Each week, 8 new releases are selected to go head to head, with one weekly winner which will then go up against future weekly winners later in the year at the end of each quarter of the year, and then again at the end of the year to determine the ultimate winner of 2026.

Last week's results:

Gorillaz (feat. Bizarrap, Kara Jackson & Anoushka Shankar) - Orange County [5]

Arlo Parks - 2SIDED [4]

Charli xcx - Wall of Sound [3]

Mitski - Where's My Phone? [3]

Ghost - It's A Sin [2]

CHVRCHES - Addicted to Love [1]

Flea (feat. Thom Yorke) - Traffic Lights [1]

Master Peace (feat. Declan McKenna) - F*ck It Up [1]

Total votes: 20

Here are this week's contenders:

Arctic Monkeys - Opening Night

Def Leppard - Rejoice

Dermot Kennedy - Funeral

Harry Styles - Aperture

James Blake - Death of Love

Joji - Last of a Dying Breed

Poppy - Time Will Tell

Snail Mail - Dead End

2026 Indie/Rock/Alt Track of the Week Winners

Week 1: Ladytron - Caught in the Blink of an Eye

Week 2: Mandy, Indiana - Cursive

Week 3: Gorillaz (feat. Bizarrap, Kara Jackson & Anoushka Shankar) - Orange County

James Blake by a mile.

'Funeral' is a surprisingly good song from Dermot Kennedy so I've gone for that this week. The Harry/Arctics songs haven't really grabbed me.

More votes please!

Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys for me!

Last day to vote!

James Blake for me which has resulted in a tie at the moment!

Final call for votes!

I will vote in this tonight, please don't close it while I am halfway through the songs again

(oh wait the poll has an automatic closing time this time - hopefully can squeeze it in before midnight)

James Blake <3

I did vote in time x

1 James Blake

2 Joji

3 Poppy

4 Snail Mail

5 Harry Styles

6 Arctic Monkeys

7 Dermot Kennedy

8 Def Leppard

Second half of the list far better than the first! The top 2 are miles ahead of the rest really (James Blake basically never lets me down and this is another brilliant lead single from him, and another lil banger from Joji) but Poppy's is a solid pop metal track and the Snail Mail one like Mitski last week I think will grow on me more but a good fuzzy indie rock tune for now. As I also just posted in the Pop poll the Harry song is underwhelming but I do like the instrumental and hoping it'll also grow. The Arctics song is boring for me unfortunately but it still beats another generic Dermot Kennedy track and the boomer slop.

Wasn't able to vote in time. 🙃

My personal rankings for Week 3;

1. Dermot Kennedy – Funeral

2. Def Leppard – Rejoice

3. Snail Mail – Dead End

4. Harry Styles – Aperture

5. Arctic Monkeys – Opening Night

6. Poppy – Time Will Tell

7. Joji – Last of a Dying Breed

8. James Blake – Death of Love