14 July 2025
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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Sixth full-length album of dream pop from the Liverpool-born singer-songwriter and former member of Kill Laura and Misty Dixon
7.8
Modern Kosmology marks another triumphant evolution Read Review
This is music that simultaneously celebrates and explores, that takes pop as its foundation and then builds a multi-layered space on it that welcomes one and all Read Review
A unique, idiosyncratic sound that’s marked by a myriad magic moments Read Review
Weaver's confidence is well-earned and it is a satisfying spectacle that a rather underappreciated artist should find her moment nearly 25 years into her career Read Review
Brilliantly steers a course through Krautrock, femme punk, synth-driven new wave, Euro-prog and psych-pop Read Review
A radiant blast of cosmic rock and intergalactic electro-pop that sounds as next-level as the voice of the spaceship, the brain in the jar, a full-force astral projection. Print edition only
Every bit as good as its predecessor Read Review
Weaver grounds all this analogue fizz and crackle in strong songwriting, erecting a razzle-dazzle wall of sonic scaffolding around richly referential lyrics and lysergic pastoral harmonies. Print edition only
Her most completely realised album yet, albeit by dispensing with folk music almost entirely, in favour of more forceful Krautrock and psychedelic influences Read Review
Music that sounds like it’s transmitted from the outer limits in sharp, concentrated, accessible doses. All the unearthly power, none of the excess Read Review
Not only do these tracks serve to add an extra bit of dynamic tension to the album, they also point to more exploratory avenues Weaver could attempt in the future now that she's mastered synth-heavy dream pop Read Review
When the stars align on moments such as this, it’s a journey that justifies the cosmic ambitions, and Weaver’s best record yet Read Review
‘Modern Kosmology’s’ emphasis is more on atmosphere and rhythmic insistence than melody Read Review
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Jane Weaver: Modern Kosmology
Wet Leg moisturizer
After the whirlwind of their debut album, the Isle Of Wight band could have capitulated to the pressure. Instead, they return smarter, sexier and altogether stronger NME
There’s also a fluidity to the entirety of Moisturizer that ventures beyond the limitations of the debut and everything Wet Leg signalled in their early stages Far Out
Barry Can’t Swim Loner
Loner is an easy improvement over Barry Can't Swim's debut album, and he retains his ability to craft reflective, sentimental material while strengthening his skills at making airtight tracks designed to ignite the dancefloor All Music
Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers double down on the weird energy of their debut The Independent
Rhian Teasdale and co’s second album brilliantly refines all that was great about their brash, bouncy debut The Irish Times
After winning multiple Grammys and Brits, the Isle of Wight band explore love and sexuality on their second LP – but there’s still room for some barbed put-downs The Guardian
Wet Leg’s balance of danger and relaxation pays off in this turbulently fun listen. Excitingly crafted and dangerously sharp, moisturizer is the sound of someone rolling their eyes at how lovesick they’ve become, then shrugging before seeing how far it’ll take them Northern Transmissions
Gwenno Utopia
Utopia is different from her previous work not just because of the language shift, but because of how it was made. Instead of starting electronically, Gwenno composed most of these songs on piano, recording live with her band in her living room. That choice gives Utopia organic warmth. The human touch is evident in how the instruments breathe together Northern Transmissions
Another that sounds like it will be blasted from windows of all kinds whenever the sun shines The Arts Desk
On his latest record, Barry Can’t Swim cements himself as a boundary-pushing voice in electronic music, one fluent in mood, movement, and meaningful reflection The Skinny
U.K. indie-rockers party hard and travel fast on their great second album Rolling Stone
Gwenno’s songwriting matures compellingly on Utopia The Line Of Best Fit
Kesha . [Period]
Kesha’s . is a mess of a statement The Line Of Best Fit
Pulp More
Far more than the themes of aging, sex, and loss, Pulp’s More straight-facedly spreads the word of love and it is the start of something new — a rebirth PopMatters
The Scottish producer trades sun-soaked bliss for emotional introspection – without losing the big drops musicOMH
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
Spiritbox Tsunami Sea
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