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28 May 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

Badly Drawn BoyBanana Skin Shoes

"A wonderful mix of cathartic quandaries and boisterous quirks" - PopMatters' take on the 9th LP from singer-songwriter Damon Gough while The Arts Desk say "he’s taking great strides forward"

New

WoodsStrange To Explain

Sputnik Music say the 11th album from the psychedelic folk rock band "doesn’t need to be compartmentalized – it’s gorgeous, and that’s enough". PopMatters reckon "it sounds euphoric"

New

Tim BurgessI Love The New Sky

music OMH say the latest solo release from The Charlatans frontman is "very much a record for these times" while The Arts Desk say it "has reframed what he might be seen as"

Highest Recent Ratings

Albums to watch

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"

Car Seat HeadrestMaking a Door Less Open

Loud And Quiet say the fourth label-backed album of low-fi indie pop from the Will Toledo is "a masterclass in mixing influences seamlessly" while Slant say it's "overflowing with adventurous new ideas"

The StrokesThe New Abnormal

"it’s an illustrious effort, which should become an instant classic" - Clash's take on the 6th LP from the indie rock band. TLoBF say it "cements their continued relevance when many had been written them off"

Empress OfI'm Your Empress Of

The Independent say the 3rd LP from the Los Angeles electro-pop singer-songwriter Lorely Rodriguez is "an album that bristles with life" while NME reckon it "conjures up half an hour of breathtaking avant-pop"

Childish Gambino3.15.20

"3.15.20 is as spell-binding, illuminating and honest as any of the great albums in recent history" - The Line of Best Fit's take on the latest from Donald Glover while The Guardian say it's "the first truly outstanding album of the decade"

Baxter DuryThe Night Chancers

Gigwise reckon that with his sixth album of electro-tinged pop "Baxter Dury has settled on a unique formula that works" while The Line Of Best Fit suggest it's his "most accomplished work"

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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7.1

The Magnetic Fields

Quickies

The twelfth studio album from Boston's indie-pop maverick Stephen Merritt

Added: 18/05/2020
7.1

Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith

The Mosaic Of Transformation

Seventh album from the Orcas Island-born, Los Angeles-based electronic producer

Added: 15/05/2020
7.0

Austra

HiRUDiN

Fourth album from the Toronto electronic project led by Katie Stelmanis

Added: 01/05/2020
6.9

Diet Cig

Do You Wonder About Me?

Second album from the New York pop-punk duo Alex Luciano and Noah Bowman produced by Christopher Daly

Added: 30/04/2020
6.9

Happyness

FLOATR

Third album of alt-rock from the London duo Jonny Allan and Ash Kenazi

Added: 01/05/2020
6.9

Brendan Benson

Dear Life

Seventh solo album of power pop and alternative rock from the Michigan singer-songwriter and member of The Raconteurs

Added: 24/04/2020
6.9

Hanni El Khatib

Flight

Fifth album from the Los Angeles-based, multi-instrumentalist and Innovative Leisure co-owner

Added: 18/05/2020
6.8

Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes

What Kinda Music

Debut collaboration between drummer and producer Yussef Dayes and fellow south-east London-based producer and singer-songwriter Tom Misch

Added: 24/04/2020
6.8

Hazel English

Wake UP!

Debut album from the Sydney-born, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter produced by Justin Raisen and Ben H. Allen

Added: 23/04/2020
6.8

Harkin

Harkin

Debut solo album from the Sky Larkin leader and Sleater-Kinney touring guitarist Katie Harkin includes contributions from Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner and Warpaint’s Stella Mozgawa

Added: 25/04/2020
6.8

The 1975

Notes On A Conditional Form

Fourth album from Manchester-based indie rock / pop quartet with guest appearances from Phoebe Bridgers, FKA Twigs, Tim Healy, and Greta Thunberg

Added: 17/05/2020
6.3

Future

High Of Life

Album number eight from Atlanta rapper Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn featuring appearances from DaBaby, Doe Boy, Drake, Lil Baby, Travis Scott and Young Thug

Added: 23/05/2020
6.2

The Dears

Lovers Rock

Eighth album from the Montreal indie rock group led by husband and wife duo Murray Lightburn and Natalia Yanchak

Added: 15/05/2020
6.1

Yung Lean

Starz

Fourth studio album from Swedish rapper Jonatan Leandoer Håstad features a guest appearance from Ariel Pink

Added: 21/05/2020
5.8

Moby

All Acceptable Objects

Seventeenth studio album from the American electronic musician featuring contributions from Apollo Jane, Linton Kwesi Johnson and D.H. Peligro (Dead Kennedys)

Added: 15/05/2020
5.0

Drake

Dark Lane Demo Tapes

Mixtape of demos, singles and unreleased tracks from the Toronto rapper

Added: 05/05/2020

Latest Reviews

The 1975 Notes On A Conditional Form

Arrogant? Absolutely. Boring? A bit. Great? No doubt about it. Beats Per Minute

Katie Von Schleicher Consummation

The Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter nails the multi-genre concept on her standout sophomore LP Paste Magazine

Deerhoof Future Teenage Cave Artists

Vulnerable moments and dynamic grooves are the keys to this record’s revolutionary beating heart Paste Magazine

More reviews

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Fresh stuff

Notes On A Conditional Form by The1975

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"

Steve Earle & The DukesGhosts of West Virginia
"Americana at its finest" - The Arts Desk's take on the 17th studio album from the alt.country singer songwriter while Exclaim say they "unearth anthemic gems for America's marginalized"

Moses Sumneygræ
"It is complex yet universal – comforting yet unsettling" - Beats Per Minute's take on the 2nd LP from the LA-based artist while DIY say it is "complex, unconventional and ultimately, essential"

SparksA Steady Drip, Drip, Drip
Exclaim reckon the latest release from the LA pop / rock duo is "one of their most dynamic — and strongest — efforts". PopMatter say they "continue their reign of resonantly quirky art pop-rock delights"

The Soft Pink TruthShall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase?
"It's exactly the record we need right now" - The Arts Desk's take on the 4th LP from Matmos member Drew Daniel. music OMH say it's "a calming, almost cleansing experience"

I Break HorsesWarnings
"A triumphant, timely, and life-affirming return" - Under The Radar's take on the 3rd LP from Swedish shoegaze / synth pop duo. All Music say it's "sure to melt the frozen heart of anyone lucky enough to discover it"

KehlaniIt Was Good Until It Wasn't
Clash reckon the second album from Oakland R&B singer Kehlani Ashley Parrish is "her best project to date" while The Line Of Best Fit say it's "a bare, naked representation of the singer’s heart and soul"

GhostpoetI Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep
"Brilliantly produced, thematically solid, prescient, insightful and witty" - The Line Of Best Fit's take on the 5th LP from Obaro Ejimiwe

Diet CigDo You Wonder About Me?
Clash say that with their second album the New York pop-punk duo Alex Luciano and Noah Bowman "has clearly grown and played their strengths" while Exclaim describe it as "honest, clever and lively"

Lucinda WilliamsGood Souls Better Angels
"This is a singer in tune with her mission and a band in tune with her" - The Irish Times' take on the 13th LP from the Americana legend. Q say "it's the voice that carries it all: rawer and more rousing by the minute"

Rina SawayamaSAWAYAMA
"Intimidating? Yes. Enthralling? Absolutely" - Gigwise's take on the debut album from the Japanese-born, London-based R&B artist. The Skinny describe it as "an avant-garde celebration of noughties iconography"

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