15 November 2026
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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Solo album from TV On The Radio guitarist and producer David Sitek with contributions from David Byrne and Karen O
7.4
Maximum Balloon’s hip-shaking revolution is an unequivocal success Read Review
The list of guest singers is a perfect snapshot of his well-connected self-contained world. Print edition only
By no means a perfect album, but there are some fantastic performances to be found Read Review
A charming diversion that bodes well for Dear Science's follow-up. Print edition only
Maximum Balloon really about a great producer/songwriter exhibiting his considerable talents free from the pressure and expectation of his day job Read Review
The nerd in the background is the real star Read Review
As instant gratification goes, it's pretty perfect Read Review
The Karen O-starring "Communion" picks up where It’s Blitz! left off, using one of her most restrained, lovely vocals (it could be the third part of a "Maps"/"Hysteric" trilogy) Read Review
Recruiting pals Karen O and David Byrne to sing over synthed-up disco-rock that's brighter and bouncier than his main band's anxious throb Read Review
Never feels anything other than a TV On The Radio album with a few guest vocals. No bad thing, but it’s nothing earth-shaking either Read Review
This is music boffin one-upmanship, perhaps, [and] that stops Maximum Balloon being a truly great record Read Review
Dave Sitek adds schwing to his smeared synths and swarming guitars Read Review
These snappy songs burst out the speakers with force and vitality Read Review
Not your typical TVOTR tour de force. But it doesn’t aspire to be. What it simply seeks is to make your ass shake Read Review
Bright, colourful, carefree and neon - quite a leap for someone whose day-job band has been describes as 'post millennial' and 'dystopic urban jams'. Read Review
An album of songs that sound like leftovers from the Dear Science sessions. Print edition only
A fine, fidgety edge to a quirky dancefloor soundtrack Read Review
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Maximum Balloon: Maximum Balloon
U2 Carnaval de Luz
This is not a radical reinvention of Rattle And Hum-to-Achtung Baby magnitude, or even a wilful evolution akin to that from How To Dismantle An Atom Bomb to No Line On Th Horizon. The ghosts of U2's past are summoned in numbers, though they are frequently mischievously partnered to interestingly incongruous effect. Print edition only Uncut
The Irish legends' best work in 25 years homages their eras, brings Brian Eno to bear on keys and even wheels out the late Dolly Parton musicOMH
Royal Blood Dead Company
It’s a record that sounds exactly like you would hope a new Royal Blood album would sound like, it’s little wonder that they are as big as they are, a consistently fine listen God Is In The TV
Kings Of Leon O My Beloved
With Carnaval De Luz they are not reinventing themselves or trying to be the current flavour of the month. What they do with this album is revisit their older glories and create new music and sound Spill Magazine
U2 return with a defiant and celebratory record that captures them still at the height of their powers Hot Press
This is Lorelei The Singer In My Band
Nate Amos fills his latest album with other people’s stories: some linger, others get lost in the scenery Still Listening
Out for blood! Brighton bruisers Royal Blood blast back-to-basics on fifth album Kerrang!
Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher floor the accelerator and embark on another collision course of energised and uncompromising riff-rock for album number five NME
Dead Company is arguably the best album they’ve released since their debut, but doesn’t exactly come close to topping it Sputnik Music (staff)
Royal Blood's latest album is competently made and frequently enjoyable, but almost entirely foreseeable The Skinny
There are no frills on this fifth set, once again self-produced by Kerr and Thatcher; instead, it provides a brisk hard rock assault that should please the faithful and entice newcomers to dig into their back catalog All Music
Bono and co. return to full strength with a celebration of hope over despair Mojo
Twisted Teens The Holy Cross Tigers
They revamp the work of their progenitors while at the same time transcending it. Never wandering too far from the music that inspires them, Twisted Teens occupy a space that is distinctly theirs Beats Per Minute
Shygirl Swallow!
The UK electronica figurehead takes a sentimental turn on her tender but assured sophomore release Paste Magazine
The Irish stadium legends’ latest is pedantic and ambiguous, rife with centrist pandering that ends up saying nothing at all Paste Magazine
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
Rosalía Lux
Kendrick Lamar Damn.
D'Angelo And The Vanguard Black Messiah
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Ghosteen
Spiritbox Tsunami Sea
Self Esteem Prioritise Pleasure
Hayley Williams Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party
Bob Dylan Rough and Rowdy Ways