25 underrated albums you need to listen to

Peripheral Vision is one of my all-time favorite albums. Turnover showcased its versatility, depth, and lyrical talent by releasing a gut-wrenching yet all-too-relatable, reflective indie album. If you’re a deep thinker and feeler, you’ll want to give it a listen.

The Cure is one of my favorite bands, and while Disintegration was a popular album in its time, you don’t hear as many music lovers gushing over it today. This is a particularly haunting album, exploring dark themes like grief and emotional decay. 

Handsome Ghost, in and of itself, is an underrated indie band. Their album, Some Still Morning, is beautifully heartbroken and hopeful. The tracks take you through a journey of grief, personal growth, healing, and acceptance. 

Alice Phoebe Lou is incredibly talented with a soulful voice and empowering lyrics. Glow is an especially exceptional album, as it explores one woman’s journey toward self-love and independence in a world that isn’t always so kind to her. 

Psychedelic folk band Loving is known for its introspective, thought-provoking lyrics and dreamy sound. The group’s album, If I Am Only My Thoughts, explores spiritual and philosophical themes like self-perception and existentialism. If you’re in the mood to ponder life’s greatest wonders, this is the perfect album for you.

If you’re an emo at heart, and “it was never just a phase,” this one’s for you. Copacetic by Knuckle Puck packs the perfect pop-punk feel with high energy and deep, pensive lyrics. This album will get you through the darkest of times.

The Story So Far’s 2018 album Proper Dose is a highly underrated one, in my opinion. The band is consistent with its sound, yet has shown incredible growth in terms of lyrical themes and dynamic approach. As a long-time fan of the band, I’m consistently drawn to this particular album.

This dreamy indie album takes you on quite the mood-driven exploration, exploring spiritual themes and emotional depth. Listening to Oncle Jazz feels like stargazing while in an altered state — only you don’t need any substance but the music. 

Nella Vita is one of my go-to pop-punk albums. Not only is every song incredibly catchy, but the lyrics are also devastatingly beautiful and hard-hitting. The band explores themes like addiction, grief, and death with respect, grace, and vulnerability.

When I went through my The Early November phase, The Room’s Too Cold was constantly on shuffle. Though it’s their most popular album, I believe the debut studio album is still far too underrated, and more people should hear it. It’s the perfect blend of emo and alternative rock, diving into topics like heartbreak and introspection.  

As singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers’ debut studio album, Stranger in the Alps does not get enough credit. Its painfully honest lyrics and near-desperate, melancholic sound are haunting in the best way. Though it’s not her most popular release, it deserves more recognition. 

Flatsound is a unique artist and poet, often releasing instrumentals. However, Scotland, I Wish You Had Stayed. has some raw tracks with poignant lyrics. I especially adore the song “I Exist I Exist I Exist.”

If you’re into R&B, funk, and indie rock, Steve Lacy is a must-hear artist. While his more recent album, Gemini Rights, achieved critical acclaim and success, his debut, Apollo XXI, wasn’t as well-received as I believe it should be. Lacy’s explorative themes, raw honesty, powerful voice, and unconventional nature were far ahead of their time. 

Calling all dreamy lo-fi indie lovers: this one’s for you. No Place Like Home by Vacations is an incredibly emotional, relatable, and catchy album. While it’s not the band’s most popular release, it’s definitely one of my favorites.

Looking for an album that holds up a mirror and shows you exactly where you’re bleeding and why? Voyager will do that for you. Current Joys effortlessly guides its audience through an intimate journey of grief, vulnerability, and self-expression.

Raveena’s music is pure magic. The artist’s debut album is a raw and vulnerable exploration of sexuality, womanhood, and identity. If you like R&B, you’ll love Lucid and its soothing yet powerful dive into one woman’s journey through life.

I’ve loved Lunar Vacation, a shoegaze indie rock band, for quite some time now, but I am especially drawn to Everything Matters, Everything’s Fire. When I first heard the song “Set the Stage,” I immediately knew this album would become a new favorite of mine. It’s not one of their most popular releases, but I think it’s a severely underrated and emotionally complex album. 

If you like ‘80s post-punk music, you’ll love The Cry, as they have that distinct British indie rock sound. Imagine The Cure and The Smiths collaborated to make a more modern album — I’m convinced it would sound eerily similar to Beautiful Reasons. 

Are you into grunge but can’t seem to find any new modern bands in the scene? I’ve got it covered. Losing by Bully is an incredible alt-rock album with that signature raw sound we all know and love. Alicia Bognanno (the artist behind the solo project) channeled her personal pains and mental health struggles to create an incredibly relatable and vulnerable album. 

Alvvays is a popular indie dream pop group. The band’s second album is one of their best, but it’s still underrated in the indie scene, what with its relatable and melancholic themes and captivating sound. While not their most popular release, Antisocialites is a testament to their versatility.

Third Eye Blind has always blown me away with their experimental sound and deep, provocative lyrics. However, many fans skip over the band’s album Dopamine. If you give it a full listen, you’ll be blown away by the band’s progression, creativity, and exploratory approach. “Shipboard Cook” on the album will forever be one of my favorite songs.

Hot Mulligan’s first full-length album, Pilot, does not get enough attention from its fanbase, in my humble opinion. With songs like “Pluto Was Never Really A Planet Either Even” and “How Do You Know It’s Not Armadillo Shells” (ignore the titles), two deeply relatable tracks about mental health and crippling self-awareness, you won’t want to skip this album. 

The Dum Dum Girls was an alternative indie rock band formed back in 2008. During their time, the all-girl group was more of a cult favorite than an actual mainstream phenomenon. Their album Only in Dreams has that iconic garage-rock-meets-dreamy-pop sound. 

The First Two Pages of Frankenstein by The National was one of my favorite releases in the last five years. The 2023 album features big-name artists like Taylor Swift, Sufjan Stevens, and Phoebe Bridgers on some of the most haunting, melancholic tracks. With its dark lyrics and evocative vocals, the album upholds that alternative/art rock sound.

I was raised on Blink-182, and the band’s self-titled album will always have my heart. This album is arguably the band’s most emotional, explorative, and raw release. With haunting tracks like “I Miss You,” “Obvious,” “Down,” “Violence,” “All of This” (ft. The Cure’s Robert Smith), and so many more, the album is pretty much a no-skip for me.