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30 January 2024

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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New

Gruff RhysSadness Sets Me Free

"Offers hope and light for what’s ahead" (musicOMH). "Rhys reaches a recording quarter-century milestone in fine style" (The Irish Times). "Rhys’s melodies stay with you" (Mojo)

New

Katy KirbyBlue Raspberry

"Blue Raspberry is Kirby’s most pointed, honest, and resonant self" (Beats Per Minute). "Potently precise and exceedingly witty, Kirby’s lyrical prowess is written all over Blue Raspberry" (The Line Of Best Fit)

New

Future IslandsPeople Who Aren’t There Anymore

"The music is a little more inward, more reserved, it still carries all the hallmarks of the signature Future Islands sound" (DIY). "Continue to balance refinement with ambition" (The Skinny)

Highest Recent Ratings

Albums to watch

Neil YoungBefore And After

"The album’s idiosyncratic nature only makes it that much more appealing" (Slant). "Gentle melodies and minimal instrumentation grace this live album of mostly lesser-known songs" (The Guardian)

Peter Gabrieli/o

"He has few peers in rendering the spiritual power of the mind-body-earth connection" (The Arts Desk). "He has drip-fed its songs to fans, but it is anything but disjointed" (The Guardian)

King CreosoteI DES

"A largely jubilant and life-affirming meditation on life and mortality" (The Skinny). "A slowburning set of songs full of delicate beauty and affecting, idiosyncratic warmth" (musicOMH)

PinkPantheressHeaven knows

"A debut album that was well worth the wait" (Clash). "A gothic pop-n-bass album Kate Bush would be proud of" (The Arts Desk). "An album that expands her sound beautifully" (NME)

Hotline TNTCartwheel

"Towering shoegaze and supersized power-pop anthems that demand to be played loud" (Pitchfork). "Hotline TNT have made a record that defies time and space" (Exclaim)

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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8.5
ADM Rating

Bill Ryder-Jones

Iechyd Da

Fifth solo studio album by Merseyside indie singer-songwriter recorded and self-produced in his studio

Added: 10/01/2024
8.4

The Smile

Wall Of Eyes

Second collaboration between Radiohead members Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood and Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner recorder in Oxford and in Abbey Road Studios with the producer Sam Petts-Davies

Added: 22/01/2024
8.3

Sprints

Letter To Self

Debut album from the Dublin alt-rock, noise-punk quartet

Added: 04/01/2024
7.9

Gruff Rhys

Sadness Sets Me Free

Eighth solo album from the Super Furry Animals frontman recorded in three days in March 2022

Added: 26/01/2024
7.7

Kali Uchis

Orquídeas

Fourth studio album from Colombian-American singer Kali Uchis includes contributions from Peso Pluma, El Alfa, JT, Karol G and Rauw Alejandro.

Added: 12/01/2024
7.7

Marika Hackman

Big Sigh

Fourth album from the London-based multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter produced by Hackman, Sam Petts-Davies and Charlie Andrew

Added: 10/01/2024
7.7

Katy Kirby

Blue Raspberry

Second full-length album from the Texas-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter

Added: 23/01/2024
7.6

Alkaline Trio

Blood, Hair, And Eyeballs

Tenth studio album from the Illinois pop punk trio produced by Cameron Webb

Added: 26/01/2024
7.5

Sleater-Kinney

Little Rope

Eleventh studio album from the Olympia, Washington punk duo Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein produced by John Congleton (St Vincent, The War on Drugs, Sparks)

Added: 15/01/2024
7.4

Ty Segall

Three Bells

Album number fifteen from the Laguna Beach, California multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter

Added: 26/01/2024
7.4

Future Islands

People Who Aren’t There Anymore

Seventh album from the Baltimore synthpop group produced by the band and previous collaborator Steve Wright

Added: 23/01/2024
7.2

Courting

New Last Name

Second full-length release from the post-punk Liverpool quartet produced by Ryan and Gary Jarman from The Cribs

Added: 26/01/2024
7.1

Torres

What An Enormous Room

Sixth album of indie rock from Orlando-born Mackenzie Scott produced with Sarah Jaffe

Added: 26/01/2024
7.1

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes

Dark Rainbow

Fifth studio album from the English alt punk band led by the ex-Gallows/Pure Love front man produced by guitarist and primary band member Dean Richardson

Added: 29/01/2024
6.9

Packs

Melt The Honey

The third full-length album from the Toronto band led by Madeline Link recorded in Mexico

Added: 22/01/2024
6.9

Nailah Hunter

Lovegaze

Debut album by American singer and harpist Nailah Hunter

Added: 13/01/2024
6.9

Green Day

Saviors

Fourtheenth studio release from the pop-punk trio, produced by Rob Cavallo (Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, Dave Matthews Band)

Added: 15/01/2024
6.7

NewDad

Madra

Debut full-length release from Galway indie rock quartet produced by Chris W Ryan

Added: 26/01/2024
6.6

The Vaccines

Pick-Up Full Of Pink Carnations

Sixth album from the West London indie rock band led by Justin Young and first since the departure of guitarist Freddie Cowan

Added: 12/01/2024

Latest Reviews

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes Dark Rainbow

This is without doubt the most self-explorative and thoughtful offering from Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes The Arts Desk

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes Dark Rainbow

After the initial shock, the pair's songwriting smarts cuts through persuasively, alongside strong messaging about acknowledging your needs and vulnerabilities. Print edition only Mojo

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes Dark Rainbow

Setting a tone of self-evaluation and reflection, this ship-steadying album ranges from delightful weirdness to gloriously anthemic bombast musicOMH

More reviews

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The AnyDecentMusic top 10 of 2023 is the most reliable guide to what earned the most extensive overall praise from reviewers

Our roundup of the critics' end-of-year best albums lists - the ultimate, definitive Best Of The Best Ofs, 2023

Fresh stuff

Letter To Self by Sprints

"This memorable and arrestingly bleak debut LP feels like a loud announcement of a striking new band " (NME). "Is it possible to have an album of the year contender on only the first week in? Of course it is" (Clash)

HEALTHRat Wars
"A record that’s more cinematic, darker, louder, heavier and harder than anything we’ve heard from them before today" (Sputnik). "An eviscerating act of catharsis for the post-pandemic era" (The Line Of Best Fit)

Tate McRaeThink Later
"The 20-year-old vocalist and dancer sets the stage for an ascendant musical career" (NME). "A succinct 14-track demonstration of her palpable skills, it presents Tate McRae in full 360" (Clash)

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