Out today · Nov 6
New this Friday
Every album out today with a review so far. Scores move as more critics weigh in, and the Early reviews tag comes off at eight.
23 albums so far. Scroll sideways for more.
Also out, waiting on reviews: Dove Cameron, Final Girl; James Blunt, Airplane Mode; Merzbow, Fuego Eterno. Each gets a card here as soon as its first review lands.
Top albums this week
Released in the last seven days, ranked by Breakdown.
Read all the latest Breakdowns →
Latest A-Sides
The critics’ top tier: a Breakdown of 90+, from 5+ reviews, with 75%+ approval. 279 albums so far.
Coming up
Out this week. Their Breakdowns start arriving a day or two after release.
Wed Nov 11Chanmina, Legend
Fri Nov 13U2, Carnaval de Luz
Fri Nov 13Waylon Jennings, Diamonds
Fri Nov 13Royal Blood, Dead Company
Did you know
See By the Numbers →Perfect scores11 albums have a Breakdown of 100: every critic on them gave top marks, with at least 5 reviews each.See it →
Most reviewed27 critics weighed in on Fontaines D.C., Dopamine Chamber, more than any other album here.See it →
No arguments10 critics reviewed Sonic Youth, Daydream Nation and landed within a few points of each other, for a Breakdown of 100.See it →
Best year on record1971 has the highest average Breakdown of any year here: 85.1 across 36 albums.See it →
Best decade1960s albums average the highest Breakdown of any decade here: 86.4 across 85 albums.
Critics’ favorite genreFolk, Country & Americana albums average a Breakdown of 75.7 across 296 albums, the highest of any genre here.See it →
Most consistent acclaimThe Kinks has the highest average Breakdown of any artist with five or more albums here: 90.2 across 5 albums.See it →
Most A-Sides7 A-Sides belong to Bob Dylan, more than any other artist. An A-Side is the critics’ top tier: 90 or higher.See it →
Deepest cut1959 is the year Miles Davis, Kind of Blue came out, the oldest album here with a full Breakdown.See it →
Top marks3,799 reviews here give an album a perfect score: 6.4% of them.
Busiest byline1,551 reviews here carry [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine’s name, more than any other critic.See it →
Most outlets, one critic9 different outlets have run reviews by Sheldon Pearce here, more than any other critic.See it →
Named critics5,021 critics have a byline on at least one review here, each with a page of their own.See it →
Easiest to win over: Entertainment Weekly95.1% of its reviews score the album 75 or higher, the highest share of any outlet.See it →
Hardest to win over: Slant25.3% of its reviews score the album 75 or higher, the lowest share of any outlet.See it →
Closest to the crowd: Beats Per Minute8.5 points, on average, from the other critics’ average for the same album (270 albums).See it →
Its own ears: Entertainment Weekly16.2 points, on average, from the other critics’ average for the same album, the widest gap of any outlet (2,981 albums).See it →
Full range: Select21.7 points: how far a typical review lands from its own average score, the widest swing of any outlet.See it →
Steadiest hand: Entertainment Weekly6.5 points: how far a typical review lands from its own average score, the tightest of any outlet.See it →
Quickest to give a 100: Chicago Sun-Times32.3% of its reviews give the album a perfect score (42 albums), the highest rate of any outlet.See it →
Vintage ears: MusicHound Rock83.4% of its reviews here are of albums released before 1990, more than any other outlet.See it →
New music first: The Arts Desk22.8% of its reviews here are of albums from 2025 or 2026, more than any other outlet.See it →
First on the scene: Spill Magazine91.0% of its dated reviews came out in the album’s release week (210 reviews with dates).See it →
A-Side regular: AllMusic273 A-Sides reviewed, more than any other outlet. A-Sides are the albums the critics rate highest.See it →
Biggest bench: Pitchfork428 different critics with a byline on its reviews here, more than any other outlet.See it →
Top albums of 2026
Released this year, with at least five reviews.
- 1
All Set the BoneGreg Freeman87 B+ - 2
From the DarkTony Iommi86 B - 3
You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in LoveOlivia Rodrigo86 B - 4
SanctuaryEvanescence84 B - 5
Hippies, Thugs and HeroesRichard Thompson84 B - 6
Nothing Lasts ForeverBrock Davis83 B - 7
Live at Carnegie HallCameron Winter83 B - 8
The Holy Cross Tigerstwisted teens82 B- - 9
InfernoBoards of Canada82 B- - 10
These Killing TimesEmma Ruth Rundle82 B-
Most divisive of 2026
Where critics split hardest this year. Divided or Contentious, at least five reviews.
- 1
The Wow! SignalMuseDivided - 2
ArirangBTSDivided - 3
This Music May Contain Hope.RayeDivided - 4InfernoBoards of CanadaDivided
- 5
Music, Fashion, FilmCharli XCXDivided - 6
IcemanDrakeDivided - 7
Do Not Dare to DreamTeenage FanclubDivided - 8
Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.Harry StylesDivided - 9
MudRemi WolfDivided
Browse by genre
Every genre’s average Breakdown, how often critics like its albums, and its top album of all time.
Jazz76average Breakdown49%of albums likedNumber one: Miles Davis, Kind of Blue
Folk, Country & Americana76average Breakdown60%of albums likedNumber one: Bob Dylan, Blood on the Tracks
Metal & Punk75average Breakdown58%of albums likedNumber one: Patti Smith, Horses
Indie & Alternative75average Breakdown56%of albums likedNumber one: Sonic Youth, Daydream Nation
Electronic74average Breakdown53%of albums likedNumber one: Kraftwerk, Trans-Europe Express
Rock74average Breakdown49%of albums likedNumber one: The Velvet Underground, The Velvet Underground & Nico
R&B & Soul73average Breakdown41%of albums likedNumber one: Stevie Wonder, Innervisions
Hip-Hop & Rap72average Breakdown42%of albums likedNumber one: Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Pop70average Breakdown35%of albums likedNumber one: The Beach Boys, Pet SoundsThe best albums of 2026, ranked · Best albums of every year · Browse every artist, A to Z
Breakdown Every critic’s score on a 0–100 scale, averaged. Green is 75 or higher.
Approval The share of critics who scored it 75 or higher.
Divisiveness How far apart the critics’ scores sit, from Unanimous to Contentious.
A-Side The critics’ top tier: 90+, from 5+ reviews, 75%+ approval.