9 November 2026
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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Solo album from TV On The Radio guitarist and producer David Sitek with contributions from David Byrne and Karen O
7.4
Maximum Balloon’s hip-shaking revolution is an unequivocal success Read Review
The list of guest singers is a perfect snapshot of his well-connected self-contained world. Print edition only
By no means a perfect album, but there are some fantastic performances to be found Read Review
A charming diversion that bodes well for Dear Science's follow-up. Print edition only
Maximum Balloon really about a great producer/songwriter exhibiting his considerable talents free from the pressure and expectation of his day job Read Review
The nerd in the background is the real star Read Review
As instant gratification goes, it's pretty perfect Read Review
The Karen O-starring "Communion" picks up where It’s Blitz! left off, using one of her most restrained, lovely vocals (it could be the third part of a "Maps"/"Hysteric" trilogy) Read Review
Recruiting pals Karen O and David Byrne to sing over synthed-up disco-rock that's brighter and bouncier than his main band's anxious throb Read Review
Never feels anything other than a TV On The Radio album with a few guest vocals. No bad thing, but it’s nothing earth-shaking either Read Review
This is music boffin one-upmanship, perhaps, [and] that stops Maximum Balloon being a truly great record Read Review
Dave Sitek adds schwing to his smeared synths and swarming guitars Read Review
These snappy songs burst out the speakers with force and vitality Read Review
Not your typical TVOTR tour de force. But it doesn’t aspire to be. What it simply seeks is to make your ass shake Read Review
Bright, colourful, carefree and neon - quite a leap for someone whose day-job band has been describes as 'post millennial' and 'dystopic urban jams'. Read Review
An album of songs that sound like leftovers from the Dear Science sessions. Print edition only
A fine, fidgety edge to a quirky dancefloor soundtrack Read Review
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Maximum Balloon: Maximum Balloon
Django Django Doveland
Django Django would appear to have refreshed their approach and challenged themselves to try out previously unconsidered melodic avenues The Arts Desk
Print edition only Uncut
Gilla Band Pugnello
Somewhere amidst the anarchy of Pugnello, there are gems waiting to be found. Unearthing them is well worth your time Still Listening
Greg Freeman All Set The Bone
Existentialism has a sound (and it’s hard to ignore) with Greg Freeman’s introspective All Set The Bone Still Listening
U2 Carnaval de Luz
Carnaval De Luz finds U2 50 years after their formation with the same four members and the same desire to shake things up. The album provides a convincing answer to the question of why they keep doing what they do XS Noize
Fontaines D.C. Dopamine Chamber
Fontaines D.C. push deeper into synthetic territory on Dopamine Chamber, balancing stadium-sized melodies with restless experimentation and darker texture Record Collector
They sound ambitious and engaged in their 50th year, swinging for the fences and hitting more targets than not. There’s still some gas in the tank Record Collector
La Roux Old Flames
Print edition only Record Collector
Back with her first new music in six years, La Roux's new sound explores facets of R'n'B and Europop to varying degrees of success The Skinny
La Roux turns to 90s R&B on a fourth album shaped by the end of a 17-year relationship, finding room for new beginnings beneath its layered production Still Listening
Print edition only Rolling Stone UK
Devastating moments are dressed up with warm production and kinetic 00s R&B in the now quiff-less singer’s grownup fourth album The Guardian
Elly Jackson returns with heartfelt pop songs about breaking up, resentment, vulnerability and all that entails musicOMH
Ditching erratic experimentation for an ambient concept, the indie shapeshifters' sixth album is their most coherent in years musicOMH
Doveland sounds less like a reduction of Django Django’s musical vocabulary than a more relaxed demonstration of how much they possess PopMatters
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
Rosalía Lux
Kendrick Lamar Damn.
D'Angelo And The Vanguard Black Messiah
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Ghosteen
Spiritbox Tsunami Sea
Self Esteem Prioritise Pleasure
Hayley Williams Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party
Bob Dylan Rough and Rowdy Ways