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The 16 Songs Project
July 2026
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Unlike past entries of The 16 Songs Project, this month's playlist never swelled to a bloated mess in need of major cut downs. No, if anything, this month was tougher to get to allotted amount
I think there's a good reason for that. I was really dialed into a handful of artists, songs, and albums that will be well represented here.
The result is a playlist just inches shy of an hour, perfect for your next vacation drive or backyard beer moment.
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16 Songs - July 2026 | The Playlist
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Here is your everywhere but Spotify link, no matter which service you use for your music (Apple, Amazon, YouTube, Tidal, Shpunk, GumBall, Etc.)
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"4th of july" - Truman Sinclair
Go ahead. Say it.
"Shane, you're a sucker for a song that is thematically titled for the month in question."
Reader, you caught me. BUT, don't be fooled. Truman Sinclair has become one of the artists I've listened to most this year and his new song, which just happens to be perfect for this month, is really worth your time.
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"Thinking 'Bout Love" - Leon Majcen
There's no question I listened to Leon Majcen more than any other artist in July. It's possible I listened to Leon Majcen more than every other artist combined in July, hence my comment about struggling to find all sixteen songs this month.
At one point, this playlist had about eight of his songs, but I restrained myself and chose my two favorites from his 2025 album Making a Livin' (I'm fascinated that he ditched the "g" in "living" for an apostrophe, but not in "making." Same for this song title, which shortens "about" but not "thinking." My brain is not right).
This song feels like a warm blanket on a cold night. You could slot this one on to multiple Springsteen albums and while people might notice, they'd appreciate Bruce embracing his Western side.
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"I Have Found My Love Today" - Leon Majcen
We'll stay with Majcen for a second song but slow down the mood with this beautiful tune.
I should add: Leon's incredibly handsome. Absolutely insane for him to be that attractive and this good at songwriting but not wildly famous. Let's fix that.
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"Highway Robbery" - Jason Scott & the High Heat
We remain down South with this one, with the top down on the convertible. This was the lead single from Jason Scott & the High Heat's (good bad name) album that plopped in May. The second single was called "Cowboy Cold Beer" if you weren't sure what genre we're dealing with here.
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"The Mason Jar at the Center of the World" - Willi Carlisle
I'll be honest. This month's crop starts twangy and stays there. That was the vibe for July.
Willi Carlile was featured a few months ago, but just announced his new album will be produced by Tyler Childers, one of my all-time favorites. The first song from that collaboration is worth your time, but not Carlisle's best...
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"Tulsa's Last Magician" - Willi Carlisle
Yeah, this is his best song. It feels engineered to manipulate a grown man to tears, in the same way Pixar movies assault the cry button on your heart.
I'm a sucker for both. That lyric right before the one-minute mark. Hoo, got me.
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"Paradise" - Brandon Flowers
Yep, Killers frontman Brandon Flowers is comfortably joining the folky feeling of this July playlist, thanks to his forthcoming solo album that promises to be country Western inspired. The early marketing and media surrounding the album made that pretty clear, then Flowers showed up to the Newport Folk Festival. My social media algorithms are drowning in videos of this man wearing a turquoise-flecked bolo tie and singing pre-1990 Western ditties.
Of the early singles from the album, I liked this one. I'm sure I'll eat up the whole trough of country-dusted muck he puts out. He's got a great voice for the genre and seems to be having the time of his life.
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"Tollbooth" - John R. Miller
It's always awkward when someone asks "What kind of music do you like?"
I don't know, man. I like a lot of stuff. I like all this twangy crap, some rock, some old stuff, some poppy stuff.
But then sometimes you could just point at something that explains it. The new album from John R. Miller qualifies. Not just the music on it, I mean just pointing at it.
The album has songs called "Day Drinking" and "Looking for a Place to Die."
Yep, that threads the needle for me. "Tollbooth" is the best track on the album, but I liked it cover to cover.
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"Drag" - Silverada
This song stood out to me for its timelessness. I could see this song emerging in the 2010's or 1990's. It could have been Mellencamp-inspired or could be a Tom Petty song lost to history.
Instead, it's a freshly released song by a band that until 2024 was called Mike and the Moonpies. Silverada is a clear downgrade as a band name, yet the music remains worthy of a listen.
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"Sunny Boy" - Dialup Ghost
This the second 16 Songs Project appearance for Dialup Ghost, a band with less than 500 listeners on Spotify. This is a foot in the door. This is your chance to like a band before they got big.
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"Giants" - Talisco
I have no idea how I came to find this new music from international electro-pop artist Talisco or why this song is neither electro, nor pop, but neither of those mysteries is going to stop me from enjoying this song.
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"Can She Get an Amen" - Aaron Lee Tasjan
I thought the new album from Aaron Lee Tasjan was a little too sleepy throughout its 11 song track listing, but this particular song sat right on the perfect tone as its builds for five lovely minutes.
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"The Heidelberg Fisherman's Ball" - Ian Noe
Another new one from a reliably enjoyable country-folk singer songwriter. Joins the long, long list of great acts produced by Dave Cobb. Basically if you like this kind of music, you can thank Cobb. Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Sturgill Simpson, Lake Street Dive, Shooter Jennings, Mumford and Sons, Houndmouth, Zac Brown, Zach Bryan, and some of the recent work by legends like Bonnie Raitt, Springsteen, and John Prine. Basically, if this is your bag, bookmark the discography page on Cobb's website and check it out every few months for something new you'd enjoy.
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"The Fool" - Rayland Baxter
Every once in a while, Rayland Baxter puts out a new album that features two to four songs that I enjoy and will toss on a few playlists, keeping them in my life for years and years to come. At this point, with Baxter's sixth studio album on the way, that pile of songs just keeps growing.
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"Kids (Live)" - Clay Street Unit
I was skeptical when reader Cam sent this one in. I like Clay Street Unit, but a country/bluegrass cover of a pop song is well worn territory, to the point that it's hard for a track like that to make an impact these days. This one clears the bar. These boys are jamming on this one.
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"The Man in Me" - James Austin Johnson
I did not know James Austin Johnson even made music when this one crossed my desk. He doesn't really make music. He doesn't write music and he's only ever released two songs, both Bob Dylan covers. Johnson, a cast member on Saturday Night Live, is a Dylan fanatic. He merges that with his talent as an impressionist to not just do Bob Dylan, but to have distinct versions of his Bob Dylan impression throughout Dylan's life, which he showcased for Jimmy Fallon.
The songs Johnson has released though, are not him doing a Bob Dylan impression. They are Johnson earnestly covering Dylan, with no effort to earn a laugh. He just makes the music because he loves it. And honestly? He's pretty good. Songwriting is another beast, but I'm open to more from James Austin Johnson, musician. The arrangement of this cover is super compelling and has me intrigued.
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That's all for this playlist. I hope you found a few songs you like. Let me know if there's an artist or song you think I'd like.
See you next month,
Shane
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