections and kinetic energy of a live performance, preserved perfectly by Bryce Gonzales.
Tasha: You Are Spring!
Tasha’s You Are Spring! is a confident, mature exploration of love and self-assurance. With intricate soundscapes and lyrical lucidity, Tasha proves herself to be a composer of immense depth and vision.
Vince Staples: Cry Baby
Vince Staples shifts his focus to rock-inspired instrumentation on Cry Baby. By blending post-punk, disco, and blues-funk, Staples honors the Black roots of music while maintaining his status as one of hip-hop’s most compelling orators.
