3 November 2025
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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Album number ten from the Austin-based folk rock musician recorded in Santa Monica with producer Ross Hogarth
7.3
McMurtry's latest lifts storytelling-in-song to meticulous new levels. Print edition only
On his expertly written 10th album, the Texas storyteller delivers some of his most intense and humane work Read Review
His work is full of the messy energy and surprising turns of a life lived hard, and on The Horses and the Hounds, the music speaks as vividly as his excellent songs. Not many artists pushing 60 get to deliver as satisfying a breakthrough as this one Read Review
The Horses and the Hounds proves that James McMurtry’s nearly peerless ability to tear our hearts out with a good yarn hasn’t waned a bit Read Review
McMurtry’s ability to fit entire lives and big ideas into a few minutes reaches a new peak on his latest album Read Review
Upon first listen, The Horses and the Hounds is reminiscent of most other McMurtry albums, but as it unfolds, new textures appear and settle into the mix like they’ve always belonged Read Review
Not quite up to par with the last three indie label releases, but he set the bar high. Print edition only
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Snocaps Snocaps
The Crutchfield twins — accompanied by MJ Lenderman and Brad Cook — reunite for a spirited new project that plays to their strengths and embraces all the miles they’ve traveled Pitchfork
Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield and her twin sister Allison Crutchfield of Swearin’ get together for a fantastic surprise album Rolling Stone
Despite Snocaps' supergroup pedigree, their debut album feels less like boygenius-style star-making moment and more like a low-stakes romp. With a spirit of fun and camaraderie, this feels a bit like the rock-leaning cousin to Katie Crutchfield's band Plains Exclaim
Music from Katie is always welcome and, these days, not so rare. Which makes the return of Allison to the forefront on half these tracks the most wonderful of Snocaps’ surprises Under The Radar
Waxahatchee and her twin sister are joined by Lenderman and Brad Cook for an album of headstrong, tender Americana about chasing integrity and conviction The Guardian
The twin sisters’ first album together since P.S. Eliot’s breakup in 2011 is a hailstorm of warm, exceptionally-written country-rock bangers backed by MJ Lenderman and Brad Cook Paste Magazine
Witch Fever Fevereaten
Every single aspect of this record presents an elevated version of a band that many already loved, and it’s a joy to listen to Far Out
Anna Von Hausswolff ICONOCLASTS
For newcomers, this album presents a near perfect, accessible entry into her recordings All Music
The Charlatans We Are Love
The Charlatans have done with We Are Love and while it may not win them front page news, it's an accomplishment well worth applauding All Music
Florence + The Machine Everybody Scream
Her first album after three difficult years is an epic reassertion of Florence’s fearsome, spell-binding power Evening Standard
It’s the sound of a band unafraid to stare something horrible in the face and keep moving forward anyway Dork
A little more of Final Girl's filmic atmospherics might have added life and range, but when Drank The Sap hits its stride, Witch Fever max the catharsis with satisfying force. Print edition only Record Collector
Witch Fever is a band with overwhelming promise. Even in ‘FEVEREATEN’s less cohesive moments, they show their potential to grow into their sound and harness every remnant of emotion Clash
In their second full-length album, Manchester's Witch Fever deliver a high impact, genre-bending rejection of hegemony The Skinny
This is an album for the coldest of autumns and for dark nights of the soul. It’s hellish, haunting and an emotional maelstrom, deeper and more textured than Witch Fever have ever gone before. At this point, everyone needs to know who this band are Kerrang!
Since we've been around, that is. So, the highest-rated albums from the past twelve 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
Spiritbox Tsunami Sea
Self Esteem Prioritise Pleasure
Bob Dylan Rough and Rowdy Ways
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Skeleton Tree
Frank Ocean Channel Orange