The year’s best songs so far

Consensus has been hard to find in 2026, but we’ve assembled our top-ten list of the most memorable songs of the year at this midway point, from the outlaw country of Charley Crockett to the glam rock of Friko, Lana Del Rey’s twisted ode to love, Vince Staples’ “White Flag” and more.

NPR Music’s Sheldon Pearce joins host Robin Hilton.

Featured artists and songs:

(00:00) Intro

(01:38) Mandy, Indiana: “try saying”

(05:09) Aldous Harding: “Coats”

(09:28) Vince Staples: “White Flag”

(14:25) Yebba: “Yellow Eyes”

(18:04) Friko: “Seven Degrees”

(22:01) Charley Crockett: “Kentucky Too Long”

(26:03) Lana Del Rey: “White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter”

(32:07) Baby Rose: “Friends Again (feat. Leon Thomas)”

(37:59) Mumford & Sons: “Rubber Band Man (with Hozier)”

(42:58) Irreversible Entanglements: “Don’t Lose Your Head (feat. MOTHERBOARD)”

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