Lucy Fitzgerald 
If you haven’t been paying attention to Circus Mind over the past year, now’s a good time to start. Their fourth LP, “Road Less Traveled”, is the kind of record that makes you remember why bands with real chops and genuine personality are worth following. The New York crew has been dropping this project one single at a time for the past 12 months, and hearing all 10 tracks together as a full album is a different experience entirely. Frontman, keyboardist, and songwriter Mark Rechler has built something that doesn’t sit still for a second. Funk, soul, ’70s rock, prog, NoLa grooves, island flavors, and alternative textures all share space here, and it never sounds forced or scattered. It sounds like a band that genuinely loves it all.
Drummer Dan Roth, percussionist Steve Finkelstein, bassist Mathew Fox, and guitarist Brian Duggan form a tight, dynamic rhythm section that holds the whole thing together no matter how far out the music wanders. Producer and engineer Chris Fasulo keeps the mix warm and wide, giving every instrument room to breathe. A track like “Whole Lotta Nuthin” is a great example of the band at its most relaxed and locked in, with a bassline that moves like water and horns that color the pocket just right. The title track closes everything out with a burst of retro power pop energy, featuring backing vocals from Chris Butler. It’s bright, it’s punchy, and lyrically it’s all about tuning out the noise and trusting your own direction. As a closer, it works perfectly. Rechler once described the band’s spirit by saying they’re not just a bunch of clowns but acrobats, lion tamers, and daredevils too, and honestly, that translates directly into the music. “Road Less Traveled” is one of the most genuinely enjoyable listens of 2026. It’s got range, personality, and real musicianship packed into every track. Rarely does an album this adventurous also feel this focused and fun.
If you’re into music with depth, humor, and serious groove, don’t sit on this one. Follow Circus Mind on Instagram at @circusmindband, on Facebook at Circus Mind Music, and find the full album on Spotify. Add “Road Less Traveled” to your playlist and make sure the title track is on there, because it’s the kind of song that sticks around in your head for days. Their back catalog is worth digging into as well, and this album is as good an entry point as any. Circus Mind keeps getting better, and “Road Less Traveled” is proof of that. Give them your ears.
Listening to songs so you don’t have to! Just kidding :D, you totally should. Music blogger by day, nurse by night
