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4 July 2020

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

ArcaKiCk i

Loud And Quiet describe the 4th LP from London-based electronic producer Alejandra Ghersi as "a glorious expression of life". All Music say it's "a complete, and triumphant, portrait of Arca's artistry"

New

CorikyCoriky

"A bracing blast of moral, melodic US punk" - The Observer's take on the debut from the band featuring members of Fugazi, The Evens and Minor Threat while Mojo say "Fugazi's signature edge duly emerges"

New

Paul WellerOn Sunset

"Brilliantly merges this new interest in the avant garde with his ever-changing future soul mood" - The Independent's take on LP No15 from the former Jam frontman. Mojo say it's one of his "most rewarding"

Highest Recent Ratings

Albums to watch

Phoebe BridgersPunisher

"Almost every single moment on this album is exquisitely thrilling" - The Arts Desk's take on the second album from the LA indie rock singer-songwriter while Q say it's "a masterpiece in mood setting"

Lady GagaChromatica

"Gaga is back, with her bangers intact" - music OMH's take on the sixth studio album the New York pop singer while The Irish Times reckon "a star is reborn in this return to fully fledged pop"

MuzzMuzz

"A bold and surprising statement of purpose and intent" - Clash's take on this debut from the indie rock super-group. The Line Of Best Fit say "they’re masters of their craft on a spacious and cinematic debut"

Rolling Blackouts Coastal FeverSideways to New Italy

The Irish Times describe the 2nd full-length LP from the indie rock quintet as "exquisite jangle pop" while All Music reckon they are "making the best guitar pop anywhere in 2020"

The 1975Notes On A Conditional Form

NME say the fourth album from Manchester-based indie rock / pop quartet "encompasses everything from electronica to anarcho-punk" while DIY say "among all the killer, there’s also a lot of filler"

Charli XCXhow i'm feeling now

"This is undoubtedly next level Charli" - Loud And Quiet's take on the fourth studio album from the English electro popstar while The Independent say it's "a brash, adventurous lockdown album"

Mark LaneganStraight Songs Of Sorrow

XS Noize say album No12 from the alt.rock musician is "a brutally honest record, full of pleasure, pain, darkness, light and ultimately, hope". The Arts Desk say it's "a few circles of hell deeper than anything Leonard Cohen ever did"

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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8.9
ADM Rating

Bob Dylan

Rough and Rowdy Ways

The 39th album and first release of original songs since Tempest in 2012 from the legendary singer-songwriter

Added: 15/06/2020
8.8

Run The Jewels

RTJ4

Fourth studio album from the two hip hop heavyweights Killer Mike and El-P featuring guest appearances from 2 Chainz, Zack de la Rocha, DJ Premier, Josh Homme, Greg Nice, Mavis Staples, and Pharrell Williams

Added: 04/06/2020
8.6

Rose City Band

Summerlong

Second album from Ripley Johnson's (Wooden Shjips/Moon Duo) side project

Added: 19/06/2020
8.4

Phoebe Bridgers

Punisher

Second album from the LA indie rock singer-songwriter featuring contributions from Conor Oberst, Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, Blake Mills, Jenny Lee Lindberg and Nick Zinner

Added: 15/06/2020
8.3

Jessie Ware

What's Your Pleasure?

Fourth album from the English R&B pop star working with producers Benji B, James Ford (Simian Mobile Disco), Midland, Joseph Mount (Metronomy), Matthew Tavares

Added: 23/06/2020
8.2

Neil Young

Homegrown

The latest release from the legendary Canadian singer-songwriter previously unreleased album from 1975 that was cancelled in favour of Tonight's the Night

Added: 18/06/2020
8.2

Haim

Women In Music Pt. III

Third studio album from the LA pop rock trio Este, Danielle and Alana Haim produced by Rostam Batmanglij, Ariel Rechtshaid and Buddy Ross

Added: 19/06/2020
8.0

Owen Pallett

Island

Fifth full-length and fist in six years from the Canadian violinist recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London

Added: 01/06/2020
8.0

Nadine Shah

Kitchen Sink

Fourth album from the South Tyneside singer-songwriter of Pakistani-Norwegian heritage produced by Ben Hillier (Depeche Mode, Graham Coxon, Gang of Four)

Added: 25/06/2020
7.9

Kate NV

Room For The Moon

Third full-length solo release from the Moscow-based avant-pop artist

Added: 17/06/2020
7.9

Jeff Rosenstock

No Dream

Fifth solo album from the Long Island punk rock singer and former frontman of Bomb the Music Industry!

Added: 29/05/2020
7.9

Coriky

Coriky

Debut album from the punk rock band featuring Ian MacKaye (Minor Threat, Fugazi, The Evens), Amy Farina (The Warmers, The Evens) and Joe Lally (Fugazi, The Messthetics)

Added: 29/06/2020
7.8

Orlando Weeks

A Quickening

Solo debut from the former Maccabees frontman written about the experience of becoming a first-time father

Added: 12/06/2020
7.8

Paul Weller

On Sunset

Album number fifteen from the former Jam and Style Council frontman

Added: 26/06/2020
7.8

Arca

KiCk i

Fourth album from London-based Venezuelan electronic producer Alejandra Ghersi who's worked with FKA Twigs, Bjork and Kanye West

Added: 25/06/2020
7.7

Jehnny Beth

To Love Is To Live

Debut solo album from the Savages front woman working with producer Flood (U2, PJ Harvey), Nine Inch Nails’ Atticus Ross, the xx’s Romy Madley Croft and her longtime partner Johnny Hostile

Added: 11/06/2020
7.7

Westerman

Your Hero Is Not Dead

Debut full-length album from the London-based singer-songwriter Will Wsterman produced by Nathan “Bullion” Jenkins

Added: 04/06/2020
7.6

Norah Jones

Pick Me Up Off The Floor

Latest album from the jazz/pop singer-songwriter features outtakes from 2016's Daylight Again

Added: 12/06/2020
7.6

Bananagun

The True Story of Bananagun

Debut full-length album from the Melbourne-based psych-rock five-piece

Added: 24/06/2020
7.6

Khruangbin

Mordechai

Third album from the Texan trio influenced by Middle Eastern and Mediterranean music produced by Steve Christensen

Added: 25/06/2020
7.6

Ohmme

Fantasize Your Ghost

Second full-length album from the Chicago experimental pop duo of Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart

Added: 08/06/2020
7.6

Carly Rae Jepsen

Dedicated Side B

Fifth album from the Canadian dance pop artist and former Canadian Idol contestant features outtakes from Dedicated (2019)

Added: 28/05/2020
7.6

Brigid Mae Power

Head Above The Water

Third album from the Irish folk singer-songwriter recorded with her husband Peter Broderick and Alasdair Roberts

Added: 05/06/2020
7.6

Lady Gaga

Chromatica

Sixth studio album from the New York pop singer features guest appearances from Blackpink, Ariana Grande and Elton John

Added: 29/05/2020
7.6

Hinds

The Prettiest Curse

Third album from the Madrid-based garage rock quartet (formerly know as Deers) produced by Jenn Decilveo (Bat for Lashes, The Wombats, Albert Hammond Jr.)

Added: 04/06/2020
7.5

Chloe x Halle

Ungodly Hour

Second full-length album from the R&B sisters featuring guest appearances from Swae Lee and Mike Will Made-It

Added: 26/06/2020
7.5

Deerhoof

Future Teenage Cave Artists

Album number fifteen from the experimental San Francisco indie rock quartet

Added: 28/05/2020
7.5

Sonic Boom

All Things Being Equal

First album since 1989's Spectrum from Spacemen 3's Peter Kember

Added: 05/06/2020
7.5

Keleketla!

Keleketla!

Album from the South African and British collective led by Coldcut, founders of the Ninja Tune label

Added: 04/07/2020
7.5

Gordi

Our Two skins

Second album from the Australian folktronica singer-songwriter Sophie Payten

Added: 26/06/2020

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Latest Reviews

Keleketla! Keleketla!

Keleketla! breeds an impossibly enticing sense of hope that one day things might be better Loud And Quiet

Keleketla! Keleketla!

Some tracks lean too far towards tastefully decaffeinated worldbeat. But there are soulful depths and deliciously supple rhythms too. Print edition only Uncut

Keleketla! Keleketla!

Galvanising, jazzy embrace of call-and-response tradition. Print edition only Mojo

More reviews

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KhruangbinMordechai
"A thrilling concoction that sounds otherworldly, eternally infectious and upbeat" - The Music's take on the 3rd LP from the Texan trio while Clash say "‘Moredechai’ is this summer’s sunset record"

Fresh stuff

Women In Music Pt III by Haim

"It's somehow punky, vulnerable and soothing – and a thing of great beauty" - NME's take on the third album from the LA pop rock trio while Q describe it as "zeitgeist-friendly" and "genre-hopping"

Nadine ShahKitchen Sink
The Line Of Best Fit say the fourth album from the South Tyneside singer-songwriter is her "strongest effort to date" and is "filled with brooding intensity". Clash say it's "a fantastic return driven by ruthless honesty"

Jessie WareWhat's Your Pleasure?
"One of the best albums of 2020 so far" - The Irish Times' take on the 4th LP from the English R&B pop star while All Music say it's "a beautiful, enigmatic, joyous, sultry, utterly fabulous and insanely-inventive album"

Lamb Of GodLamb Of God
Consequence Of Sound reckon that with LP No9 the Richmond, Virginia outfit "prove themselves to be titans of heavy metal". All Music say it's "a tense, yet confident album for taut and uncomfortable times"

Neil YoungHomegrown
"It’s like meeting friends you haven’t seen in years" - The Arts Desk's take on the previously unreleased 1975 album from the legendary Canadian singer-songwriter while Rolling Stone say "it feels perfect right now"

Rose City BandSummerlong
"Casts an unashamedly sunny eight-song spell" - The Observer's take on the 2nd LP from Ripley Johnson's (Wooden Shjips/Moon Duo) side project. Uncut say there's "not a weak moment to be found"

Orlando WeeksA Quickening
"In documenting fatherhood, Orlando Weeks has emerged as a songwriter renewed" - Clash's take on the solo debut from the former Maccabees frontman while DIY say it's "nothing short of stunning"

Jehnny BethTo Love Is To Live
"A warm-blooded manifesto for the agony and awe of being alive" - Gigwise's verdict on the debut solo album from the Savages front woman while Clash describe it as "a sonic poltergeist with sentiment to boot"

Sonic BoomAll Things Being Equal
Under The Radar reckon the first solo album since 1989's Spectrum from Peter Kember is his "finest body of work" since Spacemen 3. Mojo describe it as "urgent, retro-futurist and profoundly absorbing"

Jade HairpinsHarmony Avenue
"It’s hard not to be swept up in the sheer glee that runs throughout the album" - music OMH’s take on the debut from Fucked Up's Falco and Haliechuk. Loud & Quiet say it's "playful and spontaneous"

HindsThe Prettiest Curse
The Skinny reckon the third album from the Madrid-based garage rock quartet is "the year’s sharpest, wittiest pop record" while PopMatters say it "captures the vibrancy of youth without being childish"

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