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20 July 2017

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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Unlisted recent releases

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Arcade FireEverything Now

The Arts Desk reckon the fifth album from the Canadian indie rock band is "a thrilling thing to experience". Consequence of Sound though feel that for the first time "Win Butler and co. sound insubstantial"

New

Art FeynmanBlast Off Through The Wicker

Pitchfork reckon this avant-pop LP from the Here We Go Magic frontman Luke Temple is "his most cohesive yet" and that he's "a cool purveyor of dub-kraut". The 405 say it's "short, beautiful, and enjoyable"

New

The DearsTimes Infinity Volume Two

The husband-wife duo's second record this year is "another triumph" according to GIITTV, and The Irish Times are happy to say "seven albums in, they're still capable of surprises"

Highest Recent Ratings

Albums to watch

Jay-Z4:44

"As a direct, firework-filled admission of past mistakes, ‘4:44’ couldn’t be more watertight" - NME's take on LP No13 from the hip hop giant. The Guardian say it's "a bracingly honest but conservative confessional "

This Is The KitMoonshine Freeze

"A five-star stone-cold instant classic" - The Irish Times' take on the fourth album from the British folk-rock band fronted by Kate Stables. Exclaim say it's "a uniquely woven tapestry of captivating beauty"

Public Service BroadcastingEvery Valley

"The overall effect is sad and stirring" - Evening Standard's take on the third studio album from London krautrock / synthpop band. Q say it's "poignant and powerful"

Broken Social SceneHug Of Thunder

"This is simply the sound of a band having the time of their lives. A delight" - The Skinny's take on the fifth LP from the Canadian dream pop / art rock collective. Q say it's "joyous, enraged and exciting"

HaimSomething To Tell You

The Music reckon that with their second studio album the LA pop rock trio's music "has an ability to transport its listener to a different time". The Skinny say "they aren't out to re-invent the wheel"

Fleet FoxesCrack-Up

"Possibly the greatest indie-folk act of the decade" - Sputnik give a perfect 10 to the Seattle band's first record in 5 years. Uncut find it "distinctive, involving, challenging, accessible, progressive"

Unlisted Releases : current releases

The ADM rating is a weighted average from our survey of more than 50 sources , taking into account the number of reviews

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Avey Tare

Eucalyptus

Second solo album of experimental rock from Animal Collective member David Portner recorded by bandmate Joshua Dibb
Childhood

Universal High

Second album of soul-inspired indie pop from the London-based quartet recorded in Atlanta, Gerogia
Coldplay

Kaleidoscope EP

Five-track EP from the English rock quartet with contributions from Big Sean and Brian Eno
Denys Baptiste

The Late Trane

The London jazz saxophonist reworks eight compositions from the latter part of John Coltrane's career
INVSN

The Beautiful Stories

Second album under this name and fourth overall from the post-punk band from Umeå, Sweden led by Dennis Lyxzén
Lo Tom

Lo Tom

David Bazan's latest project, featuring members of Pedro the Lion and Starflyer 59
Omar Souleyman

To Syria, With Love

The Syria dabke musician's latest is his first with Hasan Alo handling synths and programming
The Strypes

Spitting Image

Third record from the Irish mod revival group
Tunabunny

Pcp Presents Alice in Wonderland Jr.

The fifth album from the Athens, Georgia quartet is a 28-track double

Latest Reviews

Waxahatchee Out In The Storm

Songs are steeped in creeping '90s guitar with ear-catching lyrics, plus a sense of vibrancy that comes from the fact Crutchfield really does have something to say. Print edition only Uncut

Avey Tare Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus summons the wide-eyed wonder of the band's breakthrough, Merriweather Post Pavilion The Music

Avey Tare Eucalyptus

An album less about bombast and more about blissed-out vignettes and vistas suitable for any time of day Exclaim

Oh WonderUltralife
"Encapsulates what is missing from so much modern pop" - The Irish Times take on the second album from the London-based alt-pop duo while Evening Standard say it's "bigger and bolder than their first"

Mura MasaMura Masa
Alex Crossan's guest-filled debut is "pure quality" according to Q, although Mojo reckon "few of his collaborations stick or turn out to be more than the sum of their parts"

21 SavageIssa Album
The Atlanta rapper's debut gets a mixed reception - The AU Review note its "appeal comes mainly from its catchiness", but Crack feel his "classic record is already behind him"

BorisDear
"The work of a group of experimentalists with all their faculties on full power" - The Arts Desk's take on the latest from the prolific Japanese noise rock trio. Exclaim say they're "a band that continue to impress"

Japanese BreakfastSoft Sounds From Another Planet
"Yet another lesson in guitar pop perfection " - The Skinny's take on the 2nd solo LP of lo-fi pop from Michelle Zauner. The Guardian say it's "dreamlike and existential"

Shabazz PalacesQuazarz Vs The Jealous Machines
"You'll spend months decoding, every spin yielding something new" - Mojo's take on one of two simultaneous release from the Seattle experimental hip-hop collective

Shabazz PalacesQuazarz: Born On A Gangster Star
"The music itself provides the surface glitz, unspooling in sumptuous tapestries" - Slant's take on one of two simultaneous release from the experimental hip-hop collective

Sheer MagNeed to Feel Your Love
DIY reckon the first full-length release from the Philadelphia rock five-piece is "an album that not only shreds, but feels prescient, too". The Skinny say they are "one of punk’s most promising prospects"

WaxahatcheeOut In The Storm
"It’s a privilege to witness this talent as it continues to bloom" - The Skinny's take on the 4th LP from the indie singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield. TLoBF say it's "her noisiest and least apologetic yet"

Jupiter & OkwessKin Sonic
The Congolese bandleader's second international release is, simply, "a winner" according to The Observer, and the ES admire his "challenging politics - with the swagger of a rock star"

All-time top 10

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.