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24 April 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

Old Crow Medicine ShowVolunteer

Paste reckon the 6th LP from the Grammy-winning string band is "one of their finest collective efforts so far". Exclaim are pleased they "have found something new to say"

new

TesseractSonder

Forth album "adds yet further lustre to the burgeoning catalogue" of the prog-metal five-piece according to The Music, but NME say it's "too dislocated and confused to warrant unpicking"

New

DRINKSHippo Lite

Q describe the second album from Tim Presley (White Fence) and Cate Le Bon as "brilliantly abrasive" while God Is In The TV say it's "not for the faint-hearted". Loud & Quiet reckon it's "fresh and exhilarating"

Highest Recent Ratings

Albums to watch

MastersystemDance Music

Clash say the Frightened Rabbit, Editors and Minor Victories side-project is "bold, carefree, and gripping throughout", while NME proclaim it "one of the best and most pleasurable listens of the year so far"

Manic Street PreachersResistance Is Futile

Mojo describe the 13th LP from the Welsh indie rock band as "a complex, multi-layered work" while Q say "they sound revitalised by the radiance of these songs"

HindsI Don't Run

The Skinny admire the "sunny garage rock weighted by concrete hooks" on the Madrid quartet's second LP, although UTR find it "a meandering detour through chill, lo-fi, and sometimes flat songs"

The DamnedEvil Spirits

"A master class in growing older without becoming lame and embarrassing" - The Arts Desk take on the first album in a decade from the punk veterans. Record Collector say it's "their best work in 35 years"

EelsThe Deconstruction

"More staggering works of heartbreaking genius " - The Skinny's take on album number twelve from the California indie rock band led by Mark Oliver Everett. Uncut say it's "predictably overwhelming"

Hop AlongBark Your Head Off, Dog

Pitchfork find the Philly quartet's third is "filled with rich stories rendered beautifully in the abstract", and DIY reckon "they're just as enticing and attention-grabbing when practicing restraint"

Jack WhiteBoarding House Reach

Clash say the 3rd solo LP from the former The White Stripes leader and Raconteur member is "easily one of the most layered and compelling releases of 2018". Q thinks it's his "most surprising and eccentric record"

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

Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Sex and Food

Fourth album of psychedelic rock from the Oregon-based band led by New Zealander Ruban Nielson, recorded in various studios around the globe

Added: 04/04/2018
7.1

Sloan

12

Album number twelve from the Toronto power pop quartet

Added: 12/04/2018
7.1

Josh Rouse

Love In The Modern Age

Album number twelve from the Nebraska-born singer-songwriter is influenced by 1980s synth pop/rock

Added: 13/04/2018
7.1

Daphne & Celeste

Daphne & Celeste Save the World

Second album from the American pop duo working with remixer and producer Max Tundra

Added: 04/04/2018
7.1

Creep Show

Mr Dynamite

Debut collaboration between John Grant, Wrangler's Stephen Mallinder, Phil Winter and Benge

Added: 16/03/2018
7.0

Ed Schrader’s Music Beat

Riddles

Third album of garage punk from Ed Schrader and Devlin Rice produced by Dan Deacon

Added: 14/03/2018
7.0

Preoccupations

New Material

Third album from the Calgary post-punks previously known as Viet Cong

Added: 22/03/2018
6.9

Bishop Nehru

Elevators: Act I & II

Full-length debut from the Nanuet, New York rapper and producer working with MF DOOM and Kaytranada

Added: 21/03/2018
6.9

Guided By Voices

Space Gun

The latest album of indie rock from Robert Pollard and his band that now includes Mark Shue and Bobby Bare, Jr. in the line-up

Added: 23/03/2018
6.9

Toni Braxton

Sex & Cigarettes

Eighth studio album from the R&B/soul singer, her first on Def Jam

Added: 29/03/2018
6.9

Alexis Taylor

Beautiful Thing

Fourth solo album from the Hot Chip front man produced by DFA Records co-founder Tim Goldsworthy

Added: 17/04/2018
6.8

Manic Street Preachers

Resistance Is Futile

Album number thirteen from the Welsh indie rock band produced by Dave Eringa (Idlewild, Wilko Johnson and Roger Daltrey)

Added: 05/04/2018
6.8

DRINKS

Hippo Lite

Second album from Tim Presley (White Fence) and Cate Le Bon recorded in the south of France

Added: 18/04/2018
6.8

The Voidz

Virtue

Second album by the Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas' side-project produced by Shawn Everett (Weezer, Alabama Shakes)

Added: 30/03/2018
6.8

Mouse On Mars

Dimensional People

Eleventh album from the German experimental electronic duo Jan St. Werner and Andi Toma featuring Bryce Dessner, Aaron Dessner, Justin Vernon and Sam Amidon

Added: 17/04/2018
6.6

Tom Misch

Geography

Debut full-length release from the South London multi-instrumentalist features guest appearances from De La Soul, Loyle Carner, and GoldLink

Added: 09/04/2018
6.6

Jack White

Boarding House Reach

Third solo album from the former The White Stripes leader and Raconteur member featuring contributions from CW Stoneking, Esther Rose and Ann & Regina McCrary.

Added: 19/03/2018
6.6

Makeness

Loud Patterns

Debut full-length from the Scottish electronic producer Kyle Molleson who's also a member of London-based art-pop quartet Glad Hand

Added: 06/04/2018
6.6

Eels

The Deconstruction

Album number twelve from the California indie rock band led by Mark Oliver Everett produced by Mickey Petralia (Flight of the Conchords, Linkin Park, Beck)

Added: 04/04/2018
6.6

Czarface / MF Doom

Czarface Meets Metal Face

First full-length collaboration between Wu-Tang Clan's Inspectah Deck and 7L & Esoteric and MF Doom featuring guest appearances from Kendra Morris, Open Mike Eagle and Vinnie Paz

Added: 01/04/2018
6.6

Bonny Doon

Longwave

Second album from the Detroit-based indie rock quartet

Added: 28/03/2018
6.5

King Tuff

The Other

Self-produced fifth album of garage rock from Kyle Thomas with guest appearances from Jenny Lewis, Kevin Morby, Greta Morgan, and Ty Segall

Added: 16/04/2018
6.5

Caroline Says

There's No Fool Like An Old Fool

Second album from singer-songwriter Caroline Sallee self-recorded in her Austin, Texas apartment

Added: 21/03/2018
6.4

Lissie

Castles

Fourth album from the Illinois folk rock singer-songwriter Elisabeth Corrin Maurus

Added: 23/03/2018
6.4

A Perfect Circle

Eat The Elephant

Fourth studio album from the Los Angeles alternative metal outfit, led by Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan, and first in 14 years

Added: 20/04/2018
6.3

Tinashe

Joyride

Third album from the American singer-songwriter, with guests including Future and Ty Dolla $ign

Added: 13/04/2018
6.3

Tesseract

Sonder

Forth studio album of progressive metal from the Milton Keynes five-piece, their first album with a consecutive vocalist between albums

Added: 20/04/2018
6.1

The Fratellis

In Your Own Sweet Time

Fifth album from the Scottish rockers, produced by Tony Hoffer (Belle & Sebaastian, The Kooks, M83)

Added: 16/03/2018
6.1

Dr. Octagon

Moosebumps: an exploration into modern day horripilation

First collaboration between Kool Keith, Dan The Automator and DJ Q-Bert since Dr. Octagon's 1996 debut

Added: 09/04/2018
6.1

Kate Nash

Yesterday Was Forever

Fourth studio album from the English singer-songwriter

Added: 30/03/2018

Latest Reviews

Old Crow Medicine Show Volunteer

A worthy next chapter for a group that continues do its best work when finding new ways to tell old stories American Songwriter

DRINKS Hippo Lite

Most of the tracks unfortunately tread into self-indulgent wank territory, perhaps too clever by a half Exclaim

Mouse On Mars Dimensional People

For as uneven as Dimensional People is, you can’t deny the ambition or the curiosity of Mouse on Mars Earbuddy

More reviews

Fresh stuff

Confident Music For Confident People by Confidence Man

"It's surely the party of the year" - The Skinny's verdict on the debut LP from the Melbourne-based dance-pop quartet while The Guardian say it's "a sophisticated and skilful distillation of dance-pop joy"

Alexis TaylorBeautiful Thing
The Skinny describe the fourth solo album from the Hot Chip front man as "a wondrous optimistic float through space". Q reckon that "in a career already dotted with peaks, this is definitely another"

Josh T. PearsonThe Straight Hits!
"This feels like a necessary act of burning and rebuilding" - Uncut's take on the second solo album from the Texas singer-songwriter while Drowned In Sound think he "seems to be having a ball"

John PrineThe Tree Of Forgiveness
The first album of new songs in 13 years from the American country folk singer-songwriter "has all the qualities that have defined him as one of America's greatest songwriters" according to Rolling Stone

SabaCare For Me
Consequence of Sound feel the second album from the Chicago rapper and record producer "offers a deep reflection on grief and hope" while Pitchfork say it's "a marvel of craft, musicality, and emotion"

TinasheJoyride
NME reckon the American singer's third is a "sensual, star-ridden offering", but the Guardian find it's "a mixed bag, best when her coolly focused sexuality is put to the fore"

A Place to Bury StrangersPinned
All Music reckon the fifth album from the New York–based noise rock band is one of their "most cohesive" while Mojo say it's "ear-splitting and sublimely desolate"

Rival ConsolesPersona
Ryan Lee West's fourth LP is "easily one of the most vivid and soul-stirring electronic albums of the year", according to PopMatters, and All Music describe it as "immaculately produced techno"

Laura VeirsThe Lookout
"Open-hearted, free-thinking and grown-up in all the best ways" - Q's take on the 10th LP from the Oregon folk singer-songwriter. The Arts Desk say it "deserves to be as successful as the ‘case/lang/veirs’ album"

Unknown Mortal OrchestraSex and Food
"Album of the year thus far? Easily" - Loud & Quiet's take on Ruban Nielson's 4th LP. God Is In The TV think it's a sign that "Neilson could become a real auteur of the genre"

Daniel AverySong For Alpha
"A strong, sometimes truly beautiful, maturation of Avery’s work as a producer" - Mixmag's verdict on the 2nd LP of ambient techno from London based producer while Clash say it "demands repeated listening"

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