21 July 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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Third full-length album from the New York City indie rock trio
6.6
Wild Pink’s third full length sees them at their most fluent, achieving a compositional and performative apex Read Review
Splitting the difference between War on Drugs and Death Cab for Cutie, the latest from the Brooklyn band offers indie rock at its most familiar and instantly gratifying Read Review
Minding Ross' keen sense of ear, A Billion Little Lights is an unvarnished rumination on how time changes your perspective on things as you grow older Read Review
While A Billion Little Lights as a whole is not as elegantly cohesive as Wild Pink's past work, the starry-eyed melodies shine stronger and more confidently than ever Read Review
It’s a comforting listen, but safe doesn’t have to mean boring, which is fitting for a record that attempts to find solace in the everyday Read Review
A Billion Little Lights is a good album when heard in isolation, but it pales in comparison to those albums that inspired its creation Read Review
Every speck of A Billion Little Lights is infused with Wild Pink’s intricate craft Read Review
U.S. Girls Scratch It
Best of all, 12-minute centrepiece Bookends honours late Power Trip frontman Riley Gale over a slow-burn backdrop of organ and harmonica, taking its own sweet time to hypnotic effect Record Collector
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Phantom Island
Even by Gizz standards, though, Phantom Island is an emphatic leap ahead Record Collector
Alex G Headlights
From oddly affecting piano ballads to jangly rock anthems, the singer-songwriter is still following his intuition on his 10th album and major-label debut. The result is another surprising collection of tracks marked by delicate piano lines, textured soundscapes, and playful instrumentation Paste Magazine
One of American indie’s most idiosyncratic singer-songwriters renders another surrealist, shadowy world on his major label debut NME
Justin Bieber Swag
Although it may divide people, the singer’s seventh album showcases an artist, not an entertainer, in the middle of his craft, vignettes and all Spectrum Culture
Billie Martin Dog Eared
Still only 26, Marten's writing is a strong scaffold for an experienced live studio band, whose every flourish (the irresistible keyboard arpeggio on the breezy "Crown" is a particular delight) add depth to her words. Print edition only Uncut
Overall, it's a gently entrancing and quietly elegant album. Print edition only Mojo
Billie Marten’s fifth studio album delves into nostalgia, love and introspection in a cosy folk triumph The Skinny
It takes time for the 10 tracks to find their own spaces and the dazey melodies to take root The Independent
The pop star’s latest offering is a perfectly decent record, albeit one that lacks lyrical flair, emotional depth or any sense of responsibility musicOMH
Alex Giannascoli upgrades to hi-fi dad rock and sails home with a major label debut worthy of the all-time indie graduations Pitchfork
Represents a flirtation with commercialized approaches, with suburbanism, with, dare we say, the banal. Given Alex’s impressive record, it’s not a stretch to imagine that going forward, he’ll find a way to better reconcile the predictable and unexpected, the cliché and seminal, the well-worn and just-discovered The Line Of Best Fit
Haim I quit
I quit is a varied-but-very-enjoyable return from the Los Angeles trio Consequence Of Sound
The album doesn’t shy away from the glare, but rather steps into it Slant Magazine
Philly’s indie hero adds to his discography of unassumingly brilliant folk-rock on his major-label debut Rolling Stone
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
Spiritbox Tsunami Sea
Kendrick Lamar Damn.
D'Angelo And The Vanguard Black Messiah
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Ghosteen
Self Esteem Prioritise Pleasure
Bob Dylan Rough and Rowdy Ways
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Skeleton Tree
Frank Ocean Channel Orange