25 April 2014
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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After releasing four EPs this is the debut album from the math rock Chicago four-piece
6.8
This album is completely new, having been dragged from their metal influences through the lightening and pop influences to create one of the most perfect albums I have heard in a long time. An absolutely stunning album Read Review
Print edition only
A new found sense of direction and a grandiose vision that stretches farther than the confines of math-rock ever could Read Review
Perch Patchwork almost leaves the flashy musicianship entirely behind; when it is there, it puts it to good use-- here they turn their quirks into something diverse and accessible Read Review
Recalls Talking Heads and TV on the Radio, lightening any dark subject matter with twitchy bursts of colour Read Review
A daring, auspicious album that puts a welcome pop spin on the band’s vibrant, eclectic sound. Read Review
It may not have the heavy-weight swing of some, but it is a refreshing and confident debut to say the least. Read Review
With a little more restraint, this could have been an outstanding album Read Review
Maps & Atlases have their own quirks that makes their album Perch Patchwork stand out somewhat from other records of its ilk Read Review
Those seeking greater musical challenges will probably want to look elsewhere, but there is much here to praise and enjoy Read Review
The experimental rhythms and sounds that provide the backbone can be as cloying as they are interesting, but the continual desire to do something different is always laudable Read Review
Ultimately Perch Patchwork has some good pieces that just don’t combine to make a great album Read Review
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Maps & Atlases: Perch Patchwork
Embrace Embrace
This is a record by a band that has fallen in love with making music again Clash
Don’t count against a loyal long-term fanbase thrusting Embrace back into the limelight The Line Of Best Fit
Lacks the couple of absolutely killer tunes to lift it higher. Solid rather than spectacular then, and a fair description of the overall Embrace experience The Digital Fix
For listeners hoping for that return to form, prepare for a disappointment God Is In The TV
SZA Z
The album opens up when SZA does, but that happens only in slices Pitchfork
What ultimately makes it stick, from the beaming hooks to the gossamer production, is the execution, how all the scattered pieces eventually jell until the puzzle is complete Consequence Of Sound
The main downfall of Z is a lack of strong lyricism. In the rare moments that the murk clears or the light becomes too bright, what lies behind is less graceful than what it seemed Pretty Much Amazing
Billed as an EP, but that undersells the completion and cohesion of these 10 songs Fact
If Z’s main mission is to build up its creator for a gargantuan full-length release in the near future, it’s serving its purpose rather well Sputnik Music (staff)
SZA is in safe hands on Top Dawg Entertainment and will grow and produce some great music, for now she needs to work out which SZA is the one to move forward with The 405
Kelis Food
Food feels like a full-fledged look at the life, pleasures and pains of Kelis, something none of her old records ever really delivered The 405
Eels The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett
It’s E’s most stylistically consistent in years, a largely acoustic, plaintive album Loud And Quiet
Pixies Indie Cindy
The chugger-chugger rhythm combines with plenty of volume and feedback and suggests a band that isn’t just going through the motions The Arts Desk
Fear of Men Loom
Only when waves of static roll over us at the end of a few songs we become aware we've dozed off Beardfood
The Afghan Whigs Do To The Beast
It still sounds like The Afghan Whigs, but it sounds more like re-workings of b-sides that may have shined in the sun of another decade Pretty Much Amazing
A decent response for the first full lp from the reformed alt.rock legends. The Irish Times praise the "skewed melodies and twisted riffs" but LoBF think "the fire has been extinguished, most power diminished"
Since we've been around, that is. So, the highest-rated albums from the past four years and a half or so. Rankings are calculated to two decimal places.
Frank Ocean Channel Orange
Anaïs Mitchell Hadestown
Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Deafheaven Sunbather
PJ Harvey Let England Shake
My Bloody Valentine mbv
Ry Cooder Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down
St Vincent St Vincent
Kendrick Lamar good kid, m.A.A.d city
Arcade Fire The Suburbs