There Stands the Glass

The Top Ten Albums of September 2026
1. Carmen Villain- Memoria
Unforgettable.

2. András Schiff- Johannes Brahms: Klavierstücke
One-hundred minutes of splendor.

3. Oren Ambarchi- Cooked
My review.

4. Linda Sikhakhane- L I N D A
Produced by Nduduzo Makhathini.

5. Charlie Hunter- AM Clock Radio
My related review.

6. Kris Davis Trio- Lost in Geneva
With Robert Hurst and Johnathan Blake.

7. Jhené Aiko- Westside Whimsy
Bow down.

8. Lise Davidsen- Verdi
Arias.

9. Thee Sinseers- Love Stories
Top-tier retro-soul.

10. Arab Strap- Half-Told Tales
Transgressive fiction.

The Top Three Reimaginings of September 2026
1. Adam Wiltzie and Jóhann Jóhannsson- Friendship Survival Guide
Confidants.

2. Paul Griffiths and JACK Quartet- Samuel Beckett: Stirrings Still, with Music by Trevor Bača
Beckett in the bardo.

3. Branford Marsalis Quartet and Dianne Reeves- Dedicated to You
Lush life.

The Top Ten Songs of September 2026
1. Lizz Wright and Kenny Banks- “Deep River”
Crossing over.

2. Anna Butterss- “Beginningless”
Eternal.

3. Cyst- “Pest”
Infestation.

4. Original Koffee- “OVA SO”
Jamaican time machine.

5. Show Me the Body- "Rock Music"
Ultrameta OK.

6. Gilla Band- “Crisp Pop”
Queasy post-punk.

7. Rio Da Yung Og- "Milwaukee Bucks"
Brewtown.

8. AZ Chike and Tyler The Creator- “The World Is Ours”
Dream team.

9. Tania Giannouli and Nik Bärtsch- “Intonal”
Dueling pianos.

10. Jenny Scheinman- “Turns the Wagon Wheel”
Rolling.

The Top Ten Performances of September 2026
1. Bilal and Yaya Bey at Star Theater
My review.

2. Zoh Amba and Bijoux Cone at Show Bar
My review.

3. Dae Bryant’s The Collective at the Montavilla Jazz Festival
My review.

4. Public Image Ltd. and Plague Vendor at Wonder Ballroom
My review.

5. Alden Hellmuth at the 1905
My review.

6. Four for King: The Life, Spirit, and Music of Nancy King at the Montavilla Jazz Festival
My review.

7. Wen’ipt at the Montavilla Jazz Festival
My review.

8. Gregory Allison at the Woodstock Farmers Market
My Instagram clip.

9. W4RP Trio at the Montavilla Jazz Festival
My Instagram clip.

10. Jenny Sizzler at Starday Tavern
My Instagram snapshot.

The previous monthly recap is here.

Screenshot of Dirk Bogarde in the trailer of Cast a Dark Shadow by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums (released in March)

1. Pino Palladino and Blake Mills- Notes With Attachments

My review.

2. Nik Bärtsch- Entendre

Erik Satie in the NFT era.

3. Lana Del Rey- Chemtrails Over the Country Club

Flying high.

4. Pat Metheny- Road to the Sun

My review.

5. Charles Lloyd & The Marvels- Tone Poem

Urbane hillbilly jazz.

6. Danish String Quartet- Prism III

Beethoven, Bartók and Bach.

7. Camilo- Mis Manos

The soundtrack of my imaginary spring break.

8. Gretchen Parlato- Flor

My review.

9. Arab Strap- As Days Get Dark

Everything’s getting older.

10. DJ Muggs the Black Goat- Dies Occidendum

How I could just kill a man.

Top Ten Songs (released in March)

1. Jorja Smith- “Addicted”

Rehab.

2. Denzel Curry- “Track 07” (Georgia Anne Muldrow remix featuring Arlo Parks)

Third eye open.

3. Show Me the Body- “Rubberband”

Snapped.

4. The Streets- “Who’s Got the Bag (21st June)”

Please recycle.

5. St. Vincent- “Pay Your Way In Pain”

In arrears.

6. Benny the Butcher featuring Fat Joe- “Talkin’ Back”

Lean back.

7. Loretta Lynn- "I Don't Feel at Home Anymore"

I feel like going home.

8. SZA- "Good Days"

A time to be born, and a time to die.

9. Connor Leimer- "Little Rules"

Made to be broken.

10. J Balvin- “Tu Veneno”

Poison.

Top Ten Movies (viewed for the first time in March, in lieu of live music)

1. Wings of Desire/Der Himmel über Berlin (1987)

And to think Berlin once topped my list of dream destinations.

2. Nomadland (2020)

State of the union.

3. Juliet of the Spirits/Giulietta degli spiriti (1965)

Fellini’s psychedelic depiction of middle-aged angst.

4. Berlin: Symphony of a Metropolis/Berlin: Die Sinfonie der Großstadt (1927)

Eerie documentation.

5. Paris, Texas (1984)

Ennui never looked so good.

6. Milford Graves: Full Mantis (2018)

Relevant vibrations.

7. Cast a Dark Shadow (1955)

Murder most noir.

8. Sparkle (1976)

Something I can feel.

9. Judas and the Black Messiah (2020)

Big shoulders.

10. The Exterminating Angel/El ángel exterminador (1962)

Death trap.

February’s recap and links to previous monthly surveys are here.

September 2026 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

March 2021 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency