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9 May 2025

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

Model/ActrizPirouette

"It dares you to experience desire, disgust, shame, and joy—all twirling together in a dizzying blur of lace and lights" (9.5/10 - Northern Transmission)

New

Car Seat HeadrestThe Scholars

"A cinematic exploration of maximalism that will appeal to any fan of rock operas" (10/10 - Spill). "The Seattle band returns with their best new album in almost a decade" (8.5/10 - Paste)

New

BlondshellIf You Asked for a Picture

"She’s a singer-songwriter powerhouse in the making" (10/10 - Dork). "Sabrina Teitelbaum turns rough memories into pretty songs with a bite on her second album" (7/10 - Rolling Stone).

Highest Recent Ratings

Albums to watch

Julien Baker & TorresSend A Prayer My Way

"On their first album as a duo, the singers reclaim the honky-tonk music they grew up on" (9/10 - Slant). "A heart-bursting record that underlines the power of unity in a fractured world. A must-listen" (8/10 - Dork)

Bon IverSABLE, fABLE

"Soulful, almost spiritual in its delivery" (10/10 - DIY). "Marks a return to his fragile folk roots" (9/10 - musicOMH). "Revels in its sense of joy and collaboration" (8/10 - The Skinny)

Craig FinnAlways Been

"The Hold Steady bandleader has never sounded so alive" (8.5/10 - Paste Magazine). "Another rousing success from Finn" (8.4/10 - Northern Transmissions). "Probably his finest solo album to date" (8/10 - musicOMH)

DeafheavenLonely People With Power

"Deafheaven’s best album yet, and one that serves as a snapshot of a band at the peak of their powers" (9/10 - The Line Of Best Fit). "As singular and engrossing as heavy albums get" (8/10 - DIY)

Japanese BreakfastFor Melancholy Brunettes (and Sad Women)

"Deliciously nuanced songwriting shines" (10/10 - NME). "The album’s production is imbued with a rich sense of depth and warmth" (9/10 - Slant)

Edwyn CollinsNation Shall Speak Unto Nation

"A fine album overflowing with excellent musical moments" (8/10 - Clash). "All of this music is a blast, an affecting display of the emotional textures which Collins has always dealt in so confidently, regardless of his health issues" (8/10 - Record Collector)

DivorceDrive To Goldenhammer

"Early contender for album of the year, Divorce are jumping to the front of the next-big-thing-queue" (10/10 - The Skinny). "Rare to find a debut album that exudes as much honesty" (9/10 - Clash)

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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7.4

Djo

The Crux

Third full-length album from the American actor and musician Joe Kerr (Stranger Things, Free Guy)

Added: 04/04/2025
7.2

Mamalarky

Hex Key

Third full-length release from the Atlanta-based indie rock band

Added: 11/04/2025
7.2

Femi Kuti

Journey Through Life

Latest full-length release from the London-born, Lagos-raised saxophonist who is the oldest son of the late Afrobeat artist Fele Kuti

Added: 28/04/2025
7.2

Deerhoof

Noble And Godlike In Ruin

Album number nineteen from the experimental San Francisco indie rock quartet featuring a guest appearance from Saul Williams

Added: 25/04/2025
7.2

Suzanne Vega

Flying With Angels

Tenth studio album, and first for eleven years to feature new material from the Californian singer-songwriter produced by Gerry Leonard

Added: 05/05/2025
7.2

Scowl

We Are All Angels

Second full-length album from the Santa Cruz hardcore group produced by Will Yip

Added: 04/04/2025
7.2

PUP

Who Will Look After The Dogs?

Fifth album from the Toronto pop-punk quartet formerly know as Topanga

Added: 03/05/2025
6.9

Beirut

A Study Of Losses

Seventh studio album from the indie folk group led by Zach Condon was created for the Swedish circus Kompani Giraff

Added: 18/04/2025
6.9

Snapped Ankles

HARD TIMES FURIOUS DANCING

Latest full-length album for the London post-punk, electronica band

Added: 02/04/2025
6.9

PinkPantheress

Fancy That

Second mixtape from the London singer, songwriter and record producer inspired by Basement Jaxx's 1999 album Remedy

Added: 09/05/2025
6.9

Sleep Token

Even In Arcadia

Fourthfull-length album from London-based masked black metal collective

Added: 09/05/2025
6.8

The Waterboys

Life, Death, & Dennis Hopper

Album number sixteen from the Edinburgh-born Mike Scott covers the life of the cult actor includes contributions from Bruce Springsteen, Fiona Apple and Steve Earle

Added: 04/04/2025
6.7

Tennis

Face Down In The Garden

Seventh album of surf pop from husband and wife duo Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley

Added: 01/05/2025
6.7

SPELLLING

Portrait Of My Heart

Fifth full-length album of experimental art-pop from the Bay Area artist Chrystia Cabral

Added: 02/04/2025
6.7

Ok Go

And The Adjacent Possible

Fifth studio album, and first in eleven years, from the Chicago indie rock band produced with Dave Fridmann (MGMT, Mogwai, The Flaming Lips)

Added: 14/04/2025
6.4

Ghost

Skeletá

Sixth album from the Swedish rock band produced by Gene Walker

Added: 24/04/2025
6.3

Sleigh Bells

Bunky Becky Birthday Boy

Sixth full-length album from the Brooklyn noise pop duo Alexis Krauss and guitarist Derek Miller

Added: 04/04/2025
5.9

Mumford & Sons

Rushmere

Fifth full-length studio release from the London alt-folk quartet produced with Dave Cobb (John Prine, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell)

Added: 01/04/2025
3.2

Will Smith

Based On A True Story

First full-length album in 20 years from the actor/rapper featuring guest appearances from Big Sean, Fridayy, Jaden, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Joyner Lucas, Marcin, India Martínez, OBanga, Jac Ross, Russ, B. Simone and Teyana Taylor

Added: 02/04/2025

Latest Reviews

PinkPantheress Fancy That

It's a tentative 4/4 plod that fluffs sweetly by The Arts Desk

PinkPantheress Fancy That

20-minute mixtape Fancy That highlights the rising U.K. pop star's fondness for collaborations and early-2000s bangers Rolling Stone

PinkPantheress Fancy That

The mixtape marks a decided shift from the primarily U.K. garage of the singer’s debut album Slant Magazine

More reviews

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Fresh stuff

A Complicated Woman by Self-Esteem

"Her most concentrated and burning record" (10/10 - DIY). "takes the best parts of Prioritise Pleasure and her debut Compliments Please, and turns it all up to 10" (10/10 - musicOMH)

Viagra Boysviagr aboys
"Viagra Boys are at their straightforward best on career-high viagr aboys" (9/10 - The Line Of Best Fit). "A return to form, offering the inner workings of a corroded mind in musical form" (8/10 - The Skinny)

SamiaBloodless
"The Minneapolis-based artist thrives in the middle of lofty topics and idea-stuffed songs" (10/10 - NME). "A circular experience that makes you want to hit ‘play’ by the time finale ‘Pants’ closes out" (8/10 - Clash)

Tunde AdebimpeThee Black Boltz
"Meditating in the chaos of creativity and untethered by genre — still evolving; still electric" (8.1/10 - Paste Magazine). "As much a rebirth as it is a document of survival" (8/10 - DIY)

BeirutA Study Of Losses
"The most effortless and surprising Beirut album in ages" (7.4/10 - Pitchfork). "What might be his most beautiful record to date, particularly the instrumental numbers" (8/10 - Mojo)

Black Country, New RoadForever Howlong
"They’ve navigated seismic changes and delivered music that feels both radically new and deeply authentic" (10/10 - Dork)

MamalarkyHex Key
"Mainstream success isn’t beyond Mamalarky’s grasp, but they would have to ditch their eccentricities to achieve it. Heaven forbid they ever do" (9/10 - The Line Of Best Fit)

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs PigsDeath Hilarious
"The Newcastle outfit’s fifth album swaggers right up to the edge of oblivion and does a stupid little dance" (8/10 - musicOMH)

DjoThe Crux
"An ambitious, joyous, heartfelt collection" (9/10 - DIY). "Djo triumphs in an accomplished attempt at a third album which spares no songs in getting to the crux of the matter" (8/10 - Clash)

All-time top 10

Since we've been around, that is. So, the highest-rated albums from the past twelve years or so. Rankings are calculated to two decimal places.

See full list