Any decent music? We review the reviews. You get the final word

Hello

11 December 2024

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.

Just in

New albums just added

Unlisted recent releases

Follow us on

Join us on twitter

join us on facebook

join us on MySpace

Source list

Specialist Genres

Browse specific styles

ADM.Patreon.promo

New

Lauren MayberryVicious Creature

"Expectations were high, but the realisation is stratospheric" (10/10 - Dork). "An album that manages to be poignant and pointed without sacrificing any of its unabashed sparkle" (8/10 - DIY)

New

White Denim12

"An exciting and slightly experimental new chapter for the band and their most cohesive release in quite a while. A late-year stunner" (8/10 - Clash). "A remarkably cohesive and dynamic record" (9/10 - Uncut)

New

Father John MistyMahashmashana

"Unequivocally stunning" (10/10 -The Arts Desk). "Striking a compelling balance between the epic and the intimate" (9/10 - DIY). "One of his finest albums" (9/10 - musicOMH)

Highest Recent Ratings

Albums to watch

Laura MarlingPatterns in Repeat

"Both stunningly intimate and endearingly raw" (10/10 - DIY). "A homey, quiet record. It’s one of the best of her career" (8.3/10 - Pitchfork). "Simple, graceful, moving, tender" (9/10 - Uncut)

Amyl And The SniffersCartoon Darkness

"It's a truly glorious rock’n’roll album that is forceful without being simplistic and lairy while maintaining a good sense of humour" - 10/10 - The Arts Desk).

Christopher OwensI Wanna Run Barefoot Through Your Hair

"Potentially one of the year’s best records" (10/10 - DIY). "A must-listen for anyone who’s ever been in the type of love that doesn’t always get a light shone on it" (9/10 - Northern Transmissions)

Ezra CollectiveDance, No One's Watching

"This is truly a fresh musical experience, rather than being just another jazz record" (9/10 - Far Out). "A joyful reminder of music’s ability to bring people together, to move us, and to make us dance" (8/10 - Clash)

Jamie xxIn Waves

"Blistering return from dance’s master craftsman" (10/10 - The irish Times). "Jamie xx has delivered a masterpiece that will linger long after the last beat fades" (9/10 - Clash)

Poll Of Polls 2022 - No1

The ultimate, definitive Best Albums Of 2022

It's the annual ADM Poll of Polls, our roundup of the critics' end-of-year best albums lists - the ultimate, definitive Best Of The Best Ofs, 2022.

We've compiled the rankings from all those magazines, newspapers and websites among our sources which publish their albums of the year. The end result is a comprehensive reflection of the critical favourites of the year. It's the ultimate, definitive "Best of the Best Albums of 2022" chart.

Sources included so far are: Albumism, American Songwriter, AV Club, Beats Per Minute, Clash, Crack, DIY, Dork, Entertainment Weekly, Exclaim, Gigwise, God Is In The TV, Kerrang!, Loud And Quiet, Mojo, musicOMH, No Ripcord, Northern Transmissions, Paste, NME, Pop Matters, Pitchfork, Record Collector, Rolling Stone, Slant, Spectrum Culture, Sputnik Music, The Independent, The Guardian, The Line Of Best Fit, The Observer, The Quietus, The Skinny, Under The Radar, Uncut, Upset, XS Noize

(50pts are awarded to the album named No.1, 49pts to the No.2 and so on).

So here is the final list along with the points each album earned.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1255 Beyoncé - RENAISSANCE - Reviews
1086 Wet Leg - Wet Leg - Reviews
1065 Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers - Reviews
926 Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You - Reviews
888 Fontaines D.C. - Skinty Fia - Reviews
816 ROSALÍA - MOTOMAMI - Reviews
781 Jockstrap - I Love You Jennifer B - Reviews
708 Weyes Blood - And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow - Reviews
707 Alvvays - Blue Rev - Reviews
617 Black Country, New Road - Ants From Up There - Reviews
607 The Smile - A Light for Attracting Attention
606 Angel Olsen - Big Time
574 Taylor Swift - Midnights
569 Yard Act - The Overload
568 Charli XCX - CRASH
518 Ethel Cain - Preacher's Daughter
501 Alex G - God Save the Animals
498 Dry Cleaning - Stumpwork
468 Sudan Archives - Natural Brown Prom Queen
420 The Weeknd - Dawn FM
409 Björk - Fossora
408 Mitski - Laurel Hell
407 Black Thought & Danger Mouse - Cheat Codes
378 Nilüfer Yanya - PAINLESS
361 Pusha T - It's Almost Dry
351 The 1975 - Being Funny in a Foreign Language
345 Arctic Monkeys - The Car
330 FKA twigs - CAPRISONGS
326 Soul Glo - Diaspora Problems
325 Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul - Topical Dancer
277 Beth Orton - Weather Alive
277 Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl
273 Beach House - Once Twice Melody
259 Spoon - Lucifer on the Sofa
253 Cate Le Bon - Pompeii
252 Suede - Autofiction
251 Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Cool It Down
244 MUNA - MUNA
241 black midi - Hellfire
232 Nova Twins - Supernova
229 Aldous Harding - Warm Chris
223 Soccer Mommy - Sometimes, Forever
220 Steve Lacy - Gemini Rights
216 Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyez See Your Future
214 Harry Styles - Harry's House
211 Sharon Van Etten - We've Been Going About This All Wrong
201 Maggie Rogers - Surrender
195 Hurray For The Riff Raff - LIFE ON EARTH
187 Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band - Dear Scott
186 Bad Bunny - Un Verano Sin Ti

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SEE 2009 RESULTS HERE

SEE 2010 RESULTS HERE

SEE 2011 RESULTS HERE

SEE 2012 RESULTS HERE

SEE 2013 RESULTS HERE

SEE 2014 RESULTS HERE

SEE 2015 RESULTS HERE

SEE 2016 RESULTS HERE

SEE 2017 RESULTS HERE

SEE 2018 RESULTS HERE

SEE 2019 RESULTS HERE

SEE 2020 RESULTS HERE

SEE 2021 RESULTS HERE

blog comments powered by Disqus

Latest Reviews

Lauren Mayberry Vicious Creature

Vicious Creature is a wilder ride than might be expected - at times, it feels like these songs have been pent up inside Mayberry for years - but it's great to hear her own her music so fully All Music

Still House Plants If I don't make it, I love u

Ultimately, our everyday existences are wonky, and Still House Plants’ third record speaks to that truth unlike any other release of its kind Paste Magazine

Lauren Mayberry Vicious Creature

On an album level, Vicious Creatures gets keyed into nostalgia to an overly large extent, trying to describe a whole era rather than one’s place in it Spectrum Culture

Support what we do

Support what we do

As we're sure you are aware this is a really tough time for websites like ours. So we are asking you to help support us in any way you can via Patreon. Whether it's a small amount each month or a one-off payment, everything we receive will be put back into making ADM as good as it can possibly be.

Fresh stuff

Fresh stuff

Small Changes by Michael Kiwanuka

"A boundless effort that, while revelling in its musical referents stands tall, ceaselessly, beside them" (10/10 - The Skinny). "It's a record built to last" (8/10 - Record Collector)

Kim DealNobody Loves You More
"The sometime Pixies star’s long-awaited and perfectly crafted debut solo album is full of surprises" (9/10 - musicOMH). "Oozes with elegance but still packs some punch" (8/10 - NME)

Primal ScreamCome Ahead
"A triumph in thematic/aural juxtaposition. Up there with Primal Scream’s best" (8/10 Mojo) OR "Not even David Holmes’s involvement can save this woefully inadequate collection" (2/10 - Irish Times)

Linkin ParkFrom Zero
"Compact and intense, the band’s first album since the death of Chester Bennington is a powerful tribute to their legacy" (8/10 - musicOMH) "An opinion-splitting return" (5/10 - Clash)

Mount EerieNight Palace
"A record of such substance that it takes a few listens to really make sense he’s produced one of his best yet" (9/10 - The Line Of Best Fit). "He’s produced one of his best yet" (8/10 - Far Out)

Soccer MommyEvergreen
"As nuanced as it is captivating" (10/10 - The Skinny). "Even though it stems from the worst of times, it might well be her best album yet" (8/10 - Dork). "It makes you feel less alone" (8/10 - DIY)

GoatGoat
"It invites us to bask in rich soundscapes that can often overwhelm—but in the best way possible" (9/10 - Far Out). "Goat continue to make some magical and mysterious music" (8/10 - Record Collector)

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.