17 December 2018
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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Posthumous release of the third album from the Florida rapper features a guest appearance from Kanye West.
Debut full-length release from the singer-songwriter and member of Elvis Perkins touring band recorded in St. Louis
Debut album from the New Zealand-born, Berlin-based composer and classical pianist Indira Force
Collaborative electronic debut between Gold Panda (Derwin Dicker) and Jas Shaw of Simian Mobile Disco
Third album from the veteran Ukrainian pianist renowned for his "continuous music" technique
Fourth full-length album from the Chicago-based singer-songwriter with guest appearances from Jarvis Cocker and The Handsome Family’s Jason Toth
40th full-length album from the legendary Irish singer features six new original songs and eight covers
Fourth album of hip hop from the Philidelphia rapper featuring guest appearances from Cardi B, Future, Young Thug, Ella Mai, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, and Drake
Third full-length album from LA-based rapper and member of hip hop collective Odd Future with guest appearances from Navy Blue and Standing On The Corner
Second album from the Canadian Grammy-winning R&B/Pop singer working with producers Pop and Oak
Ninth solo studio album by British guitar icon
Second full-length solo release from the alt country artist and Wilco front man produced and recorded entirely at Chicago’s now legendary studio, The Loft (with help from some of his usual collaborators – Spencer Tweedy, Glenn Kotche and Tom Schick)
Latest release from the prolific avant-garde Slovenian band formed in 1980 is a reinterpretation of the soundtrack of the musical
Third album from Manchester-based indie rock / pop quartet produced by Matthew Healy and George Daniel
Second full-length release by English-Albanian pop singer featuring collaborations with Alesso, Rudimental and Avicii as well as guest appearances from Julia Michaels, Cardi B, Bebe Rexha and Charli XCX
First new full-length studio album by English and German indie pop outfit in seven years produced by Jim Moray
Third full-length studio release by Southern Californian R&B artist featuring guest appearances from Kadhja Bonet, BJ The Chicago Kid, J. Cole, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Norelle, Pusha T, Q-Tip, Cocoa Sarai and Snoop Dogg
Fifth full-length studio release by British pop group featuring guest appearances from Kamille, Nicki Minaj, and Sharaya J
Sixth full-length release by Chicago singer-songwriter, drummer Ryan Jewell and bassist Andrew Scott Young covering Dave Matthews’ infamously abandoned 2001 art-rock masterpiece of the same name
Posthumous release of second full-length studio album by New York rapper completed with the help of his mother, Liza Womack, and producer Smokeasac
Van Morrison The Prophet Speaks
Compared to the majesty of Astral Weeks, released almost exactly 50 years ago, it’s a ragtag collection that’s unlikely to appeal beyond true believers Evening Standard
Alessia Cara Alessia Cara
Her voice, while gorgeous, is not big in range – its beauty lies in its candidness and presence. She sings like she’s personally sharing intimate tales with each listener NOW
XXXTentacion Skins
The rapper's tragic life makes his art hit home harder than ever Consequence Of Sound
His music, particularly now that he’s no longer around to complete it, is of dubious merit Slant Magazine
Shot dead in June, the rapper has since stormed charts worldwide. This posthumous album reveals a maverick talent – and a grim contribution from Kanye West The Guardian
Strictly for fans who needed just ten more reasons to hear his voice All Music
'SKINS' is another fiery blast of catharsis, a largely metaphor-free space where depression isn't hinted at poetically but invited to throw down The Independent
Underneath it all, the posthumous album from the Florida rapper is woefully aimless and structurally unsound Pitchfork
Lubomyr Melnyk Fallen Trees
This, like the other excellent records he has given us since his belated emergence into the global limelight, is a work of quiet - but nonetheless defiant – beauty from a true great of contemporary classical music Drowned In Sound
Daniel Knox Chasescene
Wonderfully dark fourth album. Print edition only Uncut
The production is old Hollywood by way of Weimar Berlin: tipsy pianos, swooning strings and debonair melodies Evening Standard
Vera Sola Shades
Vera wrote, played and arranged all of the parts herself, creating layers of sounds using traditional instrumentation that is both complex and sparse. Shades is a world of lone marching drums with choirs hidden in the shadows God Is In The TV
There's much to admire. Print edition only Uncut
Think Jolie Holland, or P.J. Harvey's To Bring You My Love, and prepare to be entranced. Print edition only Mojo
Ultimately Sola's muse remains rooted in the nocturnal. Print edition only Q
Pitchfork say that with his third full-length album the LA-based rapper "blurs the line between avant-garde jazz and hip-hop" while NME describe it as "dense, experimental and deeply fascinating"
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