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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Ballet score based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale from the London synthpop duo
6.6
It's stylistically wide-ranging, with Arcade Fire-like uplifting fanfares and sweeping orchestrations Read Review
A cohesive and strong effort that can stand up with some of their best Read Review
It doubtlessly works better as a full performance, but as a stand-alone soundtrack has wonderful moments nonetheless Read Review
There are some subtlety interesting things going on here Read Review
Well-constructed and enjoyable, suffused with the kind of wit and sophistication you’d expect from Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe Read Review
There are numerous formal classical interludes, but it’s the iconic duo’s own distinctive disco/ electropop sound that’s branded most heavily on this score Read Review
A score that often sounds as though John Williams's Stormtroopers are about to march into view Read Review
In the absence of dancers or plot it's hard to make sense of this double album's jolting transitions. Print edition only
We should admire the abilities of Tennant and Lowe to move from structures of four minutes to those of an hour and a half Read Review
The Most Incredible Thing needs Javier De Frutos’ choreography to do justice to the story Read Review
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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