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22 June 2021

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

GriffOne Foot In Front Of The Other

"Pop in its purest and most euphoric form" - The Line Of Best Fit's verdict on the first mixtape from the English singer-songwriter while NME describe it as a "flawless debut"

New

Kings of ConveniencePeace Or Love

Uncut think the fourth release from the Norwegian indie folk/pop duo is "their most cohesive album yet". All Music say "it should serve as a welcome return for any established fans"

New

Dean BluntBlack Metal 2

PopMatters describe the latest from the experimental R&B artist and ex-Hype Williams member as "another confounding work of avant-indie weirdness". Pitchfork say it's "a brief but thrilling project"

Highest Recent Ratings

Albums to watch

Wolf AliceBlue Weekend

"A history book-cementing document of a band at the peak of their powers" - DIY's take on the third album from the London alt.rock quartet. NME describe it as being "stunningly good"

Black MidiCavalcade

The Line Of Best Fit reckon the second album from the experimental rock band is "a triumph of the UK underground" while Northern Transmissions describe it as "an intense, brain frazzling experience"

Paul WellerFat Pop (Volume 1)

"He may not be the angry young man of the past, but his fire is still burning bright" - musicOMH's verdict on solo album No16 from the veteran artist while NME say "he's an inspired and eclectic as ever"

Olivia RodrigoSour

AV Club suggest that with her debut album the American singer and actress's "future lies within the new generation of pop icons". Vinyl Chapters say it's "a pop album that won’t be forgotten anytime soon"

Teenage FanclubEndless Arcade

"More than holds its own against the lofty peaks scaled earlier in their career" - musicOMH's take on the 11th LP from the veteran Scottish alt-rockers. Record Collector say it's "a brave record by a brave band"

Dinosaur JrSweep It Into Space

Gigwise reckon that with their twelfth album the J Mascis-led Massachusetts alt/indie rock stalwarts are "as unstoppable as ever" while Clash suggest "cranking up loud and enjoying in the spring sunshine"

The ArmedULTRAPOP

"A beautiful storm, dense, monstrous, vital, and aching to break free" - Exclaim's take on the 4th LP from the Detroit hardcore punk collective. The Line Of Best Fit say it's "equally brutal and melodic"

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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8.5
ADM Rating

Sons of Kemet

Black To The Future

Fourth album from the London-based jazz group led by Shabaka Hutchings

Added: 12/05/2021
8.5

Japanese Breakfast

Jubilee

Third solo album of lo-fi pop from Philadelphia musician Michelle Zauner who is a member of Little Big League

Added: 03/06/2021
8.3

Wolf Alice

Blue Weekend

Third album from the London alt.rock quartet produced by Markus Dravs (Arcade Fire, Coldplay, Björk)

Added: 03/06/2021
8.3

Loraine James

Reflection

Second album from the London-based electronic producer with guest appearance from Baths, Iceboy Violet, Le3 bLACK and Eden Samara

Added: 04/06/2021
8.2

Mdou Moctar

Afrique Victime

Sixth full-length album from the Tuareg guitarist is his first for the Matador Records

Added: 18/05/2021
8.1

Lord Huron

Long Lost

Fourth album of indie folk from the Michigan band led by Ben Schneider

Added: 21/05/2021
8.1

Gruff Rhys

Seeking New Gods

Seventh solo album from the Super Furry Animals frontman

Added: 20/05/2021
7.9

Bachelor

Doomin' Sun

Collaboration between Palehound's Ellen Kempner and Jay Som's Melina Duterte

Added: 27/05/2021
7.9

Griff

One Foot In Front Of The Other

Debut mixtape from the English pop singer-songwriter who won the 2021 Brit Award for Rising Star

Added: 18/06/2021
7.8

Black Midi

Cavalcade

Second full-length album from the experimental rock band produced by John "Spud" Murphy

Added: 25/05/2021
7.7

Dean Blunt

Black Metal 2

Sequel to the 2014 album from the London-born experimental R&B artist and ex-Hype Williams member

Added: 18/06/2021
7.7

Paul Weller

Fat Pop (Volume 1)

Sixteenth full-length solo album from the veteran English rock artist with contributions from Andy Fairweather Low, Hannah Peel and his daughter Leah

Added: 12/05/2021
7.7

Marina

Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land

Fifth album of indie pop from the Welsh artist previously known as Marina and the Diamonds

Added: 11/06/2021
7.7

Lambchop

Showtunes

Album number sixteen from the Nashville alt country outfit led by Kurt Wagner takes inspiration from musical theatre

Added: 21/05/2021
7.6

Olivia Rodrigo

Sour

Debut album from the American singer and actress produced by Dan Nigro (Carly Rae Jepsen, Sky Ferreira, Empress Of, Lewis Capaldi)

Added: 21/05/2021
7.6

Greentea Peng

Man Made

Debut full-length album from the South London neo-soul artist Aria Wells

Added: 04/06/2021
7.6

CHAI

WINK

Third album of experimental pop from the quartet based in Nagoya, Japan

Added: 19/05/2021
7.5

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

Butterfly 3000

Album number eighteen from the prolific psych-rock Melbourne six-piece and second release of 2021

Added: 11/06/2021
7.5

Billie Marten

Flora Fauna

Third album from the North Yorkshire singer-songwriter nominated for the BBC Sound of 2016 award

Added: 21/05/2021
7.4

Juliana Hatfield

Bllod

Solo album number ninteen from the former member of indie rock bands Blake Babies, Some Girls and The Lemonheads

Added: 18/05/2021
7.3

Lou Barlow

Reason to Live

Fourth solo album of lo-fi indie rock from the founding member of both Sebadoh and Dinosaur Jr

Added: 01/06/2021
7.3

Liz Phair

Soberish

Seventh studio album and first since 2010 from the Connecticut indie rock singer-songwriter produced by Brad Wood

Added: 04/06/2021
7.3

Rostam

Changephobia

Second solo album from the former Vampire Weekend member Rostam Batmanglij

Added: 02/06/2021
7.2

Morcheeba

Blackest Blue

Tenth album of chilled-out trip hop, pop soul and electronica from the London band

Added: 20/05/2021
7.2

Francis Lung

Miracle

Second solo album from the Manchester-based singer-songwriter and ex-Wu Lyf bassist recorded in rural Wales

Added: 18/06/2021
7.2

Crowded House

Dreamers Are Waiting

Seventh studio album and first since 2010 from Melbourne rock band led by Neil Finn and featuring his sons Liam and Elroy

Added: 04/06/2021
7.2

J. Cole

The Off-Season

Sixth studio album from the American rapper executive produced by Cole, Ibrahim Hamad, and T-Minus

Added: 18/05/2021
7.2

Gary Numan

Intruder

Nineteenth solo album from the London-born synth pop artists and former Tubeway Army frontman

Added: 21/05/2021
7.2

Garbage

No Gods No Masters

Seventh album from the American-Scottish alt rockers produced by the band alongside longtime technician/engineer Billy Bush (The Naked and Famous, Neon Trees, Muse)

Added: 09/06/2021
7.1

Rise Against

Nowhere Generation

Ninth studio album of punk rock from the Chicago four-piece working with long-time producers Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore

Added: 09/06/2021

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Latest Reviews

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Butterfly 3000

Purists who flinched when Tame Impala began to morph into a hairier Da¢ Punk may be similarly nonplussed by the sextet’s turn toward blissed-out dance-rock, but everyone else will have a lot of fun. Print edition only Uncut

Griff One Foot In Front Of The Other

A perfectly weighted mixtape Clash

Griff One Foot In Front Of The Other

Pop in its purest and most euphoric form The Line Of Best Fit

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Fresh stuff

Blue Weekend by Wolf Alice

"A more mature and eclectic take on her gloriously femme and thundering electro-pop" - Clash's verdict on the 5th LP from the Welsh artist. Albumism say she "remains one of the greatest pop genre aesthetes of our age"

Dean BluntBlack Metal 2
PopMatters describe the latest from the experimental R&B artist and ex-Hype Williams member as "another confounding work of avant-indie weirdness". Pitchfork say it's "a brief but thrilling project"

Loraine JamesReflection
PopMatters reckon the second album from the London electronic producer is "a complete package" while Crack suggest it "Shores up James’ position as one of the UK’s most compelling producers"

Sleater-KinneyPath Of Wellness
"The album captures the feel of two minds bouncing off each other" - The Independent's take on the 10th LP from the Olympia, Washington punk duo. Rolling Stone say it's "full of welcome surprises"

RostamChangephobia
"Sustaining a dreamworld mood throughout, it is a quiet beauty" - Mojo's take on the 2nd solo LP from the former Vampire Weekend man while All Music say it's "it's more artful and heartfelt than ever"

Japanese BreakfastJubilee
Northern Transmissions describe the third solo album from the Philadelphia musician Michelle Zauner as "bombastic and subtle" while Gigwise say it's "an alt-pop record that poses larger than life questions"

BachelorDoomin' Sun
"Indie music at its most engaging" - PopMatters' take on the collaboration between Ellen Kempner and Melina Duterte while Exclaim say they are "singular visionaries as well as synergetic collaborators"

Lord HuronLong Lost
"Built on meticulously crafted arrangements and masterful, elegiac storytelling" - The Independent's take on the 4th LP from the indie folk band. Sputnik say "it's such a stunning album"

Mdou MoctarAfrique Victime
"Captures the group’s easy chemistry and explosive energy" - Pitchfork's take on the sixth full-length album from the Tuareg guitarist while musicOMH say "the results are staggering"

CHAIWINK
"One of the most life-affirming albums in recent history" Gigwise's verdict on the 3rd LP from Japanese experimental pop quartet while Paste say they "pare down their production, with wonderful results"

IceageSeek Shelter
"Post-punk with Britpop characteristics" - Gigwise's take on the 5th LP from the Danish quartet. Northern Transmissions say it's "some of the strongest and frankly impressive songwriting of their career"

SquidBright Green Field
The Line Of Best Fit reckon that with their debut full-length the Brighton post-punk "the five-piece have created something incredibly special" while Gigwise describe it as "nothing short of immaculate"

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