2025’s Most Underappreciated Albums – Sunny War, Mac Miller, Okonski, Bass Drum of Death, Joyer & More

2025 was a hectic year in many regards. While it is easy to get caught up in our newsfeed and consume whatever is put in front of us, some of life’s magic always seems to be just past people’s perception. Falling victim to the news cycle is no one’s fault; it’s almost an inevitability in today’s age, but that means proper breaks from it all are required. As a bustling year for new music slowly winds down and our days open up, now is the perfect time to reflect and cherish the albums that may have flown under the radar while our minds were elsewhere. Keeping up with every new album is a fool’s errand, but that errand is our job here at Glide. 

We have carefully dissected hours upon hours of releases to provide you with our twenty most under-appreciated albums of 2025. This list features hidden gems from Hip-hop, fantastically immersive shoegaze from young hopefuls, and forward-thinking folk releases that push the boundaries of the burgeoning genre. Whatever your mood may be, there is an album you have yet to discover that could lead you towards the proper path. 

Check out Glide’s picks for this year’s most underrated releases below. 

Mac Miller – Ballonerism 

Release Date: January 17

Posthumous releases are always questionable, but The Mac Miller estate has been doing a terrifically tasteful job of keeping fans of the late multi-hyphenate fed. Ballonerism, recorded and completed by Miller years before the artist’s untimely passing, finally received a proper release in 2025, and it finishes a piece of the Miller puzzle fans have been waiting for. These 14 songs showcase an optimism and songwriting prowess that were missing during this era of the artist, filling the hole between downtrodden albums like Faces and moments of clarity like GO:OD AM. Songs like “Funny Papers” and “Excelsior” are whimsical examples of Miller’s storytelling, while darker moments like “Do You Have A Destination?” and “Mrs. Deborah Downer” showcase the struggles the artist was dealing with. Ballonerism is a rare success story in the pantheon of posthumous releases, and an essential for any fan of Miller. 

Whirr – Raw Blue 

Release Date: January 21

Shoegaze masterminds Whirr, led by Deafheaven guitarist Nick Bassett, released a stadium-sized example of their natural knack for head-spinning textures and warm melodies in 2025. Raw Blue marked the band’s first LP since 2019, and they made up for every minute of anticipation. Throughout its 10 songs, Bassett and company lead you through heady crescendoes that devolve into blissful moments of beauty, like whirling “Days I Wanna Fade Away” and “Walk Through Space,” two tunes that double as windows into Whirr’s brutally honest songwriting. Raw Blue is one of the most impressive shoegaze albums of 2025, which is also a welcome home parade for one of the genre’s most elusive assets. 

Benjamin Booker – LOWER 

Release Date: January 24

It is not very common for established guitarist and multi-hyphenate Benjamin Booker to release music, which makes LOWER even more essential listening for 2025. Teaming up with producer Kenny Segal, these eleven songs are dark, brooding examples of Booker’s sound, as his hushed vocals wash over wonky electronics with a dramatic flourish. Even on animated moments like the bright yet eerie “SHOW AND TELL,” and “NEW WORLD,” Booker maintains his wistful vocals, allowing Segal’s production choices to slow-dance with every intricate move. 

Sunny War – Armageddon In a Sundress 

Release Date: February 21

Blues-driven folk with pulsating vulnerability delivered on a sterling platter made out of memories and heartbreak, Sunny War’s 2025 LP was a landmark for blues revivalists and modern music as a whole. Armageddon In a Sundress is a powerful listen, brimming with far-too-real poetics that make the end of times feel like something to look forward to. “Bad Times” is a colorful waltz that highlights everyday problems with drama, “No One Calls Me Baby” is a must-listen for the lonely-hearted, and the Tré Burt-assisted, acoustic ballad “Scornful Heart” showcases the carefully-toed line between nostalgia and modern times that Sunny War occupies. Armageddon In a Sundress is a jaw-dropping listen aimed directly at the listener’s soul. 

Okonski – Entrance Music 

Release Date: February 28

The improvisational trio led by pianist Stephen Okonski released their sophomore effort in the winter of 2025, offering the warmth needed by those facing the harshness of the season and satisfying jazz fanatics from any era. Entrance Music carries on the swaying compositions the trio established on their 2023 debut, though there is an underlying confidence throughout these nine songs that elevates them to new heights. “Vista” and “Passing Through” are delicacies in their unassuming disposition, while fuller songs like “Lakebridge” and “Summer Storm” bring an animated element to the trio’s sound. Entrance Music is meant to soundtrack your day-to-day, but don’t let that inviting environment fool you; this trio is one of the brightest additions to contemporary jazz in a long time. 

Deep Sea Diver – Billboard Heart 

Release Date: February 28 

For the first time in five years, we received new music from the Jessica Dobson-led project Deep Sea Diver. Billboard Heart is eleven pop-tinted alt-rock anthems that march into whichever feeling Dobson is making sense of at the time, lending to a diverse yet honed tracklist that grabs the listener by the shoulders so every moment is felt as deeply as possible. What starts as an anthemic listen, with cuts like the searing “Emergency” and the punchy “What Do I Know,” slowly transitions into a profoundly personal journey, with songs like “Always Waving Goodbye” and “See in the Dark.” No matter the mindstate, Deep Sea Diver’s 2025 album has a soundtrack for you while continuing to establish Dobson as a generational songwriter. 

Yukimi – For You 

Release Date: March 28

The debut solo project of Little Dragon’s Yukimi is a pop-leaning, jazzy album overflowing with quaint balladry. For You feels like exactly that, 13 songs written with empathy and sung over soaring yet intimate arrangements that blur the lines between simplistic jazz and atmospheric pop. “Elinam” and “Rules of School” are wavy, welcoming slices of Yukimi’s poetic songwriting and adroit melodies, while “Break Me Down” begins to tell the story of how the artist expertly injects honesty into contagious pop. For You is hopefully just the start of what will hopefully be a fruitful solo discography for the Little Dragon vocalists. 

Cat Ridgeway – Sprinter 

Release Date: March 28

Cat Ridgeway is an artist who takes her time when creating, leaving significant gaps in her discography. The pop-rock musician closed a five-year hiatus this year with Sprinter, an album that already feels like a seminal one for Ridgeway’s career. These twelve songs take no prisoners, as the artist navigates fierce punk tempos, like on “Epilogue,” awkward electronics on “Look Ma, No Plans!,” and salutes pop-punk icons on “Get Well Soon.” Either way you slice it, Sprinter is the moment Ridgeway pushes past her peers and cements herself as a force of nature. 

Scott McMicken & The Ever-Expanding – NEW PURPLE DRESS 

Release Date: June 20

Founding member of Dr. Dog, Scott McMicken, has been using his side project to explore more psychedelic and atmospheric textures, establishing an unpredictable outfit willing to morph to fit the artist’s visions. This time around, on their NEW PURPLE DRESS LP, McMicken steers The Ever-Expanding into jazzy, pop-tinted territory. There is a swaying grace to these nine songs that emphasizes McMicken’s contributions to Dr. Dog and his range as a musician and songwriter as a whole. Songs like the cinematic “Power,” the mesmerizing “Back To The Sun,” and the soaring textures of “Almost The One” only scratch the surface of the folksy, fusion magic contained on NEW PURPLE DRESS. 

Flyte – Between You and Me

Release Date: August 29

Folk duo Flyte have been bubbling underneath the genre’s surface for years now, and Between You and Me feels like the breakout moment this band has been waiting for. This intimate outing brings the listener closer to the band than ever before, as they craft minimalist ballads with poetic songwriting and a sense of vulnerability. The painfully honest “Everybody Says I Love You,” the soft, confrontational nature of “I’m So Down,” and the gentle unraveling of “I’m Not There,” all these moments combine for a stunning slice of confessional folk that is not to be missed. 

Bass Drum of Death – Six 

Release Date: September 12

The garage rock outfit led by John Barrett established their individuality early in their career, and their 2025 album marked a return to that uniqueness. Not that the band lost it along the way, but Six finds the band injecting their maturity into their distorted barrage of poetry and explosive riffs. Songs like “Like a Knife” prove that this band can create a hit without succumbing to contemporary tropes, while tunes like “Never Gonna Drink About You” and “Got A Feeling” are onslaughts of immersive rock bliss. Six is the sixth studio album from Bass Drum of Death, and some of their most honed and unforgettable music to date. 

Atmosphere – Jestures 

Release Date: September 19

The Hip-hop duo Atmosphere has long established themselves as two of the more forward-thinking and daring acts in the contemporary genre, and their 2025 releases continue to prove this sentiment. Jestures is an audacious concept album in which Atmosphere writes a tune for every letter of the alphabet, and the results are undeniably impressive. The duo stuck to their concept while maintaining an extensive tracklist that touches on raw Hip-hop, like “Quicksand,” and uplifting anthems, like “Greatful.” Atmosphere’s diversity was never in question, but Jestures highlights just how intricate this duo’s artistry is, and how malleable it truly can be. 

Militarie Gun – God Save The Gun 

Release Date: October 17

This 14-song album from modern post-punk heroes Militarie Gun establishes the band as far more than another hopeful addition to keep the genre alive. God Save The Gun is a heavy, soul-bearing album that has the band putting themselves in the center of their own security, self-analyzing every move and fearlessly unleashing every bit of pain they ever held inside. “I Won’t Murder Your Friend” is the type of song to turn a stoic man into a puddle of tears, while “Kick” and “Throw Me Away” find the band falling backwards into complex emotions. God Save The Gun tears down any mystique around one of the most electrifying acts from Los Angeles. 

Joyer – On The Other End of the Line… 

Release Date: October 24

After signing to the ever-evolving and young label Julia’s War Recordings, shoegaze outfit Joyer delivered a statement piece of an album in 2025. On The Other End of the Line… is 10 hypnotic slices of fuzzed-out bliss that detail the singularity this band is bringing to a burgeoning scene. Their melodies are singular and infectious as they navigate dense guitars on highlights like “Creases” and “Test,” while songs like “Something to Prove” and “At The Movies” showcase Joyer’s storytelling abilities. Joyer has been slowly carving out a lane for themselves, and 2025 proved to be a giant creative leap on this band’s journey. 

Danny Brown – Stardust 

Release Date: November 7

While typically known for his drug-fueled narratives and hyperactive vocals, Detroit’s Danny Brown has spent the past few years experimenting with the limits of his artistry. On Stardust, Brown dives headfirst into the bubbling hyper-pop circuit to unearth new flows to wow with and alien-like textures to deliver them. Along with an impressive cast of young, risk-loving musicians, Brown put together 14 danceable tunes that introduce an exhilarating new chapter for the artist. Moments like the gospel-tinted “Lift You Up,” the autobiographical “Book of Daniel,” and radio-ready “Copycats” prove that Stardust is a successful creative leap for the Hip-hop icon, and that’s just the start. 

Armand Hammer & The Alchemist – Mercy 

Release Date: November 7 

Armanad Hammer is the Hip-hop duo of Billy Woods and E L U C I D, two of the contemporary scene’s most impressive wordsmiths, and 2025 saw them teaming up with another legend from the genre. The Alchemist-produced Mercy is a hauntingly beautiful display of the duo’s psychedelic wordplay, falling over crawling electronic melodies and punch-drunk drums. Armand Hammer & Alc’s chemistry shines bright on songs like “Scandinavia” and “u know my body,” while cuts like “Peshawar” and “Moonbow” are pressure-cookers of soulful excellence. Mercy arrived later in the year, but with just enough time to raise the bar for Hip-hop heading into 2026. 

Mavi – The Pilot 

Release Date: November 25

MAVI established himself as a modern prophet in Hip-hop on his proper debut album in 2019, and the artist has yet to fall short of these lofty expectations. The Pilot is a quick yet potent addition to a wildly impressive discography that balances MAVI’s artistic prowess with his natural need to detail dark emotions. Songs like the MIKE-assisted “Triple Nickel” and the intro “Heavy Hand” feature infectious melodies that deliver harsh realities, while a groove-filled tune like “Silent Film” or the raw “G-ANNIS FREESTYLE” showcase a new side of MAVI’s artistry. The Pilot may have entered the race late, but it is far from an album to be ignored in 2025.