I like listening to music, and I like writing about music. It just so happens that I get sent LOTS of music by publicists and bands in hopes of getting a review. I also enjoy reading reviews written by people I respect and admire. So, I usually have a deep backlog of albums that deserve my attention. With this monthly series, I’ll tell you about the artists that jumped out of my headphones and grabbed my attention.

Month Three! I did it!

I mean, no pressure. I don’t want to get into my head about meeting deadlines, publication dates, and other such chicanery. I have to constantly tell myself to sit back and enjoy writing. Projects like this should be free of pressure. I’m just supposed to spend the month listening to music and then take a couple of hours AT MOST writing about the stuff I liked.

But then my perfectionism rears its ugly head, filling my brain with thoughts like, “You should only do this if it’s going to be the best thing ever” or “No one will read this, so don’t waste your time.” You know – fun stuff like that. Hence, I have to rebel against my own inner critic in an act of conscious creative defiance. Sometimes, the struggle is real.

In other words, March 2026 was an excellent month for music. Enjoy!

MITSKI – Nothing’s About to Happen to Me

Countrified art-pop. Truly, it’s not what I expected from Mitski at this stage of her career, but I am here for it! This album dropped the last Friday of February, somehow making it the perfect candidate for a March 2026 deep dive. My kid, an eleven-year-old gamer and baby goth, really likes the music of Mitski, even though it’s nothing like everything else they enjoy. Maybe it’s the lyrics. Maybe it’s the artiness. Maybe it’s the moodiness. But they were stoked to learn about this new album.

Because we listen to her music often when driving around together, mostly Be the Cowboy and Puberty 2. Between Mitski and early Cure, my kid and I don’t have much musically in common these days. And that’s OK – because I want them to develop their own tastes on their own terms. It just helps that I think the two artists we have in common are talented AND will provide an excellent jumping off point into various different musical directions.

All of that being said, this new album rules. She pushes her aesthetic in fun, folky new directions while still knowing when to crank up the volume. Mitski has always loved whimsy, but I hear a different level of warmth and introspection with songs like “Where’s My Phone?” and “I’ll Change for You” than earlier records. I also found it humorous that she wrote two different songs about cats and put a cat on the cover. But I do believe that this release will please her older fans and pique the interest of new ones.

Aubrie Sellers – Attachment Theory

Glorious country-pop. This talented artist delivers magnificent Kacey Musgrave vibes, but I also love hearing the sassy lyrics of HAIM and moody atmospherics of Phoebe Bridgers. I’m enamored with the rich resonance of her high alto, as it provides essential texture and depth. The music flirts with rock and psych elements, especially in the guitar tone, but the overall aesthetic owes a heavy debt to ‘70s and ‘90s country. Sellers is a superior songwriter who deserves wider attention and accolades.

Irreversible Entanglements – Future Present Past

Impressive combination of jazz, soul, and hip-hop. This album represents so much of what I love in good songcraft – sociopolitical lyrics, boundless talents, ambitious arrangements, and visceral chemistry. This amazing act assembles artful grooves that you can feel deep in your bones, even as they challenge you to reassess what you really need and want from music. The drumming locks in your attention, the bass lines set your imagination to wandering, the horns send your ears leaping, the guitars bring you back to earth, and the voices push you forward. I will be shocked if this record isn’t one of my favorites of the year.

Jason P. Woodbury – Jason P. Woodbury and the Night Bird Singing Quartet

The ultimate blogger turned musician. Yes, this is Jason P. Woodbury of Aquarium Drunkard, the fantastic writer and interviewer. With his third solo album, he delivers an immaculate blend of Wilco, My Morning Jacket, and R.E.M., especially with his dreamy tenor and abstract lyricism. The music pulses with life, even at grooviest, as it evokes haunting visions of the American Southwest. It’s the perfect album for late night drives alone or with a treasured friend.

The Montvales – Path of Totality

Impeccable country-folk. The wonderful duo of Molly Rochelson and Sally Buice perpetually sings in harmony, prompting apt comparisons to Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams. The songs transport you to the American Mountain West, as if you’re in the middle of a long trail ride right before colder temperatures settle across the plains. Anchored by the singers’ guitar strums and banjo plucks, the album showcases their artistic chemistry, making you wish that Thelma and Louise had driven off into the distance instead of into the Grand Canyon.

Tigers Jaw – Lost On You

Crafty alternative rock. I’ve been listening to this bravura band since their earliest releases. Tigers Jaw has always straddled the nebulous intersecting lines indie, punk, and emo with a deft energy, never dipping in one direction more than another. At the same time, they’ve regularly embraced experimentation and exploration, as if sitting still on what’s worked before is anathema to their artistry. This album absolutely rips, calling back to the late ’90s and early ‘00s in the weird time between second and third wave emo. I’m talking about The Rentals, The Anniversary, and The Get Up Kids, complete with woozy synths, guy-and-girl vocals, and twee ideas that never go fey. Really fun stuff that makes me want to reinvestigate their back canon.

Other Stuff I Enjoyed Listening to This Month