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Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2026)

Music • July 13, 2026

That's right: we're halfway through 2026 already, although whether that means this year is a glass-half-empty or glass-half-full kind of year... well, the jury's out. But we'll let you know in December. Despite another six months of chaos, war, conflict and uncertainty, one thing in life remains static and reliable: SPB's mid-year list. Join our writers as we share the best albums released in the first half of 2026. Discover some slept-on hits, remind yourself about the amazing records you've already heard this year, and feel the relentless passing of time as you think "wait, did that only come out this year?". It's time for our mid-year favorites. Read more

Demos You Want To Check #4

Music / New Kids On The Block • July 7, 2026

The musical landscape is ever changing. New genres are popping up, new hypes burst out of nowhere and die out … Read more

The Bellrays

Interviews • July 6, 2026

A Conversation with Lisa Kekaula (Vocals) and Bob Vennum (Guitar) of The Bellrays For over three decades, The Bellrays -- … Read more

Golden Shitters

Music Education

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • June 23, 2026

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. Most musicians have day jobs – and not … Read more

Latest album reviews — browse all

Time Thieves

Come Home/If You Survive Extended Edition
Independent (2026)

Time Thieves, of Chicago, IL, bill themselves as power pop in the vein of The Rentals or Fountains of Wayn or Weezer in their bio and they double down on that with the smooth as silk, uplifting melody of "Cover Your Eyes," the first song on their Come Home/If You Survive Extended Edition LP that arrived on my doorstep, literally … Read more

The Mekons

Horror & Horrorble (The Mekons Vs. Tony Maimone In Dub Conference)
Fire Records (2026)

When Horror dropped last year, it was well worth the privileged price of entering the collected world of The Mekons. I was lucky enough to find their first LP—"The Quality Of Mercy Is Not Strnen"—in a thrift store many blood moons ago. This began my foray into the ever-changing world of The Mekons and their many ever-changing forays into the … Read more

Amy Bell

Want Me EP
Warren Records (2026)

Amy Bell is a singer songwriter from Yorkshire, England. A self-taught musician at 21 years old, she has begun to make a name for herself and often plays at charity events and local festivals. Known for her unusual voice, this indie artist released her second EP, titled Want Me, on June 26th, 2026 on Warren Records. This 4 song collection … Read more

House Of All

Inklings
Tiny Global Productions (2026)

Six blokes who survived the Mark E. Smith sausage-squeezing meat grinder, plus a beautiful Blue Orchid for good measure. But if you’re turning up to Inklings expecting some pathetic karaoke penny on the eyes wake, you’re completely barking up the wrong great Deku tree. Not a tribute act. It’s a cash-in-hand inheritance from a filthy-rich uncle… let's call him Uncle … Read more

Additional album reviews

If I Die Today

I Felt Nothing
Independent (2026)

Sometimes post-hardcore stops feeling emotional and just becomes noise for the sake of noise. If I Die Today understands that line better than most bands operating in this space. Their … Read more

Eddy Current Suppression Ring

In Light Of Recent Events
Suppression Records (2026)

Australian Neo-proto-punk garagerockers ECSR released 11 new songs in May without much, if any, fanfare and not as some marketing or PR stunt but because they seem to actually give … Read more

Swell Maps

C21
Tiny Global Productions (2026)

This isn't a hologram dancing, marionette corpse, tap-dancing nostalgia trip. It’s a jagged pill, a necessary taser jolt. Jowe Head-- one of the sole surviving architects of the original Solihull … Read more

Silver Proof

Even If It Hurts
Independent (2026)

Some pop punk records feel made for playlists and algorithms. They’re polished into oblivion, emotionally vague, and afraid to get messy. Silver Proof clearly didn’t get that memo. The Buffalo … Read more

Lice (Aesop Rock & Homeboy Sandman)

Vol. 4: Miami Lice
Rhymesayers (2026)

This EP released kind of suddenly, back in March, right before a bunch of stuff hit the fan in my life outside of SPB. Which means the EP felt sudden, … Read more

Various Artists

There Is No Sun - A Tribute To Jay Reatard
Sonic Church (2026)

The late, great Jay Reatard was a prolific master of rock n roll gems. Whether it be with his earlier budget-punk act of his namesake, Reatards, his synth-punk projects Lost … Read more

The Dwarves

Jenkem
Greedy, MVD (2026)

The Dwarves first cut me off on my path with their 1986 garage-rock debut, Horror Stories, on Voxx Records. Been a fan since. Over the forty years they've been around, … Read more

David J

Tracks From the Attic Revisited
Independent Project Records (2026)

Sometimes musical circles take decades to close. Just ask Fleur De Lys and their catchy cover of The Who’s '60s freakbeat rarity, "Circles." For those of us digging through dusty … Read more

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Stetson Heat Seeker has No Place For Cowards

Posted in Records on July 18, 2026

Stetson Heat Seeker will release This Is No Place For Coward at the end of summer, on Sept. 4. Formed in 2023 with an EP to their name, the Seattle, WA band has shifted its lineup while solidifying its sound in advance of the new LP. Read more This Is … Read more

The Frogs hop along with a reissue

Posted in Records on July 18, 2026

With most of their catalog out of print, The Frogs' My Daughter The Broad is set for a forthcoming vinyl reissue, complete with bonus tracks. The reissue, via Foreign Leisure … Read more

Try The Burgers in Japan or the UK

Posted in Tours on July 18, 2026

In advance of UK and Japan tours, The Burgers shared a new single called "Bedroom," originally by The Candy Strypers. The single debuted today on streamers via Unsolicited Demos Records … Read more

Divided Heaven vs ICE

Posted in Bands on July 17, 2026

While DcxPC Live record label has a niche, they aren't afraid to break the mold -- sharing a new digital, studio single today from Divided Heaven, the anti-ICE song "SALT." … Read more

Hit Like A Girl tour dates

Posted in Tours on July 17, 2026

Hit Like A Girl, the project founded by Nicolle Maroulis (they/them), who is currently joined by Mol White (they/them) on synth and backing vocals, Mike Davis (he/they) on drums, Nat … Read more

James Mercer's Book of Dreams

Posted in Music News on July 17, 2026

James Mercer of The Shins has an upcoming children's picture book titled Book of Dreams, out March 2, 2027 on Random House Children's Books. Illustrations are by Jacob Escobedo, SVP … Read more

Too Late, But Still...Tomorrow

Posted in Records on July 17, 2026

Friday July 17 is the release date for How Much We Can Take, a new post-hardcore album from Too Late, But Still -- out via Cardinal Sun Records. You can … Read more

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The Number Twelve Looks Like You x Twenty-Five

Posted in Tours on July 16, 2026

Mongrel, released back in 2007, is nearing its 20th anniversary. … Read more

The SUNN O))) times

Posted in Tours on July 16, 2026

With a new self-titled album out this year (Sub Pop), … Read more

Recollection / Intrusive Thoughts

Posted in Records on July 16, 2026

Recollection will release a new 4-song EP next monthh, out … Read more

Shrineburner to bring Hymns of Despair

Posted in Records on July 15, 2026

Chicago, IL three-piece Shrineburner will release their debut album of … Read more

Arson Announce Self-Titled Debut

Posted in Records on July 12, 2026

Hardcore group, arson, have made their debut with their self-titled … Read more

Australian Cattle God to Release Cornpone's Final Recordings

Posted in Labels on July 12, 2026

Noise-Punks, Cornpone, will be releasing their final recordings from 1996 … Read more

AI labeling for music?

Posted in Music News on July 11, 2026

The IFPI, RIAA, A2IM, WIN, IMPALA, The Grammys, SAG-AFTRA and … Read more

New rock cellist covers

Posted in Bands on July 11, 2026

Cellist Gordon Withers just released two new singles as part … Read more

New Coyote Man

Posted in Records on July 11, 2026

Chicago trio Coyote Man just announced a new album: Prosthetic … Read more

False Flowers cover Adam and the Ants

Posted in Records on July 10, 2026

Sacramento, CA post-punk band False Flowers has a new double … Read more