B-Side Guys

B-Side Breakdowns

From B-Side Guys

B-Side Breakdowns

Where the critics land, and where they fight, on new albums and classics as far back as the 1950s.

  • 8,180 Breakdowns
  • 49,877 critic reviews
  • 69 outlets
  • Albums from 1954–2026

How the Breakdown works →By the Numbers →

Out this Friday · Nov 6

Coming this Friday

Early reviews of albums due this Friday. Scores move as more critics weigh in, and the Early reviews tag comes off at eight.

Album cover for Fatal Paradox by HatebreedHatebreedFatal Paradox78 C+100% approvalEarly reviews · 2 critics
Album cover for Build and Rest by the Shepherd’s Light by Yoo Doo RightYoo Doo RightBuild and Rest by the Shepherd’s Light80 B-50% approvalEarly reviews · 2 critics
Album cover for In Endless Awe & Agony by dainedaineIn Endless Awe & Agony80 B-100% approvalEarly reviews · 2 critics
Album cover for N.Y. Baby by Blu DeTigerBlu DeTigerN.Y. Baby80 B-100% approvalEarly reviews · 1 critic
Album cover for Friend World by Do NothingDo NothingFriend World80 B-100% approvalEarly reviews · 1 critic
Album cover for Elysia by HyperionHyperionElysia80 B-100% approvalEarly reviews · 1 critic
Album cover for Old Flames by La RouxLa RouxOld Flames80 B-100% approvalEarly reviews · 1 critic
Album cover for A Serpent to Devour, a Servant to Abhor by Malignant SpiritMalignant SpiritA Serpent to Devour, a Servant to Abhor70 C-0% approvalEarly reviews · 1 critic

Also due Friday, waiting on reviews: Dove Cameron, Final Girl; Steven Wilson, Requiem for a Village; Merzbow, Fuego Eterno; Prong, Prong. 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. More join as their reviews come in.

Album cover for Mið by Enslaved1Out Oct 30EnslavedMið80 B-80% approvalSome debate
Album cover for Perfecth by Queens of the Stone Age2Out Oct 30Queens of the Stone AgePerfecth78 C+73% approvalSome debate
Album cover for ZIRP! by DIIV3Out Oct 30DIIVZIRP!77 C+71% approvalBroad agreement
Album cover for Everything Under the Sun by Nickelback4Out Oct 30NickelbackEverything Under the Sun69 D+50% approvalSome debate

Read all the latest Breakdowns →

A-Side badge

Latest A-Sides

The critics’ top tier: a Breakdown of 90+, from 5+ reviews, with 75%+ approval. 263 albums so far.

  1. RosalíaLux90
  2. Hayley WilliamsEgo Death at a Bachelorette Party91
  3. SpiritboxTsunami Sea90
  4. Bad BunnyDebí tirar más fotos90
  5. BeyoncéCowboy Carter90
  6. Taylor Swift1989 (Taylor’s Version)91
All 263 A-Sides, ranked →

Coming up

Out this week. Their Breakdowns start arriving a day or two after release.

  • Fri Nov 6Dove Cameron, Final Girl
  • Fri Nov 6Steven Wilson, Requiem for a Village
  • Fri Nov 6Merzbow, Fuego Eterno
  • Fri Nov 6Prong, Prong
  • Wed Nov 11Chanmina, Legend

Did you know

See By the Numbers →
Perfect scores10 albums have a Breakdown of 100: every critic on them gave top marks, with at least 5 reviews each.See it →

Top albums of 2026

Released this year, with at least five reviews.

  1. 1Greg FreemanAll Set the Bone87 B+
  2. 2Olivia RodrigoYou Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love87 B+
  3. 3Tony IommiFrom the Dark86 B
  4. 4EvanescenceSanctuary85 B
  5. 5RayeThis Music May Contain Hope.85 B
  6. 6Richard ThompsonHippies, Thugs and Heroes84 B
  7. 7Brock DavisNothing Lasts Forever83 B
  8. 8Cameron WinterLive at Carnegie Hall83 B
  9. 9Boards of CanadaInferno82 B-
  10. 10Emma Ruth RundleThese Killing Times82 B-

Most divisive of 2026

Where critics split hardest this year. Divided or Contentious, at least five reviews.

  1. 1MuseThe Wow! SignalDivided
  2. 2Boards of CanadaInfernoDivided
  3. 3Teenage FanclubDo Not Dare to DreamDivided
  4. 4Harry StylesKiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.Divided
  5. 5BTSArirangDivided
  6. 6Remi WolfMudDivided

Browse by genre

Every genre’s average Breakdown, how often critics like its albums, and its top album of all time.

Jazz78average Breakdown58%of albums likedNumber one: Miles Davis, Kind of BlueFolk, Country & Americana76average Breakdown61%of albums likedNumber one: Bob Dylan, Blood on the TracksMetal & Punk75average Breakdown58%of albums likedNumber one: Sex Pistols, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex PistolsIndie & Alternative75average Breakdown57%of albums likedNumber one: Sonic Youth, Daydream NationRock74average Breakdown52%of albums likedNumber one: Tom Waits, Rain DogsElectronic74average Breakdown53%of albums likedNumber one: Kraftwerk, Trans-Europe ExpressR&B & Soul74average Breakdown44%of albums likedNumber one: Stevie Wonder, InnervisionsHip-Hop & Rap72average Breakdown44%of albums likedNumber one: Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us BackPop70average Breakdown37%of albums likedNumber one: The Beach Boys, Pet Sounds

Every genre, scored →

The 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.

How the Breakdown works →