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15 December 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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New

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Lily AllenWest End Girl

"Her best album in 16 years, an incisive diary of a marriage in freefall" (10/10 - The Independent). "A hard-hitting pop exposition, while also providing an endless supply of hooks" (8/10 - Clash)

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"Insanely rich with ideas, hooks, smart artifice and real emotion, From The Pyre is a feast of giddy raptures" (10/10 - Record Collector). "Both thematically and sonically richer" (10/10 - DIY)

BrògealTuesday Paper Club

"2026 is there for Brogeal’s taking, they’re gonna be a lot of people’s new favourite band" (8/10 - God Is In The TV). "This is what it sounds like when a band get it right the first time" (10/10 - Dork)

Jay SomBelong

"With ‘Belong’ serving notice of Jay Som’s continued abilities" (8/10 - Clash). "Will undoubtedly solidify her reputation as your favourite pop singer's favourite pop singer" (8/10 - Exclaim"

IdlewildIdlewild

"The fact they are producing some of their best work seems almost absurd, and yet here we are" (9/10 - The Line Of Best Fit). "Idlewild is no nostalgic LP—it’s the sound of a band rejuvenated" (10/10 - XS Noize)

Good Good Desperation

Hopewell

Good Good Desperation

Album number five from Jason Russo's NY psych-rock / shoegaze outfit, revived after a stint with Mercury Rev

Label: Tee Pee
UK Release date: 05/05/2009

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7.0 1663
7.0 | Drowned In Sound

A highly accomplished collection of loosely constructed individual pieces that should gain its creators long overdue recognition on this side of the pond
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Hear it

Preview & download it

Hopewell: Good Good Desperation

Download full album for just £7.99
1. Preamble (pt II) £0.99
2. Island £0.99
3. Good Good Good Desperation £0.99
4. Worried Mind £0.99
5. Realms Of Gold £0.99
6. 10,000 Black Masses (pt I) £0.99
7. Stranger £0.99
8. Seen The Light £0.99
9. Over The Mountain £0.99
10. Bury Me Standing £0.99

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