14 September 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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Mark Ronson produced second album from London based indie pop soul band
6.4
The more sophisticated the music, the more boyishly excited the band sound to be playing it – a pleasure that proves infectious Read Review
Print edition only
The record feels like a sequence of movie scenes from start to finish: opener ‘The Walk Alone’ could accompany footage of Sean Connery as 007, perving on bikini-clad women outside a hotel pool. ‘London’ sounds like the merry-go-round scene from Mary Poppins – milk, cookies and vomit inducing innocence. ‘Running on Empty’ goes a bit ‘Greased Lightning’, but still makes it home in time for supper Read Review
A brilliantly crafted, hook-laden collection of songs that may be slightly too enthralled with '60s guitar pop to really make an impact in an '80s loving music scene, but deserves to be heard by a wider audience than their debut. Having Mark Ronson's name attached may seem like an obvious way of getting people to notice them Read Review
Its use of Walker Brothers baritone and Love-style brass, production courtesy of Mark Ronson and strings from Owen Pallett, sounds not dissimilar to the Last Shadow Puppets album Read Review
It wouldn’t be surprising if Mark Ronson's involvement as producer proves to be a divisive factor in people’s reaction to this record, perhaps complaining that it’s just more crass pop-up sounds hacked from musical history with his magpie ears. But that would be unfair Read Review
There is something very cheering about The Rumble Strips' adherence to the London likely lad persona at a time when all their brooding indie boy peers are re intoning gloomily about student loans Read Review
The band and Ronson have aimed for a widescreen panoramic sound, falling just short of the truly big picture Read Review
Their first album was widely regarded as being in thrall to Dexy's Midnight Runners but this second effort has moved from beneath Kevin Rowland's skirts and revealed the group as brave pioneers on the trail of wide-screen music for modern youth Read Review
A strong set of songs and an even stronger set of performances. The elements come together best on the slow-building title track and on Dem Girls, where Charlie Waller confirms that he’s a singer to be reckoned with Read Review
Mark Ronson’s uncluttered production works to his charges’ favour, most notably on the cinematically lovelorn title track Read Review
A melodramatic 21st-century Dexys Midnight Runners. This is no bad thing Read Review
The vast majority of this elegant Brit jangle feels a bit recycled. Read Review
The Rumble Strips: Welcome To The Walk Alone
David Byrne Who Is The Sky
The artist’s new album of bright, bustling pop is positioned as a celebration of reasons to be cheerful. Often its fountain of optimism feels like a firehose of forced positivity Pitchfork
Ed Sheeran Play
On the enjoyably moreish Play, the ‘culturally Irish’ star sounds as if he’s back on form. Although we’ve only had time for a quick listen The Irish Times
Baxter Dury Allbarone
This record plays like his shot for glory, and with tracks as hooky and well-constructed as "Mockingjay" or the title track, there's no reason he shouldn't hit the big time All Music
Parcels Loved
While not for cynics, LOVED is a late-summer delight that comes at audiences with open arms. Comfortable dancing shoes recommended for listening All Music
Parcels have built something contagious here, with a joy that leaves you feeling that little bit lighter when you’re done with it Dork
Loved is a departure for Parcels but one that is constantly invigorating, the group are clearly incredibly relaxed and that is reflected in the calming, and highly enjoyable soundscape they have created on this record The Line Of Best Fit
The star of this entire record is without question the harmonies. They are razor sharp, technically astounding and forever charming, leaving you wanting more of them at the close of every song Far Out
Maruja Pain To Power
They really have taken a complicated moment and made it into a fantastic piece of music Far Out
Incredible lead single Look Down On Us is just one of three tunes here that capture Maruja’s free-flowing approach by stretching out to the 10-minute mark Kerrang!
The Manchester jazz-punks let loose on their savage debut album through cathartic outpourings of fury, despair and love NME
The thrill of this band is the extremes. From moshpits one minute and silence the next, they are in command with their music, unifying the crowd God Is In The TV
This band and this record want you to punch a hole in the wall, ask if you're willing to step through it – and then beckon others to do the same The Line Of Best Fit
Maruja emerge from the studio with raucous rap-rock and meandering jam music in tow, resulting in an album full of the same songs several times over. By the end, listeners may feel they have deja vu. Fans may feel they have dementia The Quietus
Rage-infused music of dissolution Clash
Jade That's Showbiz Baby!
Debut solo album by Little Mix singer is packed with incident and a multitude of musical styles musicOMH
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.
Kendrick Lamar To Pimp A Butterfly
Fiona Apple Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Kendrick Lamar Damn.
D'Angelo And The Vanguard Black Messiah
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Ghosteen
Spiritbox Tsunami Sea
Self Esteem Prioritise Pleasure
Bob Dylan Rough and Rowdy Ways
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Skeleton Tree
Frank Ocean Channel Orange