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15 January 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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Highest Recent Ratings

Albums to watch

Father John MistyMahashmashana

"Unequivocally stunning" (10/10 -The Arts Desk). "Striking a compelling balance between the epic and the intimate" (9/10 - DIY). "One of his finest albums" (9/10 - musicOMH)

Michael KiwanukaSmall Changes

"A boundless effort that, while revelling in its musical referents stands tall, ceaselessly, beside them" (10/10 - The Skinny). "It's a record built to last" (8/10 - Record Collector)

Laura MarlingPatterns in Repeat

"Both stunningly intimate and endearingly raw" (10/10 - DIY). "A homey, quiet record. It’s one of the best of her career" (8.3/10 - Pitchfork). "Simple, graceful, moving, tender" (9/10 - Uncut)

Amyl And The SniffersCartoon Darkness

"It's a truly glorious rock’n’roll album that is forceful without being simplistic and lairy while maintaining a good sense of humour" - 10/10 - The Arts Desk).

Christopher OwensI Wanna Run Barefoot Through Your Hair

"Potentially one of the year’s best records" (10/10 - DIY). "A must-listen for anyone who’s ever been in the type of love that doesn’t always get a light shone on it" (9/10 - Northern Transmissions)

THE CHART: THE TOP RATED NEW ALBUMS

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

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8.4
ADM Rating

Cameron Winter

Heavy Metal

Debut solo album from New York-based Geese frontman

Added: 13/01/2025
8.1

Lambrini Girls

Who Let The Dogs Out

Debut album from the Brighton punk duo Phoebe Lunny (vocals/guitar) and Lilly Macieira (bass)

Added: 08/01/2025
7.9

Saint Etienne

The Night

Eleventh studio album from the London alternative dance trio formed in 1990

Added: 13/12/2024
7.7

Moonchild Sanelly

Full Moon

Third full-length release from the South African artist Sanelisiwe Twisha produced by Johan Hugo

Added: 09/01/2025
7.7

Ethel Cain

Perverts

Second album from the Florida-born dream pop artist Hayden Silas Anhedönia

Added: 06/01/2025
7.4

White Denim

12

Latest studio album from the Austin, Texas group led by James Petralli

Added: 05/12/2024
7.2

Ringo Starr

Look Up

Twentyfirst album from the former Beatles drummer is a country record produced by T Bone Burnett and featuring guest appearances from Alison Krauss, Larkin Poe, Billy Strings and Molly Tuttle

Added: 11/01/2025
7.0

Lauren Mayberry

Vicious Creature

Debut solo album from the Chvrches singer

Added: 05/12/2024
6.8

Franz Ferdinand

The Human Fear

Sixth album from the Scottishindie rock band and first since with drummer Audrey Tait, who replaced original member Paul Thomson in 2021

Added: 06/01/2025
6.3

Snoop Dogg

Missionary

latest full-length release from rapper featuring guest appearances from 50 Cent, Dr. Dre (who also produced), Eminem, Fat Money, Jelly Roll and Sting.

Added: 13/12/2024

Latest Reviews

Ringo Starr Look Up

Look Up is technically sound, but the focal point fails to deliver on the key aspects that help us lean towards country music. We end up with a shell of a record, missing out on humility and depth. It’s not a terrible album to listen to, but there are much better out there Far Out

Ringo Starr Look Up

The pacing is perfect and the end result is one of Starr’s strongest albums in his career Spill Magazine

Ringo Starr Look Up

Making good on his legacy as the Beatles’ resident cowboy, the former Fab Four drummer teams up with T Bone Burnett on a solo album steeped in classic country Pitchfork

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Our roundup of the critics' end-of-year best albums lists - the ultimate, definitive Best Of The Best Ofs, 2024

Fresh stuff

The Night by Saint Etienne

"Truly beautiful and moving ambient pop mini-triumph that's sad, nostalgic, and elegiac" (9/10 - All Music). "Conjures images of a city just before dawn rises" (7/10 - musicOMH)

Snoop DoggMissionary
"Snoop Dogg has a spring in his step on his relentlessly interesting Dr Dre collaboration" (10/10 - The Independent). "Missionary’ is one of rap’s most iconic voices doing what he does best" (7/10 - Clash)

Lauren MayberryVicious Creature
"Expectations were high, but the realisation is stratospheric" (10/10 - Dork). "An album that manages to be poignant and pointed without sacrificing any of its unabashed sparkle" (8/10 - DIY)

White Denim12
"An exciting and slightly experimental new chapter for the band and their most cohesive release in quite a while. A late-year stunner" (8/10 - Clash). "A remarkably cohesive and dynamic record" (9/10 - Uncut)

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