25 February 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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First full-length album from the Brooklyn indie rock quartet led by Mia Berrin
7.9
Fundamentally, Pom Pom Squad’s strengths lie in their theatrics as they submerge themselves gleefully in their own campiness Read Review
On Death of a Cheerleader Pom Pom Squad dig into the joy and rage of teen life Read Review
A fine example of a band growing into their sound and knowing how to curate the structure of an entire album Read Review
The record is rife with references, but the four-piece speak with their own voice Read Review
Addictive, instantly loveable and sure to set up camp for the long-term Read Review
There’s been plenty of records about high school made over the last century, but now Pom Pom Squad make their own mark by throwing the perfect amount of shade on that phony John Hughes-fabricated utopia Read Review
Berrin’s ability to trade blistering kiss-offs with lip-quivering sentimental ballads is more reminiscent of Chrissie Hynde and the early Pretenders albums than anything else Read Review
Equally indebted to pioneering girl groups and her punk heroes, the New York singer-songwriter’s debut is a fiery exploration of love, anger, and coming-of-age Read Review
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Saya Gray Saya
There are some self-consciously experimental moments, but the Toronto musician’s genre-mashing songs of heartbreak are often focused and fresh The Guardian
On her second album, the Japanese-Canadian musician’s magpie art pop coheres into something like a traditional breakup record, but her perspective and production are far from conventional Pitchfork
Canadian alt-pop artist's debut matches sonic surrealism with defiantly vulnerable lyrics Rolling Stone
A vivid and vulnerable album, brimming with emotional depth DIY
The Japanese-Canadian musician’s sophomore LP is a breakup exercise full of epic, idiosyncratic stories of farewell and mourning cut up into an all-encompassing and all-evading menagerie of trip-hop, psych-folk, prog-rock, glitch-tronica and dubby fusion Paste Magazine
Tate McRae So Close To What
Tate and her team clearly have an ear for sticky melodies and the lack of necessary lore is appreciated, but there still is a very pervasive sense of figuring things out here Sputnik Music (staff)
Sam Fender People Watching
U.K. singer-songwriter grapples with who he is and where he's from on his third album Rolling Stone
Panda Bear Sinister Grift
Like a collection of demo tracks and out-takes from a Smiley Smile-era Beach Boys The Arts Desk
Lennox’s latest is his attempt at crafting something in the key of Jimmy Buffet Slant Magazine
Sam Fender takes another big step forward on People Watching, which includes a satisfying collection of songs about the human experience PopMatters
Nao Jupiter
This is generally more pop-oriented, often deviating far from R&B, and is considerably brighter all-around All Music
Nao reckons with anxieties but embraces peace as the sultry and sweet meet in this loved-up odyssey The Skinny
After time away, the homegrown R&B star’s ethereal voice shines equally on uptempo tracks and slower grooves The Observer
This spiritual successor to 2018’s ‘Saturn’ is lighter, warmer and happier – but just as brilliant NME
On ‘Jupiter’, Nao has bottled liberation and turned it into a rich tapestry of sound, a sonic explosion of curiosity and play Clash
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
Self Esteem Prioritise Pleasure
Bob Dylan Rough and Rowdy Ways
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Skeleton Tree
Frank Ocean Channel Orange
Dave We’re All Alone In This Together