A NEW ALBUM A DAY: A YEAR IN REVIEW

07/30/26

I am baffled that I have been at this project for a full year. It's pretty insane to be honest. I technically didn't listen to a new album every day, but I was pretty f**king close. I think I'm only missing around 40 days, but I hit over 300 new albums this year in total. 

For a bit of context, I have been listening to a new record nearly everyday this year. You can find the list of albums I've listened to and plan on listening to here. It began as a way to start branching out my music taste and expand my music knowledge. As someone who claims that music is their life (and who is as pretentious as myself), I knew I needed to start listening to more than just what was on my playlist. This way I can cool guy way more people. I'm only joking. Or am I?

A ton of new music has come across my plate in the last year. And by new, I mean new to me. That's why there are some records on the list that may have you screaming at your screen wondering why I hadn't gotten to them sooner. I sincerely apologize for that, but aren't you at least a little bit glad that I got to it eventually? 

I will tell you, this challenge isn't inherently difficult, but sometimes finding the time and the will to listen to a new record can be hard. Sometimes you want to stick to what is already familiar, which is why I recommend listening to the albums from your favorite bands that you haven't heard yet, then start to branch out. Or take classic albums you never had the chance to listen to. I took more of a gung ho approach. I jumped on new unfamiliar albums straight out of the gate. Sometimes it's better to take the plunge immediately to shock your ears into accepting something new than to get stuck on the familiar. 

As the challenge went on, listening to a new record became a part of my daily routine. In the morning before work or school I would choose an album and spin it while I was getting ready, or it would last after I left my house until I got to work or class. Staying in that routine helped me get through albums without difficulty. Though, I was also enjoying the challenge, making it a million times easier. If I didn't actually enjoy what I was doing it would have made it feel like a real challenge. 

The only issue I found was getting too busy to find time to listen to the whole record in one sitting. There were a lot of days that I couldn't finish it all at once and forgot some of the album after I came back to listen. A bad habit I had, one that I want to kick when I continue this challenge, is passive listening. I will often listen to an album while I'm cooking, working on assignments for school, or doing anything that requires more than an ounce of focus and I won't properly hear the record. I am making it a goal this coming year to sit and attentively listen to the album if I can.

And to answer the question that you're trying to telepathically ask me, yes I will be continuing the challenge for the foreseeable future. I have a rather large back catalogue of albums that I will continue to add to. Feel free to take any of the albums for your own listening adventure. I also encourage you to submit albums via the link below and I will try to add them to my list. 

You may also be asking, how do you come across the albums you listen to? Sometimes I'll find them on Apple Music in the suggested section of another album. Sometimes I get them sent by friends and family (shouts to Jack Thralls). Sometimes I just happen to have missed an album by an artist I love. Sometimes I come across them on the vast and infinitely expanding interwebs. If you seek them, they will come.

I was going to add a list of my favorites here, but who gives a shit what my favorite albums I've listened to this year are. Go find your own favorites. My opinion is worth nothing to anyone but myself. I am seriously encouraging you all to embark on a year long journey of musical discovery. You never know if your new favorite album is sitting out in the wasteland waiting for you to pick it up and bless you with its sound. I will also add, for clarification, not every album is going to be great. There are a few albums on the list that I didn't love. There were a few that I genuinely couldn't get through and gave up listening mid-way. But to that point, art is subjective. Compile your own list and form your own opinions. Go on Reddit and piss off the elitists with your opinion. Report back to me if you actually do that, I think that'd be hilarious. 

Here's to another year of a new album every day. Also, I know it's been a bit since I posted anything. Consumption of the algorithm has rendered my brain entirely useless for the last few months. But rest assured that I have been reading and trying to gather the steaming heap of brain off the floor. 

Music is rad | See you in a few...

Cheers,

Jack

HERE'S THE LINK TO SUBMIT MUSIC