Out last Friday · Nov 13
New this Friday
Last Friday's new albums and where the critics have landed so far. This week's take over once their first reviews arrive.
Dropkick Murphys20th Century Paddy – The Songs of Shane MacGowan83 Keeper100% approvalEarly reviews · 3 critics
29 albums so far. Scroll sideways for more.
Also out, waiting on reviews: Waylon Jennings, Diamonds; Ornella Vanoni, Vivere il mio concerto più bello!; Ultimo, Ultimo Live Tor Vergata; Sangiovanni, Tutto bene grazie. 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.
2Out Nov 13Dropkick Murphys20th Century Paddy – The Songs of Shane MacGowan83 Keeper100% approvalUnanimousRead all the latest Breakdowns →
Latest A-Sides
The critics’ top tier: a Breakdown of 90+, from 5+ reviews, with 75%+ approval. 284 albums so far.
Coming up
Out this week. Their Breakdowns start arriving a day or two after release.
Thu Nov 19Keith Richards, Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album- Fri Nov 20Down, Volume V
Did you know
See By the Numbers →Perfect scores8 albums have a Breakdown of 100: every critic on them gave top marks, with at least 5 reviews each.See it →
Most reviewed28 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 record1969 has the highest average Breakdown of any year here: 83.1 across 39 albums.See it →
Best decade1960s albums average the highest Breakdown of any decade here: 85.0 across 111 albums.
Critics’ favorite genreJazz albums average a Breakdown of 75.8 across 66 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 The Beatles, 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 marks5,031 reviews here give an album a perfect score: 6.2% of them.
Most outlets, one critic9 different outlets have run reviews by Sheldon Pearce here, more than any other critic.See it →
Named critics5,987 critics have a byline on at least one review here, each with a page of their own.See it →
Toughest grader: The Needle Drop60 average score across 104 reviews, the lowest of any outlet.See it →
Easiest to win over: Sonic Perspectives97.8% of its reviews score the album . (int) BSG_LIKED . or higher, the highest share of any outlet.See it →
Hardest to win over: Consequence40.3% of its reviews score the album . (int) BSG_LIKED . or higher, the lowest share of any outlet.See it →
Closest to the crowd: Northern Transmissions7.6 points, on average, from the other critics’ average for the same album (191 albums).See it →
Its own ears: The Needle Drop17.5 points, on average, from the other critics’ average for the same album, the widest gap of any outlet (103 albums).See it →
Full range: Select21.6 points: how far a typical review lands from its own average score, the widest swing of any outlet.See it →
Steadiest hand: Sonic Perspectives6.7 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-Times32.0% of its reviews give the album a perfect score (49 albums), the highest rate of any outlet.See it →
Deepest crate: Rolling Stone1940 is the release year of the oldest album it has a score on here.See it →
Vintage ears: MusicHound Rock81.0% of its reviews here are of albums released before 1990, more than any other outlet.See it →
New music first: Cult Following69.3% of its reviews here are of albums from 2025 or 2026, more than any other outlet.See it →
First on the scene: Spill Magazine89.8% of its dated reviews came out in the album’s release week (226 reviews with dates).See it →
A-Side regular: AllMusic278 A-Sides reviewed, more than any other outlet. A-Sides are the albums the critics rate highest.See it →
Biggest bench: Pitchfork499 different critics with a byline on its reviews here, more than any other outlet.See it →
Second albums1.8 points below debuts on average: 72.5 for second albums, 74.4 for debuts, among artists with four or more studio albums.
Career peak1st albums score highest of any spot in a discography: an average Breakdown of 74.4 across 620 albums.
Most alike7.2 points apart, on average: Clash and Uncut across 130 albums both reviewed, the closest of any two outlets.See it →
Least alike24.9 points apart, on average: Kerrang! and The Rolling Stone Album Guide across 86 albums both reviewed, the widest gap of any two outlets.See it →
Top albums of 2026
Released this year, with at least five reviews.
- 1
An Undying Love for a Burning WorldNeurosis
90 Heavy Rotation - 2
Lost WeekendPhoebe Bridgers88 Heavy Rotation - 3
Krushers of the WorldKreator87 Heavy Rotation - 4
Hippies, Thugs and HeroesRichard Thompson87 Heavy Rotation - 5
From the DarkTony Iommi86 Heavy Rotation - 6
SanctuaryEvanescence85 Heavy Rotation - 7
Love Is Not Enough (Converge album)Converge84 Keeper - 8
All Set the BoneGreg Freeman84 Keeper - 9
You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in LoveOlivia Rodrigo84 Keeper - 10
The Ghost of a Future DeadAt the Gates83 Keeper
Most divisive of 2026
Where critics split hardest this year. Divided or Contentious, at least five reviews.
- 1
Dead CompanyRoyal BloodContentious - 2
UNWANTEDthrownContentious - 3
This Music May Contain Hope.RayeDivided - 4
ArirangBTSDivided - 5
The Wow! SignalMuseDivided - 6
Until the Sun ExplodesSublimeDivided - 7
How’s It Goin’Bryan AdamsDivided - 8
Maid of HonourDrakeDivided - 9
Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.Harry StylesDivided - 10
Do Not Dare to DreamTeenage FanclubDivided
Browse by genre
Every genre’s average Breakdown, how often critics like its albums, and its top album of all time.
Jazz76average Breakdown70%of albums likedNumber one: Miles Davis, Kind of Blue
Metal & Punk74average Breakdown73%of albums likedNumber one: Patti Smith, Horses
Folk, Country & Americana74average Breakdown72%of albums likedNumber one: Bob Dylan, Blood on the Tracks
Indie & Alternative73average Breakdown71%of albums likedNumber one: Sonic Youth, Daydream Nation
Electronic73average Breakdown66%of albums likedNumber one: Kraftwerk, Trans-Europe Express
Rock72average Breakdown61%of albums likedNumber one: Tom Waits, Rain Dogs
R&B & Soul71average Breakdown56%of albums likedNumber one: Prince, Sign “O” the Times
Hip-Hop & Rap70average Breakdown55%of albums likedNumber one: Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Pop68average Breakdown47%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 70 or higher.
Approval The share of critics who scored it 70 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.