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26 January 2020

Here's how it works: The Recent Releases chart brings together critical reaction to new albums from more than 50 sources worldwide. It's updated daily. Albums qualify with 5 reviews, and drop out after 6 weeks into the longer timespan charts.

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New

WireMind Hive

"Striking the perfect balance between sound and message" - Gigiwise's take on the 16th LP from the veteran English post-punk band while DIY say "youngsters take note, the past can be your friend"

New

Keeley ForsythDebris

"One of the defining releases of 2020 may already be upon us" - music OMH's take on the debut album from the Manchester singer-songwriter while Q say it's "as intoxicating as it is unsettling"

New

HalseyManic

"Her most complete work to date" The Line Of Best Fit's take on the 3rd LP from the New Jersey pop artist Ashley Nicolette Frangipane. The Music say it "sees her change up her sound and swap theatrics for realness"

Highest Recent Ratings

Albums to watch

The Big MoonWalking Like We Do

"Creatively free, assured but vulnerable, poppy yet innovative" - Northern Transmission's verdict on the 2nd LP from the indie rock quartet. DIY say they're "always right where they need to be"

StormzyHeavy Is the Head

Clash reckon that with his second album the London-born grime MC "absolutely hits it out of the park" while NME describe it as "a broad-reaching, genre-buckling romp"

DusterDuster

"Their most sonically challenging and emotionally invested record yet" - All Music's take on the first new album in almost 20 years from the California indie rock, slowcore band

ColdplayEveryday Life

The Line Of Best Fit suggest that with their 8th LP the British alternative rock band "continue to grow" while Uncut say it's "intriguingly diverse". The Irish Times say the "double album is just twice as frustrating"

The WhoWHO

NME reckon that with their 12th LP, and first for 13 years, the legendary British rock band "have lost none of their vim and vigour". Clash say "if this is their last hurrah, it's surely a fitting one"

Kanye WestJesus Is King

"It isn’t entertaining in the slightest" - The Line Of Best Fit's take on the 9th LP from the rapper while CoS describe it as "twenty-seven minutes of cliches, half-finished thoughts, and vaguely religious gesturing"

Mount EerieLost Wisdom pt. 2

"An extraordinarily rewarding listen" - Consequence Of Sound's take on the tenth album from Phil Elverum and second collaboration with Canadian singer-songwriter Julie Doiran

THE CHART: THE TOP RATED NEW ALBUMS

The ADM rating is a weighted average from our survey of more than 50 sources , taking into account the number of reviews

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8.0
ADM Rating

Kiwi Jr.

Football Money

Debut album from the Canadian indie rock band produced by Aaron Goldstein and mixed by Holy Fuck's Graham Walsh

Added: 16/01/2020
8.0

Andy Shauf

The Neon Skyline

Fourth album from the Canadian singer-songwriter

Added: 24/01/2020
8.0

Wire

Mind Hive

Sixteenth studio album from the veteran English post-punk band

Added: 23/01/2020
8.0

Bill Fay

Countless Branches

Third album from the veteran English singer-songwriter produced by Joshua Henry

Added: 16/01/2020
7.9

Keeley Forsyth

Debris

Debut album from the Manchester singer-songwriter and actress working with composer Matthew Bourne and producer Sam Hobbs

Added: 21/01/2020
7.8

Mac Miller

Circles

Posthumous release of the sixth album from the Pittsburgh rapper produced was completed by Jon Brion.

Added: 17/01/2020
7.7

Wolf Parade

Thin Mind

Fifth studio album from the Montreal-based indie rock outfit now operating as a trio after bassist Dante DeCaro left the band in 2019

Added: 24/01/2020
7.6

Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra

I Shouldnt Be Telling You This

Second album from the actor/jazz pianist with his band features contributions from Sharon Van Etten and Fiona Apple

Added: 18/12/2019
7.6

Duster

Duster

First new album in almost 20 years from the California indie rock, slowcore band

Added: 16/12/2019
7.6

Halsey

Manic

Third studio album from the New Jersey pop artist Ashley Nicolette Frangipane

Added: 17/01/2020
7.5

Pinegrove

Marigold

Fourth album from the New Jersey indie rock band produced by frontman, singer-songwriter Evan Stephens Hall and guitarist Sam Skinner

Added: 15/01/2020
7.5

Georgia

Seeking Thrills

Second album of electro pop from London-born multi-instrumentalist Georgia Barnes, daughter of Leftfield’s Neil Barnes

Added: 08/01/2020
7.4

Bonny Light Horseman

Bonny Light Horseman

Debut release from the trio of Anaïs Mitchell, Josh Kaufman and Eric D. Johnson revives songs handed down through the ages

Added: 24/01/2020
7.4

Kaytranada

Bubba

Second studio album from the Haitian-Canadian electronic hiphop producer features appearances from Kali Uchis, Pharrell Williams, Mick Jenkins, Tinashe among others

Added: 16/12/2019
7.4

The Courteeners

More. Again. Forever.

Sixth album from the Middleton, Greater Manchester indie rockers led by Liam Fray

Added: 17/01/2020
7.4

Bombay Bicycle Club

Everything Else Has Gone Wrong

Fifth album and first in three years from the London indie rock quartet produced by frontman Jack Steadman and John Congleton (St Vincent, Future Islands, Franz Ferdinand)

Added: 16/01/2020
7.4

Pet Shop Boys

Hotspot

Fourteenth studio album from the English synthpop duo recorded in Berlin and produced by Stuart Price (Madonna, The Killers, New Order)

Added: 23/01/2020
7.3

070 Shake

Modus Vivendi

Debut album from the New Jersey hip hop artist who is part of the 070 music collective

Added: 17/01/2020
7.3

The Big Moon

Walking Like We Do

Second album from the London indie rock quartet led by Juliette Jackson and produced by Ben H. Allen III (Animal Collective, Gnarls Barkley, Kaiser Chiefs)

Added: 10/01/2020
7.3

...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead

X: The Godless Void and Other Stories

Tenth album from the Austin post-hardcore band fronted alternately by Jason Reece and Conrad Keely

Added: 16/01/2020
7.3

Field Music

Making a New World

Seventh studio album from the indie art rock outfit from Sunderland, led by brothers David and Peter Brewis is about the after-effects of World War I

Added: 09/01/2020
7.1

of Montreal

UR FUN

Album number sixteen from the Athens, Georgia experimental indie rock artist Kevin Barnes

Added: 18/01/2020
7.0

Holy Fuck

Deleter

Fifth album and first in four years from the Toronto-based experimental noise quartet featuring appearances from Pond’s Nick Allbrook, Liars’ Angus Andrew and Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor

Added: 15/01/2020
6.9

Poppy

I Disagree

Third full-length album from the Boston-born singer and YouTube personality

Added: 09/01/2020
6.9

Algiers

There Is No Year

Third album from the Atlanta, Georgia experimental post-rock trio produced by Randall Dunn and Ben Greenberg

Added: 15/01/2020
6.7

Selena Gomez

Rare

Third solo album from the US popstar, featuring guest appearances by 6lack and Kid Cudi

Added: 13/01/2020
6.7

Black Lips

Sing In A World Thats Falling Apart

Ninth album from the Atlanta garage rockers fronted by Cole Alexander and first for Fire Records

Added: 24/01/2020
6.5

Sunday Service Choir

Jesus Is Born

Debut album from the gospel choir featured in Kanye West's Jesus Is King album

Added: 06/01/2020
6.2

Mura Masa

RYC

Second album from Guernsey-born producer and DJ Alex Crossan features contributions from Slowthai and Georgia

Added: 17/01/2020
5.7

Eminem

Music To Be Murdered By

The Detroit rapper's eleventh album is produced by Dr Dre with guest appearances from Black Thought, Q-Tip, Juice Wrld, Ed Sheeran and Young M.A

Added: 20/01/2020

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Latest Reviews

Pet Shop Boys Hotspot

The UK synth duo’s third Berlin album has elements of techno and 1980s pop pastiche The FT

Pet Shop Boys Hotspot

When they’re on form like this, there’s always room for more Pet Shop Boys Evening Standard

Andy Shauf The Neon Skyline

The Neon Skyline’s poignant vignettes are set to perfect melodies and refined arrangements NOW

More reviews

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Fresh stuff

Music To Be Murdered By by Eminem

"Veers between maturity and adolescent outbursts, between clumsy pop commercialism" - NME's take Walking Like We Do by The Big Moonon the Detroit rapper's 11th LP. music OMH say "it’s the clearest sign yet that there’s a future for Eminem as well as a legacy"

PinegroveMarigold
Gigwise describe the fourth album from the New Jersey indie rock band as "a ray of hope in a hopeless world" while Clash say they "seem to have come out of the darkness much stronger for it"

Bombay Bicycle ClubEverything Else Has Gone Wrong
"The sound of a band re-emerging from the ether with an emboldened purpose" - Gigwise's take on the 5th LP from the London indie rock quartet

Bill FayCountless Branches
"This is one of those rare records were extra additions aren't just unnecessary" - The Line Of Best Fit's verdict on the 3rd LP from the veteran English singer-songwriter

Holy FuckDeleter
The Skinny describe the fifth album from the Toronto-based experimental noise quartet as "a modern day electro masterclass" while music OMH think "the record is exhilarating"

...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of DeadX: The Godless Void and Other Stories
"The sound of a band reinvigorated and enjoying working together again" - music OMH's take 10th LP from the Austin post-hardcore band fronted alternately by Jason Reece and Conrad Keely

PoppyI Disagree
"A true masterpiece in almost every way imaginable" Gigwise's take on the 3rd LP from the singer and YouTube personality though Loud And Quiet say we can "chalk this one up as an ambitious failure"

GeorgiaSeeking Thrills
The Skinny say the second album of electro pop from Georgia Barnes is "filled to the brim with dance touchstones, but with a polished pop sheen". Evening Standard say she "has new-found ear for pop greatness"

Field MusicMaking a New World
"Clever, illuminating brilliance" - The Irish Times' take on the seventh studio album from the Sunderland indie art rock outfit. Evening Standard say "they’ve taken the unsexiest subject matter and made it sing"

KaytranadaBubba
"One of the year’s most addictive club records" NME's take on the 2nd LP from the Haitian-Canadian electronic producer while Northern Transmission say it's "surely one of the 2019’s best"

All-time top 10

Since we've been around, that is. So, the highest-rated albums from the past eight years or so. Rankings are calculated to two decimal places.

See full list