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17 November 2019

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

DJ ShadowOur Pathetic Age

The Irish Times describe the 6th LP from the hip hop producer as an "epic album with exceptional collaborations". AV Club say "it’s a triumphant blast of hip-hop revivalism to quell the stressed-out vibes of the first LP"

New

Bonnie ‘Prince’ BillyI Made A Place

Record Collector describe the latest LP from the lo-fi alt.folk singer-songwriter Will Oldham as "thoughtful, beautiful fare". The Skinny say it's "a typically idiosyncratic, at-times aggressively upbeat, collection"

New

Mount EerieLost Wisdom pt. 2

"An extraordinarily rewarding listen" - Consequence Of Sound's take on the tenth album from Phil Elverum and second collaboration with Canadian singer-songwriter Julie Doiran

Highest Recent Ratings

Albums to watch

A Winged Victory For The SullenThe Undivided Five

"An album of exquisite tenderness" - The 405's take on the 5th LP from the ambient duo. The Irish Times say "threads between life and death never sounded so beautiful"

William DoyleYour Wilderness Revisited

The Line Of Best Fit say the latest release from East India Youth man is "a dazzlingly beautiful triumph of intention" while DIY describe it as "a heady blend that’s easy to get lost in"

FoalsEverything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 2

Clash reckon the 6th LP and the second half of this project from the rock quartet is their "most accomplished body of work to date". NME say it's "indisputable proof of their greatness"

Big ThiefTwo Hands

"2019 is Big Thief's year" - The Skinny's take on the 4th LP and second of the year from the indie rock quartet fronted by Adrianne Lenker while Mojo reckon it's a "sparer but equally powerful record"

ElbowGiants of All Sizes

The Skinny reckon that album number eight from the Manchester alt.rock band is "a vital record". Under The Radar think it "has plenty of spectacular music to make it a 2019 top 10 contender"

Kim GordonNo Home Record

"A breathtaking barrage of noise, anger and humour" - The Skinny's verdict on the debut solo album from the Sonic Youth co-founder while TLoBF say it's "a superb introduction to the solo Kim Gordon"

DIIVDeceiver

"A record that's as beautiful as it is bleak" - Exclaim's verdict on the 3rd LP of guitar-driven dream pop and shoegaze from the Brooklyn quartet. Paste say they "have expanded both their sound and mission"

WilcoOde To Joy

"The culmination of a musical evolution Wilco have been working towards for years" NME's take on the 11th LP from the Chicago alt.rock while Northern Transmission say "these are big, warm beautiful songs"

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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8.6
ADM Rating

FKA Twigs

MAGDALENE

Second album of trip hop / alternative R&B from the London-based singer and dancer Tahliah Barnett working with a number of producers including Jack Antonoff, Nicolas Jaar and Oneohtrix Point Never

Added: 04/11/2019
8.5

Michael Kiwanuka

Kiwanuka

Third album of modern soul from the London-based singer-songwriter produced by Danger Mouse and Inflo

Added: 24/10/2019
8.3

Big Thief

Two Hands

Fourth album and second of 2019 from the indie rock quartet fronted by singer-songwriter Adrianne Lenker and recorded live

Added: 08/10/2019
8.3

Richard Dawson

2020

Sixth album of narrative folk rock from the Newcastle singer-songwriter

Added: 11/10/2019
8.2

Underworld

DRIFT Series 1

A six disc set from techno / electronic duo Karl Hyde and Rick Smith is the culmination of a year-long exercise in recording a releasing a song every week

Added: 07/11/2019
8.0

Caroline Polachek

Pang

Debut album from the former Chairlift singer working with producers A.G. Cook, Danny L Harle, and Valley Girl

Added: 18/10/2019
7.9

Teebs

Anicca

Third album of electronic instrumental hip hop from Mtendere Mandowa includes contributions from Ringgo Ancheta (aka MNDSGN), Michael Lundy and Panda Bear

Added: 27/10/2019
7.9

Elbow

Giants of All Sizes

Album number eight from the Manchester alt.rock band includes a guest appearance from Jesca Hoop

Added: 10/10/2019
7.9

Mark Lanegan Band

Somebody’s Knocking

Eleventh studio album from the Seattle-based alt.rock musician with contributions from Martin Jenkins, Rob Marshall, and Sietse van Gorkom

Added: 14/10/2019
7.9

William Doyle

Your Wilderness Revisited

Latest release from East India Youth but first under his own name, features guest appearances from Brian Eno, Jonathan Meades and Laura Misch

Added: 04/11/2019
7.8

Floating Points

Crush

Third album from the London-based producer and composer Sam Shepherd

Added: 15/10/2019
7.8

A Winged Victory For The Sullen

The Undivided Five

Fifth album from the ambient duo Dustin O'Halloran and Adam Wiltzie recorded in different locations around Europe

Added: 01/11/2019
7.8

Vagabon

Vagabon

Second album of indie rock from the Cameroon-born, New York-raised, multi-instrumentalist Laetitia Tamko

Added: 17/10/2019
7.8

Kim Gordon

No Home Record

Debut full-length solo album from the Sonic Youth co-founder produced by Justin Raisen (Marissa Nadler, Sky Ferreira, Angel Olsen)

Added: 09/10/2019
7.8

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

I Made A Place

Latest release from the lo-fi alt.folk singer-songwriter Will Oldham

Added: 13/11/2019
7.8

Foals

Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 2

Sixth studio album and the second half of this project from the Oxford-based rock quartet

Added: 15/10/2019
7.6

Lightning Bolt

Sonic Citadel

Seventh album from the Rhode Island noise rock duo

Added: 09/10/2019
7.6

SebastiAn

Thirst

Second full length album from the French electro / house producer and remixer Sebastien Akchote

Added: 08/11/2019
7.6

clipping.

There Existed An Addiction To Blood

Third album from the LA-based experimental hip hop trio consisting of rapper Daveed Diggs and producers William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes

Added: 17/10/2019
7.5

Swans

Leaving Meaning.

Fifteenth studio album from Michael Gira's New York experimental rock band

Added: 01/11/2019
7.5

Patrick Watson

Wave

Sixth album from the Quebecois chamber pop band

Added: 22/10/2019
7.5

Mount Eerie

Lost Wisdom pt. 2

Tenth studio album from Phil Elverum is the second collaboration with Canadian singer-songwriter Julie Doiran

Added: 13/11/2019
7.5

Anna Meredith

Fibs

Second full length release from the London-based composer and electronic musician who is a former composer-in-residence with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Added: 23/10/2019
7.5

Sudan Archives

Athena

Debut full length album from the Cincinati-born violinist and singer Brittney Parks

Added: 30/10/2019
7.5

King Princess

Cheap Queen

Debut album from the Brooklyn singer-songwriter Mikaela Mullaney Straus includes contributions from Father John Misty and The Dap-Kings

Added: 25/10/2019
7.4

Rex Orange County

Pony

Third album from the 21-year-old English indie pop artist Alex O’Connor who appeared on Tyler, The Creator's Flower Boy album

Added: 25/10/2019
7.4

Chromatics

Closer To Grey

Fifth album and first in seven years from the Portland, Oregon electronic band produced by Johnny Jewel

Added: 09/10/2019
7.4

Neil Young & Crazy Horse

Colorado

39th studio album from the legendary Canadian singer-songwriter includes the first appearance from Nils Lofgren since 1971

Added: 22/10/2019
7.4

Miranda Lambert

Wildcard

Seventh studio album from the Texan Grammy Award-winning country artist

Added: 01/11/2019
7.4

Van Morrison

Three Chords And The Truth

41st full-length album from the legendary Irish singer includes contributions from Jay Berliner and The Righteous Brothers' Bill Medley

Added: 27/10/2019

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Fresh stuff

Jesus Is King by Kanye West

"It isn’t entertaining in the slightest" - The Line Of Best Fit's take on the 9th LP from the rapper while CoS describe it as "twenty-seven minutes of cliches, half-finished thoughts, and vaguely religious gesturing"

Girl RayGirl
"The perfect balance of serious pop and pop that doesn't take itself too seriously" - Q's take on the 2nd LP from the indie pop trio. The Guardian say they've "pivoted from jangly indie to pop"

UnderworldDRIFT Series 1
The Observer describe this six disc set from the electronic duo Karl Hyde and Rick Smith as "a year’s worth of inspiration". The Arts Desk reckon it's "far more than a nostalgic re-tread of past glories"

SebastiAnThirst
"A triumph from a producer whose sound has lost none of its flair" - music OMH's take on the 2nd LP from Sebastien Akchote. The Independent say "it’s one of the most considered and thought-provoking electronic albums of the year"

Earl SweatshirtFeet Of Clay
"A woozy, raw, magical, and extremely short album from hip-hop’s most tantalizingly inscrutable rapper" - Pitchfork's take on the 2nd EP from the rapper. It's "a tender portrayal of Earl's psyche" say NME

Anna MeredithFibs
DIY describe the second full length release from the London-based composer and electronic musician as "joyous stuff" while The Skinny say it "blurs boundaries between the organic and electronic"

TeebsAnicca
"A career high from an artist about to reach his creative zenith" - Clash's verdict on the 3rd LP from producer Mtendere Mandowa while Exclaim say it reaches "above and beyond expectation"

Rex Orange CountyPony
"A jubilant collection of hope-laced tunes " - NME's verdict on the 3rd LP from the 21-year-old English indie pop artist Alex O’Connor. Clash say it's "one of the most interesting and exciting pop records of the year"

Floating PointsCrush
"Some of the most tightly-constructed and dense work [he] has ever released" - The Skinny's verdict on the 3rd LP from producer Sam Shepherd. The 405 say he's "a singularly talented producer"

Caroline PolachekPang
"A remarkable debut album" - The Line of Best Fit's verdict on the first solo release from the former Chairlift singer while Clash say it's "one of the most singular, captivating records of the year"

Mark Lanegan BandSomebody’s Knocking
"Another absolute masterclass crammed " - musicOMH's take on the 11th LP from the alt.rock musician while Clash say he's "at his gritty best, but there’s sweetness and vulnerability here too"

ChromaticsCloser To Grey
"A near-perfect piece of 21st century pop escapism" - Clash's take on the 5th LP from the Oregon electronic band. Slant describe it as "haunting synth-pop house of mirrors that transcends mere nostalgia"

Richard Dawson2020
"It is a wrenching masterpiece" - Evening Times' take on the 6th LP from the Newcastle singer-songwriter while Uncut say it's "a state-of-the-nation address for a nation in a bit of a state"

All-time top 10

Since we've been around, that is. So, the highest-rated albums from the past eight years or so. Rankings are calculated to two decimal places.

See full list