9 May 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.
Browse specific styles
Latest full-length release from the New York-based rapper featuring contributions from El-P, ELUCID, Shabaka Hutchings, Jeff Markey, Messiah Musik, Kenny Segal, The Alchemist and more
8.4
NEW Working with an array of collaborators with impressive cohesivity, on his latest album, billy woods reflects on race and class through surrealist, horror-inspired soundscapes Read Review
NEW An abrasive, demanding album with a beautifully singular vision Read Review
NEW The album is intensely confrontational and makes no effort to hold your hand Read Review
NEW Assisted by his producers, he spotlights the absurdity and nightmare of human existence while lauding the magical properties of art Read Review
NEW Even more so than woods' other albums, GOLLIWOG is a challenging work dealing with grim yet truthful subject matter, but it's fascinating and enjoyable due to the rapper's brilliant writing and focused delivery, as well as innovative production from his collaborators Read Review
Roll over video for more options
Arcade Fire Pink Elephant
It reprises their indie-modified take on panoramic, heartland rock and synth-pop, though with little emotional impact and no clear intent. Print edition only Uncut
It's largely stripped of their loftier excesses. Instead, the tone - meditative, inward-looking - coalesces around Circle Of Trust's tender electro, Ride Or Die's minimal escapist lullaby or the tech-U2 of She Cries Diamond Rain. Print edition only Mojo
Embattled rockers recenter their musical vision and emotional world on Pink Elephant Rolling Stone
PinkPantheress Fancy That
It's a tentative 4/4 plod that fluffs sweetly by The Arts Desk
20-minute mixtape Fancy That highlights the rising U.K. pop star's fondness for collaborations and early-2000s bangers Rolling Stone
The mixtape marks a decided shift from the primarily U.K. garage of the singer’s debut album Slant Magazine
Denigrated by some as the epitome of attention-deficit youth, the English pop musician became huge nonetheless – and her latest has an inspiringly free-associative feel The Guardian
No features, no distractions. Just her, telling stories and building a new soundscape out of the one that raised her Clash
Fancy That is some of Pink's most carefree work, but it's still highly emotional, and its songs are as well-crafted, catchy, and creative as anything else she's done All Music
The once-elusive bedroom producer returns with hyperactive beats, messy romance and zero fear NME
Sleep Token Even In Arcadia
Marginalising many of the heavier elements of their sound, the masked sensations take their deepest dive into R&B and electro to date Rolling Stone UK
It’s a unique commercial and artistic asset, which cannot be taught. If anything, they take the precise quality to the next level on this project, with a refinement that’s there for everyone to witness Clash
Arcadia’s minor quibbles are easily dwarfed by the height of its peaks. It isn’t quite an album of all-timers, but it’s more than enough to bring in wave after wave of gleaming gold spoils all over again Kerrang!
Spearheaded by the piano and some of Vessel’s most human lyrics to date, the metallers’ fourth album seals their status as the overlords of their scene and generation NME
Sleep Token have conclusively proven themselves to be wholly incompetent songwriters and everything here is almost offensively boring. Goodbye Sputnik Music (staff)
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
Spiritbox Tsunami Sea
Kendrick Lamar Damn.
D'Angelo And The Vanguard Black Messiah
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Ghosteen
Self Esteem Prioritise Pleasure
Bob Dylan Rough and Rowdy Ways
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Skeleton Tree
Frank Ocean Channel Orange