14 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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Second album of exotic experimental music from the Bristol five-piece whose founding members are Mauritian and Japanese
7.7
This is a difficult album to find fault with – not only on an immediate, aesthetic level, but also on a more considered, objective one Read Review
The polished finish on the production, from Fuck Buttons member Andrew Hung, is also notable on this great effort from Zun Zun Egui, an album conducive to many repeat listens Read Review
These stylistic vagabonds are just plain incapable of writing a song that doesn't make you gurn with joy as your hulking body writhes to its rhythm Read Review
It's as indebted to the past as it is to the present and it's to the band's credit that they understand that completely Read Review
A command of melodies and songwriting ensures that it all fits together wonderfully, throwing a party for the world Read Review
A bold and brilliant statement - an amorphous thing that entices and beguiles whilst simultaneously delivering heart-quickening thrills Read Review
You’ll smile at this, you’ll cheer it, you’ll groove to it. And then you’ll sit with your head between the speakers and try to decode it Read Review
It’s a record of brilliant diversity that crosses easily between different musical cultures. An early contender for one of 2015’s most welcome returns Read Review
They sound determined to be like nobody and everybody you have heard. Print edition only
Can sound grandly expansive, yet it's also locked into its own little world, thinking global, acting loco. Print edition only
They've unleashed the rock monster within. Print edition only
Zun Zun Egui celebrate cultural diversity, their grinding post-punk rock incorporating a multitude of world music influences to deliver an exotic cocktail of sound Read Review
On first listen it’s a little difficult but lopsided melodies emerge, the best of which call to mind the blues as played by PiL Read Review
This their second album treads a similar path to their first, Katang: it’s good but rarely evokes the incandescent fury and derangement of their performances Read Review
Zun Zun Egui: Shackles Gift
Wet Leg moisturizer
After the whirlwind of their debut album, the Isle Of Wight band could have capitulated to the pressure. Instead, they return smarter, sexier and altogether stronger NME
There’s also a fluidity to the entirety of Moisturizer that ventures beyond the limitations of the debut and everything Wet Leg signalled in their early stages Far Out
Barry Can’t Swim Loner
Loner is an easy improvement over Barry Can't Swim's debut album, and he retains his ability to craft reflective, sentimental material while strengthening his skills at making airtight tracks designed to ignite the dancefloor All Music
Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers double down on the weird energy of their debut The Independent
Rhian Teasdale and co’s second album brilliantly refines all that was great about their brash, bouncy debut The Irish Times
After winning multiple Grammys and Brits, the Isle of Wight band explore love and sexuality on their second LP – but there’s still room for some barbed put-downs The Guardian
Wet Leg’s balance of danger and relaxation pays off in this turbulently fun listen. Excitingly crafted and dangerously sharp, moisturizer is the sound of someone rolling their eyes at how lovesick they’ve become, then shrugging before seeing how far it’ll take them Northern Transmissions
Gwenno Utopia
Utopia is different from her previous work not just because of the language shift, but because of how it was made. Instead of starting electronically, Gwenno composed most of these songs on piano, recording live with her band in her living room. That choice gives Utopia organic warmth. The human touch is evident in how the instruments breathe together Northern Transmissions
Another that sounds like it will be blasted from windows of all kinds whenever the sun shines The Arts Desk
On his latest record, Barry Can’t Swim cements himself as a boundary-pushing voice in electronic music, one fluent in mood, movement, and meaningful reflection The Skinny
U.K. indie-rockers party hard and travel fast on their great second album Rolling Stone
Gwenno’s songwriting matures compellingly on Utopia The Line Of Best Fit
Kesha . [Period]
Kesha’s . is a mess of a statement The Line Of Best Fit
Pulp More
Far more than the themes of aging, sex, and loss, Pulp’s More straight-facedly spreads the word of love and it is the start of something new — a rebirth PopMatters
The Scottish producer trades sun-soaked bliss for emotional introspection – without losing the big drops musicOMH
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