• New Music Friday highlights fresh albums released Jan. 9, 2026, across rock, indie and experimental jazz.
  • Standouts include Dry Cleaning, Jenny on Holiday and Mon Rovîa — curated by NPR’s Stephen Thompson and WNXP’s Celia Gregory.
  • Listen via NPR’s New Music Friday playlist on Spotify and Apple Music for quick sampling.

New Music Friday picks for Jan. 9, 2026

Fresh releases land on streaming services and record shelves Friday, and NPR Music’s weekly New Music Friday roundup points listeners to a tight selection worth sampling. Host Stephen Thompson is joined by Celia Gregory (WNXP) to talk through their favorite new music out Jan. 9.

The Starting 5

Here are the five featured albums the hosts highlighted — a mix of post‑punk, singer‑songwriting, introspective debut work and adventurous composition.

  • Dry Cleaning — Secret Love: The band returns with taut, talk-slung vocals and crisp instrumentation that pushes their post‑punk sound forward.
  • Jenny on Holiday — Quicksand Heart: A melodic, intimate set that blends pop hooks with reflective songwriting.
  • Mon Rovîa — Bloodline: An introspective debut that layers emotional lyricism over atmospheric production.
  • Home Star — A Binding Life: Expansive arrangements and textured songwriting make this a standout for fans of contemplative indie rock.
  • Kris Davis & the Lutoslawski Quartet — The Solastalgia Suite: A bold, modern composition marrying jazz improvisation and classical string work.

Lightning Round: other new music to sample

  • Zach Bryan — With Heaven On Top
  • The Cribs — Selling A Vibe
  • Pullman — III
  • Clémentine March — Powder Keg
  • Rawayana — ¿Dónde Es El After?

How to listen

Sample all the albums via NPR’s New Music Friday playlist on NPR.org. The playlist is also available through major platforms: Spotify and Apple Music. If you prefer podcasts, the discussion appears on the All Songs Considered feed.

Listen on Spotify • Listen on Apple Music • Read on NPR.org

Credits

This New Music Friday segment is hosted by Stephen Thompson with guest Celia Gregory (WNXP). Production credits include Noah Caldwell (Audio Producer), Elle Mannion (Digital Producer), Otis Hart (Editor) and Suraya Mohamed (Executive Producer).

Whether you’re tracking the week’s best new music or hunting for a fresh favorite, NPR’s New Music Friday offers a quick, curated way to explore the most talked‑about releases of Jan. 9, 2026.

Image Referance: https://www.npr.org/2026/01/09/nx-s1-5671231/new-music-friday-the-best-albums-out-jan-9