29 March 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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Ninth album from the Richmond, Virgina rock singer-songwriter
7.9
Silky earworms of the highest order, with Mann admirably making solitude and sadness entities that should be inhabited instead of spurned Read Review
Mental Illness lays its hurt and sadness out so effectively that it’s hard to completely accept it as pure fiction Read Review
As elegantly dark as a wrought iron gate. Print edition only
As in good short stories, every element in her songs works to support a single theme Read Review
This is not a flash album, there are no virtuoso flourishes by any of the players. Every note has been carefully positioned to frame her voice in a sympathetic and supportive way and recorded simply and elegantly Read Review
It's no maudlin affair, because of its insistent melodies and deft lyrics. Print edition only
Becomes something of a balm for troubled times; it's an album that finds reassurance within the darkest corners Read Review
One of Mann's most ravishing and affecting hymns to solitude Read Review
A compelling consistency of mood makes Metal Illness easy to get lost in Read Review
The music adds a gentle beauty to the proceedings, sometimes in contrast to the heaviness of what Mann sings about Read Review
Mental Illness is Aimee Mann’s quintessential statement, tempering the discord of life with elegant chamber folk. Mann fills her songs with ordinary people struggling against operatic levels of pain Read Review
Mann embraces the sadness of her music Read Review
If there’s ever been any doubt as to Mann’s poetic sensibilities, let them be laid to rest Read Review
Eminently listenable and proves that there is always room for downbeat folk in your collection Read Review
Remains more of the same, never quite hitting any peaks, and never missing a step either Read Review
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Aimee Mann: Mental Illness
Elbow Audio Vertigo
The band aren’t getting any younger, but they are getting wiser and, dare I say, more fun Sputnik Music (staff)
Adrianne Lenker Bright Future
This is a triumphant work from an ascendant artist, and, oh yeah, also one of the finer folk albums of recent years Sputnik Music (staff)
Jlin Akoma
The Indiana-based footwork producer and Pulitzer Prize finalist broadens her horizons on her first album in seven years Paste Magazine
The Jesus and Mary Chain Glasgow Eyes
Glasgow Eyes isn’t far off being a great record, but those drops in quality aren’t just blips, they’re chasms Beats Per Minute
Beyoncé Cowboy Carter
There’s no question that Cowboy Carter is a landmark record. Arguably, an inevitable one. But once the dust of its audacity settles, it misses the mark of a classic The Line Of Best Fit
Straying far beyond its original country concept, the musician’s eighth album straddles the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the blues – and Becky with the Good Hair via Dolly Parton’s Jolene The Guardian
The Black Crowes Happiness Bastards
The Robinson brothers’ greatest successes have been with the Black Crowes. Perhaps that’s why they agreed to reunite for this album, finally (but no doubt grudgingly) admitting that they do their best work when they’re playing together Spectrum Culture
Four Tet Three
Small soundscapes grow and expand without dominating Hebden’s aural trademarks Spectrum Culture
A deceptively quiet solo outing from the Big Thief singer carries a vibrant emotional impact Spectrum Culture
On Akoma, all bets are off. Jlin pulls inspiration from everywhere, and even though the source material couldn’t be further from each other, they all meld together under her idiosyncratic eye Spectrum Culture
The Staves All Now
Returning with only two of the three sisters, they feature a sound threatening to eat them whole Spectrum Culture
Life-affirming songs from Jessica and Camilla Staveley-Taylor The Irish Times
The beginning of a new chapter for the reconfigured duo centres on gentle, wistful folk pop with an emphasis on harmonies musicOMH
The Staves have shown they’re happy to branch out into more indie-rock territory which sits well alongside their folk roots Clash
Tyla Tyla
TYLA will remain as the expertly crafted record that allowed amapiano a moment to shine before new audiences Beats Per Minute
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