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16 July 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

Julianna BarwickHealing Is A Miracle

"Her most soothing and assuaging set of songs to date" - music OMH's take on the 4th LP from the Brooklyn-based vocalist and producer while No Ripcord say it's "an entrancing album from start to finish"

New

Rufus WainwrightUnfollow The Rules

"A timely reminder of everything that’s wonderful about Wainwright" - Clash's take on the tenth album from the Canadian baroque pop singer-songwriter while music OMH say "this is a quality record"

New

The StreetsNone Of Us Are Getting Out Of This Life Alive

"Top corner, back of the net" - DIY's verdict on the 6th LP from Birmingham rapper Mike Skinner while NME say "it’s good to have him back – and all of his mates, too"

Highest Recent Ratings

Albums to watch

Phoebe BridgersPunisher

"Almost every single moment on this album is exquisitely thrilling" - The Arts Desk's take on the second album from the LA indie rock singer-songwriter while Q say it's "a masterpiece in mood setting"

Lady GagaChromatica

"Gaga is back, with her bangers intact" - music OMH's take on the sixth studio album the New York pop singer while The Irish Times reckon "a star is reborn in this return to fully fledged pop"

MuzzMuzz

"A bold and surprising statement of purpose and intent" - Clash's take on this debut from the indie rock super-group. The Line Of Best Fit say "they’re masters of their craft on a spacious and cinematic debut"

Rolling Blackouts Coastal FeverSideways to New Italy

The Irish Times describe the 2nd full-length LP from the indie rock quintet as "exquisite jangle pop" while All Music reckon they are "making the best guitar pop anywhere in 2020"

The 1975Notes On A Conditional Form

NME say the fourth album from Manchester-based indie rock / pop quartet "encompasses everything from electronica to anarcho-punk" while DIY say "among all the killer, there’s also a lot of filler"

Charli XCXhow i'm feeling now

"This is undoubtedly next level Charli" - Loud And Quiet's take on the fourth studio album from the English electro popstar while The Independent say it's "a brash, adventurous lockdown album"

Mark LaneganStraight Songs Of Sorrow

XS Noize say album No12 from the alt.rock musician is "a brutally honest record, full of pleasure, pain, darkness, light and ultimately, hope". The Arts Desk say it's "a few circles of hell deeper than anything Leonard Cohen ever did"

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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8.9
ADM Rating

Bob Dylan

Rough and Rowdy Ways

The 39th album and first release of original songs since Tempest in 2012 from the legendary singer-songwriter

Added: 15/06/2020
8.6

Rose City Band

Summerlong

Second album from Ripley Johnson's (Wooden Shjips/Moon Duo) side project

Added: 19/06/2020
8.4

Phoebe Bridgers

Punisher

Second album from the LA indie rock singer-songwriter featuring contributions from Conor Oberst, Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, Blake Mills, Jenny Lee Lindberg and Nick Zinner

Added: 15/06/2020
8.2

Jessie Ware

What's Your Pleasure?

Fourth album from the English R&B pop star working with producers Benji B, James Ford (Simian Mobile Disco), Midland, Joseph Mount (Metronomy), Matthew Tavares

Added: 23/06/2020
8.2

Neil Young

Homegrown

The latest release from the legendary Canadian singer-songwriter previously unreleased album from 1975 that was cancelled in favour of Tonight's the Night

Added: 18/06/2020
8.2

Haim

Women In Music Pt. III

Third studio album from the LA pop rock trio Este, Danielle and Alana Haim produced by Rostam Batmanglij, Ariel Rechtshaid and Buddy Ross

Added: 19/06/2020
8.2

JARV IS

Beyond The Pale

Debut album from the rock band led by former Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker

Added: 16/07/2020
8.0

Nadine Shah

Kitchen Sink

Fourth album from the South Tyneside singer-songwriter of Pakistani-Norwegian heritage produced by Ben Hillier (Depeche Mode, Graham Coxon, Gang of Four)

Added: 25/06/2020
7.9

Kate NV

Room For The Moon

Third full-length solo release from the Moscow-based avant-pop artist

Added: 17/06/2020
7.8

Orlando Weeks

A Quickening

Solo debut from the former Maccabees frontman written about the experience of becoming a first-time father

Added: 12/06/2020
7.8

Arca

KiCk i

Fourth album from London-based Venezuelan electronic producer Alejandra Ghersi who's worked with FKA Twigs, Bjork and Kanye West

Added: 25/06/2020
7.7

Coriky

Coriky

Debut album from the punk rock band featuring Ian MacKaye (Minor Threat, Fugazi, The Evens), Amy Farina (The Warmers, The Evens) and Joe Lally (Fugazi, The Messthetics)

Added: 29/06/2020
7.7

Bdrmm

Bdrmm

Debut album from the Hull, UK-based dream pop / shoegaze five-piece led by Ryan Smith

Added: 06/07/2020
7.7

Keleketla!

Keleketla!

Album from the South African and British collective led by Coldcut, founders of the Ninja Tune label

Added: 04/07/2020
7.7

Protomartyr

Ultimate Success Today

Fifth studio album from the Detroit post-punk quartet produced by David Tolomei

Added: 15/07/2020
7.7

Paul Weller

On Sunset

Album number fifteen from the former Jam and Style Council frontman

Added: 26/06/2020
7.7

Jehnny Beth

To Love Is To Live

Debut solo album from the Savages front woman working with producer Flood (U2, PJ Harvey), Nine Inch Nails’ Atticus Ross, the xx’s Romy Madley Croft and her longtime partner Johnny Hostile

Added: 11/06/2020
7.7

Rufus Wainwright

Unfollow The Rules

Tenth album and first in eight years from the Canadian baroque pop singer-songwriter produced by Mitchell Froom (Suzanne Vega, Los Lobos)

Added: 08/07/2020
7.6

Norah Jones

Pick Me Up Off The Floor

Latest album from the jazz/pop singer-songwriter features outtakes from 2016's Daylight Again

Added: 12/06/2020
7.6

Julianna Barwick

Healing Is A Miracle

Fourth album from the Louisiana-born, Brooklyn-based singer whose ambient music is built around multiple loops and layers of her voice

Added: 09/07/2020
7.6

Bananagun

The True Story of Bananagun

Debut full-length album from the Melbourne-based psych-rock five-piece

Added: 24/06/2020
7.6

Ohmme

Fantasize Your Ghost

Second full-length album from the Chicago experimental pop duo of Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart

Added: 08/06/2020
7.6

Lianne La Havas

Lianne La Havas

Third album and first in five years from the English soul singer working with long-term collaborator Matt Hales

Added: 16/07/2020
7.6

Brigid Mae Power

Head Above The Water

Third album from the Irish folk singer-songwriter recorded with her husband Peter Broderick and Alasdair Roberts

Added: 05/06/2020
7.6

Khruangbin

Mordechai

Third album from the Texan trio influenced by Middle Eastern and Mediterranean music produced by Steve Christensen

Added: 25/06/2020
7.5

A.A. Williams

Forever Blue

Debut full-length album from the London-based classically trained cellist, pianist and multi-instrumentalist

Added: 03/07/2020
7.5

The Beths

Jump Rope Gazers

Second album of indie pop from the Auckland, New Zealand four-piece produced by guitarist Jonathan Pearce

Added: 07/07/2020
7.5

Chloe x Halle

Ungodly Hour

Second full-length album from the R&B sisters featuring guest appearances from Swae Lee and Mike Will Made-It

Added: 26/06/2020
7.5

100 Gecs

1000 gecs and The Tree of Clues

Remix album of their debut 1000 Cegs from St. Louis experimental pop duo Dylan Brady and Laura Les

Added: 13/07/2020
7.5

Margo Price

That's How Rumors Get Started

Third studio album from the Nashville-based singer-songwriter produced by Sturgill Simpson

Added: 09/07/2020

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Latest Reviews

The Chicks Gaslighter

The trio are a testament to female resilience on this outspoken album The Independent

Lianne La Havas Lianne La Havas

Intelligent, considered and articulate songwriting Gigwise

Rufus Wainwright Unfollow The Rules

If this does end up marking the end of the first act of his career, as well as this glorious album, it feels perfectly fitting Record Collector

More reviews

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Margo PriceThat's How Rumors Get Started
The Line Of Best Fit say that with her 3rd LP the singer-songwriter "breaks free from the shackles of country music". Exclaim think it's "one of the year's strongest country releases"

ArcaKiCk i
Loud And Quiet describe the 4th LP from London-based electronic producer Alejandra Ghersi as "a glorious expression of life". All Music say it's "a complete, and triumphant, portrait of Arca's artistry"

CorikyCoriky
"A bracing blast of moral, melodic US punk" - The Observer's take on the debut from the band featuring members of Fugazi, The Evens and Minor Threat while Mojo say "Fugazi's signature edge duly emerges"

BdrmmBdrmm
NME reckon the first album from the Hull, UK-based band is "a modern shoegaze classic" while The Line Of Best Fit say it's "an assured and brilliant debut"

KhruangbinMordechai
"A thrilling concoction that sounds otherworldly, eternally infectious and upbeat" - The Music's take on the 3rd LP from the Texan trio while Clash say "‘Moredechai’ is this summer’s sunset record"

Paul WellerOn Sunset
"Brilliantly merges this new interest in the avant garde with his ever-changing future soul mood" - The Independent's take on LP No15 from the former Jam frontman. Mojo say it's one of his "most rewarding"

Fresh stuff

Women In Music Pt III by Haim

"It's somehow punky, vulnerable and soothing – and a thing of great beauty" - NME's take on the third album from the LA pop rock trio while Q describe it as "zeitgeist-friendly" and "genre-hopping"

Nadine ShahKitchen Sink
The Line Of Best Fit say the fourth album from the South Tyneside singer-songwriter is her "strongest effort to date" and is "filled with brooding intensity". Clash say it's "a fantastic return driven by ruthless honesty"

Jessie WareWhat's Your Pleasure?
"One of the best albums of 2020 so far" - The Irish Times' take on the 4th LP from the English R&B pop star while All Music say it's "a beautiful, enigmatic, joyous, sultry, utterly fabulous and insanely-inventive album"

Lamb Of GodLamb Of God
Consequence Of Sound reckon that with LP No9 the Richmond, Virginia outfit "prove themselves to be titans of heavy metal". All Music say it's "a tense, yet confident album for taut and uncomfortable times"

Neil YoungHomegrown
"It’s like meeting friends you haven’t seen in years" - The Arts Desk's take on the previously unreleased 1975 album from the legendary Canadian singer-songwriter while Rolling Stone say "it feels perfect right now"

Rose City BandSummerlong
"Casts an unashamedly sunny eight-song spell" - The Observer's take on the 2nd LP from Ripley Johnson's (Wooden Shjips/Moon Duo) side project. Uncut say there's "not a weak moment to be found"

Orlando WeeksA Quickening
"In documenting fatherhood, Orlando Weeks has emerged as a songwriter renewed" - Clash's take on the solo debut from the former Maccabees frontman while DIY say it's "nothing short of stunning"

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