The Format

After nearly two decades away from the album format that first defined them, The Format have reemerged not as a nostalgia act, but as a fully revitalized creative force. With the release of Boycott Heaven on January 23, 2026 via The Vanity Label, the duo of Nate Ruess and Sam Means have delivered a record that feels both rooted in their past and sharply attuned to the present. We can sincerely say it’s our album of the year and nothing else that gets shared this year will even come close.Produced by Brendan O'Brien, whose résumé includes work with Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, and The Killers, Boycott Heaven carries a weight and polish that elevates everything they’ve done in the past. With O’Brien also contributing on bass and Matt Chamberlain on drums, the album leans into alt-rock grit, power-pop immediacy, and a touch of grunge spirit, the same sonic DNA that first bonded Ruess and Means as teenagers in Arizona.