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26 May 2026

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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New

Ed O’BrienBlue Morpho

"The guitarist’s album might be the most Radiohead side project yet to emerge from the mother ship" (8/10 - The Irish Times). "Works that move and grow like the building blocks of life itself" (8/10 - Clash)

New

The Coral388

"It’s a lucky number thirteen for fans – The Coral remain a band to cherish" (8/10 - Clash). "Every choppy guitar line and snaking Hammond or Farfisa lick form hooks in their own right" (8/10 - The Arts Desk)

New

RostamAmerican Stories

"Meticulous, inventive record" (8/10 - Mojo). "A record of reflection and connection that ranks among the more beautiful-sounding you might hear this year" (8/10 - DIY)

Highest Recent Ratings

Albums to watch

Aldous HardingTrain On The Island

"A spellbinding listen, the high water mark of Harding's singular career" (9/10 - Exclaim. "It’s an oblique character study of herself, and the best album of her career so far" (9/10 - Pitchfork)

KneecapFENIAN

"After their Glastonbury fracas and legal troubles, political friction provides the backbone to this dense, musically adventurous third album" (9/10 - musicOMH).

FrikoSomething Worth Waiting For

"A record that leaves the kind of impression more associated with acts with far lengthier histories" (9/10 - DIY). "A euphoric, breakneck adventure towards a promised land" (8/10 - The Skinny)

Lime GardenMaybe Not Tonight

"A breakup album that wears its messiness on its sleeve, Lime Garden’s second is figuring life out, track by track" (9/10 - NME). "A new indie disco essential" (9/10 - DIY)

Angine de PoitrineVol.II

"There's a ferocity and alienness to the complexity" (10/10 - Exclaim). "It breathes on its own and speaks without words. Angine de Poitrine let the music do the talking" (8.4/10 - Northern Transmissions)

The Twilight SadIt's The Long Goodbye

"An astonishing body of work that firmly emphasizes what an important band The Twilight Sad are" (9/10 - Under The Radar). "A powerful and truly wonderful return from The Twilight Sad" (9/10 - Clash)

Northern Transmissions : recent releases

The ADM rating is a weighted average from our survey of more than 50 sources , taking into account the number of reviews

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8.6
ADM Rating

Aldous Harding

Train On The Island

Fifth album from the New Zealand-born gothic folk singer-songwriter recorded in Wales with co-producer John Parish

Added: 08/05/2026
8.4

Ed O’Brien

Blue Morpho

Second solo album from the Radiohead guitarist working with producers Paul Epworth and Riley MacIntyre

Added: 22/05/2026
8.3

Friko

Something Worth Waiting For

Second albumfrom the Chicago indie rock quartet produced by John Congleton

Added: 24/04/2026
8.0

Cola

Cost Of Living Adjustment

Third album from the post-punk Canadian trio

Added: 15/05/2026
8.0

MUNA

Dancing On The Wall

Fourth album from the Los Angeles-based electronic pop trio produded by band member Naomi McPherson

Added: 08/05/2026
7.7

Broken Social Scene

Remember The Humans

Sixth full-length studio album and first in nine years from the Canadian dream pop / art rock collective

Added: 09/05/2026
7.6

Nine Inch Nails & Boys Noize

Nine Inch Noize

Collaboration between Nine Inch Nails and Boys Noize features reimagined Nine Inch Nails tracks first performed at Coachella in 2026

Added: 22/04/2026
7.5

Kevin Morby

Little Wide Open

Eighth album of indie rock from the Kansas-based singer-songwriter produced by The National's Aaron Dessner

Added: 15/05/2026
7.3

Rostam

American Stories

Third solo album from the former Vampire Weekend member Rostam Batmanglij

Added: 15/05/2026
6.8

Kacey Musgraves

Middle of Nowhere

Seventh studio album from the Texas country singer produced with Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk

Added: 06/05/2026
6.7

American Football

American Football (LP4)

Fourth studio album and first in seven years from the Illinois-based indie quartet workign with producer Sonny DiPerri

Added: 04/05/2026

Latest Reviews

Ed O’Brien Blue Morpho

‘Blue Morpho’ offers a reminder that, as he and his other bandmates have repeatedly proved, O’Brien boasts a wholly-uninhibited approach to how rock and pop music is arranged, resulting in works that move and grow like the building blocks of life itself Clash

Kevin Morby Little Wide Open

Represents a musical homecoming for Morby to the Americana that is central to much of his work No Ripcord

Lykke Li The Afterparty

On a purportedly final album, the Swedish electro-pop singer’s disenchantment takes shape around sparkling synth and light-touch disco beats Pitchfork

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Fresh stuff

Little Wide Open by Kevin Morby

"A masterpiece of simple and, at times, epic proportions that will linger deep within one’s soul" (9/10 - PopMatters). "The eight-minute-long title track is arguably Morby’s greatest song to date" (8/10 - Mojo)

Genesis OwusuRedstar Wu & the Worldwide Scourge
"Seething with righteous anger and moshpit-ready tracks, the Australian artist’s genre-hopping but cohesive LP makes a case for the durability of the form" (10/10 - The Guardian)

The Lemon TwigsLook for Your Mind!
"This is musical joy captured in a record one of the group’s strongest works to date" (9/10 - Clash). "The exultant power-pop on the D'Addario brothers' sixth album is untouchably brilliant" (7/10 - musicOMH)

Broken Social SceneRemember The Humans
"You can hear them having fun, bouncing the ideas off one another" (8.5/10 - Under The Radar). "Celebrates the joy and spirit of a bunch of old friends simply jamming together" (8/10 - musicOMH)

Kacey MusgravesMiddle of Nowhere
"Grammy-winning star revels in sprawling songs about single life, dry spells and toxic exes, against a sonic backdrop inspired by her homes in Mexico and Texas" (10/10 - The Independent)

The Black KeysPeaches!
"‘Peaches!’ is full of dynamism, swirling riffs and pounding drumbeats. It never loses itself in the mele" (8/10 - Clash). "The Black Keys‘ most raw-sounding record" (8/10 - Far Out)

Foo FightersYour Favorite Toy
"An addictive collection that – like most Foos records – demands repeat playing, this is easily one of the albums of the year" (9/10 - Hot Press). "A retread of well-worn ideas" (4.2/10 - Paste)

Ringo StarrLong Long Road
"While he may indeed have travelled a long long road, here he sounds 85 years young" (8/10 - Mojo). "You'd have to go back to the 1970s to find a Ringo Starr solo album that was as well-crafted" (7/10 - All Music)

All-time top 10

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.

See full list