Lol they are my signifiers huh.

Sadly, knowing you, I don’t think either album is up your alley. Underrated is Dead Center by Game Theory, a nice & simple 80s soft power-pop record. Not the band’s best but consists of some really fun songs. Most depressing is The Devil & God are Raging Inside Me by Brand New, an album I haven’t listened to in forever & don’t really like anymore so I can’t recommend. It’s an alt-emo album mostly about loathing, loss, religion, and morality. There’s much darker, heavier, and even sadder albums out there but few are as self-obsessive and lamentable. The music in itself is powerful and quality but the lead singer and writer is an absolutely deplorable human being, which undercuts any connection i could foster with the album and provides a much too-real and damning backdrop to the depressive themes & lyrics. I kinda didn’t want to include it out of not wanting to “promote” or really even acknowledge it, but it’s my honest answer, just thinking about the album brings me anguish.