18 July 2018
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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Debut album from the Australian folktronica singer-songwriter Sophie Payten
7.5
Reservoir maintains mostly a mellow and melancholic vibe throughout, but its charm is undeniable Read Review
She uses her digital repertoire to flesh out moments of profound feeling, creating an electro-acoustic high drama of what it means to be alive and to experience loss Read Review
A powerful debut from a driven young artist Read Review
While the music on Reservoir is still outrageously strong, the strength of her lyrics is what puts Gordi in another league Read Review
Her underlying talent is unquestionable Read Review
Gordi’s electrofolk influences add a sense of mystery and quirkiness to Reservoir Read Review
Gordi ups her game on her debut full-length Reservoir Read Review
Payten’s lyrics are often a joy, writing about emotions and relationships in a way that reveals and emphasises all their complexities
Gordi's debut seamlessly blends epic electronic soundscape with intimacy in lyricism and folk sensibilities, even if it pulls a little too often from Justin Vernon’s toolkit Read Review
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Cowboy Junkies Cowboy Junkies
All That Reckoning feels like music to listen to on an oppressively hot day, accompanied by an icy bourbon, under a tree The Arts Desk
A really well-produced, self-assured and enjoyable listen that can be played multiple types and one that could have only made by a band with a long rich life experience God Is In The TV
Laurel Halo Raw Silk Uncut Wood
See review Tiny Mix Tapes
Having defined her trademark sound on ‘Dust’, Halo has set out to confound one more – perhaps indicating that her music’s as playful as her persona after all NME
This is music that transports without ever deadening the mind The Arts Desk
Laurel Halo’s most ambient—and most linear—record to date swims in mysterious electro-acoustic textures; it marks a departure from her usual mode of thorny, cerebral electronic composition Pitchfork
Halo has tried her hand at just about everything and while Raw Silk Uncut Wood may alienate some in its distinctness from her back catalogue it finds a firm place in her ever-growing oeuvre The 405
Lotic Power
Morgan's music can be dizzyingly frantic, but there's a compelling emotional intelligence within it Resident Advisor
Luluc Sculptor
More quiet yet stunning songs Earbuddy
Chastity Death Lust
Those with a lust for LOUD rock songs will want to hear Chastity's debut album Earbuddy
Deafheaven Ordinary Corrupt Human Love
Subverting expectations to bring you closer to emotional reality: pain and beauty are one in the same Sputnik Music (staff)
Florence + The Machine High As Hope
Undoubtedly the saddest record to come out of the Machine camp, and Welch owns it with that flamethrower emotional power Spectrum Culture
Messy and candid, in a way that imitates movement and turmoil Loud And Quiet
Gorillaz The Now Now
Albarn is at his most interesting when he is in the spotlight Under The Radar
Body/Head The Switch
A fascinating journey into post-apocalyptic art-punk muck Rolling Stone
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