I’m employing the Larry David Rule: No more Happy New Year greetings after January 7, so I’m not going to say it here. Instead, we have our first meaningful New Music Friday of 2026. Let’s get moving. It’s not a busy week, but there are still a few things to talk about.
Singles
1. Allie X, 7th Floor (AWAL)
If Peter, Bjorn and John had a female vocalist, they might sound like this Toronto-born artist. Allie X (Alexandra Hughes on her driver’s license) is now working out of LA and is hoping for good things from her self-produced fourth album, Happiness is Going to Get You. The UK seems to really like this song. Love the Lene Lovich hair, too.
2. Puscifer, Impetus (Puscifer Entertainment/Alchemy Recordings/BMG)
Tool claims to be working on new music, but singer Maynard James Keenan can’t do anything with lyrics until all the other guys have finished their parts. To occupy his time, he’s resurrected Puscifer for a new album entitled Normal Isn’t, which is due on February 6. There’s also the related comic book series, Tales from the Pusciverse.
3. Josh Ritchie, Numb (Merilaninen Music)
Josh is a new BIPOC Canadian singer/guitarist (multi-instrumentalist, actually) who grew up on the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario. Not only is he big into art, but he’s involved in various sorts of activism. This is from his third album, a concept record called So Much More Than a Dream.
4. Shinedown, Searchlight (Atlantic)
Shinedown had a good year in 2025 and is looking to carry that momentum forward. This single–loaded with violins and banjos–is from their eighth studio album, which has them leaning a little country. In fact, this song had its debut at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville back in October.
Albums
1. Alter Bridge, Alter Bridge (Napalm)
Even though Creed is back together and touring, Alter Bridge, the band that grew out of Creed when they dissolved in 2003, is still very much a going thing with all five original members. This is their eighth studio album and the first in four years. Good riffage here.
2. The Cribs, Selling a Vibe (PIAS)
The Cribs is one of those English indie rock bands who are known only Anglophiles outside the UK. Which is a shame, actually, because in the quarter-century since they were formed, they’ve put out some great records. This is their ninth album and first in five years. (Fun fact: The group features a set of twins and their younger brother.)
Dry Cleaning, Secret Love (4AD)
I’ve been following this South London band since shortly after they were formed in 2017. Unlike almost every other group in the universe, they don’t sing. Vocalist Florence Shaw prefers the spoken word approach, which (a) really brings the lyrics to the fore, and (b) helps Dry Cleaning stand out from the crowd. This is the kind of band that could only thrive on a label like 4AD. If Mark E. Smith were still with us, he’d be a fan.
© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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