16 January 2021
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 from soulful Montreal singer-songwriter Al Spx, featuring lead single “Absisto”
6.6
An expanded musical palette that pushes Neuroplasticity beyond the ‘doom soul’ territory confidently staked out on 2012 debut I Predict a Graceful Expulsion Read Review
A record that manages to reveal its treasures over multiple listens without ever sacrificing immediate appeal Read Review
A real contender for Canadian Album of the Year Read Review
The grace is still there, but something far more engrossing has now been added to the mix Read Review
One of the year's notable albums Read Review
On "A quiet Chill", Spx growls "I remain unshakeable?. Every note on this compelling album backs her up. Print edition only
Simultaneously lets the listener into her world and bolsters her anonymity Read Review
As much as it's just a transition for Spx into something that takes a variety of musical turns Read Review
Her voice is as mesmeric and worldly as ever, and the instrumentation is rendered in beautiful detail. But it’s tantalising to wonder what would have happened if she would have given herself completely to chaos Read Review
Spx could do with some melodies as memorable as the music-making behind them Read Review
Sonic spaciousness with reverberant drums, eerie, ethereal keyboards and spidery guitars framing up-front delivery Print edition only
In trying to channel one of her biggest influences — the powerful, pummeling noise rock deity that is Michael Gira — she gets eaten alive Read Review
It isn’t easy enough to love on the first spin, but it’s not complex enough to get better with repeated plays either Read Review
Despite a greater focus on musicality, tunes remain hard to come by Read Review
Too cold and distancing to be able to connect to Read Review
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Cold Specks: Neuroplasticity
Shame Drunk Tank Pink
Shame have put together a collection of fantastically varied ragers that are bound to blow the roof off whenever we’re allowed back to live gigs The Line Of Best Fit
The London band’s second album combines themes of burnout and ennui with fast rhythms The FT
Sleaford Mods Spare Ribs
Cummings and Covid are two of the subjects touched on by the Nottingham duo as they exhibit an evolving style The FT
The Dirty Nil Fuck Art
Records like this - 35-odd minutes of fist-pumping rock songs from the very top drawer - need to be celebrated and rewarded Punk News
In spite of all that’s going on, the ground that Shame manage to cover, it all hangs together brilliantly. Drunk Tank Pink is a great album, from whatever angle you look at it musicOMH
The London post-punk band’s second album is bigger, louder, and more textured as frontman Charlie Steen anxiously details the strange gap between youth and adulthood Pitchfork
Kacy & Clayton Plastic Bouquet
For the most part, Plastic Bouquet has a much stronger country influence thanks to the involvement of Williams with tracks like ‘Old Fashioned Man’ and ‘I Wonder Why’ making you swear you heard them somewhere before, a very long time ago The Quietus
Drunk Tank Pink is an all-too-often unimaginative album from what’s still a promising group. At best, this sophomore project suggests a band pushing itself in every direction and through every crevice of the genre to see what fits them and their messaging most effectively Beats Per Minute
Viagra Boys Welfare Jazz
Behind the rough exterior is an old soul, notes of romance hiding in every grunt and wail Upset
A high-quality record with not a single mediocre song on the tracklist. Despite the intense deadlines they were under, it sounds in no way rushed, but instead, polished Upset
Yungblud Weird!
A record that knows every trick in the book Upset
The Smashing Pumpkins CYR
The band's raw ambition is back front-and-center Upset
Whether you’re aboard the train or not, Williamson and Fearn don’t seem overly bothered. You’re either with them or you’re aren’t; the wheels keep turning Evening Standard
Bristles with the pent-up aggression of men who aren’t allowed to be loud and shirtless in public any more Evening Standard
The London band went from playing a 350-show stretch to nothing at all – and while tunes and originality are lacking, their subsequent dislocation makes for some thrilling music The Guardian
Since we've been around, that is. So, the highest-rated albums from the past eight years or so. Rankings are calculated to two decimal places.
Kendrick Lamar To Pimp A Butterfly
Fiona Apple Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Kendrick Lamar Damn.
D'Angelo And The Vanguard Black Messiah
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Ghosteen
Bob Dylan Rough and Rowdy Ways
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Skeleton Tree
Frank Ocean Channel Orange
Anaïs Mitchell Hadestown
Run The Jewels RTJ4