In case you missed the "Best of 2026 So Far" episode of the podcast that Josh and I do called Born Too Late, here's a quick recap. We were happy to have Niek from Add To Wantlist.com as a special guest to class up the joint. It's crazy to me how we all, more or less, listen to similar music, yet only had one duplicate record on our lists.
So go ahead, dive in headfirst and take a look at what we've been adoring the last 6 months or so. I don't want to hear anyone say there isn't any good music being made anymore, because here are thirty-plus records that stand as a testament contrary to that statement. Brilliant new bands and records are still roaming the earth today. They haven't gone the way of the dinosaur quite yet. That's why it's more important than ever to support these independent bands and record labels right now, while they're still around. The Spotify playlist at the end of this post merely serves as a reference. If you like any of the music on that playlist or listed below, I implore you to please support them as best you can. Follow them on Bandcamp.com, on their social media, pick up a record, or a t-shirt whenever possible. Any little bit helps. That's why Josh, Niek, and I do what we do with our sites. Not in hopes of being some grandiose music influencer jackasses, but in hopes that this music ignites a fire in as many interested ears as possible. So that great music like this continues to soldier on and doesn't get snuffed out by greedy corporations. Rock 'n' roll has to stay alive by any means necessary!
10. Heather The Jerk - Scroll If You Love Devil LP (Self Released)
9. Music City - Welcome To Music City LP (Redundant Span Records)
8. Cherry Cheeks - D.O. and the Bytes LP (Total Punk Records)
7. Dust Star - Big Smash! LP (Storm Chasers Records)
6. Mod Lang - Borrowed Time LP (Just Add Water Records)
5. Faucheuse - Comme Un Poignard LP (Symphony Of Destruction Records)
4. Friends of Cesar Romero - Songs The Siren Sing LP (Self Released)
3. Prism Shores - Softest Attack LP (Having Fun Records / Meritorio Records)
2. Josephine Network Hooked LP (Lolipop Records)
1. (TIE) The Lemon Twigs - Look For Your Mind! LP (Captured Tracks Records)
Jay's Picks (Yours Truly) Shock Treatment Zine.com
10. Jacket Burner - Pig Vomit Sessions LP (Goodbye Boozy Records)
9. Excess Blood - Porcelain Doll 4 song 7” (Unlawful Assembly Records)
8. Collaps - Getting Used To The Dirt LP (Primator Crew / Oi! The Boat Records)
7. Physicalist - S/T 5 Song Cassette EP (Dirt Cult Records)
5. The Circulators - Pointless Games 7” (Total Punk Records)
4. Softjaw - S/T LP (Dandy Boy Records)
3. Pleasants - Losing Streak 7” (Fish and Cheap Records)
2. (Tie) Effigy - Burnt Offerings 12” EP (Sealed Records)
2. (Tie) T-Red - Partie 1984 - 1985 LP (Nausea Records)
1. Miscalculations - Paradox Intact LP (No Front Teeth Records)
Honorable Mentions
Josh's Picks (Faster & Louder.blogspot.com)
10. Brad Marino - Agent of Chaos LP (Beluga Music / Ghost Highway Recordings / Spaghetty Town Records)
9. Songs from the Film - She Don’t Mind 7" (Rum Bar Records / Sioux Vinyl)
8. The Sideshows - S/T LP (Self Released)
7. Poison Suckers - Charmer 7" (Transistor 66 Records)
6. Mod Lang - Borrowed Time LP (Just Add Water Records)
5. The Dahlmanns - Life In Reverse LP (Fabcom! Records / Lighthouse Records / Waterslide Records)
4. The Sleeveens - National Anthem (Goner Records)
3. The Speedways - Luna 7" (Beluga Records / Stardumb Records / FOLC Records)
2. The Melmacs - Euphancholia LP (Bakraufarfita Records / Wanda Records / Spaghetty Town Records)
1. Taxi Girls - Static LP (Wild Honey Records / Stomp Records)
So go ahead, dive in headfirst and take a look at what we've been adoring the last 6 months or so. I don't want to hear anyone say there isn't any good music being made anymore, because here are thirty-plus records that stand as a testament contrary to that statement. Brilliant new bands and records are still roaming the earth today. They haven't gone the way of the dinosaur quite yet. That's why it's more important than ever to support these independent bands and record labels right now, while they're still around. The Spotify playlist at the end of this post merely serves as a reference. If you like any of the music on that playlist or listed below, I implore you to please support them as best you can. Follow them on Bandcamp.com, on their social media, pick up a record, or a t-shirt whenever possible. Any little bit helps. That's why Josh, Niek, and I do what we do with our sites. Not in hopes of being some grandiose music influencer jackasses, but in hopes that this music ignites a fire in as many interested ears as possible. So that great music like this continues to soldier on and doesn't get snuffed out by greedy corporations. Rock 'n' roll has to stay alive by any means necessary!
Niek's Picks (Add To Wantlist.com)
1. (TIE) Uni Boys - S/T LP (Curation Records)
Honorable Mentions:
Honorable Mentions:
- Daniel Romano's Outfit - Preservers Of The Pearl LP (You've Changed Records)
- Physicalist - S/T 5 Song Cassette EP (Dirt Cult Records)
- Taxi Girls - Static LP (Wild Honey Records / Stomp Records)
- Sparrowhawk - Sunflowers In The Moonlight LP (Pinata Records)
- The Etters - S/T 7" (Fish and Cheap Records)
- Sick Shooters - Super Sonic Rock Saga LP (Wap Shoo Wap Records)
- Slippers - Slippers 08 LP (Perrennial Records / K Records)
- Brad Marino - Agent Of Chaos LP (Beluga Music / Ghost Highway Recordings / Spaghetty Town Records)
- Roberta Lips - Coup de Bluff 7" (Le Cèpe Records)
- Itchy and the Nits - Greetings From LP (Anti Fade Records / Total Punk Records)
- Local Drags - Cool If We Split LP (Stardumb Records)
- Bashful - 'Til It Makes You Sick LP (Self Released)
6. Sick Shooters - Super Sonic Rock Saga LP (Wap Shoo Wap Records)
Honorable Mentions
- Mod Lang - Borrowed Time LP (Just Add Water Records)
- Stabber - EP II 7” (Stab Records and Kickrock Records)
- Automatic Lovers S/T LP (Wap Shoo Wap Records)
- Flash Kicks - Couldn’t Care Less LP (Wanda Records)
- The Riffs - Doin’ Alright 7” EP (No Front Teeth Records / Oi! The Boat Records)
- The Sleeveens - National Anthem LP (Goner Records)
- Suicidas - Canciones Malditas LP (La Vida Es Un Mus Discos)
- Twenty One Children - After The Storm LP (Slovenly Recordings)
- Pura ManÃa - La Banda Es La Ley LP (Roachleg Records)
- Station Model Violence S/T LP (Anti Fade / Static Shock Records)
- The Etters 7" - S/T 7" (Fish and Cheap Records)
Just to reiterate, If you like any of the music featured on the playlist below, please go to your local record store, the band or label's website / Bandcamp.com page and buy it (mail is super fun!).
Please reach out to me at shocktreatmentzine@gmail.com if you want any more information on any of the bands or labels featured on my site and I'll be happy to point you in the right direction.