Pitchfork praises this third LP as confirming the South London post-punk band's consistent batting average, with each member leaning into the forefront via crisp deadpan quips and polished bass tones, produced by Cate Le Bon in studios owned by Jeff Tweedy and Gilla Band.[pitchfork.com](https://pitchfork.com/news/6-new-albums-you-should-listen-to-now-dry-cleaning-zach-bryan/) NPR's New Music Friday highlights it as a top pick for speak-singing fans akin to Cate Le Bon.

Zach Bryan's sixth full-length is a sprawling 25-song country album alternating rustic confessionals and trumpet-dotted uptempo numbers, following his New Year's Eve marriage and 2024's The Great American Bar Scene; Pitchfork notes it cuts straight to the heart in line with its rural cover art, while NPR includes it in the Lightning Round.[pitchfork.com](https://pitchfork.com/news/6-new-albums-you-should-listen-to-now-dry-cleaning-zach-bryan/) [npr.org](https://www.npr.org/2026/01/09/nx-s1-5671231/new-music-friday-the-best-albums-out-jan-9)

Resuming their mixtape series after 17 years—following Max B's release from a 16-year prison sentence—this fourth Coke Wave entry picks up where they left off, blending rap collaboration history with new material.[pitchfork.com](https://pitchfork.com/news/6-new-albums-you-should-listen-to-now-dry-cleaning-zach-bryan/)

The Cribs' ninth album, 25 years into their career, emphasizes hooks with simple immediacy through sunny-filtered guitar riffs and bubbly earworms like “Never the Same” and “Summer Seizures,” produced by ex-Chairlift's Patrick Wimberly; NPR features it in the Lightning Round.[pitchfork.com](https://pitchfork.com/news/6-new-albums-you-should-listen-to-now-dry-cleaning-zach-bryan/) [npr.org](https://www.npr.org/2026/01/09/nx-s1-5671231/new-music-friday-the-best-albums-out-jan-9)

Jenny Hollingworth's solo debut from Let's Eat Grandma draws from Prefab Sprout, the Replacements, and Cyndi Lauper for expressive vocals on life's flickering moments, light on its toes amid alt-pop shadows; Pitchfork calls it a refreshing commitment, NPR ranks it high RIYL CHVRCHES.[pitchfork.com](https://pitchfork.com/news/6-new-albums-you-should-listen-to-now-dry-cleaning-zach-bryan/) [npr.org](https://www.npr.org/2026/01/09/nx-s1-5671231/new-music-friday-the-best-albums-out-jan-9)

This third album from the remote-collaborating band (members of Sonic Youth, Tyvek, etc.) evolves through experimental indie rock, post-punk, krautrock, more aggressive than last year's Big Hotel and an ideal entry point.[pitchfork.com](https://pitchfork.com/news/6-new-albums-you-should-listen-to-now-dry-cleaning-zach-bryan/)

Highlighted among major January 9 releases alongside Zach Bryan and Dry Cleaning in broad new music roundups, representing super popular rap/hip-hop territory.[shatterthestandards.com](https://www.shatterthestandards.com/p/new-music-drops-january-9-2026)

NPR's New Music Friday Starting 5 pick as an introspective debut RIYL singer-songwriters like Sufjan Stevens, standing out among highly recommended releases.[npr.org](https://www.npr.org/2026/01/09/nx-s1-5671231/new-music-friday-the-best-albums-out-jan-9)