18 December 2024
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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Three hours of music from the modern LA jazz saxophonist who was part of the band behind To Pimp a Butterfly
7.9
An affectionate, enthusiastic and masterful tip of the hat to some of jazz’s past runnings Read Review
A landmark recording and a line in the sand for all those who decried the state of contemporary jazz. Kamasi Washington has created nothing short of a masterpiece Read Review
Makes good on its titular promise Read Review
Like the gargantuan album it leads, not everything works, but there’s no doubting Washington’s talent or ambition Read Review
Only a shortage of thematic surprises – given its extravagant length – keeps it from being quite the seismically jazz-changing departure that some admirers are claiming Read Review
There’s a lot of variety here, resulting in a rich, mature album which neither hurries nor meanders its way through its running time Read Review
Holistic in breadth and deep in vision, it provides a way into this music for many, and challenges the cultural conversation about jazz without compromising or pandering Read Review
It's clearly shaped by crate-digger funk and film scores, hip-hop collage and gospel Read Review
Epic in length, sure, just not in atmosphere Read Review
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Kamasi Washington: The Epic
Saint Etienne The Night
It is thematic and specific and at the same time one of the most coherent efforts the trio has come up with so far Spill Magazine
Linkin Park From Zero
For long-time fans, From Zero offers a mix of nostalgia and renewal. For newcomers, it’s an invitation to explore the band’s rich discography. Either way, it’s clear that Linkin Park is not just surviving but thriving in this new chapter of their career Vinyl Chapters
The Night is a meditative journey through sound, seamlessly blending moments of quiet introspection with richly textured ambiance. The hyponic ambience that they’ve crafted must be experienced Northern Transmissions
It’s a lullaby for the modern age—best savoured before sleep, one delicate note at a time XS Noize
Snoop Dogg Missionary
As a follow-up to the history-making ‘Doggystyle’, ‘Missionary’ swaps out its predecessor’s hedonistic charm for some more mature nuggets of wisdom NME
Their first full-length collaboration since Doggystyle is a celebration of strengths, displaying Snoop's growth while underlining his congenial gangsta appeal Rolling Stone
Aligning with Dre across the full breadth of the record, ‘Missionary’ is one of rap’s most iconic voices doing what he does best Clash
While it doesn't really come close to capturing the lightning-in-a-bottle power of Doggystyle, there's enough of that original spirit mixed with a modernized production sound to make Missionary one of Snoop's more enjoyable full-album listening experiences in several years All Music
Snoop Dogg has a spring in his step on his relentlessly interesting Dr Dre collaboration The Independent
Lyrics convey impressions and fragmentary thoughts to evoke a state between waking and sleeping The FT
Truly beautiful and moving ambient pop mini-triumph that's sad, nostalgic, and elegiac - with lovely vocals by Sarah Cracknell and brilliant production throughout All Music
Another of the trio’s explorations into ambient music, this immersive work conjures images of a city just before dawn rises, with the faint sound of birdsong and the constant drizzle of rain musicOMH
While it is unlikely to provide the viral moment that returns Saint Etienne to their rightful place in the charts or troubles new audiences, it will more than satisfy the committed and may, with the benefit of an even longer lens, be among their greatest achievements Clash
By deconstructing their identity, Saint Etienne have created a coherent sequence of remarkable songs which sound like everything else they have done and nothing else, at the same time. It is a very impressive achievement. The Quietus
Ambient noise draws the threads of these songs together – distant chatter, the sound of rain – but it’s the night buses and pubs of Wonderlight that best catch The Night’s Victoria Segal muted glimmer. Print edition only Mojo
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
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
Dave We’re All Alone In This Together