11 September 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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Second surprise release from the Canadian pop singer-songwriter featuring guest appearances by Bakar, Eddie Benjamin, Hurricane Chris, Lil B and Tems
4.8
NEW Two months after the Canadian pop star made his long-awaited return, he’s back with a second instalment that’s more playful in places, but still feels monotonous Read Review
NEW Consumed as a whole, the 23-track ‘SWAG II’ is a means to monopolise the streaming charts for the remainder of this year and beyond. What should have been a passion project distilled and edited into a leaner whole, now feels like a ploy to be omnipresent Read Review
NEW Bieber drops off another 23 tracks’ worth of SWAG, his Dijon- and Mk.gee-assisted foray into alt-R&B. Bland and underwritten, the sequel magnifies the weaknesses of the original Read Review
NEW Bieber follows the surprisingly good Swag with the depressingly safe Swag II Read Review
NEW Part two of Bieber’s seventh album adds very little: it’s largely bland pop with glimpses of quality thanks to a buzzy supporting cast including Dijon and Bakar Read Review
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Baxter Dury Allbarone
It's a potent start, but Allbarone gets better, deeper, more engaging and – crucially – stranger with each track, with Dury’s half-muttered speak-song voice mutating into more and more enticingly contorted shapes with each successive track The Line Of Best Fit
His most compelling album in almost a decade. Print edition only Record Collector
Same old boots, maybe, but significantly racier kecks. Print edition only Mojo
Things are really supercharged here by Epworth's electronic touch. It's a highly potent and undeniably successful combination. Print edition only Uncut
It’s not often you’ll hear of an artist making the best work of their career by their eighth album. However, with Baxter Dury's latest effort Allbarone, this couldn’t be truer The Skinny
Big Thief Double Infinity
It’s quite possible this album will be trashed by critics as the least of their oeuvre, but then every person who proudly proclaims this to be their favourite of Big Thief’s discography will have some very interesting stories to tell Beats Per Minute
Suede Antidepressants
Easily gliding into the tier of Suede’s best albums, Antidepressants is a collection of exciting, moving and sometimes anthemic post-punk flavored songs about loneliness and communication, age and vulnerability, featuring some of Brett Anderson’s best ever vocal performances Spectrum Culture
Saint Etienne International
With International, these pop academics have left us with one final lesson: if you must fade away, do so gracefully. Saint Etienne most certainly have PopMatters
Jehnny Beth You Heartbreaker, You
Awash in menacing, libidinous energy, the Savages singer’s new solo album asks: What if the psychosexual angst of post-punk and industrial music were harnessed for pleasure? Pitchfork
Justin Bieber SWAG II
Part two of Bieber’s seventh album adds very little: it’s largely bland pop with glimpses of quality thanks to a buzzy supporting cast including Dijon and Bakar The Guardian
Bieber follows the surprisingly good Swag with the depressingly safe Swag II Rolling Stone
Bieber drops off another 23 tracks’ worth of SWAG, his Dijon- and Mk.gee-assisted foray into alt-R&B. Bland and underwritten, the sequel magnifies the weaknesses of the original Pitchfork
Consumed as a whole, the 23-track ‘SWAG II’ is a means to monopolise the streaming charts for the remainder of this year and beyond. What should have been a passion project distilled and edited into a leaner whole, now feels like a ploy to be omnipresent Clash
Two months after the Canadian pop star made his long-awaited return, he’s back with a second instalment that’s more playful in places, but still feels monotonous NME
Blood Orange Essex Honey
Dev Hynes’ elegant new album, his first in six years, inhabits memories of an English childhood filled with joy, pain, and music Pitchfork
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