10 July 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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EP from the Scottish indie / folk band features a contribution from Aidan Moffat
7.5
Though the band’s sound has become more expansive and cinematic, Hutchinson’s vocals and lyrics have lost none of their sharpness or striking bleakness Read Review
It’s part of a grand tradition of U.K. miserablism, from Arab Strap to The Smiths, and it’s fantastic. And sad Read Review
Frightened Rabbit are consistent and important, ever proving their worth as one of Scotland’s most profoundly talented ensembles Read Review
Touches on war, love, lust, and the perks of minimalism in this generation, in just twenty short minutes Read Review
Thankfully, a return to the sort of form that once had singer Scott Hutchison touted as one of the UK’s most expressive lyricists Read Review
State Hospital is the sound of a band renewed, invigorated and impassioned and pretty damned far from selling out Read Review
Consider the appetite well and truly whet: now then lads, what about that album? Read Review
Even if four of these five songs on State Hospital are just castaways not included on the next year’s record, this EP still manages to flow just fine on its own Read Review
Unlike some previous recordings; it’s well-rounded and welcoming, which is possibly attributed to the band sharing songwriting duties with Hutchison for the first time Read Review
If these are the off-cuts from the album then we can hope for another solid release from the Scotsmen, to say the least Read Review
This is an album's cutting room floor yet each song still retains Hutchison's instantly recognisable Scottish drawl, infectious hooks and intelligent lyrics Read Review
While State Hospital lacks for pure visceral pleasure, Hutchison can still convey such a deep, muscular ache in his vocals, indicating that Frightened Rabbit still know their strengths Read Review
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Frightened Rabbit: State Hospital
Wet Leg moisturizer
Moisturizer is a bold, confident blast fuelled by the security and invincibility of a deep love. Print edition only Uncut
Moisturizer shows, decisively, that while the metal gauntlets might be very much on, creatively, Wet leg's gloves are off. Print edition only Mojo
Gwenno Utopia
A reflective journey through memory and identity from an artist who proves that her music knows no boundaries, linguistic or otherwise musicOMH
Tinged with a sense of growth and resilience, Utopia is a work that spans 25 years. That surely deserves a celebration The Quietus
Gwenno roams the cities of her youth on her vivid fourth album, Utopia The Skinny
'Utopia' might be a result of employing a form of astral projection The Arts Desk
The band’s propensity for catchy, danceable garage-punk remains intact Slant Magazine
Kesha . [Period]
Following years of tumult, the newly-independent Kesha is ready for Top 40 glory. Her new album excels when she’s doing it on her own terms PopMatters
Kesha fills her first fully independent album with accordion disco, stadium-sized twang, and too many hooks to handle. It’s… confusing Pitchfork
Spikier, sleazier and sexier, the Isle of Wight duo defy second album syndrome musicOMH
U.S. Girls Scratch It
Though Scratch It is more low-key than one has come to expect of U.S. Girls as of late, it is undeniably a commanding statement that feels like a musical victory lap Beats Per Minute
Period is an album of lukewarm nostalgic bops, where the few moments of truly interesting artistry are left to languish alone in their respective corners Sputnik Music (staff)
A disappointing missed opportunityMaybe after this spell of touring, they need to go off and live their lives instead of rushing back to album number three. A disappointing missed opportunity God Is In The TV
There’s no sniff of second album syndrome here. moisturizer oozes confidence and Wet Leg continue to play to their strengths in style The Skinny
Lorde Virgin
The New Zealander sings dramatically about new selves, the body and gender fluidity on her fourth release The FT
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