21 June 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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First full-length collaborative between Beyonce and Jay-Z featuring guest appearances from Migos, Offset, Quavo and Ty Dolla $ign
The Detroit post-punk group's latest EP features Kelley Deal of the Breeders
Second album from the Bay Area garage punks, produced by Carlos de la Garza (Paramore, Jimmy Eat World)
First album in 6 years from the NYC rapper, the fourth in a series of five albums recorded at Kanye's Wyoming studio
Latest release from the Los Angeles jazz saxophonist with contributions from Tony Austin, Ronald Bruner, Jr., Brandon Coleman, Cameron Graves, Terrace Martin and Thundercat
Album number five from David Macklovitch (Dave 1) and Patrick Gemayel (P-Thugg), the Montreal-based electro-funk duo
Belfast quartet's fourth album of indie surf rock
Eighth studio album from the American singer, her first in six years, with Kanye West and Anderson Paak amongst the producer credits
Second album under this name from Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz
The self-produced third solo album from the former Smiths guitarist
A collaborative album from the Rhode Island extreme metal and New York industrial duos
Debut full-length from the indie rock quintet from Melbourne, Australia
Debut studio album of experimental art pop from LA-based, Scottish-born Sophie Xeon, its title a reverse mondegreen of "I love every person's insides"
Debut full-length album from the English deep house producer and DJ, a three part project (along with a novella and short film) about his grandparents emigration to New York in the 1960s
Second studio album from French indie dream pop singer-songwriter Melody Prochet
Debut album of indie garage rock from the Welsh quartet, led by singer/guitarist Davey Newington
Debut full-length release from the Washington, DC post-punk band produced by Nicolas Vernhes (Animal Collective, Deerhunter, The Fiery Furnaces, Dirty Projectors, The War on Drugs)
The New York-based Beninese singer-songwriter covers the entire Talking Heads' 1980 album produced by Jef Bhasker (Rihanna, Kanye West, Harry Styles, Bruno Mars, Drake, Jay-Z)
First new release in nine years from the American ambient jazz trumpeter
Debut album from the hip hop supergroup Kanye West and Kid Cudi
Kamasi Washington Heaven & Earth
The US saxophonist has found his time and it is now: this excellent album connects politics with the jazz of the past to create an angrily inclusive new vision The Guardian
The Carters Everything Is Love
They sound both aware of and immersed in the culture surrounding them while fully settled into their own reality as billionaires. In essence, they are Black, rich and famous, in that order NOW
With its forward-thinking, deep-searching nature counterbalanced by a natural warmth and populist, groove-heavy approach, it’s another hugely accomplished work by a man whose prolific run of form shows no signs of abating Record Collector
This is the rare jazz record that feels equipped to venture outside the genre's familiar borders and engage with the wider world. Print edition only Uncut
Washington's gift for euphonic arrangements and eagerness to explore new forms is evident throughout. Print edition only Q
A series of near-overwhelming musical epiphanies. Print edition only Mojo
Sophie Oil Of Every Pearl's Un-Insides
No man, nor woman, could replicate this album. The intricacy of the sounds of tracks like Infatuation and Not Okay are sure signs of a master Gig Soup
Nas NASIR
Overall Nasir is disappointingly heedless Exclaim
The Magic Gang The Magic Gang
All the elements that have made for their most enjoyable material are still here, and the band shows they are just as capable as they have always been at captivating listeners Exclaim
Uniform & The Body Mental Wounds Not Healing
Judging in broad strokes doesn’t give much room for considering why their recent work has been so well received Earbuddy
Chromeo Head Over Heels
The album is banging for the most part and arrives on perfect time for your summer playlists Earbuddy
This isn’t an album of ‘Crazy In Love’ or ‘Drunk In Love’ successors. It’s an album of love, and all the forms it can take in and outside of you. The 405
Head Over Heels is maddeningly catchy and no party this summer is complete without it Spectrum Culture
There’s no way to get around this: the worst part about Nas’s new album is Nas Pretty Much Amazing
Jazz saxophonist capitalizes on newfound fame to deliver a masterful double album Consequence Of Sound
The Guardian reckon that with his eighth album the biggest name in rap "is bracingly honest about his mental health struggles" while The Irish Times say it "exhibits hints of the self-awareness and empathy"
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