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24 February 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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Unlisted recent releases

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New

Mumford & SonsPrizefighter

"The solemnness of the title track reverberates throughout most of the other tracks on the ‘Prizefighter’ album. It easily wins the ‘prize’ as the best song on an especially spectacular album" (8/10 - Clash)

New

MobyFuture Quiet

"Moby has created a 14-track state of therapy for his own mind but kindly offered it to the world. It is the offering of one of the genius producers of our time" (8/10 - CLash)

New

PeachesNo Lube So Rude

"Nothing short of a musical battle standard for those refusing to conform" (10/10 - The Arts Desk). "There’s a beating heart at the centre of Merrill Nisker’s exhilarating, essential work" (8/10 - misocOMH)

Highest Recent Ratings

Albums to watch

RatboysSingin' To An Empty Chair

"Ratboys have earned their seat at the top table" (9/10 - DIY). "Their most emotionally affecting and compositionally advanced songs to date" (8.4/10 - Pitchfork)

Joyce ManorI Used to Go to This Bar

"The Californian trio’s exhilarating, bittersweet seventh album marks a vital evolution" (8/10 - musicOMH). "They keep up their uninterrupted streak of never releasing a bad album" (8/10 - Under The Radar)

Westside CowboySo Much Country ‘Till We Get There

"So Much Country ‘Till We Get There is barely 15 minutes long; it is scarcely believable how much promise they’ve packed into it. Believe the hype" (10/10 - The Skinny)

Dove EllisBlizzard

"With shades of Jeff and Tim Buckley, the Galway-born artist writes tunes so strong they seem as familiar as old friends" (10/10 - The Guardian). "The sound is entirely his" (8/10 - DIY)

SnocapsSnocaps

"They are back playing pop that is pretty darn unmatched" (8.6/10 - Northern Transmissions). "A hailstorm of warm, exceptionally-written country-rock bangers backed by MJ Lenderman and Brad Cook" (8.5/10 - Paste)

The Independent : 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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10
ADM Rating

Charli XCX

Wuthering Heights

The latest release from the English electro pop star is both a companion and soundtrack to "Wuthering Heights" featuring guest appearances from John Cale and Sky Ferreira

Added: 13/02/2026
8.0

Mumford & Sons

Prizefighter

Sixth full-length studio release from the London alt-folk quartet produced with the National’s Aaron Dessner

Added: 20/02/2026
8.0

Madison Beer

Locket

Third full-length release from the Jericho, New York pop singer-songwriter

Added: 16/01/2026
6.0

Joji

Piss In The Wind

Fourth full-length album from New York-based Osaka-born artist features guest appearances by 4batz, Giveon, Don Toliver and Yeat

Added: 06/02/2026
6.0

Louis Tomlinson

How Did I Get Here?

Third album from the Doncaster-born One Direction member working with producers Joseph Cross, Nicolas Rebscher and Mathias Wang

Added: 22/01/2026
6.0

Robbie Williams

Britpop

Album number thirteen from the Stoke-born pop icon featuring guest appearances from Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi and Jesse & Joy

Added: 16/01/2026

Latest Reviews

Gorillaz The Mountain

A rich, rewarding take on living with and after loss, brimming with feeling, character and vibrant pop purpose. Print edition only Record Collector

Gorillaz The Mountain

Gorillaz's most ambitious (and moving) record to date. Print edition only Mojo

Gorillaz The Mountain

Its 15 tracks are filled with cheery major-key singalongs, sitar-soaked synth-pop bangers and whimsical waltzes that serve as ecstatic celebrations of life, rebirth and reinvention. Print edition only Uncut

More reviews

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Fresh stuff

Wuthering Heights by Charli XCX

"This brilliantly moody soundtrack confirms Charli XCX as a star who makes better art when she’s not trying to deliver a hit" (10/10 - The Irish Times). "At times gorgeous" (8/10 - Clash)

Danny L HarleCerulean
"His most cohesive work to date, finding parity in both its nostalgia and its modernity" (9/10 - DIY). "‘Cerulean’ is the album Danny L Harle has been waiting his whole life to make" (10/10 - Dork)

DaphniButterfly
"It may only be February, but this already feels like a defining electronic record of the year" (9/10 - Clash). "It might already be the most relentlessly feel-good album of 2026" (8/10 - DIY)

CastYeah Yeah Yeah
"Sounding comfortable and confident. Songs are strong, the production is polished" (8/10 - XS Noize). "Sound of a band determined to prove they’re more than a Britpop legacy act" (7/10 - musicOHM)

Tyler BallgameFor The First Time, Again
"Mark it down as the first great album of 2026" (10/10 - Record Collector). "Ballgame's got the goods and the charisma" (8/10 - All Music). "Often startlingly brilliant" (8/10 - Mojo)

Lucinda WilliamsWorld's Gone Wrong
"While burning with barely suppressed anger, her 16th album shows that, even in the darkest of times, there’s hope to be found" (8/10 - musicOMH). "The music is straight and soothing" (8/10 - Uncut)

Courtney Marie AndrewsValentine
"An earnest, aching set carried by dazzling vocal performances and rich, chamber-folk production" (7.4/10 - Pitchfork). "Brims with rich orchestration and incisive lyrics" (8/10 - Record Collector)

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