The Best Albums That You’ve Never Heard Of

“It was a religion” by BLegh

BLEGH, a retired music project from lyricist and vocalist Venus, and instrumentalist Abbey, has created one of the most cathartic and emotionally charged albums I’ve ever heard. It’s uncomfortable to listen to with songs like “Masturbate” and “Pretty Privilege,” that break the traditional rules of music with gorgeous instrumentals and lyricism laid over dialogue, as well as giving a voice to taboo topics. It sounds strange in a creative, unique, boundary breaking way. 

The artists haven’t commented publicly about the inspiration for the album, but I do believe it acts as a concept album. If you listen in order, you’re taken on a ride through a night at a party full of emotional turmoil drenched in teenage love and obsession. The songs are brashly honest about the complexities of growing up; being hurt and hurting others, addiction, and the aesthetic social hierarchy. My personal favorite song “His Hands” tackles a post-breakup crash out, detailed with repetition and mirrored lyrics. 

The opening song, “That Girl,” begins with piano and heartbroken lyrics, feeling “all alone at the party.” Though the rest of the album takes the listener throughout a crowded house, under the sheets, and into a fuzzy drug-induced haze, everything comes crashing down again at the end of the night. The album concludes with the title track “It Was A Religion,” a quiet contemplative grief as consequences and reality sets in for our protagonist, the same place that we started, but more final. Illustrated most in “Attachment Love,” the singer that we can’t help but love is fighting the inevitable, and crawling back to something that isn’t good for them, despite. There’s a darkness and vulnerability here that draws people in, a secret, shameful experience they can relate to.

We made time late / The hands on the clock danced with us

– BLEGH, “9:37 pm”

Venus’ passionate vocals tug at the heartstrings and bring tears to my eyes, and Abbey’s composition demonstrates a complex understanding of musical elements, as well as independent talent. Depressing yet deeply evocative, this is an album that I return to again and again. Not a casual listen, but a 38 minute experience. 

来日 / “To Japan” by pierce murphy

来日 / To Japan is an album written inspired by Murphy’s trip to Japan. Songs were written in the towns that he visited, and the finished tracks are more or less the same as his original drafts. Murphy also took field recordings during his time in Japan, which are included on some songs on the album. 

This is the perfect album for sitting outside and appreciating the world around you, as crickets accompany careful pluckings of guitar strings, and the buzz of voices from a time and world away lull you into relaxation. I love how innovative it is! I miss true albums, one that center on a cohesive theme, or a time in someone’s life. To me, 来日 is an inspiring example of letting yourself be inspired by the world around you; opening yourself to different cultures and lives to create something beautiful about how it moved you. You can read Murphy’s personal thesis on the album here.  “少しずつの世界“ is one of my personal favorite tracks on the album, which (I believe) translates to “A world little by little”. And of course shout out to “鶯” which is how I discovered the album. 

I wrote a song about you / But it don’t come across at all

– Pierce Murphy, “鶯”

“Flight risk” by Tommy Lefroy

Fortunately for their careers, but unfortunately for my gatekeeping, Tommy Lefroy has been steadily gaining a fanbase as they’ve been producing several EPs over the past few years. However, I do believe that with the amount of talent the artists possess, that they are still criminally underrated. Flight Risk may be technically be an EP, but it is still a fully fleshed out work of art that deserves praise. 

Tommy Lefroy consists of Canadian Tessa Mouzorakis and American Wynter Bethel. Full of songs that detail early-twenties angst with honest and poetic lyrics, Flight Risk is full of love and longing, accompanied with stylistic refrains and frustrating honesty. 

Hopeless wordsmith, I wanted something honest

– Tommy Lefroy, “The Cause”

“Shoot” the song that I discovered this duo from, describes a mutually destructive relationship that’s barrelling towards its end. Though the speaker knows that it’s time to make a decision, they are frozen in paralysis and the song echoes the question “what if it hurts?” Though my favorite on the EP varies greatly by day, “The Cause” is the one that I find at the top of my list most often, battling with self worth and a lover you idolize.  “Knievel” and “Trashfire” discuss identity during this coming of age period, “Vampires” describes taking care of somebody and wishing you could fix them, and the heartbreaking “Mortals” learns that as much as you believe somebody can be better, they will still let you down. 

 If you’re looking for distinctive light indie-rock production, unique lyricism, and emotionally fraught themes, check out Flight Risk and Tommy Lefroy’s other works to play on blast in your car for catharsis. 

You’ll never live up to myths that I made of you

– Tommy Lefroy, “Mortals”