What are the most slept-on albums of the year? Which projects are criminally missing from all those scores of end-of-year round-ups? From Yukimi to LAUSSE THE CAT, Joey Valence & Brae to Jadu Heart, here’s the best of the rest.
Yes, we all know that Bad Bunny’s January-released DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS is a monumental feat of homage and celebration. And that with LUX, Rosalía has redefined the limitations of pop music. And, of course, thanks to their near-perfect third album, Getting Killed, Geese have cemented themselves as the best rock band of a generation.
But, whilst every other publication is trying to put their definitive stamp on what is categorically the best, we’re coming at it with a different lens. How about all those brilliant bodies of music that aren’t appearing in every list? This is all about the best of the rest, the slept on oeuvres that deserve another shout out.
From Joey Valence & Brae’s raucous coming-of-age gem to Yukimi’s dazzling solo debut, and from Jadu Heart’s idiosyncratic break-up ballads to the show-stopping return of LAUSSE THE CAT – here are the most underrated albums of the year…
mark william lewis – Mark William Lewis
Release Date: 12th September 2025
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Why It’s Underrated: mark william lewis doesn’t sing. He croons, swoons, sighs, murmurs. His deep, gravelly voice mediates atop folky sonic undercurrents – often straddling a harmonica solo between verses – dwelling on his inner process, simultaneously Metropolitan, sorrowful and hauntingly atmospheric. The fact that this sophomore full-length is self-titled is an indication of him finding himself on this record, but for the listener, the magic of the mystery remains.
Joey Valence & Brae – HYPERYOUTH
Release Date: 15th August 2025
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Why It’s Underrated: Joey Valence & Brae’s form of suave anarchy is slick and cerebral, and improving and expanding with every passing release. HYPERYOUTH is the US hip hop duo’s third full-length album in as many years, and is, sonically at least, their most ambitious and eclectic body of music to date. The pair dive further into dance music, enlist a pantheon of left-field delights as features (from JPEGMAFIA to Rebecca Black), and drop some of the funniest lyrics you’ll have heard all year. One of the most riotous and razor-sharp US rap projects of the year – more kudos should have come its way.
Jadu Heart – POST HEAVEN
Release Date: 11th April 2025
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Why It’s Underrated: Written in the aftermath of the group’s two core members ending a nine-year relationship, the suitably named POST HEAVEN is Jadu Heart’s most personal and affecting album to date. Stylistically a sponge for everything from intricate folk to encompassing electronica and rousing alt rock, the 12-track is emotionally intelligent, deeply intimate and somehow oddly hopeful.
Mon Laferte – FEMME FATALE
Release Date: 24th October 2025
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Why It’s Underrated: One of Latin music’s most unique and compelling voices across the last decade, Chilean five-time Latin Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Mon Laferte reflects on her career in the spotlight in dazzling fashion on her latest album. Titled FEMME FATALE, a sobriquet that was given to her in her younger years, the album plays out as a reclaiming of her autonomy and womanhood, and sounds devastatingly gorgeous in the process.
Racing Mount Pleasant – Racing Mount Pleasant
Release Date: 15th August 2025
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Why It’s Underrated: Ugh, this album. What was once Kingfisher have augmented as Racing Mount Pleasant; and with a new name, new sound, new approach, the Michigan septet sound better than ever, reintroducing themselves on this self-titled debut album. The band’s interpretation of midwest emo feels fresh and flavourful, while packing one hell of an emotional punch.
LAUSSE THE CAT – The Mocking Stars
Release Date: 6th November 2025
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Why It’s Underrated: Do you know about the legend of LAUSSE THE CAT? Fully anonymous, the French-British rapper, songwriter, instrumentalist and producer wrote himself into UK underground folklore with his 2018 debut body of work, The Girl, the Cat and the Tree; and then proceeded to disappear off the face of the earth shortly after. His cult fan base yearned for their favourite feline to return, but alas, it seemed like all hope was lost. Until early November, that is, when LAUSSE returned, out of nowhere, to drop an hour-long album, The Mocking Stars. It is, to this writer at least, as close to perfect as an album can be. There’s a thrilling anti-hero narrative thread, rich instrumentation that supports and guides the vocal, excellent technicality, cinema, charisma, character… there’s no end to the brilliance of the record. One of a kind, LAUSSE is one of the few who do it entirely their own way – fame and fortune are irrelevant. This is pure, untouchable artistry.
Mick Jenkins x EMIL – A MURDER OF CROWS
Release Date: 3rd October 2025
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Why It’s Underrated: Since his conceptual, cerebral, tour de force 2014 mixtape, The Water (S), Chicagoan rapper Mick Jenkins has been one of America’s most consistent but underrated players. He dropped his sixth project this autumn, A MURDER OF CROWS; a joint tape with British producer EMIL – known for his work with Knucks and Venna – a smooth as silk, intellectually thrilling, emotionally literate collection of cuts.
Annahstasia – Tether
Release Date: 13th June 2025
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Why It’s Underrated: Annahstasia sings like a deathly thin shard of a beautiful stained glass window. The LA-raised model, guitarist and singer-songwriter shows musical intention and artistic maturity on her quietly dazzling debut album, Tether. Performed with a raw radiance that draws you into her finger-picked explorations of living, of loving, and of learning, the work is a rewarding and subtly captivating folk tapestry.
Amber Mark – Pretty Idea
Release Date: 10th October 2025
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Why It’s Underrated: Amber Mark is undoubtedly a global artist who has had another massive year, supporting Sabrina Carpenter and sharing a critically acclaimed album. But, while Pretty Idea has been warmly received, it hasn’t received the widespread love that you could argue it deserves. It’s a compact and colourful 37 minutes, masterfully blending funky disco and contemporary R&B into a crowd-pleasing confirmation that she is one of the genre’s brightest. If you listen, you’ll revisit.
Bricknasty – BLACKS LAW
Release Date: 31st October 2025
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Why It’s Underrated: Bricknasty have done it again. With this third body of work, frontman Fatboy and co venture further sonically – delving into traditional folk, off-kilter house, improvisation-centric jazz and gut-busting soul. But it’s in the idiosyncratic narration, deft thematic density and homage to Ireland where BLACKS LAW proves to be a seminal project, and affirms that Bricknasty are a special band. A step away from breaking big at this point.
Yukimi – For You
Release Date: 28th March 2025
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Why It’s Underrated: Swedish electronic collective Little Dragon have led the way on widely digestible avant-garde music for the past 20 years. This year, the group’s vocalist, Yukimi, shared her debut solo album. Swimming the waters of soul, jazz, R&B and electronica, For You is thoughtful and thorough, quietly glitzy and sonically generous.
Moses Yoofee Trio – MYT
Release Date: 7th February 2025
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Why It’s Underrated: Berlin-based instrumental group Moses Yoofee Trio offer up a glorious marrying of intricate jazz, flowing hip hop and warm soul on debut album, MYT. There’s plenty of standout musical passages, an often uplifting tone, and a great ENNY feature on “GREEN LIGHT”.
Words – Ben Tibbits
