19 September 2020
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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Fourth album of anthemic indie rock from the Montreal trio led by Elizabeth Powell
7.4
Indistinct Conversations doesn't so much pare back as it does reveal depths: Powell's putting their inner life on display, and giving it the full range of space and volume it deserves Read Review
These subtle but confident, sneakily catchy songs reaffirm that Land of Talk is as relevant to the singer/songwriter movement of the 2010s and 2020s as they were to the noisy indie rock scene of the 2000s when they first emerged Read Review
While Powell's bruised vocals evoke early Cat Power, she does remarkable things with that sound. Print edition only
Opener "diaphanous" appropriately shimmers, its murmured refrain like a private pep talk as the song builds around it. Print edition only
Low-key emotional intensity abounds in Elizabeth Powell’s stark, sketch-like reveries, and the new album’s few-frills production exposes just how gut-wrenching their songwriting can be Read Review
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Sarah Davachi Cantus, Descant
The minimalist composer-performer’s slow, patient works demand and reward close attention; give them time, and their secrets will rise slowly to the surface Pitchfork
Tricky Fall To Pieces
Tricky sounds like a shadow of his former self The Quietus
Gus Dapperton Orca
By dropping his guard, Dapperton has reinvented his usual slacker-pop to accommodate his raw emotions NME
While Orca is bleaker and more depressing than Dapperton's previous work, it's emotionally hollow, with moments of both joy and despair only suggesting the outline of feelings they can't quite communicate All Music
Orca sees Gus Dapperton tackle strong themes of mental health struggles and finding acceptance in his most transparent and honest piece of work yet The Line Of Best Fit
These restless songs flit between lapses of focused meditation and fretful apprehension Slant Magazine
Anjimile Giver Taker
Unfussy poeticism abounds. Print edition only Uncut
There are strong echoes of Sufjan Stevens, but this US singer-songwriter’s musings on self-discovery are very much their own The Observer
A debut this scintillating sets the bar quite high for the 27-year-old songwriter, but, as we quickly learned—he is already up for the challenge Paste Magazine
Anjimile explores grief, identity and the hope that can shine through regardless The Line Of Best Fit
Deradoorian Find The Sun
Maintains a spirit of creative energy while crucially adding a sense of focus for an immediately rewarding experience Spectrum Culture
Fenne Lily Breach
Throughout BREACH, harsh realities and existential questions sit side-by-side, creating a stunning record that is as relatable as it is profound Loud And Quiet
Nothing can stop Fenne Lily now DIY
An often quiet, hushed album, but its message - one of discovering happiness in solitude - comes over loud and clear. Print edition only Uncut
It's early days yet, but Fenne Lily might just be a major talent in the making. Print edition only Mojo
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.
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
Bob Dylan Rough and Rowdy Ways
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Skeleton Tree
Frank Ocean Channel Orange
Anaïs Mitchell Hadestown
Run The Jewels RTJ4