4 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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Fifteenth solo album from the American singer-songwriter, a cover album of songs by Olivia Newton-John
6.3
A sumptuous aural pleasure Read Review
A stunning addition to the story of both musicians Read Review
Makes the compelling arguments that the ‘70s pop star, though not a songwriter herself, might have had more of an impact on college rock and ‘90s alt-rock than one might ever have imagined Read Review
About two or three songs into the album, you'll forget that it's a "concept" album and just enjoy it for what it is—a really strong collection of songs that just happen to come from an unlikely source Read Review
It's pleasant enough, but suffers for not taking songs places they've never been. Print edition only
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Kae Tempest Self Titled
Some tracks tend to border on prosaic, but others sparkle with Tempest’s cheeky wit The Independent
Despair runs through the Londoner’s fifth album but, in what is essentially a love letter to the trans community, his home town and partner, a hard-won beauty breaks through The Guardian
Five albums into an already sterling career, Tempest has made no real missteps, keeping his catalog consistently interesting, emotionally engaging, and, above all, incisive All Music
It's often raw, venerable, painful stuff, as on the impassioned charge of "Breathe", but it's also peppered with moments of joy. Print edition only Uncut
‘Self-Titled’ makes up for its musical instability with Tempest’s sharp penmanship, and it is difficult not to be raptured on their next word Clash
The award-winning poet and rapper's fifth studio album is a beefy, self-assured celebration of newfound identity NME
Instinctive and raw, yet tender to the touch, his most powerful statement yet demands to be heard musicOMH
Kesha . [Period]
Achieves a post-Brat sound that’s lathered in quirky personality The Arts Desk
Spectacular serves sit alongside catharsis and contemplation on the pop star’s first release on her own label, Kesha Records NME
Loyle Carner hopefully!
Though vastly different from its predecessors, in a way, ‘hopefully !’ feels like a celebration of an intrinsically Loyle Carner quality Dork
Pulp More
It’s classic Pulp: gloriously awkward, sharply observed, and still dancing proudly to its own weird rhythm. We’ve missed them. They’re back. More, please Dork
Addison Rae Addison
She’s not here to reinvent the wheel, just to spin it in diamanté heels while lip-syncing into a Hello Kitty mirror Dork
Haim I quit
‘I quit’ is a record that’s fallen straight out of 1977, bringing in whispers of Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young and Gloria Gaynor: one or two more daring decisions and it would be truly great Dork
. isn't just a good album, it's a decisively great one, full stop All Music
Following an experimental phase and a long-gestating split from RCA and Kemosabe Records, Kesha resumes her interest in party pop with a spirited sixth album that’s unfortunately littered with lazy, obnoxious, and dated songs Paste Magazine
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