Variety picks best albums of the year so far

As the year 2026 reaches its midpoint, the music scene has already delivered a wealth of compelling albums. American entertainment magazine Variety recently unveiled its selections for the best albums released so far, a list that includes major pop figures such as Olivia Rodrigo, Charli XCX, and Paul McCartney.

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Rodrigon aiempia albumeita selvästi pitempi You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love on jaettu vinyyliajan nostalgiahengessä temaattisiin a- ja b-puoliin. Edellinen juhlii ihastusta, jälkimmäinen viruu surussa.

Variety's choices lean towards well-known, commercially successful artists, a different approach compared to The Guardian's earlier compilation of the year's best albums. The British newspaper's list featured emerging talents like the Northern Irish post-punk and electronic act Chalk, and the ethereal cloud rap artist Lerado Khalil.

Nostalgia continues to be a significant theme in music, offering comfort and clarity in uncertain times. This year's Variety list includes two country albums, Ella Langley's "Dandelion" and Kacey Musgraves' "Middle of Nowhere," both celebrating tradition and roots.

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Mitski ei ole koskaan harrastanut kovin hilpeitä lauluja, mutta uusin, kahdeksas albumi on erityisen tummasävyinen. Se on kaunis ja tasalaatuinen kokonaisuus, joka tuntuu hieman raa’alta keväällä julkaistavaksi: lyriikoissa leikitellään katoamisen ajatuksella ja puhutaan paljon tuonpuoleisesta. Levy on melankolisuudessaan tuttua Mitskiä. Se huokuu sad girl -estetiikkaa Lana Del Reyn vaihtoehtoisempana sukulaisena.

Notably, the list features only one clear rap album, Drake's "Maid of Honour," a contrast to 2016 when three rap and hip-hop albums made Variety's top ten. Among the highlighted albums is Olivia Rodrigo's "You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love," praised for its blend of pop and rock and its thematic structure. Mitski's latest work, "Nothing’s About to Happen to Me," is described as a dark, beautiful, and raw collection balancing indie rock with orchestral arrangements. Paul McCartney's "The Boys of Dungeon Lane" is noted for its nostalgic yet rocking sound, reminiscent of his earlier work. Raye's "This Album May Contain Hope" is characterized as an ambitious and grand pop spectacle.

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Läpi levyn Maccan kädenjälki on suorastaan huvittavan tunnistettavaa. Kepeästi sovitettu Life Can Be Hard voisi olla Sgt. Pepperillä aivan She’s Leaving Homen vieressä.