A selection of album recommendations you should listen to in 2026, written by UEA students!
Feels – Animal Collective
Marking its 20th anniversary last year, Feels by Animal Collective is an explosive celebration of love.
A psychedelic dream like no other, this experimental indie rock record gallops onto the scene with bouncy percussion and twinkling piano notes.
Feels explores a whole range of emotions. From desire to fear, it captures the essence of what it’s like to have an earth-shattering crush, to fall in love, then out of it again.
Animal Collective cultivates a world of whimsy and tenderness, of days out and cosy-nights in. Dripping in ambient guitar, Feels transports you to a world of warm lighting with even warmer arms surrounding you.
It’s an album that will make your heart soar; if you’re looking for love in this new year, fall in love with Feels.
Review by: Pia Subong
Make ‘em laugh, Make ‘em cry, Make ‘em wait – Stereophonics
Make ‘em laugh, Make ‘em cry, Make ‘em wait is the latest album by rock band Stereophonics. With a slightly more upbeat and indie feel than some of their other albums, particularly the earliest ones, this album is perfect for the new year, new me vibes.
With heartfelt and entertaining tracks like “There’s always gonna be something” and “Make it on your own,” it is a perfect pick-me-up album to get you into the new year in style.
While more hard-core rock fans will prefer albums such as Word Gets around, this album combines the rock genre with a slight pop feel that can entertain any listener.
Review by: Lola Sears
Post Traumatic – Mike Shinoda
Post Traumatic is the debut solo album by Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda, detailing his grief and struggles in losing bandmate Chester Bennington the year before its release. It contains hints of an electronic, alt-pop Linkin Park sound from their later albums.
Whether each song’s atmosphere is haunting, uplifting, mellow or boisterous, Shinoda’s quality as a singer and multi-instrumentalist shines through any genre he takes on. Having written, recorded and produced most of the album by himself, Post Traumatic remains the same quality.
My personal favourites are: “Over Again,” “Crossing A Line,” and “Hold It Together.”
Review by: Matt Howes
Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea – PJ Harvey
Stories from the city, stories from the sea is English singer-songwriter and pioneer of alternative rock music, PJ Harvey’s fifth studio album. Inspired by New York, this album introduces an eclectic mix of genres; from trip-hop to angsty alternative rock.
To me, a perfect album that exudes the beauty, mystery and hope offered by cities such as New York. This album is one of Harvey’s most acclaimed albums making her the first woman to win the mercury prize in 2001.
This album is perfect for anyone wanting to discover more alternative, angry, messy female musicians.
Review by: Erin Heffernan
Image credit: Pexels
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