The Independent’s album reviews that count toward B-Side Breakdowns: 616 reviews of 616 albums, going back to 1998, each next to the album’s Breakdown. 616 of them come from Wikipedia ratings boxes, mostly for older albums.
Top critics
- Andy Gill 231 reviews
- Helen Brown 87 reviews
- Roisin O'Connor 71 reviews
- Simon Price 23 reviews
- Alexandra Pollard 22 reviews
40 reviews with no named critic yet.
What it reviews
- Pop 31%
- Indie & Alternative 27%
- Rock 17%
- Hip-Hop & Rap 8%
- Folk, Country & Americana 7%
Find The Independent
By the numbers
71average score it gives, on the 0 to 100 scale (616 reviews)
57%of its reviews score an album 75 or higher
20points: how far a typical review lands from its own average score
103albums given a perfect score (16.7% of its reviews)
23A-Sides reviewed, the albums the critics rate highest
50different critics with a byline on its reviews here
48%of its scores landed within 10 points of the other critics’ average for the same album (616 albums)
13points, on average, between its release-week reviews and where the other critics ended up (274 reviews)
How its scores spread
- 0–4996
- 50s2
- 60s164
- 70s0
- 80s250
- 90+104
Its top scores
Olivia RodrigoYou Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love 100 Roisin O'Connor
Kacey MusgravesMiddle of Nowhere 100 Roisin O'Connor
RayeThis Music May Contain Hope. 100 Helen Brown
GorillazThe Mountain 100 Helen Brown
Charli XCXWuthering Heights 100 Helen Brown
Olivia DeanThe Art of Loving 100 Helen Brown
Lady GagaMayhem 100 Helen Brown
The WeekndHurry Up Tomorrow 100 Roisin O'Connor
Its newest 200 reviews
| Critic | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ariana GrandePetal | Rosin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 69 | Jul 31, 2026 |
 Charli XCXMusic, Fashion, Film“The pop star’s seventh album plays around with a number of ideas about her three favourite artforms, along with questions of identity and self-worth. It’s strange to hear her sounding…” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 82 | Jul 24, 2026 |
 The Rolling StonesForeign Tongues | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 73 | Jul 10, 2026 |
 MadonnaConfessions II | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 76 | Jul 2, 2026 |
| Olivia RodrigoYou Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love“US artist scatters warning signs through the first side of the album in a way that feels pre-emptive, like she should have seen them all along” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 87 | Jun 12, 2026 |
 Paul McCartneyThe Boys of Dungeon Lane | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 81 | May 29, 2026 |
| Kacey MusgravesMiddle of Nowhere“Grammy-winning star revels in sprawling songs about single life, dry spells and toxic exes, against a sonic backdrop inspired by her homes in Mexico and Texas” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 80 | May 1, 2026 |
| RayeThis Music May Contain Hope.“The way the 28-year-old throws her vocal virtuosity and infectious delight into every moment of her storytelling is breathtaking” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 85 | Mar 23, 2026 |
 Harry StylesKiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.“After discovering la dolce vita in Italy, pop’s millennial king wants to make us dance – and respect our mothers” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 75 | Mar 6, 2026 |
 MorrisseyMake-Up Is a Lie“Former Smiths frontman doesn’t make it easy for the listener, even if there are some good songs on his latest album” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 67 | Mar 6, 2026 |
| GorillazThe Mountain“The album’s posthumous contributors remind us that music can keep ghosts alive and – by spinning outtake samples of vanished voices into new forms – even serve as a kind…” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 83 | Mar 4, 2026 |
| Charli XCXWuthering Heights | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 79 | Feb 13, 2026 |
 Robbie WilliamsBritpop“Former Take That singer is on top form for his first proper album in a decade, throwing in a Gary Barlow reunion just for the hell of it” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 73 | Jan 16, 2026 |
 Florence + the MachineEverybody Scream“Inspired by a near-death experience, Florence Welch conjures up a fantastic collection of songs that find her wrestling with her role as a performer, her status among ‘the greats’, and…” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 83 | Oct 31, 2025 |
 Demi LovatoIt’s Not That Deep | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 77 | Oct 24, 2025 |
 Taylor SwiftThe Life of a Showgirl | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 67 | Oct 3, 2025 |
| Olivia DeanThe Art of Loving | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 81 | Sep 26, 2025 |
 Ed SheeranPlay“The singer-songwriter returns with a new album that’s rich in influences – but short on bangers” | Louis Chilton Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 53 | Sep 12, 2025 |
 Sabrina CarpenterMan’s Best Friend“There are some sensational songs on the pop star’s follow-up to ‘Short n’ Sweet’, but too much of the rest struggles for lift-off” | Adam White Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 76 | Aug 29, 2025 |
 The Black KeysNo Rain, No Flowers | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 65 | Aug 8, 2025 |
 Justin BieberSwag | Adam White Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 66 | Jul 11, 2025 |
 LordeVirgin | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 80 | Jun 26, 2025 |
 Addison RaeAddison | Felicity Martin Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 74 | Jun 6, 2025 |
 Miley CyrusSomething Beautiful | not named Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 74 | May 30, 2025 |
 Mumford & SonsRushmere | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 67 | 2025 |
| Lady GagaMayhem | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 79 | 2025 |
| The WeekndHurry Up Tomorrow | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 74 | 2025 |
 Snoop DoggMissionary“Rapper and producer team up for the first time since their 1993 album ‘Doggystyle” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 67 | 2024 |
 Shawn MendesShawn“Flo have got the vocals down, but the British trio need more than stunning harmonies if they want to come anywhere close to their professed heroes” | Annabel Nugent Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 69 | 2024 |
 Kylie MinogueTension II | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 86 | 2024 |
 ColdplayMoon Music“The British pop-rock band’s latest effort torpedoes its intentions with some truly groan-inducing lyrics” | Louis Chilton Read the review via Wikipedia | 20 1/5 | 62 | 2024 |
 Lady GagaHarlequin“There are deft sonic nods to the madness of Harley Quinn – it’s a pity there aren’t more of them” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 71 | 2024 |
 Katy Perry143“The sense of fun that propelled Perry to international stardom has been replaced by a weariness (or perhaps wariness) of the industry she once dominated” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 40 | 2024 |
 David GilmourLuck and Strange“Pink Floyd used to sing that ‘hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way’, but Gilmour sounds happier than that” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 80 | 2024 |
 Sabrina CarpenterShort n’ Sweet | Brown Helen Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 78 | 2024 |
 Post MaloneF-1 Trillion“Malone’s sixth album features a rhinestone constellation of collaborations with some of country’s biggest names” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 72 | 2024 |
 Ice SpiceY2K!“Following a wave of overlong albums, the cool, TikTokable concision of Ice Spice’s first full-length record feels effortlessly in control” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 62 | 2024 |
 EminemThe Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) | Stevie Chick Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 53 | 2024 |
 Charli XCXBrat | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 86 | 2024 |
 Billie EilishHit Me Hard and Soft“Are we finally seeing the artist behind the baggy-goth avatar? Interrogating her public image and fan culture, Eilish delivers a restless album that is equal parts sighing and squalling” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 85 | 2024 |
 Taylor SwiftThe Tortured Poets Department“With its playful narratives and hooks like anchors, Swift’s 11th studio album is a terrific reminder of her storytelling powers” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 76 | 2024 |
 Pearl JamDark Matter“Composer Lauri Porra and Liverpudlian musician Banners are also releasing new music this week.” | Alexander Hoggard Read the review via Wikipedia | 90 9/10 | 83 | 2024 |
 Jennifer LopezThis Is Me… Now“Beyond the rocks that she’s got, there isn’t much to be gleaned from the pop superstar’s album about her romance with Ben Affleck” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 58 | 2024 |
 Nicki MinajPink Friday 2“While some moments of interpolation are more inspired, the musician’s increasing reliance on recognisable samples can start to feel like cruise control” | Nadine Smith Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 69 | 2023 |
 Taylor Swift1989 (Taylor’s Version)“This revamp does at least serve as a reminder of the album’s untouchable greatness” | Adam White Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 91 | 2023 |
 The Rolling StonesHackney Diamonds“Appearances from their creakier contemporaries like Elton John and Paul McCartney give the album a sense of career closure” | Mark Beaumont Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 78 | 2023 |
 Blink-182One More Time…“Californian pop-punk trio reunite for the first time in seven years” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 69 | 2023 |
 DrakeFor All the Dogs“Drake tries and fails to prove he can keep up with the cool kids” | Nadine Smith Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 49 | 2023 |
 Doja CatScarlet“As with hit 2021 album ‘Planet Her’, this record operates in its own strange world” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 66 | 2023 |
 Olivia RodrigoGuts“Post-Disney, Rodrigo arrives kicking and screaming into reality” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 84 | 2023 |
 BlurThe Ballad of Darren“Songs that elevate Damon Albarn’s suburban tristesse into moments of sheer ecstasy” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 83 | 2023 |
 Foo FightersBut Here We Are“Frontman Dave Grohl sounds startlingly fragile on certain tracks, as though still numb with the shock of drummer Taylor Hawkins’s death” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 84 | 2023 |
 Metallica72 Seasons“Old and new fans alike will be headbanging happily throughout” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 74 | 2023 |
 Lana Del ReyDid You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd“Songwriter’s latest record isn’t rigid with its aesthetic and is all the better for it” | Annabel Nugent Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 79 | 2023 |
 Depeche ModeMemento Mori“Dave Gahan and Martin Gore’s first album since the death of their bandmate Andrew Fletcher offers a more nuanced side of their dark electronic sound” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 82 | 2023 |
 Miley CyrusEndless Summer Vacation“There’s a cool sense of control here. No longer a wrecking ball, Cyrus sounds like a woman doing emotional weightlifting” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 75 | 2023 |
 GorillazCracker Island“There’s a loose-limbed elation to the indie-funk groove of their eighth record – helped along by Stevie Nicks, Tame Impala and Thundercat” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 72 | 2023 |
 MåneskinRush! | Annabel Nugent Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 61 | 2023 |
 RayeMy 21st Century Blues“After six tumultuous years under Polydor Records, Rachel Keen is an independent artist – and her first record screams cathartic release” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 78 | 2023 |
 Taylor SwiftMidnights“The subtle melodies of Midnights take time to sink their claws in. But Swift’s feline vocal stealth and assured lyrical control ensures she keeps your attention” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 84 | 2022 |
 Arctic MonkeysThe Car“Designed to reward deep listening, these songs mark the start of a post-song era, where form and structure give way to mood and imagery” | Mark Beaumont Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 77 | 2022 |
 BjörkFossora“The album title is a feminised word for miner or digger, and its lyrical language taps into themes of deep-rooted connectivity and bursts of fleshy fruition” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 81 | 2022 |
 Demi LovatoHoly Fvck“The tween pop survivor goes for the throat on an accomplished record full of anthems” | Mark Beaumont Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 76 | 2022 |
 KasabianThe Alchemist’s Euphoria“Band’s seventh album delivers more than enough adrenaline to keep mosh pits churning” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 70 | 2022 |
 LizzoSpecial“This irresistible album is overflowing with love and gratitude to friends, family, lovers and fans” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 74 | 2022 |
 Harry StylesHarry’s House“As ‘Harry’s House’ flings open the doors of its party garage, Styles navigates this confusing emotional territory with a funk shuffle and future soul panache worthy of the Purple One…” | Mark Beaumont Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 81 | 2022 |
 Florence + the MachineDance Fever | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 81 | 2022 |
 Lana Del ReyBlue Banisters“Del Rey’s claims that this is her most personal album yet are not quite true – it is far more elliptical and mysterious than it first appears” | Ben Bryant Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 76 | 2022 |
 Jack WhiteFear of the Dawn | Annabel Nugent Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 69 | 2022 |
 Machine Gun KellyMainstream Sellout | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 53 | 2022 |
 PlaceboNever Let Me Go | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 81 | 2022 |
 Charli XCXCrash“Charli XCX sounds like a woman loving life at the wheel of these 12 luxury pop vehicles” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 77 | 2022 |
 RosalíaMotomami“Rosalía’s third record is hypersexual, future-leaning brilliance, while hip-hop legends Cypress Hill remain as clear-headed on hazy-eyed matters as ever” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 90 | 2022 |
 Avril LavigneLove Sux“Marr applies his scattershot sonics to matters of the pandemic era, while pop-punk queen Avril Lavigne offers a heady dose of nostalgia” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 72 | 2022 |
 Tears for FearsThe Tipping Point“The synth-pop band’s first album in 17 years billows with the widescreen ambitions of their foundational decade” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 82 | 2022 |
 alt-JThe Dream | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 76 | 2022 |
 Animal CollectiveTime Skiffs | Mark Beaumont Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 80 | 2022 |
 The WeekndDawn FM“New record is a self-knowing contradiction to The Weeknd’s past celebrations of impermanence via one-night stands and sleazy affairs. Now he understands, even regrets, his flighty behaviour” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 82 | 2022 |
 Alicia KeysKeys“Soul singer continues to elide the distance between eras and genres on an ambitious new album” | Annabel Nugent Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 63 | 2021 |
 David BowieToy“The spangly-jangly guitars of his youth are exchanged for the tougher, metallic sound of the new millennium. His richly self-aware vocals offer mature validation to the fear and isolation he…” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 73 | 2021 |
 Adele30“Across a more diverse fourth record, the returning singer braids in glimmering moments of self-affirmation amid the typical tirades against herself” | Annabel Nugent Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 80 | 2021 |
 Silk SonicAn Evening with Silk Sonic“Snoop oversees the creme de la creme of Def Jam on his new album, while Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak) embrace the cheese on their Seventies-indebted debut” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 82 | 2021 |
 ABBAVoyage“The reunion no one imagined would ever happen has resulted in a triumphant album awash in the group’s gung-ho uncoolness” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 69 | 2021 |
 ColdplayMusic of the Spheres“The album’s lyrical positivity and melodic predictability should fly well in the current climate” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 53 | 2021 |
 Lady GagaLove for Sale“Bennett’s got these songs under his skin, and pop’s Mother Monster does a brilliant job of helping him deliver them as a final gift to the world” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 70 | 2021 |
 Lil Nas XMontero“Close your eyes, and you can almost feel the rainbow confetti falling from the ceiling and sticking to your tears” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 83 | 2021 |
 Kacey MusgravesStar-Crossed“Grammy-winner’s new record was inspired by ‘Romeo and Juliet’, but it seldom matches the play’s rough passion” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 72 | 2021 |
 DrakeCertified Lover Boy“There’s very little here that Drake has not done better or more emphatically elsewhere; his album is deprived of any kind of experimentation or insight” | Sam Moore Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 54 | 2021 |
 HalseyIf I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 78 | 2021 |
 LordeSolar Power“The New Zealand musician was dubbed ‘the future of music’ by David Bowie. But on her third album, she swaps her directness for tuneless detachment” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 70 | 2021 |
 Billie EilishHappier Than Ever“The 19-year-old fills her second album with things most of us don’t have to deal with – NDAs, interviews, paparazzi – and yet she weaves them around universal woes” | Alexandra Pollard Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 81 | 2021 |
 John MayerSob Rock“For those aware of Mayer’s romantic history, it can be awks hearing him sing – mostly self-pityingly – about love” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 68 | 2021 |
 Tyler, the CreatorCall Me If You Get Lost“The transitions between tracks are magnificent, each outro sliding virtually undetected into the next track” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 86 | 2021 |
 Maroon 5Jordi | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 41 | 2021 |
 Olivia RodrigoSour“The teenage artist has learnt how to spin her experience of 21st-century adolescence into enthralling story-songs that resonate on a universal level” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 76 | 2021 |
 Paul McCartneyMcCartney III Imagined | Rachel Brodsky Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 74 | 2021 |
 Taylor SwiftFearless (Taylor’s Version)“Swift’s re-recorded versions of her 2008 album is a timely reminder of some of the best pop songs committed to record” | Alexandra Pollard Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 83 | 2021 |
 Lana Del ReyChemtrails over the Country Club“A great storyteller, Del Rey consistently delivers the who, what, where and when” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 80 | 2021 |
 Justin BieberJustice“On his sixth album, created in lockdown, the Canadian megastar really loosens up” | Louise Bruton Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 65 | 2021 |
 Foo FightersMedicine at Midnight“Dave Grohl describes his band’s 10th album as a 'party record' – and while hardly full of bops, it would slot nicely into a stadium setlist” | Alexandra Pollard Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 73 | 2021 |
 Zayn MalikNobody Is Listening“The former One Directioner's new album is billed as his 'most personal project to date' but it offers no narrative to speak of and only brief glimpses of personality” | Alexandra Pollard Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 58 | 2021 |
 Paul McCartneyMcCartney III“McCartney’s mood-hopping rattle bag of a third solo album sounds more like a descendant of The Beatles’ ‘White Album’ than anything else” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 79 | 2020 |
 Taylor SwiftEvermore“On her second surprise release of 2020, the world’s biggest pop star coolly refuses to reconfigure herself on demand” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 83 | 2020 |
 Shawn MendesWonder“Throughout this record, Mendes’s savvy songwriting team are harking back to retro influences to suit the vintage ice cream parlour shades of the singer's shirts” | not named Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 64 | 2020 |
 Miley CyrusPlastic Hearts“The former Disney star is offering punk attitudes on the dancefloor. Funk delivered with a roar, not a pout. Notes delivered with maximum bawl and full extension” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 73 | 2020 |
 AC/DCPower Up“Having survived a confluence of circumstances that made it seem like AC/DC’s studio career was over, the rockers make a welcome return with a rowdy new record” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 78 | 2020 |
 Little MixConfetti“Group’s clear Nineties influences mesh wonderfully with contemporary pop production” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 73 | 2020 |
 Kylie MinogueDisco“The showgirl survivor’s 15th album is here just in time to help us dance through this silliness, straddling Seventies-era dance music and pop fromage” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 74 | 2020 |
 Ariana GrandePositions“On her sixth album, Grande explores disco-funk, dirty-minded lyrics and neo-soul, but largely sticks to her comfort zone” | Adam White Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 66 | 2020 |
 Bruce SpringsteenLetter to You | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 83 | 2020 |
 GorillazSong Machine, Season One: Strange Timez“Over time Gorillaz’ sonic cartoonishness has dissipated, as Albarn used the vehicle to express his political discontent and explore cutting edge sounds with freedom and abandon” | Mark Beaumont Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 79 | 2020 |
 DeftonesOhms“Idles compel you to pay attention on their vital third album, while Deftones are back to what they do best on ‘Ohms” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 84 | 2020 |
 Marilyn MansonWe Are Chaos“Given the state of the world at the moment, it feels as good a time as any to release the tension by turning the speakers up to 11” | not named Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 76 | 2020 |
 Fontaines D.C.A Hero’s Death | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 83 | 2020 |
 Taylor SwiftFolklore“This is an unconventional record – at least for the world’s biggest pop star. It’s also brilliant” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 88 | 2020 |
 Ellie GouldingBrightest Blue“Featuring collaborations with Swae Lee and the late Juice WRLD, Goulding's fourth album is an eclectic exercise in understanding yourself” | Elisa Bray Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 72 | 2020 |
 Pop SmokeShoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon“Record is not only a celebration, but an elegy for what else he could have achieved” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 71 | 2020 |
 Bob DylanRough and Rowdy Ways“His first new material since 2012’s ‘Tempest’ is a soothing fit for the lockdown mood in which time and meaning feel strangely stretched and untethered” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 91 | 2020 |
 Phoebe BridgersPunisher | Alexandra Pollard Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 90 | 2020 |
 Lady GagaChromatica“For a global superstar who is not short of privilege, Gaga does tend towards solipsism – but on her sixth album, she is taking ownership of her own painful experiences” | Alexandra Pollard Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 78 | 2020 |
 The 1975Notes on a Conditional Form | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 20 1/5 | 69 | 2020 |
 Charli XCXHow I’m Feeling Now“Written and recorded from scratch over the past six weeks, this album is a high-voltage assault on the senses” | Alexandra Pollard Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 83 | 2020 |
 Norah JonesPick Me Up Off the Floor | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 80 | 2020 |
 Fiona AppleFetch the Bolt Cutters“The reclusive artist’s fifth record, released with the world at a safe distance, couldn’t have come at a better time” | Alexandra Pollard Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 94 | 2020 |
 Rina SawayamaSawayama | Elisa Bray Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 87 | 2020 |
 The StrokesThe New Abnormal“Band mark their return on this album stacked with rolling, streetwise grooves, boldly graffitied onto the chipped paintwork of Eighties New York City” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 73 | 2020 |
 Dua LipaFuture Nostalgia“Dua Lipa delivers hard truths to a soundtrack that’s ridiculously leotard and leg warmers – and there isn’t a duff track on the whole record” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 86 | 2020 |
 The WeekndAfter Hours | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 80 | 2020 |
 MorrisseyI Am Not a Dog on a Chain“Album by the controversial former Smiths frontman has its moments, but they are brief and virtually lost amid the more experimental forays” | Jake Cudsi Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 65 | 2020 |
 Niall HoranHeartbreak Weather“He’s still One Direction’s most likeable export, but Niall Horan struggles to define his musical identity on his shiny if haphazard second album” | Adam White Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 58 | 2020 |
 BTSMap of the Soul: 7“As a full album, 7 shows how determined the band are to make this record as cinematic and immersive an experience as possible” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 81 | 2020 |
 Harry StylesFine Line“Fine Line expands on the languorous guitar rock that has been Styles’ currency since he left One Direction, with copious charm and flickers of ingenuity” | Alexandra Pollard Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 76 | 2020 |
 Justin BieberChanges“A number of songs about his new wife are so uninspired that he may as well be declaring his love for a household appliance” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 54 | 2020 |
 Pet Shop BoysHotspot | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 76 | 2020 |
 EminemMusic to Be Murdered By“It stands to reason that Eminem would align himself with Alfred Hitchcock, the director who supposedly inspired this album – they share an active distrust of women” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 66 | 2020 |
 Selena GomezRare“Gomez’s new album is overshadowed by half a decade of behemothic bangers” | Alexandra Pollard Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 73 | 2020 |
 The WhoWho | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 78 | 2019 |
 Céline DionCourage“The Canadian singer has assembled a crack team including Sia, Sam Smith, Skylar Grey and Greg Kurstin, and pored through their offerings to find the songs that spoke to her…” | Alexandra Pollard Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 67 | 2019 |
 FKA twigsMagdalene | Alexandra Pollard Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 86 | 2019 |
 Kanye WestJesus Is King“West’s delayed record feels more like a collection of skits than a studio album, and fans will no doubt be wondering whether all the hype and stress that preceded its…” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 61 | 2019 |
 Neil YoungColorado | Elisa Bray Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 77 | 2019 |
 KeshaHigh Road | not named Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 71 | 2019 |
 Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsGhosteen“Following the traumatised chaos of 2016’s ‘Skeleton Tree’, ‘Ghosteen’ is a warm cloud of ambient solace” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 95 | 2019 |
 MikaMy Name Is Michael Holbrook | Elisa Bray Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 67 | 2019 |
 Liam GallagherWhy Me? Why Not.“Follow-up to the former Oasis star’s debut solo album feels more authentically ‘him’, despite more help from songwriting heavyweights, while Keane’s comeback is surprisingly good” | Adam White Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 74 | 2019 |
 Iggy PopFree | Alexandra Pollard Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 74 | 2019 |
 Lana Del ReyNorman Fucking Rockwell!“The album is sultry and soporific, sitting somewhere between the minimalist trip-hop of Del Rey’s early days, and the scuzzy desert rock she has toyed with over the years” | Alexandra Pollard Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 88 | 2019 |
 SlipknotWe Are Not Your Kind“The sheer ambition of ‘We Are Not Your Kind’ is just as staggering as their seminal record ‘Iowa’ – the dynamic might be even better” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 85 | 2019 |
 Kaiser ChiefsDuck | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 62 | 2019 |
 Thom YorkeANIMA“Yorke often tends to make his most explicit political comments outside of music. But there are moments here where you feel his rage” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 82 | 2019 |
 Bruce SpringsteenWestern Stars“Where most rock superstars sink into trad tedium by 69, Springsteen is still crafting sophisticated paeans of depth and illumination, a rock grandmaster worthy of the accolade” | Mark Beaumont Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 85 | 2019 |
 MorrisseyCalifornia Son“Can we listen to a new album from an old hero who’s broken our hearts? It seems not” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 55 | 2019 |
 Carly Rae JepsenDedicated“After the critically acclaimed ‘Emotion’ failed to set the charts alight, perhaps its polished pop follow-up will get Jepsen the recognition she deserves” | Elisa Bray Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 80 | 2019 |
 Tyler, the CreatorIgor“Tyler has never been one for traditional song structure, but on his fifth album he’s like the Minotaur luring you through a maze that twists and turns round seemingly impossible…” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 84 | 2019 |
 Vampire WeekendFather of the Bride“Father of the Bride pairs airy jaunts with obsessions over romantic doom and complacency, but arcs towards redemption and renewal” | Jazz Monroe Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 79 | 2019 |
 The CranberriesIn the End“Aldous Harding sounds delightfully free on her new album ‘Designer’, while The Cranberries find closure on their final record. Soak’s second album shows a bolder artist, but Catfish offer more…” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 75 | 2019 |
 LizzoCuz I Love You“A polished, playful third album from Lizzo, while Fat White Family have developed an air of culture and sophistication, and Cage the Elephant’s frontman Matt Shultz reacts to the breakdown…” | Mark Beaumont Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 83 | 2019 |
 Ariana GrandeThank U, Next“It lacks a centrepiece to match the arresting depth and space of Sweetener’s ‘God Is A Woman’, but Grande handles its shifting moods and cast of producers with engaging class…” | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 83 | 2019 |
 Zayn MalikIcarus Falls | Helen Brown Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 69 | 2018 |
 XXXTentacionSkins“SKINS' is another fiery blast of catharsis, a largely metaphor-free space where depression isn't hinted at poetically but invited to throw down” | Christopher Hooton Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 56 | 2018 |
 The 1975A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships“The band’s best album yet has enough hope, radical honesty and genre-spanning breadth to make sense across divided generations” | Jazz Monroe Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 83 | 2018 |
 Clean BanditWhat Is Love?“Another album of formulaic EDM pop and Latino R&B dancefloor grinders” | Mark Beaumont Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 53 | 2018 |
 MuseSimulation Theory“Rock band's eighth album will be baffling to new listeners, and disappointing to old fans” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 62 | 2018 |
 Tenacious DPost-Apocalypto | Clarisse Loughrey Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 45 | 2018 |
 Lily AllenNo Shame | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 78 | 2018 |
 Troye SivanBloom“The 23-year-old’s second album has been toiled over until free of unnecessary frills, and could be the one that turns him into one of mainstream music's most revered and fascinating…” | Douglas Greenwood Read the review via Wikipedia | 100 5/5 | 83 | 2018 |
 Ariana GrandeSweetener“Often unexpected, sometimes in a good way, but representing an artist trying to move forward while reluctant to relinquish old ideas” | Kate Solomon Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 77 | 2018 |
 Animal CollectiveTangerine Reef | Elisa Bray Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 60 | 2018 |
 Nicki MinajQueen“The record features collaborations with Eminem, Ariana Grande and The Weeknd” | Ella Jukwey Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 65 | 2018 |
 Daron Malakian and Scars on BroadwayDictator“System of a Down’s Daron Malakian releases his long-awaited second solo album, while Jamaican singer Popcaan follows up on his 2014 debut with ‘Forever” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 74 | 2018 |
 ImmortalNorthern Chaos Gods | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 73 | 2018 |
 Florence + the MachineHigh as Hope“Florence Welch looks back on her youth with a mix of fondness and regret, and takes as stripped-back an approach as seems possible” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 73 | 2018 |
 GorillazThe Now Now“Plus new releases from Let's Eat Grandma and Protoje” | Ilana Kaplan Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 73 | 2018 |
 The CartersEverything Is Love“Two of the most innovative artists of a generation seem unbreakable as they fire shots at former friends and celebrate their own power” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 79 | 2018 |
 Mike ShinodaPost Traumatic“Also this week: Mike Shinoda’s new solo album, Chromeo’s ‘Head Over Heels’, and a debut from Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever” | Ilana Kaplan Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 71 | 2018 |
 Father John MistyGod’s Favorite Customer“In this week's roundup, Father John Misty takes a humble look at the times we live in, and Laura Marling partners up with Mike Lindsay” | Ilana Kaplan Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 82 | 2018 |
 Arctic MonkeysTranquility Base Hotel & Casino“On their sixth album, the Sheffield band land on something creative, intriguing and completely different” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 73 | 2018 |
 Anne-MarieSpeak Your Mind“Rising pop star Anne-Marie releases a debut album jam-packed with infectious, dance-worthy bangers, while Willie Nelson mourns departed friends on ‘Last Man Standing” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 61 | 2018 |
 Cardi BInvasion of Privacy“This week, Cardi B is a musical chameleon on her debut album while Laura Veirs offers a welcome perspective on emotional turmoil on her 10th studio record” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 85 | 2018 |
 Kylie MinogueGolden“In this week’s roundup, the Manics are as fervently political as ever, while Spanish rock band Hinds thrive on their imperfections” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 64 | 2018 |
 Justin TimberlakeMan of the Woods“The 'Filthy' singer returns to what he knows, but perhaps it's not what you'd expect” | Ilana Kaplan Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 59 | 2018 |
 EminemRevival“Download this: Walk On Water; Untouchable; Like Home; Offended; Castle; Arose” | Andy Gill Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 60 | 2017 |
 U2Songs of Experience“Also: Michael Chapman & Ehud Banai, Alien Stadium and Nitin Sawhney” | Andy Gill Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 66 | 2017 |
 Miley CyrusYounger Now“It's another reinvention for Miley, as she ditches the drug-fuelled psych-rock and half-heartedly embraces country music” | not named Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 67 | 2017 |
 Calvin HarrisFunk Wav Bounces Vol. 1“Also, Broken Social Scene – Hug Of Thunder, Jupiter & Okwess – Kin Sonic, Public Service Broadcasting – Every Valley, and Gil Scott-Heron – The Revolution Will Not Be Televised……” | Andy Gill Read the review via Wikipedia | 20 1/5 | 67 | 2017 |
 The KillersWonderful Wonderful“Plus Death From Above – Outrage! Is Now, and Sløtface – Try Not To Freak Out” | Roison O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 73 | 2017 |
 Foo FightersConcrete and Gold“Also: Dr John – The Atco Albums Collection, Willie Watson – Folksinger Vol. 2, The Doors – Singles Box, Eamon – Golden Rail Motel” | Andy Gill Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 72 | 2017 |
 Neil YoungHitchhiker“A glorious and inventive return from the Mael brothers” | Andy Gill Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 86 | 2017 |
 Queens of the Stone AgeVillains“Izzi Dunn – Recycle Love, Portico Quartet – Art In The Age Of Automation, Susan Cattaneo – The Hammer & The Heart, Gogol Bordello – Seekers And Finders, and Olafur…” | Andy Gill Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 77 | 2017 |
 Tyler, the CreatorFlower Boy“Also Alice Cooper – Paranormal, Binker & Moses – Journey To The Mountain Of Forever, and Fairport Convention – Come All Ye: The First Ten Years” | Andy Gill Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 83 | 2017 |
 Lana Del ReyLust for Life“Her duet with The Weeknd proves a masterful pairing, they stand out among their peers as two artists who have succeeded at crafting their own myth” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 77 | 2017 |
 LordeMelodrama“Pure Heroine documented feelings of teenage ennui in a way that was both self-reflective and universal; Melodrama takes a similar approach to the early years of adulthood” | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 91 | 2017 |
 Fleet FoxesCrack-Up | Andy Gill Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 78 | 2017 |
 Roger WatersIs This the Life We Really Want?“Also Benjamin Booker, Thea Gilmore, and Roger Waters” | Andy Gill Read the review via Wikipedia | 40 2/5 | 77 | 2017 |
 GorillazHumanz“Also Johnny Cash, Kasai Allstars, and Joan Shelley” | Andy Gill Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 75 | 2017 |
 Father John MistyPure Comedy“Also Ulver, The New Pornographers, and Timber Timbre” | Andy Gill Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 87 | 2017 |
 The xxI See You | Roisin O'Connor Read the review via Wikipedia | 80 4/5 | 82 | 2017 |
 J. Cole4 Your Eyez Only“Plus The Olympians and The Colorist & Emiliana Torrini” | Andy Gill Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 69 | 2016 |
 Lady GagaJoanne“Also Agnes Obel – Citizen Of Glass, Wovenhand – Star Treatment, and Otis Redding – Live At The Whisky A Go Go” | Andy Gill Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 68 | 2016 |
 Bruce SpringsteenChapter and Verse | Nick Hasted Read the review via Wikipedia | 60 3/5 | 78 | 2016 |