20 April 2014
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 album from the Nottingham-based chamber pop act, now a trio with drummer Neil Turpin joining Lucinda Chu and Chris Summerlin
6.7
It’s difficult not to feel terribly possessive over the renowned Kranky label’s sole British signatories, and it’s with a certain relief that their songcraft proves singularly remarkable once more Read Review
A record to really fall in love with Read Review
The record grabs ahold of your skin and refuses to let go Read Review
Unsettlingly intimate Read Review
Oh Holy Molar probably isn’t going to be any major publications record of the year but I wouldn’t be surprised if more than a few people end up holding it up as theirs Read Review
Creating an intimate vibe with an expansive landscape – Felix have returned with a worthy successor to their delightful debut. Get lost in their world at your earliest opportunity Read Review
UK duo-turned-trio add a touch of watery weight and seductive, intuitive groove to sparse-pop piano confessionals Read Review
An utterly intriguing and unsettling album Read Review
A dull record when played as a whole piece, the repetitiveness of the tracks and the formula killing any joy to be found in the playful and sweet tunes Read Review
Felix: Oh Holy Molar
Mac DeMarco Salad Days
Rarely has a reflection on ageing and obsolescence sounded so untroubled The Observer
Eels The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett
A powerful and emotionally coherent set The Observer
Iggy Azalea The New Classic
Azalea's flow is both playful and authoritative, and above-par surprises unfurl on the productions The Observer
Ben Watt Hendra
Relates small pleasures in a drift of Knopfler-esque guitar licks and mellow folk-rock The FT
School of Language Old Fears
Nothing anxious about this release: in fact it’s a delight set against a theme of memory and time The FT
The songs are slight and structured with saccharine simplicity The FT
Reveals enough smarts and skills to sustain the Aussie rapper’s momentum The Independent
Wracked with recrimination, remorse and self-doubt The Independent
Pixies Indie Cindy
Some of these 12 songs favourably evoke previous work. Print edition only Mojo
It’s occasionally excellent, more often okay Clash
The whole thing sounds a lot like frontman Black Francis’s (aka Frank Black’s) solo albums Time Out
Thankfully, Pixies have remembered that madness, perversity and edginess are what made them great in the first place God Is In The TV
It’s no coincidence that Indie Cindy is at its best when Joey Santiago cuts loose with his guitar FasterLouder
The fire has been extinguished, most power diminished. It’s a damn shame The Line Of Best Fit
The skewed pop melodies and twisted riffs are there on Greens and Blues, Magdalena 318, Snakes and Blue Eyed Hexe The Irish Times
A decent response for Mark Oliver Everett's latest output. Uncut think it is "as frustratingly close to perfect as always" though Slant say it is "underwhelming"
Since we've been around, that is. So, the highest-rated albums from the past four years and a half or so. Rankings are calculated to two decimal places.
Frank Ocean Channel Orange
Anaïs Mitchell Hadestown
Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Deafheaven Sunbather
PJ Harvey Let England Shake
My Bloody Valentine mbv
Ry Cooder Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down
St Vincent St Vincent
Kendrick Lamar good kid, m.A.A.d city
Arcade Fire The Suburbs