Best Albums of October 2026
The highest-rated albums released in October 2026, ranked by critical consensus from professional music critics.
The Best Albums of October 2026 make for a lively, wide-ranging field, with a close race at the top and acclaimed records from both familiar names and less expected corners. The month's album releases offer plenty to compare, and the critical consensus points to several clear standouts.
Caroline Rose's Gentling the Horse at the Walt Whitman Mall leads with a 90.67 score from three reviews, narrowly ahead of Clara Mann's Wishbone, at 89.38 from four. Richard Thompson's Hippies, Thugs and Heroes follows at 87.5, while PISS's you made me / skin on linen earns an 86.43 consensus across seven reviews. Dopamine Chamber by Fontaines D.C. also stands out, with 11 reviews contributing to its 85.64 score.
October's top albums span a notably varied lineup, from HAAi and The Avalanches to Queens of the Stone Age and Orchestra Baobab. Scores and review counts offer different measures of critical attention, so the ranking below brings both into view. Here are the month's most highly regarded releases, and the records that shaped the conversation around the best new music of October 2026.
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Nu Zamrock
Sampa the Great
Oct 30, 2026
Gentling the Horse at the Walt Whitman Mall
Caroline Rose
Oct 23, 2026
Wishbone
Clara Mann
Oct 23, 2026
Hippies, Thugs and Heroes
Richard Thompson
Oct 16, 2026
you made me / skin on linen
PISS
Oct 30, 2026
Dopamine Chamber
Fontaines D.C.
Oct 16, 2026
No Bad Memories
The Avalanches
Oct 16, 2026
All Set The Bone
Greg Freeman
Oct 2, 2026
Burning Song
Kali Malone
Oct 30, 2026
DIGITiSE
HAAi
Oct 9, 2026
Do You Love the Color of the Sky?
Dummy
Oct 16, 2026
Synonym
Meshell Ndegeocello
Oct 2, 2026
Late Loop
Andy Stott
Oct 30, 2026
Perfecth
Queens of the Stone Age
Oct 30, 2026
Made in Senegal
Orchestra Baobab
Oct 23, 2026
I think I spoke too soon
Rachel Chinouriri
Oct 16, 2026
Crisco
Miranda Lambert
Oct 2, 2026
It's a Style Sport
Shabazz Palaces
Oct 23, 2026
FUDGE
Michael Kiwanuka
Oct 23, 2026
Nature's Pill
Wishy
Oct 2, 2026
Cookie Happened
Eels
Oct 16, 2026
ZIRP!
DIIV
Oct 30, 2026
Forever
The Big Moon
Oct 30, 2026
Follow The Light
June McDoom
Oct 16, 2026
KOOL FAITH / LOOSIES II
They Are Gutting A Body Of Water
Oct 16, 2026
What to Make of These Mortal Hands
Dis Fig
Oct 23, 2026
Cancel Me (I'm Tired)
Fat Dog
Oct 2, 2026
Do Not Dare To Dream
Teenage Fanclub
Oct 9, 2026
The Age Of Everything
Johnny Marr
Oct 2, 2026