21 May 2013
Here's how it works: The Recent Releases chart brings together critical reaction to new albums from more than 50 publications 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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Soft rock on the first album in 20 years from the one-time Eagles guitarist
5.1
As comebacks go, he could do a lot worse than this Read Review
Seldom has retro sounded so pleasingly stubborn. Print edition only
Jeff Lynne's nous lends a pleasing immediacy to straight-ahead rockers. Print edition only
There are no alarms and no surprises here, but it’s a record produced by Jeff Lynne so it sounds as bright, clear and appealing as anything this year Read Review
An amicable return to the solo spotlight for Walsh, showing off his dusty skills in a slick, very different sonic arena Read Review
Puts a Tom Petty-ready spin on laid-back California rock and has Walsh sounding less isolated from modern times than he thinks he is Read Review
Sounds like you imagine: slightly artificial, pop-inflected chunk-rock, with dustbin-lid drums, loads of guitars and even a hint of voice box/Auto-Tune Read Review
Print edition only
You'd think rock 'n' roll survivors would have better stories to tell. Boring as hell Read Review
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Joe Walsh: Analog Man
Daft Punk Random Access Memories
Daft Punk's most personal work, and richly rewarding for listeners willing to spend time with it All Music
The National Trouble Will Find Me
For better or for worse, they perfected their sound the last time around, so it’s hard to fault them for sticking so close to the fire All Music
Scout Niblett It’s Up To Emma
The listener will feel they've experienced the same soul-scouring catharsis as Scout herself. Print edition only Q
Charlie Boyer & The Voyeurs Clarietta
Clarietta really hits the mark, with a high strike rate of knockout tunes. Print edition only Q
Boyer and his crew display an impressive classicism, but retain the vigour of youth. Print edition only Uncut
Texas The Conversation
Pleasant enough, but you may feel you've heard this conversation before. Print edition only Mojo
A gripping twist on a timeless classic. Print edition only Mojo
Eluvium Nightmare Ending
A collection of overly saturated tunes featuring some of the most emotive sounds he’s ever compiled Sputnik Music (staff)
Cooper's ability to infuse a very human emotional arc into his wordless sheets of sound is a large part of what's made his body of work so captivating All Music
For all its unoriginality, ‘Clarietta’ more than makes amends with the proficient psychedelia of its groove-based jams This Is Fake DIY
Clarietta is exactly the sum of its parts, which makes it a breezy listen, but never more than that The Guardian
Derivative but rarely dull The Observer
The album doesn’t travel a straight path, but meanders through Eluvium’s many modes of spectral beauty Consequence Of Sound
There’s plenty of charm, and though a lot of it has been beaten to death with a revivalist stick before, it’s still a really fun record The Line Of Best Fit
30 Seconds To Mars Love Lust Faith
A disappointingly tepid affair Drowned In Sound
Jack Tatum has another critical success to his name with this 7-track EP of psychedelic synthpop and indie rock. Fake DIY call it "a great listen", while Paste Magazine say he "still proves to be a visionary"
Since we've been around, that is. So, the highest-rated albums from the past four years or so
Frank Ocean Channel Orange
Anaïs Mitchell Hadestown
Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
PJ Harvey Let England Shake
My Bloody Valentine mbv
Ry Cooder Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down
Kendrick Lamar good kid, m.A.A.d city
Arcade Fire The Suburbs
Tom Waits Bad As Me
Janelle Monáe The ArchAndroid