I was listening to a new record by Michael Monroe the other day when it occurred to me that I should make a note of several 2026 record releases that I already know will make my best of 2026 list come the end of the year. But there are so many notable releases already that I figured I would share my favorites so far with our Pencil Storm readers. And we’re only one third of the way through the year!
In no particular order, here’s what I am loving. We will start with the aforementioned…..
Michael Monroe – Outerstellar
Dang, this former leader of the highly influential band Hanoi Rocks has been prolific (full-length releases in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2022, 2026) for awhile now. All of his records have some gems on them, but this new one is kind of blowing me away. It’s more consistent than some of the prior releases. I am almost sure it will be a JCE top ten release when all is said in done in 2026.
LOLO – God Forbid a Girl Spits Out Her Feelings!
This is the follow-up to a spectacular debut record from 2024, which was called Falling for Robots and Wishing I was One. LOLO sings a non-stop collection of songs about being screwed over by boyfriends. Every song has really clever lyrics and every song is an upbeat pop gem. I should note here that I have a real affection for female vocal indie-pop. This is backed up by my next selection…
CARR – CARRGIRRL
This release is probably not for everyone. It’s another female vocal, indie-pop record. But CARR is kind of a dripping with attitude, sassy kind of artist that could easily turn people off. Nevertheless, I dig it.
The Factory – Vault
I have no idea who is behind this record, but it is a collection of tunes by a D.C. band that had its heyday all the way back around 1987- 1989. The quality of these recordings is very good. It contains eight songs and is a true treasure for anyone who saw the band and it’s dynamic lead vocalist, Vance Bockis.
Social Distortion – Born to Kill
Boy, has it been a long wait for this thing. Fifteen years in fact. But we finally have a new record from one of my favorite bands on the planet. I am writing this on May 4th, and including the record on this list because two tracks have been released and I already know that I’m going to love the whole thing. The record drops May 8th, so I assume it is out as of the time you are reading this.
The Pollocks – Love You
The Pollocks new record, which is now titled Love You, was reviewed pre-release by your truly right here on Pencil Storm. It will be officially released on May 30, 2026. It is brilliant.
The Right Here – Righteous Junk – EP
These guys have been cranking out great rock n roll for over a decade, but I only just discovered them a few months ago. And then lo & behold, a new 6-song release appears to further bolster my new fandom. Good stuff.
The Pretty Reckless – Dear God
If you read my stuff here on Pencil Storm with any regularity, you will know that I love this band. Their latest drops on June 26, 2026. To date, two fabulous tracks have been released. Much like Social Distortion and Michael Monroe, this is almost a guaranteed top ten for 2026.
The Godfathers – Going Wrong / Lesbian Café – single
Here is another one of my favorite bands of all time that is hinting at a new release. The single that has dropped is a double A-side and both songs are typically excellent Godfathers fare.
The Hangmen – Real Blues – Single
And yet another one of my favorite bands of all time has released a new tune in 2026. (It is not hyperbole when I tell you that The Hangmen, The Godfathers, Social Distortion and The Pretty Reckless are truly amongst my most treasured of artists. I am shocked that they all have new music in a single third of a year.) This, like The Godfathers’ single, is very typical of most of the stuff by this great band.
The Lonely Ones – Dark Side of the Disco Ball – single
I caught these guys live a couple of years ago and they were great. And they’re from Columbus, Ohio! This new single might be my favorite song of theirs. They have some good tunes, but this one is right in my wheelhouse.
That’s a pretty great list of new music just four months into the year. Let’s hope the next eight months bring even more great releases. Videos for your listening pleasure…Enjoy!
Michael Monroe
Social Distortion
The Pretty Reckless
LOLO
JCE, or John to his friends, is 61 years old and lives happily in rural VA about an hour and half outside of D.C. His wife of 33 years says he’ll never grow up, and she’s exactly right. He attributes that to his lifelong love affair with all things rock n roll. Starting with 45 rpm Monkees records at a very early age to his present massive collection of vinyl, cd’s and a digital library of God knows how many songs, he’s a rock n roll lifer.