20 December 2011
Here's how it works: The Recent Releases chart brings together critical reaction to new albums from more than 50 publications. It's updated daily. Albums qualify with 5 reviews, and drop out after 6 weeks into the longer timespan charts.
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Tracks the critics are loving: read then listen
" Church is still arguably the best thing they’ve done ... it would thaw the edges of even the coldest of hearts" music OMH
Listen on SpotifyListen on grooveshark
" The Lion's Roar is an epic tune ... an inspiring blend of marching drums, swirling woodwinds and heavy-handed piano chords, all reined in by the sisters’ gorgeous harmonies" Paste
" The emotional centerpiece of the record is Backwords, a gorgeous, melancholy number. It’s a stunning, poignant track" The Line Of Best Fit
" Waveforms flows with typical electro flourishes and polyrhythmic beats before climaxing with a stunning multi-harmony coda" music OMH
" Standout track Logos is a deeply nostalgic elegy in which Gabriela’s percussive wizardry really shines through" AU Magazine
" The memorable point of Something is standout track Ghost Tonight. Polachek's vocal abilities are really something to marvel at" BPM
" The Lights cannot fail to put a smile on your face" Fake DIY
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The ADM rating is a weighted average from our survey of more than 50 sources, taking into account the number of reviews
8.1
A good number of reviewers are calling this a masterpiece from the 77-year-old
Added: 25/01/2012
7.9
The art pop quartet's album is being talked about as one of the debuts of the year
7.8
A lot of high praise for the Glasgow electronica / post-rock outfit's 3rd album
7.6
Abel Tesfay's 3rd highly-acclaimed mixtape, and critics are predicting a huge future for him
Added: 03/01/2012
7.4
A string of 8/10 ratings gives the Swedish sisters a 2nd big critical success
Added: 11/01/2012
Dylan Baldi's bedroom lo-fi project reinvented as a full indie rock band for a 2nd album produced by Steve Albini
Added: 20/01/2012
80s-inspired electronic pop on the 2nd album from the Brooklyn band, now a duo following the departure of founding member Aaron Pfenning
7.3
So far there's nothing but warm words for the classic house on the first full-length release from Hot Chip's Joe Goddard and London DJ Raf Rundell
Several reviewers feel this could be one of the best Americana offerings of 2011
Added: 04/01/2012
7.2
Many highly appreciative reactions to the Welsh singer-songwriter's "eccentric", "peculiar" and "intriguing" 2nd album
Added: 18/01/2012
The veteran rapper still has a lot to offer, according to the majority of reviewers
Added: 20/12/2011
7.1
Folktronica, indie pop and psychedelic electronica on the first full length release from former Tunng singer and producer Sam Genders
Third album from the London group, melding electronica, experimental jazz, dance and rock
Eighth album of grime and hip-hop from the extremely prolific Londoner
Added: 08/01/2012
7.0
A real critical divide here: several say it's a major step forward for the indie rockers, some say it's a disappointment
The Oscar-winning duo return with a score for the US version of the Stieg Larsson novel
Added: 30/12/2011
Afrobeat-tinged indie pop on the 4th album - and first for Domino - from Bristol-based French singer-songwriter Frànçois Marry and his band
Much anticipated debut from the NY pop singer-songwriter, teamed with a bunch of leading co-writers
Added: 27/01/2012
Debut album from Kentucky post-rock five-piece formed from the remnants of For Carnation, Shipping News, Rachel’s and Shannon Wright
Speed pop, lo-fi punk and fuzzy new wave on the 6th album from the Alabama retro rocker
Added: 26/01/2012
Debut album of dream pop / synthpop from one-man band and producer, Brooklyn-based Mauro Remiddi
Added: 12/01/2012
6.9
Debut album of melancholic indie pop from the London four-piece
6.8
Debut album from 21 year old Hannah Louise Clark, taking in everything from Riot Grrl to electropop to dirty pop
Sophomore effort of alternative post-hardcore from the Leeds quartet
Added: 19/01/2012
The now 85-year old crooner follows up his 2006 pop duets album with another set, featuring big name guests
Added: 21/12/2011
6.7
Fourth album of alt country from the Ottawa, Ontario singer-songwiter co-produced by Justin Vernon
Added: 06/01/2012
Alt.folk and electronica on the first solo outing from The Rayographs guitarist Astrud Steehouder
Album number sixteen and first since their 2010 reunion for the Dayton, Ohio indie rock band fronted by Robert Pollard
Third album from the Cardiff-based psych-rock collective
Added: 17/01/2012
6.6
The Mexican guitar duo revisit some of their material with a 13-piece Cuban orchestra and other guests including Anoushka Shankar on sitar
First Aid Kit The Lion's Roar
Stick with it, and you'll find one of the early 'must-haves' of 2012 Entertainment.ie
Django Django Django Django
With their debut, Django Django have seamlessly stepped into the position once occupied by The Beta Band Entertainment.ie
The 2 Bears Be Strong
Goddard in particular stakes his claim as one of the most consistent-yet-underrated producers around, a true king of the dance floor The Fly
Smart guys, smart record The Fly
Nothing short of magical The Fly
Francois & The Atlas Mountains E Volo Love
Prepare to swoon The Fly
Pulled Apart By Horses Tough Love
An album jam-packed with songs – proper, festival slaying, career-making songs The Fly
Leila U&I
An often prosaic return The Fly
Gonjasufi MU.ZZ.LE
Soul basslines and the occasional rattle of hi-hat which, paired with uniquely rasping vocals, makes for an enveloping listen The Fly
Lana Del Rey Born to Die
Born to Die settles into a funereal march of overwrought dirges that make four minutes feel like twenty Pretty Much Amazing
It manages to strike a rewarding middle ground between comfort and pain, simplicity and difficulty Tiny Mix Tapes
Darn catchy Bowlegs
The most striking thing about The Lion’s Roar compared to their previous work is the added maturity and confidence to their songs and performances, as well as a move from folk to a broader definition of Americana One Thirty BPM
The Internet Purple Naked Ladies
Syd Tha Kid comes off as an painfully uninteresting protagonist — one who only sings about trite subject matters The Music Fix
Mull Historical Society City Awakening
This is the most listenable album that MacIntyre has produced since he last used the MHS moniker The Music Fix
What's finding favour with bloggers & other review sites
The Roots undun
Drake Take Care
The Black Keys El Camino
Guided By Voices Let's Go Eat The Factory
Los Campesinos! Hello Sadness
Since we've been around, that is. So, the highest-rated albums from the past three years or so
Anais Mitchell Hadestown
Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
PJ Harvey Let England Shake
Ry Cooder Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down
Arcade Fire The Suburbs
Tom Waits Bad As Me
Janelle Monáe The ArchAndroid
Joanna Newsom Have One On Me
Gillian Welch The Harrow & The Harvest
Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavilion