Sacred Exile

03/01/2024

For Brittany Howard, her sophomore solo record What Now is both the answer and the question. Read the full review now.

Rock | Blues | Alternative

02/23/2024

MGMT is back with their fifth studio album, 'Loss of Life' - a "joyful indulgence - shaking off the shackles of cynicism and resistance fatigue."

Rock | Synth-Pop | Indie-Rock

02/23/2024

The latest album from IDLES is "a clear regathering, a collective inhalation, and a refocusing on IDLES' strengths after their previous two albums felt creatively strained."

Alternative | Post-Punk | Punk

02/09/2024

Declan McKenna's third album, What Happened to the Beach? might be the sun-soaked adventure you've been waiting for.

Indie-Rock | Indie-Pop | Alt-Rock

02/08/2024

We broke down the sophomore album from Vera Sola, Peacemaker which "is an exploration of releasing rage and sorrow."

Rock | Blues | Folk | Country

02/08/2024

An impressive debut from the indie-rock quintet from London. Read the full review now.

Indie-Rock

02/02/2024

Have you ever listened to the full album where these one-hit wonders stole the show? You should.

Revisiting albums (and careers) overshadowed by massive one hit wonders.

01/27/2024

Album number two from the trio known as The Smile is "an album that transcends genre boundaries and leaves an indelible mark on the musical quilt of 2024."

https://www.sacredexile.com/reviews/the-smile-wall-of-eyes

01/27/2024

The new album from Liverpool's Courting, ".. is a superficial, self-aware album that captures hybridity as one of the most critical spirits of our time in a polished yet down-to-earth collection of hyper-pop electronic rock."

01/26/2024

"It may not always fit neatly into preconceived boxes, but within its tangled web of sound lies a wealth of creativity waiting to be discovered. Dive in, and prepare to be dazzled." Read our latest review on the new glass beach album now at sacredexile.com

Alternative/Indie

01/15/2024

"There's no hiding from the heavy themes, reflecting on relationships and the pain of regret - but the listening is rewarding."

Breaking down the latest album from Marika Hackman

01/12/2024

The new album from Bill Ryder-Jones has grabbed our MUST LISTEN tab.

"The album has an expansive atmosphere, sprawling, stretching, and reaching on its tip-toes to grab what is typically out of reach. "

lechyd Da is undeniably the pinnacle of Ryder-Jones’ career, it’s exhaustive, touching all corners of his musical landscape and making them fit together.

01/05/2024

The debut album from Dublin punk rockers SPRINTS is "a bold shout-out loud and fearless statement, a firm boulder placed in the punk genre of 2024 that is here to stay."

Garage Punk / Indie-Rock

01/02/2024

Out with the old, in with the new!

Take a look at 24 anticipated albums for 2024.

Counting down 24 albums coming out in 2024 that you need to hear.

12/05/2023

'Maps' emerges as a force, boasting a strength, humor, bluntness, precision, and lethal quality that surpasses hip-hop's other 2023 offerings. The album not only sustains but elevates woods' artistic prowess, capturing a vibrant energy that pulses through every track, making it a standout in the musical landscape of the year.

12/04/2023

Our full list is now LIVE at Sacred Exile, but we're going to keep counting down anyway.

At 14 - A shiny Soul/Gospel record cranked up to eleven. Angels & Queens is a 90-minute feast of contemporary R&B and Soul that keeps dishing out plate after plate of sonic indulgence.

11/30/2023

No more messing around. This is our list for the best 23 albums of 2023.

How is this list any different than all the others? Well, it’s the only one that’s right.

From Squid to Lana Del Rey to billy woods to Ratboys and Young Fathers to Hozier, we distilled thousands of albums into 23.

We ranked the best albums of 2023 and put them into one packed list.

11/29/2023

Despite reflecting on some terrible moments, decisions, luck, and people in her life - Indigo De Souza's desire to keep getting back up remains intact. The album can be painfully honest and painfully vulnerable, but it never feels hopeless - resonating with the listener the importance of perseverance.

Put all of it together, and All Of This Will End is a confident leap forward into the spotlight for De Souza and her third full-length album.

11/28/2023

Number 16! We'll be releasing our full list once we hit #15.

The self-titled album from Greg Mendez is meticulous, loaded with distinct imagery and lyrical hooks. It could easily fall into the swamp of singer-songwriter indie music, but Mendez elevates his music to new heights by trimming the fat. While weighing in at 23 minutes, its slow-burn atmosphere makes the record feel much fattier.

11/27/2023

On Unreal Unearth, Hozier takes his biggest step forward, balancing masterful ballads with compact R&B tunes. Combining a lyrical journey from Dante’s Inferno to obscure writing from Flann O’Brien, Unreal Unearth is a complete album that has more to give with every listen.

11/26/2023

Taking influence from all the nooks and crannies of alternative rock from the 1990s, Bully weaves in thoughtful lyrics, relentlessly catchy vocal hooks, and an airtight song structure that takes each song from ordinary to special.

11/25/2023

Into the teens!

How many artists can you name that toe the line between shoegaze, alternative, punk and country?

The fifth release from Wednesday covers a lot of ground, with each song containing detailed storytelling both lyrically and through instrumentation.

11/24/2023

Moving on to #20!

The Berlin-based and her debut album Madres is a masterclass in beat progressions, sonic perfection, and sweaty dance floor hypnosis. Madres is multi-layered and complex.

Despite the constantly rotating and shifting rhythms, the album stays accessible. Throw it on during a road trip, while you’re cleaning the kitchen, or working out; it can elevate your experience in any place.

11/23/2023

Making the list at #21 is music that always comes tinted with nostalgic varnish, a familiarity as if you’ve heard this song in a past life.

Here, Lana Del Rey delivers a juggernaut performance, and despite its length - nine albums in, it's one of her best.

11/22/2023

Coming in at #22 is the chaotic slice of post-punk from the UK's Squid.

'O Monolith' is a fresh frenzy of different ideas and elements. It is shape-shifting radioactive matter, never sitting still and always unpredictable.

Buckle up and enjoy the ride.

11/21/2023

Kicking off our Top 23 Albums of 2023 list is
Dean Johnson's "Nothing for Me, Please" - a beautifully understated and infectious country/folk album.

Devour it in under 30 minutes, and leave the experience with a new appreciation for your life.

Fresh music discovery. We share music. Local to global.

Featuring new album reviews, fresh lists a

11/20/2023

We're kicking things off TOMORROW, as we will begin counting down the best 23 albums of the year.

03/25/2023

Never a dull listen, the new Fever Ray album "seethes with pensive, stilted rhythms that locate the listener in an expansive yet isolated soundscape."

Electronic Pop

03/22/2023

The third album from slowthai is "dripping in pain and honesty from start to finish." Our review is up now.

Rap/Hip-Hop

03/12/2023

Our latest on the new Algiers record.

Rock/Experimental/Soul