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.

  • 7,961 Breakdowns
  • 48,752 critic reviews
  • 69 outlets
  • Albums from 1954–2026

How the Breakdown works →By the Numbers →

Out last Friday · Oct 30

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.

Album cover for Perfecth by Queens of the Stone AgeQueens of the Stone AgePerfecth78 C+73% approval15 critics
Album cover for ZIRP! by DIIVDIIVZIRP!77 C+67% approvalEarly reviews · 6 critics
Album cover for Mið by EnslavedEnslavedMið80 B-80% approvalEarly reviews · 5 critics
Album cover for Everything Under the Sun by NickelbackNickelbackEverything Under the Sun73 C67% approvalEarly reviews · 3 critics
Album cover for All the Shadows by Cirith UngolCirith UngolAll the Shadows70 C-50% approvalEarly reviews · 2 critics
Album cover for What’s In Between by Radio Free AliceRadio Free AliceWhat’s In Between88 B+100% approvalEarly reviews · 2 critics
Album cover for Big Sur by Big RedBig RedBig Sur80 B-100% approvalEarly reviews · 2 critics
Album cover for Fantasize by Chloe QishaChloe QishaFantasize70 C-0% approvalEarly reviews · 2 critics
Album cover for Surface, Echo & Sound by EditorsEditorsSurface, Echo & Sound75 C50% approvalEarly reviews · 2 critics
Album cover for Uncanny Times by PantheistPantheistUncanny Times60 D-0% approvalEarly reviews · 1 critic
Album cover for Grave Monolith by Grave MonolithGrave MonolithGrave Monolith70 C-0% approvalEarly reviews · 1 critic
Album cover for Ananta: Spirit Of Coltrane by Miguel Atwood‐FergusonMiguel Atwood‐FergusonAnanta: Spirit Of Coltrane70 C-0% approvalEarly reviews · 1 critic
Album cover for Skin & Blisters by Disgusting SistersDisgusting SistersSkin & Blisters70 C-0% approvalEarly reviews · 1 critic
Album cover for Plain Jane by Moody JoodyMoody JoodyPlain Jane80 B-100% approvalEarly reviews · 1 critic
Album cover for Songs For Sinners by Moses BoydMoses BoydSongs For Sinners80 B-100% approvalEarly reviews · 1 critic
Album cover for Through the Bowels of Ceaseless Dissonance by CryptoriumCryptoriumThrough the Bowels of Ceaseless Dissonance60 D-0% approvalEarly reviews · 1 critic
Album cover for Save As by Ex:ReEx:ReSave As80 B-100% approvalEarly reviews · 1 critic
Album cover for Wild In The Streets by ClinicClinicWild In The Streets90 A-100% approvalEarly reviews · 1 critic
Album cover for Awesome by HeathersHeathersAwesome71 C-0% approvalEarly reviews · 1 critic
Album cover for Time Lab by YelloYelloTime Lab80 B-100% approvalEarly reviews · 1 critic
Album cover for COMPUTER METAL by MASTER BOOT RECORDMASTER BOOT RECORDCOMPUTER METAL85 B100% approvalEarly reviews · 1 critic
Album cover for Kind of Fantasy by Juice WebsterJuice WebsterKind of Fantasy80 B-100% approvalEarly reviews · 1 critic
Album cover for Lamentations of the Shadowkingdoms by Dungeon SerpentDungeon SerpentLamentations of the Shadowkingdoms100 A+100% approvalEarly reviews · 1 critic

23 albums so far. Scroll sideways for more.

Also out, waiting on reviews: Mylène Farmer, Égrégore; Blind Channel, Painstream; Ministry, Hate to Go – Take Out or Delivery; Felicia Eriksson, Popstar; Jerry Garcia Band, Garcia Live Volume 23. 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+67% approvalBroad agreement
Album cover for Everything Under the Sun by Nickelback4Out Oct 30NickelbackEverything Under the Sun73 C67% approvalBroad agreement

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. 262 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 262 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

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. 7Boards of CanadaInferno83 B
  8. 8Brock DavisNothing Lasts Forever83 B
  9. 9Emma Ruth RundleThese Killing Times82 B-
  10. 10Lamb of GodInto Oblivion82 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 TracksIndie & Alternative75average Breakdown57%of albums likedNumber one: Sonic Youth, Daydream NationMetal & Punk75average Breakdown57%of albums likedNumber one: Sex Pistols, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex PistolsRock74average Breakdown52%of albums likedNumber one: Tom Waits, Rain DogsElectronic74average Breakdown52%of albums likedNumber one: Kraftwerk, Trans-Europe ExpressR&B & Soul74average Breakdown45%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 Breakdown36%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 →