17 June 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.
Browse specific styles
Our archive of chart news from the past, and present.
Sarah Davachi Pale Bloom
Sarah Davachi asserts herself as a composer rather than a mere ambient artist on these four ghostly tracks that comprise Pale Bloom PopMatters
The Canadian composer turns from electroacoustic minimalism to contemplative, deeply focused compositions for piano, organ, voice, and strings. Pitchfork
These are quietly quixotic pieces, rich and poignant, possessing a stilled, slowly unfolding melancholia. Print edition only Uncut
Sarah Davachi takes Bach down multiple pathways, purifying the listener with techno-druid oscillations that could shake both soul and glass The Quietus
The more she continues to challenge herself and her audience, the more rewarding her work becomes Resident Advisor
Bruce Springsteen Western Stars
It’s a rewarding hour and he's earned the light relief. The Quietus
This is familiar ground for Springsteen, although the album brings a degree of reinvention to him too The FT
Madonna Madame X
Reggaetón meets classical piano and electropop on an eclectic, expansive 14th album The FT
Kate Tempest The Book Of Traps And Lessons
An always thought-provoking record The Observer
Bill Callahan Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest
Callahan’s gnomic half-smile and his ability to pull the rug out under certainties remain. The shepherd’s in a sheepskin waistcoat, after all – capable of betrayal. The Observer
Springsteen sings brilliantly throughout, gritty on Hitch Hikin’, Orbison-operatic on the more elaborate pieces, and though the high notes can prove elusive, he retains the cadence of a born narrator. Brave and intriguing The Observer
Baroness Gold & Grey
The Philadephia-based quartet have put their travails behind them and found a new sense of purpose on this more psychedelic fifth album The Guardian
Humour and subtly shattering insights into a new life as a parent add profundity to Callahan’s expansive album The Guardian
Producer Rick Rubin has pared back the effects, giving Tempest’s songs about trying to love and dance through our current crises room to reach out The Guardian
A collection of songs that are sweet, sad, and searching, songs that feel finely etched on their own terms but gather a deep, lasting resonance when collected on this enchanting album All Music
As we're sure you are aware this is a really tough time for websites like ours. So we are asking you to help support us in any way you can via Patreon. Whether it's a small amount each month or a one-off payment, everything we receive will be put back into making ADM as good as it can possibly be.
The Irish Times reckon the 19th solo LP from the singer-songwriter is "his most radical and arguably his best album for some time". PopMatters say it's "deeply moving, inventive and even a bit risky"
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.
Kendrick Lamar To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar Damn.
D'Angelo And The Vanguard Black Messiah
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Skeleton Tree
Frank Ocean Channel Orange
Anaïs Mitchell Hadestown
Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Leonard Cohen You Want It Darker
Sufjan Stevens Carrie & Lowell
Mount Eerie A Crow Looked at Me