Any decent music? We review the reviews. You get the final word

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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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Unlisted recent releases

New albums with less than five reviews so far

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Paul McCartneyKisses on the Bottom

Sir Paul's latest foray is chiefly a collection of covers of 1940s songs, and the critics are divided. Reactions range from "stunning" to "competent"

schoolboyq

new

Of MontrealParalytic Stalks

Three positive responses - including an 8.5 from The Line Of Best Fit - among the first reviews for the eccentric Georgia indie pop band's 11th album

new

AirLe Voyage Dans La Lune

Niche but charming sums up the critical consensus so far for the French duo's album inspired by the 1902 film, which they also soundtracked

Decent tracks

Tracks the critics are loving: read then listen

The 2 Bears
Church
" Church is still arguably the best thing they’ve done ... it would thaw the edges of even the coldest of hearts" music OMH

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Mull Historical Society
The Lights
" The Lights cannot fail to put a smile on your face" Fake DIY

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First Aid Kit
The Lion's Roar
" 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

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Django Django
Waveforms
" Waveforms flows with typical electro flourishes and polyrhythmic beats before climaxing with a stunning multi-harmony coda" music OMH

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Porcelain Raft
Backwords
" The emotional centerpiece of the record is Backwords, a gorgeous, melancholy number. It’s a stunning, poignant track" The Line Of Best Fit

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Chairlift
Ghost Tonight
" The memorable point of Something is standout track Ghost Tonight. Polachek's vocal abilities are really something to marvel at" BPM

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Rodrigo y Gabriela
Logos
" Standout track Logos is a deeply nostalgic elegy in which Gabriela’s percussive wizardry really shines through" AU Magazine

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Albums to watch

HospitalityHospitality

These Brooklyn indie-poppers' debut charts with a 6.8 rating. It's "a solid pop album through and through" says Prefix, while A.V. Club award a 9.1.

Darren HaymanJanuary Songs

The singer-songwriter's 31 songs each written, recorded and released every day in January 2011 comes into the chart with a respectable 6.8 rating

Portico QuartetPortico Quartet

The London jazz / fusion / electronica outfit's 3rd album charts on a promising 7.2 rating, with four 8/10s from its first five reviews

Prinzhorn Dance SchoolClay Class

Mostly positive reviews so far for the 2nd album from English minimal post-punk / alt.rock duo Tobin Prinz and Suzi Horn

Mull Historical SocietyCity Awakening

A creditable 6.7 rating for this collection from Colin MacIntyre. Q feels he's finally living up to his "next big thing" tag from 10 years ago

Rodrigo y GabrielaArea 52

Critics are divided on this collaboration with a Cuban orchestra. Some say it's a successful expansion of their sound; others feel it weakens their appeal

The Playlist Archive

Saved & stored, by popular demand

The Playlist Archive

ALL PLAYLISTS LINK DIRECTLY TO SPOTIFY

The Newspaper Playlist
Good news, bad news, old news
newspapers

Odd Placenames
From Nazareth to Stornoway
placenames

The Liverpool Playlist
China Crisis, Boo Radleys, Bunnymen
liverpool

Feathered Friends
Swans, Doves, and, err, Hawkwind
birds

Occupational Therapy
Clerks, postmen & shoe salesmen
jobs

The Football Playlist
Pele, Maradona and hooligans
football

Days of the Week
From Monday to, umm, Sunday
days

Money money money
With no cheesy Abba
money

Bring me sunshine
Mos Def, the Pistols, Arctic Monkeys etc
sunshine

Madchester classics
Roses, etc ... you know the score
madchester

The F1 Playlist
Racing Cars, err, Chicks on Speed
racing

(Not) Classical
Mozart, Bach, Beethoven & no symphonies
classical

The Gin & Tonic playlist
Cocktails with Snoop Dogg & more
gin

Blame the bankers
The credit crunch playlist
credit crunch

On Cloud Nine
Sasha, Stones, the Orb...
clouds

Rainy Days
With The Beta Band, Eminem et al
rain

Man's Best Friend
Super Furry Animals' Golden Retreiver anyone?
dogs

Ooh la la
Le liste Francais, mesdames et monsieurs
france

The Seaside Playlist
Oh we do like to be beside ...
seaside

The Well-Read Playlist
From Graham Greene to Kerouac
literary

Odd Animals
Frightened Rabbits, Modest Mice
oddanimals

It's My Party
And I'll make a playlist if I want to
parties

Shop soiled
Eels, Undertones, Eek-a-Mouse
shopping

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Latest Reviews

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Sleigh Bells Reign Of Terror

Over-exposure might result in feelings of disorientation and a headache, but that's likely just the way Miller and Krauss want it. Print edition only Mojo

Shearwater Animal Joy

A set of Anglophile songs, bookish and gently melancholic. Print edition only Mojo

Alternative/Blog Chart

What's finding favour with bloggers & other review sites

See all unlisted recent reviews

Fresh Stuff

Fresh Stuff

Born To Die, by Lana Del Rey

The much anticipated debut from the NY singer-songwriter has divided the critics, with ratings ranging from a 10 from the Independent on Sunday to a 0 from Tiny Mix Tapes

Field MusicPlumb
The first couple or reviews are in for the Brewis brothers, who return with their fourth album. The BBC praises what it calls "asymmetric pop."

Maverick SabreLonely Are the Brave
Some enthusiastic reactions among the first reviews for the debut from the pop-soul singer and rapper. music OMH calls it "a truly exquisite performance"

Black BananasRad Times Xpress IV
Jennifer Herrema's new project is attracting mixed reviews with 3s from both Drowned In Sound and Line Of Best Fit to an 8 from Pop Matters

Imperial TeenFeel The Sound
The latest from the power pop quartet is a "killer" according to Spin. Other reviewers aren't quite as enthusiastic, but it charts on a 6.5 rating

AlogUnemployed
The 6th album of post-rock experiments from the Norwegian duo Espen has attracted only three reviews so far, but they're all extremely enthusiastic ones

RM HubbertThirteen Lost & Found
Plenty of praise for the second solo release from the guitarist, also featuring an array of guest Scottish talent. Clash calls it "delicate and beautiful"

All-time top 10

Since we've been around, that is. So, the highest-rated albums from the past three years or so