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18 August 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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2018.Half.Year.2cols

New

Oh SeesSmote Reverser

Q reckon the twentieth album from the San Francisco garage rock band is "a career-best mind-melter" while The Line Of Best Fit say it is "a record that sounds like an endless stream-of-consciousness'

New

FelicitaHej!

"Hej! is one of PC Music's most well-rounded records yet" - Resident Advisor's take on the full-length debut album from the London-based producer. The 405 say it "shows the past and the future of this artist"

New

MitskiBe The Cowboy

Slant say that with her 5th LP the NY-based Japanese / American singer "sounds more confident than ever". Q think "it's a rare songwriter who can be apocalyptic, vulnerable, funny and world-slaying"

Highest Recent Ratings

Albums to watch

TomberlinAt Weddings

"It’s tenacious, and it’s beautiful' - Sputnik Music's take on the debut from Kentucky singer-songwriter while Exclaim say she's "a rising songwriter with an astute sense of curiosity and solemn maturity"

Helena HauffQualm

The Hamburg DJ "has further enhanced her reputation as a vital voice in contemporary dance music" claim TLOBF, with Exclaim saying "the sum of the album's parts is an entirely satisfying whole"

Amanda ShiresTo The Sunset

"Musically progressive, it’s Shires most ambitious work to date" - The Independent's take on the sixth full-length solo album from the Texas-born singer-songwriter while Uncut say its "her best yet"

The InternetHive Mind

NME describe the 4th LP of hip hop soul from the LA outfit as "a towering achievement that combines Motown melodies with pop heartbreak". Slant say it's their "most musically diverse and synergetic album to date"

Ross From FriendsFamily Portrait

"A very personal and authentic piece of work" Exclaim's take on the debut from the electronic producer Felix Weatherall. Q say he "proves there's life for house music beyond four-to-the-floor bangers"

Dirty ProjectorsLamp Lit Prose

"A reminder of what’s made the band such a magnetic listen over the years" - Loud & Quiet's take on the 8th LP from David Longstreth's Brooklyn outfit. The Arts Desk say it's "a creative album from a true talent"

Years & YearsPalo Santo

DIY reckon the second album from the London-based electronica trio is "an overwhelmingly intimate record" while NME say it's "Filthy, sexy, thoroughly debauched pop at its finest... feels like a magical album"

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

Felicita

Hej!

Full-length debut album from the London-based producer Dominik Dvorak features a guest appearance from Chairlift's Caroline Polachek

Added: 10/08/2018
6.9

Oh Sees

Smote Reverser

Twentieth album of psyched-out garage rock from the San Francisco band and second under the abbreviated moniker

Added: 15/08/2018
6.9

Jake Shears

Jake Shears

Debut solo album from the pop singer and Scissor Sisters front man

Added: 10/08/2018
6.9

Gulp

All Good Wishes

Second album of fuzzy dream-pop from Guto Pryce (Super Furry Animals) and Lindsey Leven and Gid Goundrey

Added: 09/08/2018
6.8

Pram

Across The Meridian

First album in 11 years from the Moseley, Birmingham experimental pop band formed in 1988

Added: 23/07/2018
6.7

James

Living in Extraordinary Times

Fourteenth studio album from the Manchester rock band formed in 1982, produced by Charlie Andrew and Beni Giles

Added: 02/08/2018
6.7

Body/Head

The Switch

Third full-length album of minimalist experimental rock from Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon and guitarist Bill Nace

Added: 12/07/2018
6.7

Phantastic Ferniture

Phantastic Ferniture

Debut album of indie rock from the Australian trio led by Julia Jacklin

Added: 27/07/2018
6.7

Underworld & Iggy Pop

Teatime Dub Encounters

EP collaboration from the progressive house duo and the proto-punk legend

Added: 27/07/2018
6.7

Nicki Minaj

Queen

Fourth album of rap and pop from the Trinidad-born MC from Queens, New York with guest appearances from Eminem, Future, Ariana Grande, Lil Wayne, The Weeknd.

Added: 13/08/2018
6.6

YG

Stay Dangerous

Third full-length album from Compton-based rapper with appearances from 2 Chainz, A$AP Rocky, Big Sean, Nicki Minaj, Ty Dolla $ign

Added: 07/08/2018
6.5

Death Cab For Cutie

Thank You for Today

Ninth album from Ben Gibbard's indie rock group produced by Rich Costey (Muse, Biffy Clyro, Sigur Rós)

Added: 14/08/2018
6.5

Deaf Wish

Lithium Zion

Fifth album, and first to be recorded in a proper studio, from the Australian punk quartet

Added: 03/08/2018
6.5

Bjørn Torske

Byen

Fifth album from the Bergen-based Norwegian house music producer and first in seven years

Added: 13/07/2018
6.4

Ben Khan

Ben Khan

Debut full-length album from the London-based electronic artist produced by Flood

Added: 14/08/2018
6.4

Ty Segall and White Fence

Joy

Latest collaboration from the Californian multi-instrumentalist and garage rock, lo-fi musician Tim Presley

Added: 20/07/2018
6.3

Popcaan

Forever

Second album from the Jamaican dancehall artist Andrae Hugh Sutherland

Added: 22/07/2018
6.3

The Coral

Move Through The Dawn

Ninth album from the Merseyside indie rock five-piece produced by Rich Turvey

Added: 13/08/2018
6.1

Shy Boys

Bell House

Second album and first for Polyvinyl from the Kansas City indie-pop band

Added: 08/08/2018
6.1

All Saints

Testament

Fifth album from the London-based pop group working with William Orbit, Fred Ball, Hutch, K-Gee and George Moore on production duties

Added: 31/07/2018
5.2

Animal Collective

Tangerine Reef

Eleventh studio album from the experimental pop collective, an audiovisual collaboration with art-science duo Coral Morphologic, and first release to not feature Panda Bear

Added: 16/08/2018
5.1

Miles Kane

Coup De Grace

Third solo album of retro pop from Last Shadow Puppets member produced by John Congleton

Added: 12/08/2018
4.7

Deaf Havana

Rituals

The fifth full-length album from the King's Lynn. Norfolk rock quintet

Added: 08/08/2018

Latest Reviews

Mitski Be The Cowboy

The fifth album from the singular songwriter is her greatest to date. From the music to her emotions, Mitski has the power to make the complex seem dazzlingly clear Pitchfork

Tomberlin At Weddings

Sarah Beth Tomberlin’s debut album traces the hole left by the loss of her faith, filling it in with wave-like acoustic phrases and a sharp-eyed attention to everyday details Pitchfork

Animal Collective Tangerine Reef

Baltimore's resident oddball experimental quartet Animal Collective add a new dimension to their sound - for a good cause - on Tangerine Reef PopMatters

Fresh stuff

Fresh stuff

Future Me Hates Me by The-Beths

The 405 say that the debut from the New Zealand indie pop four-piece "sees them carve a niche all of their own". God Is In The TV describe it as "a blissful bath of delightful high-energy guitar pop"

The CoralMove Through The Dawn
The Irish Times reckon the ninth album from the Merseyside indie rock five-piece is "a mid-career high" while The Guardian say it's "another lovely, solid effort from one of Britain’s most enduring bands"

Kathryn JosephFrom When I Wake The Want Is
Clash say the 2nd LP from the singer-songwriter and pianist is "possibly the best album we’ll hear all year". Uncut say "the follow-up comes from a more confident place musically

FoxingNearer My God
Pitchfork describe the 3rd LP from the St Louis indie art rock quartet as "big, beautiful, and audacious". Sputnik Music say it "establishes itself as emo's first definitive document on digital-age despair"

Jake ShearsJake Shears
NME reckon the debut solo album from the pop singer and Scissor Sisters front man is "one of this year's most welcome and infectious comeback albums". Rolling Stone say it "overflows with the opulence of orchestral Seventies pop"

Nicki MinajQueen
"It’s whip-smart; laying all of her talents out for anyone who doubted her to see" - TLoBF's take on the 4th LP from the Trinidad-born MC. Sputnik highlight her "dual propensity for virtuosic verses and catchy pop elements"

TirzahDevotion
The Skinny say the debut full-length album from the British alternative R&B artist is "something fiercely unique, relatable and of the moment" while Loud And Quiet describe it as "a bold statement of intent"

GulpAll Good Wishes
The Arts Desk describe the second album from the Super Furry Animals offshoot as a "quietly confident collection" while The 405 say it's "a very pleasant experience from start to finish"

Spider BagsSomeday Everything Will Be Fine
"No tricks up the sleeves; just honest-to-God rock music" - Earbuddy's take on the 5th LP of garage rock from the North Carolina band. All Music say it's "snarky, passionate rock & roll"

YGStay Dangerous
"Fun and soul-searching without diluting his political edge" - Rolling Stone's take on the third full-length album from Compton-based rapper. AV Club describe it as "the most nocturnal record in his catalog"

Mac MillerSwimming
The 405 say that with his 5th LP the rapper "finally perfects his craft with the existential dread, and ultimate acceptance". The Independent reckon it's "one of the year’s most disarmingly pleasant records"

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.