I’ve Listened to 50 Albums So Far in 2026. Here Are 5 You Have to Hear.

Spanning experimental, indie rock and alternative, these are the albums that I have loved this year

Source: Unsplash

It’s weird that it’s July already. Time's been flying this year, but one thing I’ve been spending my time on, is music.

But this year is different for me. I was sick of the algorithms and wanted to find things on my own. I decided not to search for new music as much as I have in the past; rather, I wanted to dive further into my like list and let my taste guide me to something new. That meant I was revisiting old albums and artists I had already discovered and expanding on what made their sounds unique, so I could find something similar.

That led me to jamming to over 50 albums this year, and I’ve narrowed it down to five great records that I think everybody must hear.

Some of these albums have come out years prior, but that doesn’t take away from their beauty. Good music deserves to be shared, so these are five albums you must add to your rotation without relying on the algorithm.

Not a Medium member?: Click here to read for free

Blood & Bones — Louie Blue

My latest find, and one I genuinely can’t put down. Louie Blue has transitioned from this indie pop artist, to an experimental synth rocker, and I love it. ***Blood & Bones*** is a splash of Mk.gee and 80’s synth wave music. It’s groovy and deep, like im swimming in the undercurrent, but I’m unafraid of drowning. I’m letting it take me wherever it wants.

Coming in with just 28 minutes, you’ll quickly find yourself wanting more.

These songs quickly build you up before they melt you down. The tempo fluctuates early but steadies out near the end, creating this balance of speed and mellow.

A Constant Charade (Deluxe) — Elujay

An artist I’ve written about before, and probably will for a long time. Eujay’s big album, ***A Constant Charade**, is damn near perfect to me. He has this perfect blend of R&B and Soul, while still dipping his toes in the Experimental sound he gave us on Circmvnt*. He brought everything in from his previous projects and sharpened it all in this one. Everything's on display, and Elujay is unapologetically himself, and it works.

The record is heavy, coming in with 52 elegant minutes of playtime, which is the longest on the list. But don't worry, A Constant Charade maintains a middle ground in tempo. You have a few songs that pick up the pace, but mainly it’s going to keep you grounded and stuck in this session of not wanting to turn it off. Every track feels fresh and lively.

This album is far from a charade, never a distraction because it’s the main event. So much so that I needed to see this guy perform. I quickly got a ticket and made my way to Toronto. Elujay played in this small but intimate venue, and it was everything I wanted and more. If you ever have the chance to see him live, I highly recommend it.

If you need more Elujay, feel free to check this out.

[embed]Intro to Experimental Music New to the genre? Start with these 5 tracksmedium.com

Familiar Patterns — Swiss Portraits

***Familiar Patterns*** is a fitting title because this tape is repetitive and extremely wavy in all the right ways. This album will make you feel like you're stuck on loop running a quarter mile while on a low dose of Adderall. It just keeps going, and going and going.

One of the older albums on this list. Swiss Portraits released this beauty back in 2021, and I’m sad I didn’t find it sooner because I haven’t stopped playing it. Find My Way, Your Mind and Burnt Out have quickly become my summer bangers, and that isn’t changing any time soon.

Stunning guitar and scratchy cassette vocals are the highlights of this 27-minute album.

Zodiac — Yeek

I don’t know what describes this album better: either it’s punchy and poppy mixed with low-fi vocals, or a bunch of songs that make me miss a love I never had while I’m in the middle of the club just trying to get my groove on. But I’m starting to see that ***Zodiac ***is both.

This is the shortest album on this list, with a brief 17 minutes. But somehow that fits the album, as every song is quick, but paired with such a nice and easy beat, the record carries you through its short but smooth sound quite gently. It makes it easy to replay and keep enjoying it for as long as you’d like.

children of divorce — Valley Boy

Now this is a beautiful album.

***children of divorce*** is a cake of emotion. It’s layered and quite delicious as you make your way through it. Valley boy shows you where to start and sings to you through every bite, but at the end of the day, children of divorced parents are the main theme, so let's get right into it. I don’t know him personally, but judging from the song titles and the evocative lyrics, I’m assuming Valley Boy has a lot of friends with divorced parents.

Regardless of the themes and jokes aside, this album is genuinely striking. children of divorce is probably the “saddest” album on this list, but it also holds its own with these hard-hitting songs like Thank God For Alcicia!, have you seen Rachel? and Gollum.

It’s hard not to lose yourself when you listen to this record. When I first heard it, I quickly fell in love with the vicious high notes and beautifully dark lyrics. I replayed it instantly, and it stayed in my rotation for weeks.

children of divorce is the second-longest album on this list, with 40 minutes on its clock, but you don’t get tired of it. This record unravels like a story you’re craving the ending of, but instead it hits you with the “To Be Continued…”

[embed]Kick Off Summer with These 3 Albums Be the friend with the summer-hot aux this yearmedium.com