New songs for October 26th 2026

 here they are:


"Bite My Tongue" by Michael Marcagi:  The same vulnerable, charming folk-rock that made Michael Marcagi a household name on adult alt stations in 2024 with "Scared to Start" is making the rounds again this year with "Bite My Tongue." Where "Scared to Start" seemed like it was about reluctance to start a relationship, "Bite My Tongue" seems more like the aftermath of it. Phrases in the song like "we could only bond on things we hated" and "So we fight about our income" give me the impression that Marcagi has gone past the fear stage of relationships he was addressing in his debut song and going straight into the dissatisfaction phase. "Bite my tongue, pretend that it didn't happen" is the central line of the song. Relationships (and social interactions in general) can be a lot to handle. This is a song for anyone who feels like relationships can be this way for them. The banjo flourishes on the song midway through give it a unique flavor, also.

"Blood Brothers" by Bleachers:  This has gotta be one of the saddest songs I've heard so far by Bleachers, and probably the closest I've heard them come to a folk-rock song! A YouTube commenter compared "Blood Brothers" to The National, and it's not hard to see why! It has a solemn and somewhat hushed sound that is still somewhat orchestral, although there is a fair amount of acoustic guitar and banjo here as well. Given how "We Should Talk" from earlier this year was about Jack Antonoff's feelings of resentment towards ex-bandmate Nate Ruess, "Blood Brothers" almost seems like a song where he wishes he could reconcile with Nate! I'm not sure if it's really about that, but if it is, I wouldn't be surprised. The ending lyric, "Bring back peace, the radio/Blood brother, it's over soon/And I can't carry you," almost seems like a lyric of wounded resignation!

"Just Another Moment" by Michael Kiwanuka:  Michael Kiwanuka's unique brand of "folk-soul" wasn't exactly commonplace when I first heard it, so I didn't know what to make of it. But with contemporary soul performers ranging from Leon Bridges to Black Pumas making it more of a thing these days, I retroactively warmed up to Michael Kiwanuka later on. His fun, psychedelic blues-rock tune, "Rolling," is one of my personal faves! But Kiwanuka's more solemn moments are effective as well, and his latest song, "Just Another Moment," is one of his most poignant and powerful! It's a song that's orchestral, soulful, and folksy all in one that reminds us all to enjoy the little things while we have them! Lyrics like "You should never be afraid" and "You should never bite your tongue" encourage the listener to be brave in the most authentic ways they can! The song clocks in at a little over 6 minutes, but as the song itself reminds us, every moment counts!

"Luckiest Man Alive" by Buffalo Traffic Jam:  Buffalo Traffic Jam are one of the most unlikely success stories of 2026. The flame of the "stomp-clap-hey" movement might have faded out, but Buffalo Traffic Jam keeps it flickering, sounding halfway between The Lumineers and Caamp. They've already hit it big this year with "Fool's Gold" and had a minor adult alt radio hit following that with "Pictures of You." Only fitting that their third one would be called "Luckiest Man Alive." The members of BTJ must feel like the luckiest men alive with all their newfound fame and fortune! But the song isn't about being famous. In fact, it might just be about the opposite of that, with the "luckiest man" part of the title being partial sarcasm. Lyrics like "It's a calm road to being insane/Damn this anxious brain," and "You're living with my ghost/Damn this anxious soul" seem like they're attempts for Frankie Cassidy to calm himself down, desperately trying to reassure himself that he's the "luckiest man alive" in the chorus while not entirely believing it.

"Nosedive" by Aubory Bugg:  Aubory Bugg may be a Nashville native, but she's more indie-folk than she is country. At only 21 years old, Aubory Bugg describes how intimidating it is to plunge headfirst into a relationship that you're not fully prepared to get into, hence the title of the song and its chorus. The song is vulnerable lyrically, but Bugg seems like she's taking that vulnerability, discussing it candidly with her audience, and turning it into something fun instead of something scary. It takes talent to do that!

"Razorblades and Runways" by The Revivalists:  A roots-y country-rock tune like their previous single, "Heart Stop," was, but this song is a bit more upbeat than that one was. "Razorblades and Runways" has a breezy, almost beach-like vibe to it despite its sighing country twang. I'm not sure what the title refers to, but although the first part of the song's chorus seems almost nonsensical ("Razorblades and runways/Calicos and sun rays"), the second part of the chorus reveals something a bit more personal ("I blew a thousand Mondays/Taking off the wrong way"). This song also has a killer flute solo - a rarity among rock songs unless maybe you're Jethro Tull! (And this song isn't even half as heavy as Tull's material is).

"Spectral Eyes" by Blondie:  Is famed punk and new wave innovator Debbie Harry really 81 years old?! Yep, she is...and she's still rockin' it! "Spectral Eyes" has nowhere near the cheeky heaviness of "One Way or Another" or "Call Me," but a song like this could easily pass as a jangly Fleetwood Mac or Pretenders number! (Fleetwood Mac almost did "Call Me" before Stevie Nicks turned it down!!) It's rare for Blondie to be jangly, but "Spectral Eyes" is a notable and fun exception to the rule! Even the lyrics of the song are somewhat Stevie Nicks-ish. The title alone could be, but lyrics like "Celestial smiles," "call the mystic out," and "skies unlimited" all sound passable as Fleetwood Mac-ish lyrics! The guitar solo is unmistakably Chris Stein, though it sounds jangly elsewhere! The song may or may not be a tribute to their drummer, Clem Burke, who passed away last year. 

"Who You Callin' Crazy?" by The Rolling Stones:  In summer of this year, The Stones graced us with "In the Stars," one of the more sincere and softer numbers from the group that is still unmistakably Stones-y. With "Who You Callin' Crazy?" the title alone tells us we're in for a song that doesn't take itself as seriously. The group has long been influenced by soul music and worn its influence on their sleeve, but this song is one of the more overtly soul-influenced, with its prominent sax hooks and funky, rhythmic guitar riffs (that are still recognizably Keith Richards)! Who we callin' crazy?! Not you guys! Keep doin' what you're doin'!