Compassion (The Hoosiers album)

Compassion
Studio album by
the Hoosiers
Released15 May 2026 (2026-05-15)
RecordedAugust 2024
Studios
  • Angelic
  • Crab Shack
  • Air
Genres
Length34:06
LabelCrab Race
Producers
  • Alan Sharland
  • Irwin Sparkes
  • Sam Miller
The Hoosiers chronology
Confidence
(2023)		 Compassion
(2026)
Singles from Compassion
  1. "Sleeping With The Light On"
    Released: 30 October 2025
  2. "Man From The Magazine"
    Released: 3 December 2025
  3. "Lonely Together"
    Released: 29 January 2026
  4. "Automatic Glow"
    Released: 3 March 2026
  5. "So High"
    Released: 8 April 2026
  6. "Jigsaw Heart"
    Released: 15 May 2026

Compassion is the sixth album by British indie pop band the Hoosiers. Following 2023's Confidence, it was released on 15 May 2026 by Crab Race.[1]

Background and promotion

Throughout 2023, whilst promoting Confidence, it was reported that the duo had begun working on a sixth album.[2][3] In March 2025, drummer Alan Sharland confirmed this work was ongoing,[4] with guitarist Irwin Sparkes confirming the release would be called Compassion in a July 2025 interview.[5]

On October 30, 2025, The Hoosiers released the single 'Sleeping With The Light On,'[6] which the pair later revealed "was written around 2009."[7] This was followed on December 3, 2025 by 'Man From The Magazine,'[8] 'Lonely Together' on January 29, 2026[9], 'Automatic Glow' on March 3, 2026,[10] 'So High' on April 8, 2026[11] and 'Jigsaw Heart' on May 15, 2026. All six of these singles have had accompanying music videos,[12][13][14][15][16][17] based on artwork by Roman Klonek and featuring animation by MediaNerd Ltd.[18]

Alongside the release of 'Lonely Together,' the duo announced that Compassion would be released May 15, 2026.[19] In promotion, the pair embarked on a 13-stop acoustic record shop tour in May 2026[20][21][22] and will perform the 10-date Compassion Tour in October 2026.[23]

To promote the release, Sharland and Sparkes have appeared on the What's The Trick? podcast[24], BBC Radio 2[25], 5 News[26], Talksport[27], Jeremy Vine[28] and BBC Radio Manchester.[29]

In May 2026, The Hoosiers released a behind-the-scenes documentary titled The Making of Compassion which charted the recording of the album. Directed by Joe Aky, the film revealed that Compassion was recorded over the span of a week during August 2024.[30]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Cult FollowingStarStarStar
Maximum Volume Music8.5/10

Initial reception to Compassion was mostly positive, with Maximum Volume Music scoring it 8.5/10 and suggesting the album is "full of warmth, wit and love and musically is bursting with perfect pop songs and earworms."[31] Muso Muso echoed this sentiment, suggesting that "Compassion is The Hoosiers at their most open‑hearted and self‑assured" and that the record offers "warmth, humour, and a reminder that we’re all just trying our best."[32]

RGM was similarly impressed, writing that "all 12 tracks have their own charm, yet work perfectly together for such an album of feel-good tunes" and that Compassion "is a safe haven to try and forget about everything else, and just enjoy life as it is."[33] The Sound Cafe too praised the release, calling it "refreshingly human" and "vibrant, heartfelt, funny, thoughtful, and gloriously melodic."[34]

Cult Following gave a more mixed review, however, praising Sparkes' vocals and suggesting the duo are "capturing that sugary sweet pop sentimentality" but that this was "a tad repetitive" and that The Hoosiers were "followers of a trend rather than makers of one." The publication scored the album 3 out of 5 stars.[35]

Track listing

Compassion track listing[36]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Multiply"Alan Sharland, Irwin Sparkes3:11
2."Automatic Glow"Sharland, Sparkes3:13
3."So High"Martin Dukelow, James Kallegher, Callie Noakes, Sharland, Sparkes, Silvano Stuurman3:07
4."Sleeping with the Light On"Sharland, Martin Skarendahl, Sparkes, Sam Swallow4:02
5."Compassion"Sharland, Sparkes1:53
6."Don't Hang Your Head"Sharland, Sparkes2:44
7."Lonely Together"Sharland, Sparkes2:26
8."Jigsaw Heart"Sharland, Sparkes3:09
9."Everybody Is a Little More Broken Than They Pretend to Be"Sharland, Sparkes3:53
10."Man From The Magazine"James Hayto, James Jackman, Sharland, Sparkes2:19
11."Permission to Rest"Sharland, Sparkes3:20
12."The Final Piece of the Puzzle"Sharland, Sparkes00:49
Total length:34:06

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Compassion.[37]

Charts

Chart performance for Compassion
Chart (2026) Peak
position
UK Albums Sales (OCC)[38] 10
UK Independent Albums (Official Charts)[39]3

References

  1. ↑ "Compassion - Album by The Hoosiers on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  2. ↑ "The Hoosiers open up about new album, the effects of fame and finding their distinctive sound - Virgin Radio UK". Virgin Radio UK. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  3. ↑ "Interview: The Hoosiers chat to Forge Press about music new and old ahead of the band's Leadmill show - Forge Press". Forge Press. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  4. ↑ ""We couldn't see the wood for the trees at times": The Hoosiers roll back the years - Exposed Magazine". Exposed Magazine. 14 March 2025. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  5. ↑ "Interview with The Hoosiers: Back on Stage and Bolder Than Ever". igi.gs. 2 July 2025. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  6. ↑ "Sleeping With The Light On - Single by The Hoosiers - Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  7. ↑ "Noughties music icons The Hoosiers vow to 'grow old disgracefully on stage' - The Mirror". Daily Mirror. 9 March 2026. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  8. ↑ "Man From The Magazine - Single by The Hoosiers - Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  9. ↑ "Lonely Together - Single by The Hoosiers - Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  10. ↑ "Automatic Glow - Single - Album by The Hoosiers - Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  11. ↑ "So High - song and lyrics by The Hoosiers - Spotify". Spotify. 8 April 2026. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  12. ↑ "The Hoosiers - Sleeping With The Light On (Lyric Video) - YouTube". YouTube. 30 October 2025. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  13. ↑ "The Hoosiers - Man From The Magazine (Lyric Video) - YouTube". YouTube. 3 December 2025. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  14. ↑ "The Hoosiers - Lonely Together (Lyric Video) - YouTube". YouTube. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  15. ↑ "The Hoosiers - Automatic Glow (Lyric Video) - YouTube". YouTube. 3 March 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  16. ↑ "The Hoosiers - So High (Lyric Video) - YouTube". YouTube. 8 April 2026. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  17. ↑ "The Hoosiers - Jigsaw Heart (Official Video) - YouTube". YouTube. 15 May 2026. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  18. ↑ "Corporate Traveller Brand Campaign - MediaNerd Project". MediaNerd Ltd. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  19. ↑ "The Hoosiers - Our brand new single "Lonely Together" is... - Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  20. ↑ @thehoosiersuk; (29 January 2026). "We have even more exciting news to share with you!" – via Instagram.
  21. ↑ "Internationally renowned band to perform at Oakham's Rocka-Buy Record". Oakham News Hub. 30 January 2026. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  22. ↑ "The Hoosiers confirm second gig at Rocka-Buy Records in Oakham". Lincs Online. 6 February 2026. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  23. ↑ "The Hoosiers To Support New Album 'Compassion' With Autumn UK Tour - Stereoboard". Stereoboard. 3 March 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  24. ↑ Ben Hanlin (13 March 2026). "The Hoosiers: How We Wrote Worried About Ray". What's The Trick? (Podcast). Acast. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  25. ↑ "OJ Borg - Final March to-dos - BBC Sounds". BBC Sounds. 31 March 2026. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  26. ↑ "5 News With Dan Walker (5 HD UK) April 14th, 2026 5:00pm BST - YouTube". YouTube. 14 April 2026. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  27. ↑ @thehoosiersuk; (25 April 2026). "Copy - Thanks to @maxrushden and @charliebakercomedian for having us on @talksport for a chat about all things tour and football" – via Instagram.
  28. ↑ "Irwin Sparkes performs The Hoosiers: 'Goodbye Mr. A' & Talks Compassion - Jeremy Vine - YouTube". YouTube. 7 May 2026. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  29. ↑ "Mike Sweeney - 11/05/2026 - BBC Sounds". BBC Sounds. 11 May 2026. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  30. ↑ "The Hoosiers – The Making of Compassion - YouTube". YouTube. 29 May 2026. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  31. ↑ Sullivan, Damian (13 May 2026). "REVIEW : THE HOOSIERS – COMPASSION (2026)". Maximum Volume Music. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  32. ↑ "The Hoosiers return with 'Compassion' — A big, stanky hug of a record from a band reborn". musomuso.com. 15 May 2026. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  33. ↑ LAW, JANIS (15 May 2026). "WE REVIEW THE NEW ALBUM FROM THE HOOSIERS – COMPASSION | RGM : REYT GOOD MAGAZINE DISCOVER THE LATEST MUSIC NEWS, REVIEWS, AND INTERVIEWS FROM THE BEST NEW ARTISTS". rgm.press. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  34. ↑ Connor, Stevie (16 May 2026). "The Hoosiers". The Sound Cafe. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  35. ↑ "The Hoosiers - Compassion Review". Cult Following. 11 May 2026. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  36. ↑ "Automatic Glow - The Hoosiers - Deezer". Deezer. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  37. ↑ Compassion (liner notes). The Hoosiers. Crab Race. 2026. CR25LPX1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  38. ↑ "Official Albums Sales Chart on 22/5/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  39. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart on 22/5/2026 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
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