19 May 2013
Here's how it works: The Recent Releases chart brings together critical reaction to new albums from more than 50 publications 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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Pop soul with touches of drum'n'bass and electronica on the debut from the singer trying to live down his X Factor past
6.4
Misty Eye is a pleasant surprise, setting up Grimshaw as a rival to Paolo Nutini and Alex Clare in the soulish-pop leagues Read Review
Misty Eye is definitely a collection of pop songs, but these are relatively adventurous and interesting pop songs by current standards Read Review
Not only a great pop album, but a thing of genuine artistic merit Read Review
Grimshaw has taken an electronic edge to give his sound a fresh slant Read Review
An all-right pop effort actually; in other words the boy dun’ good Read Review
It’s commercial enough, but not constrained by current fads Read Review
Ordinarily, such an average outing would garner two stars, but Grimshaw gets an extra one for following his heart and not his head Read Review
If not groundbreaking, rarely less than infectious. Print edition only
At times Misty Eye tries to be too clever for its own good Read Review
He flourishes here on his own terms. Print edition only
Grimshaw has reigned in the eccentricities TV Land turned into caricatures, and just about pulled off a clean break from his time on the show Read Review
Grimshaw has made a decent album Read Review
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Aiden Grimshaw: Misty Eye
Pistol Annies Annie Up
If Annie Up doesn't quite break the country genre's familiar format, it's a hell of a lot of fun Slant Magazine
A pretty tasty serving of grits and sass Spin
A record that feels in every sense like a thoroughly integrated effort; the work of a group, not three individuals All Music
Their hearts are in every line and note Paste Magazine
The lyrics are carefully written and thoughtfully sung; the arrangements share similar qualities, with settings that suit the songs and brief solos that come in and echo the song’s emotions in a way that feels perfect Pop Matters
Country's new generation of strong female voices is on a roll in 2013 – and Pistol Annies remain at its forefront The Guardian
There may be better bands than Pistol Annies, but what band is more of a hoot? Rolling Stone
Wampire Curiosity
Their songs have a sharpness to them that makes them sparkle through the lysergic fug. Print edition only Q
Laura Marling Once I Was An Eagle
Once I was An Eagle is entirely Laura Marling's trip - beautiful, heartfelt, searching, sublime - and thrillingly open-ended. Print edition only Q
Var No One Dances Quite Like My Brothers
Something serene, tender even. Print edition only Uncut
Recalls Joni Mitchell's landmark Blue in the way she ruthlessly dissects her love life, hunting for emotional satisfaction. Print edition only Uncut
Sarcastic, ironic - and occasionally infuriating. Print edition only Mojo
It's the sweet sound of this unique talent evolving and it's utterly captivating. Print edition only Mojo
Yet another crowning achievement in this young woman's remarkable career to date The Digital Fix
Whether she is softly crooning over a plucked guitar or dabbling with organs and percussion for quietly cacophonous climaxes, Marling is never less than captivating The Irish Times
And the winner is ... no, not Daft Punk but a Californian garage punk
Since we've been around, that is. So, the highest-rated albums from the past four years or so
Frank Ocean Channel Orange
Anaïs Mitchell Hadestown
Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
PJ Harvey Let England Shake
My Bloody Valentine mbv
Ry Cooder Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down
Kendrick Lamar good kid, m.A.A.d city
Arcade Fire The Suburbs
Tom Waits Bad As Me
Janelle Monáe The ArchAndroid