Any decent music? We review the reviews. You get the final word

Hello

17 February 2026

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.

Just in

New albums just added

Unlisted recent releases

Follow us on

Source list

View top rated by publication

Specialist Genres

Browse specific styles

New

Charli XCXWuthering Heights

"This brilliantly moody soundtrack confirms Charli XCX as a star who makes better art when she’s not trying to deliver a hit" (10/10 - The Irish Times). "At times gorgeous" (8/10 - Clash)

New

Danny L HarleCerulean

"His most cohesive work to date, finding parity in both its nostalgia and its modernity" (9/10 - DIY). "‘Cerulean’ is the album Danny L Harle has been waiting his whole life to make" (10/10 - Dork)

New

Mandy, IndianaURGH

"The Manchester noise rock band take their sound to thrilling new places on an exploratory second album" (10/10 - Rolling SXtone UK). "It’s chaotic and messy, but also catchy" (8/10 - CLash)

Highest Recent Ratings

Albums to watch

Joyce ManorI Used to Go to This Bar

"The Californian trio’s exhilarating, bittersweet seventh album marks a vital evolution" (8/10 - musicOMH). "They keep up their uninterrupted streak of never releasing a bad album" (8/10 - Under The Radar)

Westside CowboySo Much Country ‘Till We Get There

"So Much Country ‘Till We Get There is barely 15 minutes long; it is scarcely believable how much promise they’ve packed into it. Believe the hype" (10/10 - The Skinny)

Dove EllisBlizzard

"With shades of Jeff and Tim Buckley, the Galway-born artist writes tunes so strong they seem as familiar as old friends" (10/10 - The Guardian). "The sound is entirely his" (8/10 - DIY)

SnocapsSnocaps

"They are back playing pop that is pretty darn unmatched" (8.6/10 - Northern Transmissions). "A hailstorm of warm, exceptionally-written country-rock bangers backed by MJ Lenderman and Brad Cook" (8.5/10 - Paste)

Florence + The MachineEverybody Scream

"Florence Welch enlists horror and magic to harness hope" (10/10 - NME). "An urgent and vital testimony to survival and rebirth, Florence Welch’s sixth album is a defiant middle finger to doubters" (9/10 - musicOMH)

The Line Of Best Fit : recent releases

The ADM rating is a weighted average from our survey of more than 50 sources , taking into account the number of reviews

Customise your chart

8.0
ADM Rating

Hemlocke Springs

The Apple Tree Under the Sea

Debut full-length release from the North Carolina bedroom pop singer-songwriter and producer Isimeme "Naomi" Udu

Added: 12/02/2026
8.0

Beverley Glenn-Copeland

Laughter in Summer

Latest full-length release from the American-born Canadian singer-songwriter featureing his wife Elizabeth Glenn-Copeland

Added: 06/02/2026
8.0

Ratboys

Singin' To An Empty Chair

Sixth album from the Chicago indie band led by Julia Steiner and David Sagan produced by Chris Walla ex-Death Cab For Cutie

Added: 02/02/2026
8.0

Lucinda Williams

World's Gone Wrong

Sixteenth studio album from the Grammy award-winning Americana legend working with producers Tom Overby and Ray Kennedy

Added: 22/01/2026
8.0

Dry Cleaning

Secret Love

Third album from the South Lodon post-punk quartet produced by Cate Le Bon recorded at Black Box Studios in the Loire Valley, France

Added: 14/01/2026
7.0

Charli XCX

Wuthering Heights

The latest release from the English electro pop star is both a companion and soundtrack to "Wuthering Heights" featuring guest appearances from John Cale and Sky Ferreira

Added: 13/02/2026
7.0

J. Cole

The Fall-Off

Seventh studio album from the American rapper featuring guest appearances from Erykah Badu, Burna Boy, Future, Morray, PJ, Petey Pablo and Tem

Added: 11/02/2026
7.0

Mandy, Indiana

URGH

Second full-length album from the Manchester-based industrial post-punk quartet

Added: 05/02/2026
7.0

Joyce Manor

I Used to Go to This Bar

The California quartet's sventh studio album of pop/rock produced by Bad Religion’s Brett Gurewitz

Added: 29/01/2026
7.0

Geologist

Can I Get a Pack of Camel Lights?

Debut full-length solo album from Animal Collective's Brian Weitz, featuring contributions from Emma Garau, Aliana Kalaba, Adam Lion, Shane McCord, Ryan Oslance, Dave Portner, Mikey Powers and Merrick Weitz

Added: 21/01/2026
7.0

Searows

Death in the Business of Whaling

Second album of indie folk from the Portland, Oregon singer-songwriter Alec Duckart

Added: 21/01/2026
6.0

Jenny on Holiday

Quicksand Heart

Debut full-length solo album from Let's Eat Grandma's Jenny Hollingworth

Added: 14/01/2026

Latest Reviews

Peaches No Lube So Rude

Nothing short of a musical battle standard for those refusing to conform The Arts Desk

Mumford & Sons Prizefighter

Prizefighter is the definition of inoffensive. It is unlikely to catch ears of those for whom Mumford & Sons’ sound faded into the background 10 years ago, but it was one of the most anticipated albums of 2026 for fans who welcomed their return from extended absence with 2025’s Rushmere Beats Per Minute

Charli XCX Wuthering Heights

Charli feels far more attuned to the dark, knotted intensity of Brontë’s original vision than its film counterpart; the emotions here aren’t framed with irony or held at arm’s length. They arrive raw and unguarded. The result is a stormy, gothic triumph Hot Press

More reviews

Support what we do

As we're sure you are aware this is a really tough time for websites like ours. So we are asking you to help support us in any way you can via Patreon. Whether it's a small amount each month or a one-off payment, everything we receive will be put back into making ADM as good as it can possibly be.

Fresh stuff

Singin' To An Empty Chair by Ratboys

"Ratboys have earned their seat at the top table" (9/10 - DIY). "Their most emotionally affecting and compositionally advanced songs to date" (8.4/10 - Pitchfork)

DaphniButterfly
"It may only be February, but this already feels like a defining electronic record of the year" (9/10 - Clash). "It might already be the most relentlessly feel-good album of 2026" (8/10 - DIY)

CastYeah Yeah Yeah
"Sounding comfortable and confident. Songs are strong, the production is polished" (8/10 - XS Noize). "Sound of a band determined to prove they’re more than a Britpop legacy act" (7/10 - musicOHM)

Tyler BallgameFor The First Time, Again
"Mark it down as the first great album of 2026" (10/10 - Record Collector). "Ballgame's got the goods and the charisma" (8/10 - All Music). "Often startlingly brilliant" (8/10 - Mojo)

Lucinda WilliamsWorld's Gone Wrong
"While burning with barely suppressed anger, her 16th album shows that, even in the darkest of times, there’s hope to be found" (8/10 - musicOMH). "The music is straight and soothing" (8/10 - Uncut)

Courtney Marie AndrewsValentine
"An earnest, aching set carried by dazzling vocal performances and rich, chamber-folk production" (7.4/10 - Pitchfork). "Brims with rich orchestration and incisive lyrics" (8/10 - Record Collector)

Dead Dads ClubDead Dads Club
"Imbued with a real sense of healing and closure" (8/10 - DIY). "Produced by Fontaines D.C.’s Carlos O’Connell, the record turns a period of grief into triumph" (8/10 - NME)

All-time top 10

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.

See full list