29 March 2024
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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Mr Frank Black, reverting to his Pixies name, with a solo album of assorted rock stylings
6.7
Print edition only
The Pixies’ accursed preacher and his rasping abstracts on sex and death are inevitably, for originality and sheer visceral power, a cut above Read Review
There may never be another Pixies album, but thankfully Black Francis is again drawing from the same creative wel Read Review
A slightly off-centre, messed-up yet ultimately hugely moving and genuinely felt and expressed love letter of an album, it is music to bring gladness to the heart and soul as much as to any baser of the body’s regions Read Review
While it’ll probably be forgotten in the wake of the next 17 or so albums he releases this decade, chances are it’ll stand out as one of his better ones Read Review
Nobody is going to mistake this for a great album, but NonStopErotik really peaks and flows well while having enough to make it worth an additional spin or two Read Review
Reaffirms Black Francis’ place as a great songwriter in the rock pantheon Read Review
If the Pixies ever recorded a new album it would probably sound like ‘NonStopErotik’ Read Review
He may never blowtorch the listener again like he did in those early days of the Pixies, but he still has more ideas per record than most bands have in their entire careers Read Review
Frank Black has finally turned in the greatest number of memorable tunes ever amassed on a FB/BF release; NonStopErotik deserves to turn heads Read Review
NonStopErotik aims to be a fast-paced, smutty guitar-rock album, and it hits that without any trouble Read Review
While it won't make you forget the Pixies, some of it seems specifically designed to bring them to mind Read Review
Black Francis running on half a tank still sounds better than most bands gunning at full throttle Read Review
It never really goes anywhere and fails to muster any emotion or energy Read Review
A collection of songs inspired by his love of the female anatomy. As if that concept alone didn't reek of impending mid-life crisis, the actual music is even more shagged-out Read Review
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Black Francis: Nonstoperotik
Elbow Audio Vertigo
The band aren’t getting any younger, but they are getting wiser and, dare I say, more fun Sputnik Music (staff)
Adrianne Lenker Bright Future
This is a triumphant work from an ascendant artist, and, oh yeah, also one of the finer folk albums of recent years Sputnik Music (staff)
Jlin Akoma
The Indiana-based footwork producer and Pulitzer Prize finalist broadens her horizons on her first album in seven years Paste Magazine
The Jesus and Mary Chain Glasgow Eyes
Glasgow Eyes isn’t far off being a great record, but those drops in quality aren’t just blips, they’re chasms Beats Per Minute
Beyoncé Cowboy Carter
There’s no question that Cowboy Carter is a landmark record. Arguably, an inevitable one. But once the dust of its audacity settles, it misses the mark of a classic The Line Of Best Fit
Straying far beyond its original country concept, the musician’s eighth album straddles the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the blues – and Becky with the Good Hair via Dolly Parton’s Jolene The Guardian
The Black Crowes Happiness Bastards
The Robinson brothers’ greatest successes have been with the Black Crowes. Perhaps that’s why they agreed to reunite for this album, finally (but no doubt grudgingly) admitting that they do their best work when they’re playing together Spectrum Culture
Four Tet Three
Small soundscapes grow and expand without dominating Hebden’s aural trademarks Spectrum Culture
A deceptively quiet solo outing from the Big Thief singer carries a vibrant emotional impact Spectrum Culture
On Akoma, all bets are off. Jlin pulls inspiration from everywhere, and even though the source material couldn’t be further from each other, they all meld together under her idiosyncratic eye Spectrum Culture
The Staves All Now
Returning with only two of the three sisters, they feature a sound threatening to eat them whole Spectrum Culture
Life-affirming songs from Jessica and Camilla Staveley-Taylor The Irish Times
The beginning of a new chapter for the reconfigured duo centres on gentle, wistful folk pop with an emphasis on harmonies musicOMH
The Staves have shown they’re happy to branch out into more indie-rock territory which sits well alongside their folk roots Clash
Tyla Tyla
TYLA will remain as the expertly crafted record that allowed amapiano a moment to shine before new audiences Beats Per Minute
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
Self Esteem Prioritise Pleasure
Bob Dylan Rough and Rowdy Ways
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Skeleton Tree
Frank Ocean Channel Orange
Dave We’re All Alone In This Together