Some New-Ish Releases, May 2026 Edition
It's almost summer, and time for another quick look at some cool albums I've picked up. I have to admit that, so far, I'm not finding as many essential keepers as in 2025 , which turned out to be a real banger; but that doesn't mean I haven't continued to stumble across some really great records. Here are a few I'm currently enjoying: Norma, Country Catering Funny how some of the finest Cosmic American Music seems to come from outside the U.S. Norma are a Norwegian band, but their first full-length release sounds straight out of Southern California, circa 1975. Like another fave of mine, London's Hanging Stars , these guys play slightly country-flavored, laid back rock with strains of the Eagles and the Grateful Dead , pretty mid-tempo jangle that makes you want to kick back in the sunshine and wait for dusk to drop down. They occupy a similarly psychedelic-country space as Rose City Band and Beachwood Sparks ; really nice stuff. Buy it on Bandcamp . Uni...
