27 November 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.
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Fifth album of rap and pop from the Trinidad-born MC from Queens, New York with guest appearances from J. Cole, Lil Wayne, Tate Kobang, Drake, Lourdiz, Lil Uzi Vert, Skillibeng, Skeng and Future
6.6
While similarities to her 2010 original may run only name-deep, this sample-heavy – and sometimes emotional – material certainly holds its own Read Review
Refusing to be hemmed in, it’s a record of real ambition, an example mirroring fan-pleasing tendencies with actual artistic growth Read Review
Stepping away from Barbie-Girl pop towards her strengths as a rapper, this is the sound of a more mature artist in fierce command of her talent Read Review
The sound of Nicki Minaj cracking her knuckles and getting her hands dirty again. It’s the purest distillation of her uniquely feminine bravado Read Review
Pink Friday 2 is a long album, and it’s going to get longer Read Review
Thirteen years after her landmark album Pink Friday, the pop-rap superstar aims to conjure and build on that moment with an ambitious 22-song statement that is a very mixed bag Read Review
The pop-rap phenomenon is back with her first album in five years Read Review
While some moments of interpolation are more inspired, the musician’s increasing reliance on recognisable samples can start to feel like cruise control Read Review
Unlike its predecessor, the album doesn’t leave much of an impression. Read Review
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Kendrick Lamar GNX
After his beef with Drake, Lamar expands his list of targets with enthralling rhymes and adventurous arrangements. At this point, he’s deferring only to God The Guardian
In a discography as impressive as Lamar's, GNX stands as a major highlight, sitting comfortably in the upper echelon of a rarefied body of work Exclaim
After a year full of scathing diss tracks and unfiltered loathing, Lamar converts that energy into the purest emotion of all – love – while carrying the West Coast on his back NME
The Compton rapper’s masterful sixth LP is a surreal, hypnotizing, danceable trip through a hip-hop prophet’s own ego death and immediate, braggadocious, finessing renewal Paste Magazine
Father John Misty Mahashmashana
Mahashmashana — taken from the Sanskrit word for "great cremation ground" — may be Josh Tillman's most confident release yet A.V. Club
Michael Kiwanuka Small Changes
Five years on from his self-titled Mercury winner, the singer-songwriter scales things down to potent effect The Observer
Kim Deal Nobody Loves You More
The Pixies and Breeders musician’s distinctive touch is ever present on a set that spans heartbreak, good times and strident guitars The Observer
While ‘Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers’ saw Kendrick retreat into himself, interrogating his relationships with religion, family, and the world over a sprawling hour and 20 minutes, ‘GNX’ instead cleaves closer to ‘DAMN.’ in its catchy, explosive hooks and trimmed down runtime of just 45 minutes Dork
Where Kiwanuka is known for his contagious and bombastic arrangements in the past, this album pushes gently in a new direction, that is, yet, lacking none of the heart of previous albums Northern Transmissions
The English-Ugandan musician yearns for enduring love on his fourth LP Paste Magazine
Haley Heynderickx Seed of a Seed
Instead of lazily rehashing what made her debut so special, Heynderickx decided to expand on it and give her songs a more panoramic space to roam in. Most importantly, the core characteristics of her style weren’t lost in the process Sputnik Music (staff)
All the evidence suggests she’s someone happy to take her sweet time The Arts Desk
Her own debut solo album may have been a long time coming, but it’s here and we should be thankful. Hopefully it’s arrived just in time to be considered for the end of year best-of lists God Is In The TV
It’s a muscular and physical record, occasionally reserving the right to be as however banal as it wants to be, right before turning around and tearing into the culture Beats Per Minute
While some songs on this album get drowned out by the grandiosity of its goals, the project – and the man behind it – are as strong as ever. GNX is the blueprint for a new rap zeitgeist, and all we can do is hope that everyone gets the cue The Line Of Best Fit
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