21 September 2017
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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Album number fourteen from the New York City R&B singer includes contributions from Kanye West, Quavo, DJ Khaled and Missy Elliott
6.7
Blige's finest offering in over a decade Read Review
A handsome set of hip-hop soul torch songs inspired by the end of the New Yorker’s marriage Read Review
Some big characters have walk-on parts but none of them can steal the show Read Review
A soulful, deeply personal album that luxuriates in the classic sounds of wronged-woman blues, featuring guest spots from Kanye West, DJ Khaled, and Kaytranada Read Review
The best tracks on ‘Strength Of A Woman’ seem destined to be poached for streaming service playlists and radio play, while the album as a whole potentially goes unnoticed Read Review
R&B star conjures some of her old magic Read Review
After the refreshing change furnished by 2014’s The London Sessions, things are pretty much back to normal for Mary J Blige on Strength Of A Woman Read Review
Clearly, the passion remains Read Review
A steady return Read Review
Her indomitable voice is always the main event Read Review
Godspeed You! Black Emperor Luciferian Towers
An instrumental psychedelic masterpiece that reflects our times without resorting to political bluster The Arts Desk
Less bold than their earliest and best work, but it bodes well for their future, and stands as one of the best albums of the year Pretty Much Amazing
Ugly yet inspiring, a collision of opposing forces Consequence Of Sound
Godspeed You! Black Emperor's apocalyptic vision remains as relevant and powerful as ever The Skinny
The sound of Godspeed’s radical fury takes a sideline on their impeccably composed sixth album. It contains their most melodic and powerfully positive-sounding music to date Pitchfork
Foo Fighters Concrete and Gold
Although the album doesn’t rank alongside the group’s strongest efforts, it’s significantly more accomplished than their weakest Gig Soup
Hundred Waters Communicating
Hundred Waters take us through a breakup with all the ups and downs included Earbuddy
Ariel Pink Dedicated To Bobby Jameson
An exciting chapter in Ariel Pink’s discography Spectrum Culture
Prophets of Rage Prophets of Rage
Passes by in a haze of vague nothingness Spectrum Culture
The Horrors V
Whilst many of the songs could easily have been shortened into more accessible pop hits, their commitment to slowly building each song might just be what makes The Horrors still so enigmatic five albums in The Arts Desk
Mount Kimbie Love What Survives
Define artistic success as you will, but it’s beyond question that Mount Kimbie have here translated, and therefore transmitted, an entire state of being Tiny Mix Tapes
The Killers Wonderful Wonderful
There's never been a Killers album that comes so close to feeling as even-keeled and down to earth as this one does Slant Magazine
After a run of albums that could really be interchangeable with each other, what really sets Concrete and Gold aside from the rest is that you don’t feel this one has been written with stadiums specifically in mind The Line Of Best Fit
A close examination of how rhythm can define and alter our perceptions of electronic music The Line Of Best Fit
Zola Jesus Okovi
Album of driving, gothic electronica places her in a trajectory of artists who translate trauma into sound The Line Of Best Fit
Since we've been around, that is. So, the highest-rated albums from the past eight years or so. Rankings are calculated to two decimal places.
Kendrick Lamar To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar Damn.
D'Angelo And The Vanguard Black Messiah
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Skeleton Tree
Frank Ocean Channel Orange
Anaïs Mitchell Hadestown
Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Leonard Cohen You Want It Darker
Sufjan Stevens Carrie & Lowell
Mount Eerie A Crow Looked at Me