21 August 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 album of lo-fi noise pop from the Ohio trio who christened their music shitgaze
6.6
This coarsely cut sophomore LP represents a pivotal shunt in direction Read Review
[A] multifaceted dayglo wonder ... which is great, then horrible, then great again (and, actually, the horrible bits are pretty great too) Read Review
Like a low-budget mash-up of The Fall, Pavement and My Bloody Valentine. Print edition only
Not so much a step out of the 'lo-fi gutter' but a clearer expression of what that gutter sounds like Read Review
If this is the end of shit-gaze, then we thoroughly enjoyed the death rattle Read Review
Laced is indeed bigger and bolder than previous albums Read Review
Sounding like rotting American, the bulk of 'Laced' is really a blues album cut up with grime beats, techno horns, white noise Read Review
Not so much boundary pushing, as boundary obliterating. Absolutely mental Read Review
Good and fun, but not entirely memorable Read Review
It’s almost as if they are taunting the listener to find the crystal raindrops hidden in the muddy rainwater; it’s a challenging album if nothing else Read Review
Could have been an interesting experience but, in the end, it is just a head scratchingly dull one Read Review
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Psychedelic Horseshit: Laced
Laufey A Matter Of Time
Although this LA-based Chinese-Icelander gas woven a loose temporal theme through the loungey chamber pop of her third album, it's the waspish lyrical sting in the tail of these songs that sets her apart. Print edition only Uncut
The Icelandic singer not only invokes the traditions of the Great American Songbook; she indulges, interrogates, and goofs on them, adding a welcome spark to her retro mannerisms Pitchfork
Cements Laufey as a generational talent and far from simply a modern jazz darling Clash
Laufey’s A Matter of Time has many charms. Like a pretty girl who denies her attractiveness, she may try too hard to convince one of what’s not true PopMatters
Laufey conjures a fairytale world woven from jazz, pop and a ticking clock The Skinny
Deftones Private Music
Traversing dark claustrophobia and sprawling soundscapes, beautiful in both is composition and delivery DIY
The now viral Sacramento art-metal pioneers reunite with producer Nick Raskulinecz for a direct, soulful and *whisper it* sexy dose of what they do best NME
Deftly striking a balance between brutal and graceful, it’s a welcome reminder that Deftones are still more than capable of delivering the goods while showing us something new and vital Clash
The gravitational pull of Deftones gets stronger every year. Their 10th album shows them fully in control of their heavy, menacing, instantly recognizable sound Pitchfork
Conan Gray Wishbone
It’s exceptionally sharp emotional writing, making ‘Wishbone’ some of his most affecting work yet Dork
His not-quite-angst meets its musical equivalent in its not-quite-alternative sound DIY
The singer’s new album Wishbone mixes slow intimate moments with hit-worthy pop-rock cuts Rolling Stone
‘Wishbone’ stands as a confident pop statement, pairing Gray’s impressive vocal prowess with sleek, polished production. In a female-dominated landscape, and during a noticeable drought of male pop stars, Conan Gray’s return is a genuine breath of fresh air Clash
Wishbone is a complete arc, capturing both the elated, tidal-wave euphoria of falling in love and the bittersweet comedown off that wave. And it's not just the feelings of love, but the tastes, the smells, and the thrilling sweaty intimacy of being close to another person in every sense that Gray embodies All Music
Dijon Baby
The Baltimore singer-songwriter and producer returns from hiatus in some style with an album captures the chaos and beauty of newfound fatherhood NME
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