This is a full month ahead of schedule, but I’ve already heard 80 minutes worth of new music this year worthy of being immortalized in a mix. Without further ado, therefore, here’s an annotated track list for my 2026: The Mixtape, Vol. 1 Spotify playlist!
1. Blod – Jennys Sång
We begin and end as we did last year with a theme and its reprise, this time from the retro soundtrack for an imaginary film.
2. Duval Timothy & CJ Mirra – Journey to Lagos
Then we continue with a track from one of my favorite actual film scores of 2026 about a journey to the city that currently sits atop my dream travel destinations.
3. Charley Crockett – Diamond Belle (Country Boy)/I Shot Jesse James
I envision these two tracks being played back-to-back the way the classic rock radio DJs of my youth always paired Jackson Browne’s “The Load-Out” and “Stay” or Pink Floyd’s “Brain Damage” and “Eclipse.”
4. Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore – Rachel’s Song
Cover of a soundtrack song which doesn’t actually appear in the film (Blade Runner) it was written for.
5. Bill Callahan – Pathol O.G.
Unlike Andra Day’s character in Is This Thing On? I *don’t* feel like I’m 24 anymore, but like Bill Callahan I’m cool with this!
6. Robyn – Dopamine
A highly anticipated return which lived up to the hype!
7. Kevin Morby – Die Young
Another song for the proudly over the hill.
8. Arise & Go – Jos Cormier / Jock Broon’s 70th
My favorite song by a local band so far this year.
9. Luke Combs – Days Like These
A fun one to sing along with! I mess up the final twist on the chorus every time, though: it really feels like it should be “hell, I’d probably miss the leaves.”
10. Kiss Facility – Cheap Poetry
Reminds me of the best part of my least favorite plotline from Love Actually, the “Here With Me” needle drop after Andrew Lincoln says “enough” and resolves to finally stop harassing poor Keira Knightley.
11. Will Epstein – Dishwasher
Not so much a song of middle age as adulthood generally.
12. BLACKPINK – Champion
A good upbeat anthem for a World Cup year.
13. James Brandon Lewis & The Messthetics – Clutch
Probably my favorite track on this mix.
14. Courtney Barnett – Stay In Your Lane
Unless maybe this one is?
15. Alvarius B. – Rock N’ Roll
Killer road trip music.
16. Jill Scott feat. Trombone Shorty – Be Great
If this doesn’t make you want to get up and high-step around your living room, I don’t know what to tell you!
17. Daphni – Good Night Baby
Features a delightfully trippy music video that the girls like a lot.
18. Bleachers – you and forever
Epic in a way that reminds me of the novels I just finished reading, The Nobody People and its sequel The Somebody People by local author (and friend) Bob Proehl.
19. Hildur Guðnadóttir – The Bone Temple
I enjoyed Young Fathers’ score for the first 28 Years Later movie overall, but this track from its sequel is the best thing in either of them.
20. Blod – Jennys Sång (Repris)
Links to previous mixes I’ve posted about can be found here.
The Prodigal Cinephile 