// Crucial Releases

Crucial Releases: January 9

First issue of the new year! Music from Sault, Dry Cleaning, Feels Like Heaven, Zach Bryan, The Cribs, Glom, and Home Star.

Crucial Releases: January 9

TLDR: This Week's Featured Albums

Sault - Chapter 1

Chapter 1 by Sault

★ 9/10

Released: January 9, 2026 on Forever Liviing Originals

FFO: neo Soul, R&B, funk

Your first song: Don't Worry About What You Can't Control

♫ Support: Official Site Listen Bandcamp

→ Read Review
Dry Cleaning - Secret Love

Secret Love by Dry Cleaning

★ 8.8/10

Released: January 9, 2026 on 4AD

FFO: post-punk, Wire, Squid, The Murder Capital

Your first song: Joy

♫ Support: Bandcamp Listen

→ Read Review
▼ Jump to Honorable Mentions

The word...

Happy New Year! Welcome to the first issue of Crucial Releases for 2026. In case you missed it, we have my favorite records from 2025 and a special guest list from my part time collaborator and oldest friend, Chris.

In terms of new releases, last Friday was January 2nd so there were very few new releases for that day… making this week the first substantial release week of the new year. And we’ve got a number of records for you to check out this issue!

There’s a wide variety of genre this issue (I love when this happens)… soul/funk, alt-country, post-punk, melodic hardcore, power pop, indie rock – a little something for everyone.

Let’s dive in with Sault and Chapter 1.

I was introduced to Sault by way of Cleo Sol’s solo albums (she’s the main vocalist on Sault albums) despite Sault putting out records before her solo work. Regardless of the direction or how, Sault operates in the world of alt R&B, soul, and funk that I love… such a good vibe. This record is good from top to bottom, so check out two of my favorite tracks below, then dig into the whole thing.

Dry Cleaning are a post-punk band from London and Secret Love is their third full length album and first since October 2022. This latest album was produced by Cate Le Bon, who put out a critically acclaimed album herself in 2025.

Dry Cleaning combines the angular post-punk of a band like Wire with almost spoken word poetry from vocalist Florence Shaw. Shaw excels in deadpan humor, surrealism, and commentary on mundane life. This gives the band one of the most unique sounds in punk today and when they are hitting on all cylinders, like on Secret Love, it makes for their best work to date.

Honorable Mentions

Within Dreams by Feels Like Heaven

  • 💿 Released: 9 January on Scheme Records
  • 🤘 FFO: melodic hardcore, Samiam, Fiddlehead, Have Heart, Anxious, Rites of Spring
  • 🎧 Your first song: “World Clock”
  • 💰 Support: Bandcamp

With Heaven on Top by Zach Bryan

  • 💿 Released: 9 January on Warner Records
  • 🤘 FFO: melancholy alt country
  • 🎧 Your first song: “Runny Eggs”

Selling a Vibe by The Cribs

  • 💿 Released: 9 January on [PIAS] Records
  • 🤘 FFO: The Strokes, The Libertines, UK influenced alt rock
  • 🎧 Your first song: “Dark Luck”
  • 💰 Support: Bandcamp

Below by Glom

  • 💿 Released: 9 January on Nettwerk Music Group
  • 🤘 FFO: lo-fi X indie rock, Alex G, Porches, oso oso, Wild Nothing
  • 🎧 Your first song: “Glass”
  • 💰 Support: Bandcamp

A Binding Life by Home Star

  • 💿 Released: 21 February on Born Losers Records
  • 🤘 FFO: power pop x emo, Weezer
  • 🎧 Your first song: “Milk & Honey”
  • 💰 Support: Bandcamp