An Ode to Albums Turning 10 in 2026
Pierce The Veil, Angel Olsen, The Lumineers and Blood Orange are some of the artists with albums turning 10 in 2026.
We at Off the Record are strong believers in the fact that everything needs a soundtrack. Whether the hardcore stylings of Knocked Loose played in your ears while catching Pokémon or the lullabies of Big Thief calmed your fear of killer clowns, the music of 2016 was just as formative for culture as the year’s headlines.
From records that just ooze a distinct 2016 je ne sais quoi to those that feel utterly timeless, here are the albums turning 10 this year that have never quite left us.
Blackstar by David Bowie
Caroline Goldschmitt, Contributor
Ten years after his passing, David Bowie is still inspiring new generations to create whatever they want. While Bowie’s fist-pumping track “Heroes” soars on Billboard charts once again, his final album, Blackstar, celebrates a decade around the sun this January. Regarded by longtime producer Tony Visconti as Bowie’s “parting gift” to the world, the seven-track record evokes jazzy rhythms, biblical imagery, and something deeply existential. With the help of legendary jazz group the Donny McCaslin Quartet, its ominous tone resounds through clanging drums, unpredictable horns, and mysterious synth. Throughout the making of Blackstar, Visconti told Rolling Stone that Bowie was massively inspired by Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly and the Compton rapper’s genre-defying approach to making music. Much like Lamar, Bowie’s musical and cultural influence testifies to an unfathomable commitment to his own storytelling and will forever solidify him as one of the most groundbreaking artists in modern music.
The Ride by Catfish and the Bottlemen
Amesha Tiwari, Staff Writer
Nothing screams summer 2016 more than The Ride. The popular sophomore album by the British rock quartet feels like a matured version of their debut album, The Balcony, with catchy singles that were played consistently in alternative scenes. Songs like "Soundcheck" and “Twice” soundtracked many 2016 moments and continued the iconic Catfish and the Bottlemen sound they debuted two years prior. The Ride is a perfect time capsule of the 2016 indie-rock sound that so many reminisce on.
Freetown Sound by Blood Orange
Athena Galatis, Contributor
Amid a resurgence in love for Blood Orange’s earlier work — namely “Champagne Coast” off of his 2011 debut studio album, Coastal Grooves — it would be a mistake to overlook Devonté Hynes’ third album, Freetown Sound, named after his father’s birthplace of Freetown, Sierra Leone. Hynes himself described it, in a since-deleted Instagram post, as an album for “everyone told they're not black enough, too black, too queer, not queer the right way, the under appreciated.” The album features a slate of collaborators which, perhaps unexpectedly to some, includes Carly Rae Jepsen, Nelly Furtado, Empress Of, Debbie Harry (of Blondie), among others. Marrying elements of R&B, pop, rock, funk, and dance music, Freetown Sound has stood the test of time as a work with something to offer every type of listener, even ten years later.
Watch the music video for “Shut Up Kiss Me” on YouTube.
MY WOMAN by Angel Olsen
Mitchell Stewart, Contributor
MY WOMAN is perhaps Angel Olsen’s most fervent display of her ability to craft these grand songs that inspire and leave you shaking as you scream along to the intense emotion of some of her best work. From the passion and heat of “Shut Up Kiss Me,” to the volatile and loud “Never Be Mine,” MY WOMAN is an amalgamation of songs that sound as if Olsen is the last one left in the karaoke bar; no one is there but the bartender and her. Her songwriting skills are often forgotten about, but on tracks like “Woman,” her lyrical prowess is on full display when she sings, “Am I not allowed to think kindly of a stranger who reflects the sound of my heartache as it's beating my life to the ground?” The outro to “Heart Shaped Face” perfectly captures the thesis for the entire album: “Heartache ends, and begins again.” It’s undoubtedly clear that MY WOMAN had an impact on the entire indie sound of the late 2010s, and as Olsen continues to evolve in her career, it’s inspiring to return to her earlier work and see how far she’s come.
Cleopatra by The Lumineers
Daisy Calderon, Contributor
Oh, Ophelia, The Lumineers’ sophomore album Cleopatra turns 10 this year! Mixing folk, rock, and acoustic influences, The Lumineers followed up on their successful first album with even more catchy, foot-stomping songs in Cleopatra. In a world starving for acoustic folk, The Lumineers fed the public with a unique blend of whimsical instruments. Whether you were 22 or 12, this album transcended generations and cemented Cleopatra as an essential folk album.
Puberty 2 by Mitski
Tabita Bernardus, Head Writing Editor
“I wanna see the whole world / I don’t know how I’m gonna pay rent,” Mitski wails over thrashing guitars on “My Body’s Made of Crushed Little Stars.” The indie-rock stalwart is a pro at turning herself inside out. Her fourth album, Puberty 2, unflinchingly spills her guts all over the floor as she toes the line between adolescence and the realities of adulthood. The 11-track project offers a masterclass in genre-mixing to coincide with her compelling storytelling, blending modern rock, dream pop, and glints of electronic influence with a Mitski twist. Her burning confessions about heartache, happiness, belonging, and everything in between seamlessly weave together with unconventional compositions, making her every move on this album thrillingly unpredictable –– to where even a decade later, every listen feels like the first.
Masterpiece by Big Thief
Mitchell Stewart, Contributor
Big Thief has long been a moorpost for the indie folk genre, and their first album, Masterpiece, is what launched and set them on their path. Masterpiece is Big Thief at their very best, showcasing Adrianne Lenker’s excellent skills as a singer-songwriter and the band’s ability to craft sprawling soundscapes that sound different but still fit into the pathos of the album’s theme. Lenker’s mastery of songwriting is on full display here, with her ability to write gorgeous choruses that stick with you and linger in your head long after your first listen. They are often nonsensical, but at the same time, you feel deep down that you know what they mean, like on “Paul,” when Lenker sings, “I'll be your morning-bright good-night shadow machine / I'll be your record player, baby, if you know what I mean.” Big Thief’s music often sounds like a secret that the audience is not clued in on, an inside joke that we’re not aware of. Still, through listening to Masterpiece, we can begin to understand and see how they’ve built their reputation as the titans of the indie folk scene.
Watch the music video for “Deadringer” on YouTube.
Laugh Tracks by Knocked Loose
Emily Cheyne, Contributor
Since the release of their 2024 album You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To, Knocked Loose has amplified heavy music, topping the charts and receiving a Grammy nomination. But before all this mainstream success, they released genre-shifting albums like Laugh Tracks. The heavy riffs and bone-crushing breakdowns of this album solidified their national following. Released on Sept.16, 2016, Laugh Tracks features songs like “Deadringer,” “Billy No Mates,” and a roughly one minute song entitled “Counting Worms” that acts as a gateway into the style of hardcore music. Lead Singer Bryan Garris is not afraid of dark lyrics, often reflecting on personal struggles and external frustrations. This album portrays dark feelings that many are too scared to express. The DIY essence of this album creates a raw, authentic portrayal to those who listen and a strong starting album to the band Knocked Loose.
I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It by The 1975
Reegan-Tate Johnson, Co-Editor-In-Chief
The 1975’s sophomore release, I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It, is a neon-pop soundscape that begins them down a path to becoming a band with something to say. By shifting their previous rock-adjacent tone to a vibrant and experimental identity, I Like It When You Sleep shifts the tone from their debut into a lawless blend of R&B, gospel, and synth-pop, establishing a career-long trend of genre-hopping that goes on to define their sound for the entire decade following. It marks a pivotal evolution in their lyricism, best heard in the pretentious, self-referential sarcasm of “A Change Of Heart,” and the communal call for empathy in “Loving Someone,” where they yield to search for meaning outside of themselves. Cinematic and still interludes strip away the bright production, and turns the album into a 75-minute intervention for connection that actually lasts.
Blonde by Frank Ocean
Madelyn Aiken, Contributor
Blonde is a defining album of the 21st century. Auditorily, Blonde is an amalgamation of R&B, alternative, psychedelic, and electronic sounds, enhanced by the smooth, soulful vocals of Frank Ocean. Additional production and performance credits are stacked with names like James Blake, Beyoncé (vocals on “Pink + White”), Andre 3000 (vocals on “Solo (Reprise)”), and Tyler, the Creator (drums on “Skyline to”). Thematically, the project is an hour’s worth of reminiscing, compartmentalization, and introspection. Frank Ocean’s ability to strip down the complexities of heartbreak is what brings so many people back to this album in times of hurt.
Songs like “Ivy,” “Nights,” and “Self Control” explore the layers of simultaneously craving genuine affection, temporary attention, and solitude, and not knowing where that leaves you. “Solo” illustrates the double-edged sword of love: there is beauty in connection existing in the first place, and pain that lingers in every song, errand, or moment of silence once it goes away. This is one of those albums that gives listeners something new to connect to with every listen. You don’t find Blonde, Blonde finds you.
Watch the music video for “Disappear Here” on YouTube.
Disappear Here by Bad Suns
Mckenzie Blasi, Contributor
It’s hard to believe that Bad Suns’ second studio album, Disappear Here, officially celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Originally released on Sept. 16, 2016, the record solidified the band's signature blend of shimmering indie-pop and driving post-punk influences. From the infectious energy of "Daft Pretty Boys," to the atmospheric title track, the album remains a nostalgic touchstone for fans of the mid-2010s alternative scene.
Frontman Christo Bowman famously drew inspiration for the title from Bret Easton Ellis’s novel Less Than Zero, a reference that perfectly captured the record's themes of youth and escapism. A decade later, the album’s bright production and catchy hooks still feel remarkably fresh and continue to be a highlight of the band's live performances. This milestone offers the perfect opportunity for listeners to revisit the sun-drenched melodies that defined an era of indie rock.
Home of the Strange by Young the Giant
Daisy Calderon, Contributor
With songs like “Mind Over Matter” and “Cough Syrup,” it’s clear Young the Giant dominated the 2010s alternative scene. Their third studio album, Home of the Strange, specifically solidified the groups’ reputation as influential pop-rock artists. Released in a time of political instability within the U.S., Home of the Strange paid homage to the band's immigrant roots and the many voices of American identity. Blending cultures, customs, and sounds, Young the Giant created an album that perfectly encapsulates America’s melting pot. The album continues to influence political commentary within the alternative scene, which is no small feat today.
Misadventures by Pierce The Veil
Emily Cheyne, Contributor
Misadventures by Pierce The Veil turns 10 this year with its initial release on May 13, 2016. Blending elements of post-hardcore, rock, pop-punk, and emo, this was a great album for the year. Pierce The Veil’s music and aesthetic was defining for the early emo scene at the time. With hits like “Circles” and “Floral & Fading,” Pierce The Veil stayed true to their core style but got somewhat experimental. The tracks on this album dive into the “misadventures” of life: the things that lead singer Vic Fuentes, his bandmates, and others around them dealt with. After all these years, Misadventures still holds up as a great post-hardcore album.