20 December 2011
Here's how it works: The Recent Releases chart brings together critical reaction to new albums from more than 50 publications. It's updated daily. Albums qualify with 5 reviews, and drop out after 6 weeks into the longer timespan charts.
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Tracks the critics are loving: read then listen
" Waveforms flows with typical electro flourishes and polyrhythmic beats before climaxing with a stunning multi-harmony coda" music OMH
Listen on SpotifyListen on grooveshark
" The Lion's Roar is an epic tune ... an inspiring blend of marching drums, swirling woodwinds and heavy-handed piano chords, all reined in by the sisters’ gorgeous harmonies" Paste
" Standout track Logos is a deeply nostalgic elegy in which Gabriela’s percussive wizardry really shines through" AU Magazine
" The memorable point of Something is standout track Ghost Tonight. Polachek's vocal abilities are really something to marvel at" BPM
" Church is still arguably the best thing they’ve done ... it would thaw the edges of even the coldest of hearts" music OMH
" The emotional centerpiece of the record is Backwords, a gorgeous, melancholy number. It’s a stunning, poignant track" The Line Of Best Fit
" The Lights cannot fail to put a smile on your face" Fake DIY
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Album featuring all the singles from the Gallagher brothers' now defunct Britpop band
6.4
At heart. Oasis were a pop group in the most literal sense. Print edition only
Though fun, is no more than a handy place to nab all 27 Oasis' singles in on unfiltered, undiscerning grab Read Review
The second half of their career, supposedly the artistically barren years, really leaps out at you here ... they could pull it out of the bag when they wanted to Read Review
All-inclusive, heroic and, for the most part, bloody catchy. As eulogies go, it's not half bad Read Review
If it gets you in the right mood, you might just find yourself standing in the middle of the room, volume up to max, waving your arms and singing along at the top of your voice Read Review
Time Flies is a triumph, one which proves excess and explosiveness aren’t mutually exclusive in rock ‘n’ roll Read Review
If Time Flies seeks to tell the Oasis story then it succeeds. The sad thing is that it is the tale of a band that meant so much to so many but ended up overstaying their welcome Read Review
It's clearer than ever that Oasis said it all on their first two albums. Print edition only
Throw away forgettable CD two and you can add another star Read Review
These singles will mean something different to everyone, but the question is whether they will mean anything to a generation that doesn't already remember them fondly Read Review
There are 26 U.K. singles, spread over two discs, and, alas, the deterioration of Oasis is a little too apparent on Time Flies Read Review
It’s hard listening to this without recognizing its redundancy Read Review
Noel has freely admitted some of this stuff is pretty bad, so sitting through all 27 Oasis singles for the sake of it seems agonisingly pointless, especially when Stop the Clocks already exists Read Review
Criticising Oasis's later output isn't as much shooting fish in a barrel as it is firing a nuclear warhead at a dozing mackerel Read Review
They wanted to be the biggest and the best band in the world, and for a while they were. To really appreciate it, though, you've got to dig deeper Read Review
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Sleigh Bells Reign Of Terror
Compromised by sanitised production. But these Bells still rock. Print edition only Uncut
Over-exposure might result in feelings of disorientation and a headache, but that's likely just the way Miller and Krauss want it. Print edition only Mojo
Shearwater Animal Joy
A set of Anglophile songs, bookish and gently melancholic. Print edition only Mojo
The sound of Americana meshing its cogs with the machinery of the world outside its grimed window. Print edition only Uncut
Meiburg’s voice is a thing of rare range and beauty, but it seems the band have yet to settle on the best way to maximise its formidable gifts music OMH
The Ting Tings Sounds From Nowheresville
One-hit wonders no more, White and de Martino now sound prepared for a big pop future. Print edition only Uncut
An insipid assault of dribbly, sub-Billie Piper pop sludge The Fly
Lambchop Mr M
It delivers softly and simply his often complex lyrics. Print edition only Mojo
Death is all around - but this is Lambchop, so the rough stuff comes wrapped in cinnamon. Print edition only Uncut
While Mr. M never comes close to a hoedown, it contains some of the most direct songs to have flown the Lambchop banner The Skinny
Speech Debelle Freedom Of Speech
The odd gauche moments remain, but her plaudits are not undeserved. Print edition only Uncut
From the get-go Freedom Of Speech takes on prisoners. Print edition only Mojo
Absorbing, epic, heartfelt and delicately nuanced – a marvellous album The Skinny
Anyone who wasn’t convinced by her debut is going to find far more to take issue with on Freedom of Speech BBC
Lana Del Rey Born to Die
Overall, this is a beautifully crafted, if limited, album AU Magazine
What's finding favour with bloggers & other review sites
The Roots undun
Drake Take Care
First Aid Kit The Lion's Roar
The Black Keys El Camino
Guided By Voices Let's Go Eat The Factory
Los Campesinos! Hello Sadness
Howler America Give Up
Craig Finn Clear Heart Full Eyes
The much anticipated debut from the NY singer-songwriter has divided the critics, with ratings ranging from a 10 from the Independent on Sunday to a 0 from Tiny Mix Tapes
Since we've been around, that is. So, the highest-rated albums from the past three years or so
Anais Mitchell Hadestown
Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
PJ Harvey Let England Shake
Ry Cooder Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down
Arcade Fire The Suburbs
Tom Waits Bad As Me
Janelle Monáe The ArchAndroid
Joanna Newsom Have One On Me
Gillian Welch The Harrow & The Harvest
Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavilion