11 September 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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Debut solo album from the Elbow frontman with the help of members from I Am Kloot and The Whip
7.0
Finds Garvey and his “favourite players outside Elbow” on superlative, genre-hopping form. Print edition only
For fans it’s a win-win: another angle on one of Britain’s best songwriters. Print edition only
Lyrically, as ever, Garvey's skill lies in combining romantic poeticism with sandpaper wit Read Review
A collection of songs from a musician unencumbered by expectation or industry pressure Read Review
Courting the Squall sees him engage with similar topics, but the music is different (and possibly signposts Elbow’s next steps?) Read Review
This is the best album Garvey has worked on since The Seldom Seen Kid Read Review
As vivid and beautiful as Elbow Read Review
Garvey goes down a storm with songs straight from the heart Read Review
As down-to-earth and likeable as its creator, this is an enjoyable collection that mostly avoids the pitfalls of solo albums by members of successful bands that are still very much a going concern Read Review
Ultimately, 'Courting the Squall' is full of engaging charm and portrays all of the romanticism and wit that Guy Garvey has undoubtedly become known for Read Review
A very hit and miss project Read Review
There's not a lot of squall in Elbow frontman Guy Garvey's solo debut, but there are more than enough promising moments to justify this eclectic venture Read Review
Nuanced music for grownups Read Review
His solo work casts an intriguing light on the songwriter’s day job, but stands up on its own as a fine piece of work Read Review
‘Courting…’’s most alluring moves, though, come with the brilliant junkyard blues bits; ‘Angela’s Eyes’ and ‘Yesterday’ Read Review
Many of these homely songs feel like they should have been on Build A Rocket Boys, but without the jagged bluster Read Review
How much you value such gently experimental foraging over Elbow’s typically rousing melodies might determine your enjoyment of this Read Review
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Guy Garvey: Courting the Squall
Baxter Dury Allbarone
It's a potent start, but Allbarone gets better, deeper, more engaging and – crucially – stranger with each track, with Dury’s half-muttered speak-song voice mutating into more and more enticingly contorted shapes with each successive track The Line Of Best Fit
His most compelling album in almost a decade. Print edition only Record Collector
Same old boots, maybe, but significantly racier kecks. Print edition only Mojo
Things are really supercharged here by Epworth's electronic touch. It's a highly potent and undeniably successful combination. Print edition only Uncut
It’s not often you’ll hear of an artist making the best work of their career by their eighth album. However, with Baxter Dury's latest effort Allbarone, this couldn’t be truer The Skinny
Big Thief Double Infinity
It’s quite possible this album will be trashed by critics as the least of their oeuvre, but then every person who proudly proclaims this to be their favourite of Big Thief’s discography will have some very interesting stories to tell Beats Per Minute
Suede Antidepressants
Easily gliding into the tier of Suede’s best albums, Antidepressants is a collection of exciting, moving and sometimes anthemic post-punk flavored songs about loneliness and communication, age and vulnerability, featuring some of Brett Anderson’s best ever vocal performances Spectrum Culture
Saint Etienne International
With International, these pop academics have left us with one final lesson: if you must fade away, do so gracefully. Saint Etienne most certainly have PopMatters
Jehnny Beth You Heartbreaker, You
Awash in menacing, libidinous energy, the Savages singer’s new solo album asks: What if the psychosexual angst of post-punk and industrial music were harnessed for pleasure? Pitchfork
Justin Bieber SWAG II
Part two of Bieber’s seventh album adds very little: it’s largely bland pop with glimpses of quality thanks to a buzzy supporting cast including Dijon and Bakar The Guardian
Bieber follows the surprisingly good Swag with the depressingly safe Swag II Rolling Stone
Bieber drops off another 23 tracks’ worth of SWAG, his Dijon- and Mk.gee-assisted foray into alt-R&B. Bland and underwritten, the sequel magnifies the weaknesses of the original Pitchfork
Consumed as a whole, the 23-track ‘SWAG II’ is a means to monopolise the streaming charts for the remainder of this year and beyond. What should have been a passion project distilled and edited into a leaner whole, now feels like a ploy to be omnipresent Clash
Two months after the Canadian pop star made his long-awaited return, he’s back with a second instalment that’s more playful in places, but still feels monotonous NME
Blood Orange Essex Honey
Dev Hynes’ elegant new album, his first in six years, inhabits memories of an English childhood filled with joy, pain, and music Pitchfork
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