25 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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The latest album by this Californian indie americana quartet, including the Keefe brothers who were born in Wales
6.3
Fun-drenched Read Review
An album that will still sound fresh years down the line Read Review
A fine album of songs of love, longing and celebration that would sound at its best when cruising along a B road in a soft-top Read Review
With Keefe’s impeccable, calming voice elevating tracks like “Everytime”, accompanied by an echoing kick drum and tambourine, it seems Family of the Year’s fun-drenched formula is working just fine Read Review
Ultimately an immediately enjoyable, if easily forgettable album, far too one-sided for its own good, and more a showcase of a band who are capable of writing a handful of very good pop songs, but not an album worthy of any longevity Read Review
It’s all lovely summery stuff if you happen to share your musical tastes with Terry Wogan. Bring on the Norwegian Black Metal. Bring on the Wombles. Anything else please Read Review
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Family Of The Year: Loma Vista
Laura Marling Once I Was An Eagle
Laura Marling seems to be an unshakeable creature, whose art firmly belongs to herself. Compare her to Bob Dylan all you like, but to issue a bold statement, Marling here proves herself, not as a product, but as an equal This Is Fake DIY
The National Trouble Will Find Me
A layered, resoundingly human work that extends their winning streak without so much as breaking a sweat The Quietus
A work that demands to be taken as a whole, another reminder of the peculiar power of the album form, despite frequent premature declarations of its redundancy The Independent
CocoRosie Tales of a Grass Widow
Easily CocoRosie's most satisfying, fully realised work so far The Independent
Mount Kimbie Cold Spring Fault Less Youth
The pair focus more on song structure on their second album, so their soft-focus compositions don’t fade into the background so much Evening Standard
Her latest record is actually her most lighthearted and joyful Evening Standard
Tribes Wish to Scream
By the end you won't so much wish to scream as laugh out loud. Print edition only Q
Baths Obsidian
An uncommon ear for texture and rhythm. Print edition only Q
Bold and beautiful. Print edition only NME
An improbable shot of charity shop psychedelia. Print edition only Mojo
A neat balance of darkly powerful and whimsical. Print edition only Uncut
Vivid, dreamy songs from harrowing subject matter. Print edition only Q
It's uplifting, triumphant and inquisitive Drowned In Sound
It’s CocoRosie and it’s beautiful God Is In The TV
A bewitching, beautiful album, with no two songs alike Clash
The French duo's 4th album has picked up a good number of 10/10 and 9/10 ratings, but also a handful of 6/10s. Responses range from those who see it as an album that will still be being listened to a decade hence and others who are left thinking "is that it?"
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