January 2026 was a big month for music across many genres and fanbases, from the Oklahoma twang of Zach Bryan, to the atmospheric vocals from Madison Beer, to the highly produced sounds from A$AP Rocky and Don Toliver, this month was pleasantly surprising. The 31 days of January were full of many hits, and has set a high bar for the other artists releasing later this year. Whether you’re looking for a deep reflection on life, or an anthem to scream in the car with your friends, this month has had it all.

Below is a breakdown of the four biggest releases from the month, featuring the standout tracks, the misses, and the hidden gems based on the feedback from the fans.

Zach Bryan – With Heaven on Top (1/9)

The country favorite’s latest project did not disappoint, with this massive exploration of memory movement. It is an expansive project that blends both his old reliable styles, as well as some new experiments. A standout moment from the project was the release of the acoustic version just 3 days later. Bryan’s motive for this was to highlight that he is a poet that sings, not a singer wanting to make something catchy. Through themes of like sobriety, and a new marriage, With Heaven on Top engages listeners to reflect on their own lives.

• Best Song: “With Heaven on Top” – A reflective track that perfectly describes the entire journey of Bryan’s life, and how his faith in God has helped him every step of the way.
• Worst Song: “Rivers and Creeks – While it’s not an awful song, Bryan’s constant changing of pitch and octave can make it a difficult listen.
• Most Underrated: “DeAnn’s Denim” – A touching song that brings a raw emotional gravity to the entire album, and creates a deep reflection and connection to many listeners.

Critics and fans have praised this album for being exactly what it is–greatness, with many beginning to draw comparisons between Bryan and Springsteen.

Madison Beer – Locket (1/16)

Locket is a jewel box of a pop album. The title represents a secret place for vital memories, and the music follows suit, shifting between both vulnerable and upbeat tracks. The short 33 minute album was very well produced, and received, but it could have been a little longer for her third studio album.

• Best Song: “Bad Enough” – A very deep and personal song that shows her vocal restraint and emotional depth as a singer.
• Worst Song: “Bittersweet” – A more basic track on the album that is overshadowed by the more experimental songs on the record.
• Most Underrated: “Yes Baby” – A 1980’s inspired song that has heavy synth bass and sounds like it could be in a movie soundtrack.

The album has been a commercial success, with several tracks making their way into the Billboard Top 100, and critic reviews calling it her best project to date. Madison Beer definitely has a bright career in music ahead of her.

A$AP Rocky – Don’t Be Dumb (1/16)

After much anticipation and waiting–8 years to be exact, A$AP Rocky finally released an album and man, it did not disappoint. With such a long time between album releases, a lot of expectations were being made before Don’t Be Dumb came out, and it can be said proudly that A$AP did not miss with this one–except for in one track which will be visited later. Don’t Be Dumb shows Rocky’s 8 years of hard work and experimentation hopping between punk rock, rap, and r&b. 

• Best Song: “STAY HERE 4 LIFE” – A soulful track that has a great feature from Brent Faiyaz highlighting a new chapter for both artists.
• Worst Song: “PUNK ROCKY” – A very airy heavy rock sound that is a little too experimental to sound like the original A$AP Rocky.
• Most Underrated: “WHISKEY” – It starts off very strange and loopy in the vocals, until the beat drops where A$AP does his thing and drops yet another hard verse.

Although fan opinions remain split, with many finding the album ambitious, others have really enjoyed listening to this album, and seeing how A$AP Rocky has evolved in his music since Testing came out in 2018.

Don Toliver – Octane (1/30)

Personally, I am a big Don Toliver fan, and Octane shows the best of him. In slang, the word octane describes something full of energy, powerful, and exciting, and this album is exactly that. Octane is best described as being octane, as a psychedelic journey inspired by car culture and racing.

• Best Song: “Tiramisu” – While this song was originally released many months before the rest of the album, it is still a fan favorite record from the project. It is a very catchy track that has already gone viral on social media, and has stuck as one of his best songs.
• Worst Song: “Sweet Home” – The easiest song to put here, Toliver’s sample of Kid Rock’s “All Summer Long” just didn’t work with the autotune of Don Toliver. The feedback received suggests he should stick to his usual hiphop/rap sounds.
• Most Underrated: “E85” – A personal favorite from Octane, and it sets the high energy tone for the rest of the album in a classic Don Toliver style.

Social media’s reaction has been mixed so far, with some calling it “TikTok song-baiting”, but I think it is a very upbeat album that is full of hits to play on the radio, social media, and clubs/parties.

Ultimately, the music of January 2026 had some big time hits on tracks, but also some big busts. It was truly a good month for the music industry. It has been very enjoyable to see this transformation by many artists this month. They have all been creating what they want to make, rather than what their fans or the industry wants them to. It goes to show that success comes by being yourself, rather than what everyone else wants you to be. There are many projects to look forward to hearing in February, especially J. Cole’s The Fall Off, and Bruno Mars’ The Romantic. These upcoming releases will likely continue the trend of bangers from January, and set the bar even higher for the rest of the year.