9 March 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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Second solo album from the Girls Aloud member and X Factor judge
4.3
Like its predecessor, 3 Words, it's guaranteed to top the charts; unlike its predecessor, at times it deserves to Read Review
A competent and frequently enjoyable pop album Read Review
The Girls Aloud singer channels her feisty, urban-princess side Read Review
In opening tracks Promise This and Yeah Yeah she has a couple of fantastic, indelible hits Read Review
Reasonable pop record that has had all the personality produced right out of it Read Review
She can do so much better than this Read Review
Messy Little Raindrops has marginally more zip than last year's 3 Words Read Review
Most of the album simply continues its predecessor's tedious romantic arguments, with only a couple of songs drawing on her more traumatic illness Read Review
Messy Little Raindrops is music for yoghurt adverts, with lyrics for people who get their emotional vocabulary from Take a Break and Loose Women Read Review
In a time when the likes of Janelle Monae are creating brilliant futuristic pop, it’s surely time to send Cole back to Newcastle Read Review
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Cheryl Cole: Messy Little Raindrops
Lady Gaga Mayhem
A star is reborn with this exhilarating, high-energy riot of sound that amounts to her best album in years musicOMH
Bob Mould Here We Go Crazy
The record is not without some brighter moments and a celebration of unconditional love on ‘Thread So Thin’ and ‘Your Side’ Clash
Bleach your eyebrows and head to your nearest gay bar, Lady Gaga is back Evening Standard
Gaga’s sixth studio album hails the return of your Mama Monster to all her shock-horror-bop glory The Independent
Jason Isbell Foxes in the Snow
Jason Isbell is a singer and songwriter who is never afraid to do the work to make his music something special, and even when he's performing in stripped-down fashion, he delivers great songs and the commitment to make them special. Anyone who questions that hasn't heard Foxes in the Snow All Music
If he wanted to make an album that reflects the chaos of the culture that witnessed its creation, he may have hit the bullseye just a bit too close to the center All Music
The singer-songwriter sings expressively and produces intricate patterns from strumming and picking The FT
Having promised to ‘go with the chaos’, the singer resorts to throwbacks and pastiche after a few strong songs The FT
With the world growing darker by the minute, one of the planet’s biggest stars is ready to unroot pop’s foundations once more – and we’re totally here for it Clash
Divorce Drive To Goldenhammer
Nottingham quartet leave quite the calling card with this confident and ambitious debut musicOMH
Darkside Nothing
Nothing is another manifestation of Jaar and Harrington’s efforts to preserve a harmonious fusion of rock and electronics, without compromising either side The Quietus
MAYHEM is more like an inspired album rather than one that inspires, and where Gaga usually flips the game on its head, she’s stuck to the rules this time The Line Of Best Fit
The album commits a mortal pop sin: It’s kind of boring Slant Magazine
There’s not much on This Side of the Island that is daring or new in terms of musical explorations, but the energetic vocals and Leithauser’s distinct delivery keeps the album afloat Under The Radar
Here We Go Crazy is simply a fantastic album, and easily one of my favourites of 2025 so far. You’d never know that Bob Mould was practically a pensioner now. He’s still as vibrant as ever, and long may that continue God Is In The TV
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