20 January 2021
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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Second solo album from the Big Thief guitarist produced by Andrew Sarlo who has worked on all Big Thief releases
Second full-length album from the Norwegian electronic pop-punk quartet who all trained at the Trondheim Conservatory
Third solo album from former One Direction singer Zayn Malik featuring guest appearances from Syd (of The Internet) and Deviln
Debut mixtape from the London-based, North Carolina-born rapper features guest appearances from Grimes, Kelis and Princess Nokia
Third full-length album from the Los Angeles singer-songwriter produced by Lewis Pesacov (Best Coast, FIDLAR, Local Natives)
Sixth full-length album from the Chicago-based singer-songwriter produced by Joshua Fitzgerald Klocek
Sixth album form the English rockers produced by Dan Austin (Twin Atlantic, Futures, Pulled Apart By Horses, Maxïmo Park)
Latest release from the Philadelphia R&B / soul singer includes contributions from Ari Lennox, Anderson .Paak and H.E.R
Second album of guitar-based indie rock from the Brixton-based quintet produced by James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, Foals, Florence and the Machine, Depeche Mode)
Eleventh studio album from the Nottingham-based post-punk duo Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn
Third full-length album from the Ontario alt.rock trio by produced by John Goodmanson (Bikini Kill, Death Cab for Cutie, Los Campesinos!, Sleater-Kinney)
Third solo release from the Bee Gees man is a covers album of their songs from the likes of Dolly Parton, Jason Isbell and Gillian Welch, produced by Dave Cobb (Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, John Prine)
Second album from the Stockholm post-punk six-piece
Second album from the Atlanta rapper Jordan Terrell Carter, with guests including Future, Kanye West and Kid Cudi
The latest release from the alt.country singer songwriter features songs by his late son Justin Townes Earle who passed away in August 2020
Final album from the Chicago indie rock band after more than 20 releases since forming in 1995
Surprise release of 2020 from the Detroit rapper is produced by Dr Dre and includes guest from Skylar Grey, DJ Premier, Ty Dolla Sign, Black Thought, Q-Tip, Juice Wrld and Ed Sheeran
Collaboration between Canadian duo Kacy & Clayton and New Zealand singer-songwriter Marlon Williams recorded in 2019 in Saskatoon, Canada
Third and final installment of the Cleveland, Ohio rapper's trilogy with guest appearances from Pop Smoke, Skepta, Phoebe Bridgers and Trippie Redd
Eleventh album, and second of 2020, from the Californian indie/folk singer-songwriter is a Billie Holiday covers album
Buck Meek Two Saviors
The Big Thief guitarist’s wonderfully relaxed second solo album all but drifts by The Observer
A soothing antidote to literally everything else 2020 has thrown our way DIY
While Meek isn’t fully out of the shadow that Lenker and Big Thief have created, Two Saviors makes a fine argument that he should be taken seriously as his own artist No Ripcord
Two Saviors was finished in the before-times, when dwelling on one’s thoughts wasn’t a given and recording with a band in a New Orleans house (read: being with other people) posed little risk. Yet, Meek’s desire to learn more about himself and his craft — “coming into a new skin” — runs throughout Two Saviors Beats Per Minute
It's a fine country record refracted through a DIY folk-rock lens. Print edition only Uncut
Throughout Two Saviors, Meek's uniquely kindly tenor conveys evocative phrases and settings that likewise stand apart from the crowd All Music
There is certainly a place for Meek outside of Big Thief, he may just be trying a bit too hard here to play the educated hayseed Under The Radar
Pom Poko Cheater
This record is lean as they come, but it dishes out such an unrelenting wavelength of stir-crazy exuberance that its aftertaste is probably best described as fraught Sputnik Music (staff)
Joan Of Arc Tim Melina Theo Bobby
It could have used some help in the sequencing department, but the fact that they never got that help makes this goodbye all the more real and satisfying, and classically Joan of Arc Spectrum Culture
Shame Drunk Tank Pink
Songs have a tendency to morph into storms. It’s turbulent, but also exhilarating. You can not help but feel rejuvenated after listening to it. With this record there’s certainly a good time to be had The Quietus
The south Londoners' second album sees them explore their identities through claustrophobic chaos. Despite the delayed release, the timing is just right NME
The Norwegian four-piece push their exploratory sound into even weirder places than before. However gnarly things get, though, they always bring the party NME
Their tricks are always in service of their songs on Cheater, and their excitement about the possibilities of their music is utterly contagious All Music
Wacky, joyful and crammed with creativity The Irish Times
A blissfully odd record Gigwise
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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
Fiona Apple Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Kendrick Lamar Damn.
D'Angelo And The Vanguard Black Messiah
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Ghosteen
Bob Dylan Rough and Rowdy Ways
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Skeleton Tree
Frank Ocean Channel Orange
Anaïs Mitchell Hadestown
Run The Jewels RTJ4