There Stands the Glass

The Top Ten Albums of July 2026 (through July 26)
1. Play Time- Magic Object
My review.

2. Lesley Mok- transient
My review.

3. Charli xcx- Music, Fashion, Film
Pop nihilism.

4. Oscar Maydon- Música En Mi Jetski
The cure for the summertime blues.

5. Matt Otto- Ephemeral
My review.

6. Nu Jazz- Un Jazz
My review.

7. Orquesta Akokán- América!
Mambo!

8. Punch Brothers- The Unsung Adventures of Punch Brothers
Highfalutin pickin’.

9. Willow- The Thread
Arena-jazz.

10. Jack White- Frozen Charlotte
He’s back in Wichita.

The Top Three Reissues and Reimaginings of July 2026 (through July 26)
1. Gary Stewart- One Track Mind
Jukin’.

2. Seamus Blake- EH!: Plays the Music of Eddie Harris
Trying to make it real.

3. Nicholas Payton and Butcher Brown- A Supreme Blue
A bad idea made good.

The Top Ten Songs of July 2026 (through July 26)
1. Shenseea- “Brucksweat”
Sweltering.

2. Larry June and DJ Fresh- “Organic Motion”
Blurry.

3. Tinashe- “Crash Out”
Psychotic reaction.

4. Ken Carson with Playboi Carti- “deaf note”
What?

5. Fathers- “STUB”
Nate Smith, Kiefer, Carrtoons and Kenny Beats.

6. Dinner Party- "Piece of Mind"
Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper, Terrace Martin and 9th Wonder.

7. Syd featuring James Fauntleroy- "Any Time"
Diamonds and pearls.

8. Nick Hakim- “The Reason”
Slow jam.

9. Show Me the Body- “Do What’s Right (Happy)”
Backsliding.

10. Rome Streetz featuring Westside Gunn- "Marathon Or Race"
Tortoise and hare.

The Top Ten Performances of July 2026 (through July 26)
1. Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams and John Doe at Starlight Theatre
My review.

2. Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society’s “A Convocation of Exoplanets” at Charlotte Street Foundation
My review.

3. Graham Nash at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
My review.

4. Gerald Spaits’ Sax & Violins at Greenwood Social Hall
My review.

5. Drew Williams, Ben Tervort and Brian Steever at the Ship
My Instagram snapshot.

6. The Overland Park Civic Band at Thompson Park
My Instagram clip.

7. JWB with Ernest Melton at 515 Music Hub
My Instagram clip.

8. Trinity Jazz Ensemble at Prairie Baptist Church
My Instagram clip.

9. Eboni Fondren at Vine Street Brewing
My Instagram snapshot.

10. Sally’s Tomato at Black Dolphin
My Instagram clip.

The previous monthly recap is here.

Screenshot of the music video for “Yo Visto Así” by There Stands the Glass.

The sound of doomsday filled my ears this year. Listening to anything other than harsh ambient noise during a period of societal tumult, political chaos and deadly pandemic felt like escapist folly.

My forthcoming list of the year’s top albums is loaded with foreboding instrumental works echoing the harrowing tenor of the times. Yet all is not lost. I’m quarantined with my life partner, the sun still rises every morning and the memory of January’s trip of a lifetime is fresh. The music released by Bad Bunny in 2020 reflects everything good in my life. And there’s a lot of it.

Three outstanding Bad Bunny albums- February’s YHLQMDLG, May’s Las Que No Iban a Salir and November’s El Último Tour Del Mundo- operated as essential sonic mood elevators. The Puerto Rican’s delirious stylistic range extending well beyond reggaeton averted musical monotony as I managed my mental health through his music.

Bad Bunny is a goofball and his odd vocal tics may repel less forgiving pop fans. Yet his joyous songs helped me steer clear of an emotional abyss in 2020. Toss in a slew of excellent music videos and the year’s most exciting livestream event and Bad Bunny is the obvious choice for my artist of the year.

Honorable mention: Moor Mother, Westside Gunn, Megan Thee Stallion, Blackstarkids and Meredith Monk.

July 2026 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Bad Bunny: There Stands the Glass' Artist of the Year