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15 October 2018

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

Elvis Costello & The ImpostersLook Now

Uncut say the first release since 2008 from the veteran English singer-songwriter along with back-up band The Imposters is "an album of tremendous humour and empathy"

New

Kurt VileBottle It In

"Takes listeners of a journey of discovery" - The Skinny's verdict on the seventh solo release from the American slacker-rock singer-songwriter. Clash describe it as "a lengthy ride, but ultimately a satisfying one"

New

John GrantLove is Magic

"It's an absolute joy to be along for the ride" - The Skinny's take on the 4th LP from the American singer-songwriter. Q describe it as "fabulously vivid" though Clash think it's "a fascinating but frustrating listen"

Highest Recent Ratings

Albums to watch

Tim HeckerKonoyo

Pitchfork describe the 9th LP from Montreal-based electronic musician as "the least dense and most inquisitive album of his career". Resident Advisor say he "remains irreducible as a composer"

SuedeThe Blue Hour

"A towering, frightening, squalid and inspirational work of art" says GIITV of the English alt. rock group's eighth. Similarly, the Independent think it "will stand as another sordid masterwork"

LowDouble Negative

The trio's 12th album is "an assured volte-face" (Record Collector), "their biggest step forward to date" (Uncut), and their "most challenging and interesting record for some time" (Under the Radar)

SpiritualizedAnd Nothing Hurt

"Another inspirational triumph over adversity" - MOJO's take on the eighth album from Jason Pierce's space rock band. Clash say "if this is Spiritualized’s last it’s a very satisfying denouement"

Haiku SalutThere Is No Elsewhere

"A fully-realised and magical bit of music" - God Is In The TV's verdict on the 3rd LP from the Derbyshire instrumental trio while Exclaim describe it as being "fresh, detailed and packed with surprises"

Yves TumorSafe In The Hands Of Love

Pitchfork describe the third album from the Tennessee-born, Turin-based experimental electronic producer as "a benchmark in experimental music" while The Quietus say it's "magisterial and deeply engaging"

EminemKamikaze

The rapper's surprise 10th album features "some of his most invigorating writing in years" according to TLoBF, and NME find "there are plenty of moments on 'Kamikaze' that remind us of Em's greatness"

Paul McCartneyEgypt Station

American Songwriter think the 17th solo release from the music legend is "an album that constantly projects joy and musical adventurousness" while Rolling Stone say it's "structured like a ride on the cosmic train"

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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7.5

Villagers

The Art Of Pretending To Swim

Fourth album from the Mercury Prize-nominated Irish indie folk band led by singer-songwriter Conor O’Brien

Added: 18/09/2018
7.5

Sauna Youth

Deaths

Third album from the London-based art punk quartet recorded by John Hannon over three days

Added: 07/09/2018
7.4

Ital Tek

Bodied

Album number six from the British electronic producer Alan Myson

Added: 10/09/2018
7.4

Kurt Vile

Bottle It In

Seventh solo studio release by American slacker-rock singer-songwriter and guitarist

Added: 09/10/2018
7.4

The Field

Infinite Moment

Sixth full-length album from Swedish-born, Berlin-based ambient techno specialist Axel Willner

Added: 23/09/2018
7.4

Cat Power

Wanderer

Tenth full-length release by Atlanta-born indie singer-songwriter Cat Power (Chan Marshall) produced entirely by herself and featuring an appearance by Lana del Rey

Added: 01/10/2018
7.4

Paul Weller

True Meanings

Album number fourteen of mod-tinged pop from the former Jam frontman

Added: 11/09/2018
7.3

Molly Burch

First Flower

Second album from the LA-born, Austin-based singer songwriter

Added: 10/10/2018
7.3

Alkaline Trio

Is This Thing Cursed?

Ninth studio album from the Illinois pop punk trio, produced by Cameron Webb

Added: 05/09/2018
7.3

Swearin’

Fall Into The Sun

Third studio album by reunited emo-punk American trio recorded in Los Angeles and Philadelphia

Added: 05/10/2018
7.2

The Dirty Nil

Master Volume

Second full-length album from the Ontario alt.rock trio by produced by John Goodmanson (Bikini Kill, Death Cab for Cutie, Los Campesinos!, Sleater-Kinney)

Added: 18/09/2018
7.2

Paul Simon

In The Blue Light

Fourteenth studio album from the veteran singer-songwriter consists of new recordings of some of his lesser known songs

Added: 07/09/2018
7.2

ADULT.

This Behaviour

Seventh studio album of techno synthpop from Adam Lee Miller and Nicola Kuperus

Added: 11/09/2018
7.2

Mountain Man

Magic Ship

Second album and first in eight years from North Carolina-based trio

Added: 20/09/2018
7.2

Madeline Kenney

Perfect Shapes

Second full-length release by Pacific Northwestern indie singer-songwriter produced by Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner

Added: 09/10/2018
7.1

Amber Arcades

European Heartbreak

Second album from Dutch-born musician Annelotte de Graaf co-produced with Deerhoof's Chris Cohen and Trey Pollard

Added: 01/10/2018
7.1

Marissa Nadler

For My Crimes

Album number eight from the Boston indie folk singer-songwriter with contributions from Dum Dum Girls' Kristin Kontrol, Angel Olsen, and Sharon Van Etten

Added: 01/10/2018
7.1

Mutual Benefit

Thunder Follows The Light

Third album of indie folk/rock from multi-instrumentalist Jordan Lee's project

Added: 01/10/2018
7.1

Menace Beach

Black Rainbow Sound

Third studio album by the Leeds-based duo Liza Violet and Ryan Needham featuring a guest appearance from Brix Smith

Added: 07/09/2018
7.1

Joyce Manor

Million Dollars To Kill Me

The California quartet's fifth studio album of pop/rock

Added: 21/09/2018
7.1

Connan Mockasin

Jassbusters

Third solo studio release by New Zealand-born dream-pop artist recorded in one week in Paris to accompany a film written, directed by and starring himself

Added: 10/10/2018
7.0

We Were Promised Jetpacks

The More I Sleep The Less I Dream

Fourth album from the Scottish indie rock quartet produced by Jonathan Low (The National, Sufjan Stevens, Kurt Vile, the War on Drugs)

Added: 21/09/2018
7.0

Paul McCartney

Egypt Station

Seventeenth solo album and first for five years from the music legend produced by Greg Kurstin (Sia, Beck, Kelly Clarkson, Foo Fighters)

Added: 06/09/2018
7.0

Metric

Art of Doubt

Seventh studio album from the indie rock quartet from Toronto

Added: 21/09/2018
6.9

Cher

Dancing Queen

Twenty-sixth studio album by the Goddess of Pop showcasing a collection of ABBA covers following her appearance in 2018 hit musical film Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

Added: 28/09/2018
6.9

Matthew Dear

Bunny

Album number five by American experimental electro-pop artist, producer and DJ featuring Tegan and Sara

Added: 11/10/2018
6.8

Lil Wayne

Tha Carter V

Long-awaited album number twelve from star rapper featuring Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj and Snoop Dogg

Added: 02/10/2018
6.8

Exploded View

Obey

Second full-length experimental collaboration between Berlin-based ambient vocalist Annika Henderson and producers Hugo Quezada and Martin Thulin in Mexico City

Added: 27/09/2018
6.8

Maribou State

Kingdoms In Colour

Second album from English electro duo Chris Davids and Liam Ivory

Added: 12/09/2018
6.7

Cursive

Vitriola

Album number eight and first for eight years from Tim Kasher's Nebraska emo-punk group

Added: 10/10/2018

Latest Reviews

Ella Mai Ella Mai

A decent debut, then, but with Mai’s rich voice you can’t help feeling that it could have been stratospheric. Instead, it fails to innovate, and all feels a little beige The Observer

Elvis Costello & The Imposters Look Now

Pretty but patchy The Observer

Kurt Vile Bottle It In

Leisurely, skew-whiff melodies The Observer

More reviews

Fresh stuff

Dose Your Dreams by Fucked Up

music OMH describe the 5th LP from genre-bending hardcore punk outfit as "a masterpiece that pushes boundaries, takes risks and delivers huge rewards". The Skinny say "it could well be their best effort yet"

BehemothI Loved You At Your Darkest
Sputnik Music reckon the 11th LP from the Polish death metal veterans is ""a source of pure joy" while Consequence of Sound say "they make sure their missives of impiety aren't forgotten"

Marie DavidsonWorking Class Woman
"An incredibly cohesive art-house album" - The Skinny's take on the fourth full-length album from the Canadian electronic producer while All Music describe it as "an exciting breakthrough for Davidson"

Adrianne LenkerAbysskiss
The Big Thief vocalist's fourth solo record sees her "at the very peak of her ability" according to American Songwriter, while The Skinny find she's "restless, inquisitive and haunting"

PhosphorescentC'est La Vie
Matthew Houck's Nashville-recorded seventh LP is "devastatingly honest and uncompromisingly beautiful", according to TLOBF. To Uncut it's "the sound of a lifetime burden lifted by love"

Cat PowerWanderer
DIY describe the 10th LP from the Atlanta-born indie singer-songwriter Chan Marshall as "an essential compass for finding your way through the dark". The Arts Desk say it's "a haunting thing of great beauty"

Marissa NadlerFor My Crimes
PopMatters describe album number eight from the Boston indie folk singer-songwriter as being "rich in textures and raw emotions" while All Music reckon it's "among the finest offerings in her catalog"

Amber ArcadesEuropean Heartbreak
Annelotte de Graaf's second LP is "a triumphant wodge of sparkling pop" in Clash's eyes. The Guardian agree, calling it "wistful glowing dream pop". The Skinny say it's all "beautifully composed"

MudhoneyDigital Garbage
"Mudhoney have provided the noise-escape of the year" - Drowned in Sound's verdict on the 10th LP from the Seattle-based alternative punk/grunge foursome. The Arts Desk say they "sound vital as ever"

BROCKHAMPTONiridescence
Sputnik Music describe the fourth album from the Texan alternative hip hop group as their "simplest album, a choose-your-own-adventure funhouse" while Consequence of Sound say it's "full-to-bursting"

We Were Promised JetpacksThe More I Sleep The Less I Dream
Under The Radar say the fourth album from the Scottish indie rock quartet "is unlike anything you have heard before" while DiS say it's "genuinely reflective and melancholic as the band continue to mature"

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