Quarterly Critic’s Choice
The best and most interesting new releases of the previous three months are awarded a place on the Quarterly Critic’s Choice. Evaluation criteria are artistic quality, repertoire value, presentation, and sound quality. From 2014 onward, the Long Lists are stored directly with each Quarterly Critic’s Choice.
NEW: Long List 3/2026, published on 6th July 2026
German language Singer/Songwriters
Sven van Thom: Ins Gras
CD/2 LPs, Loob Musik 15025 02 (Alive)
Sven van Thom – born Sven Rathke – has been anything but invisible: since 2008 he has written children’s songs and musicals, published radio columns, and now releases »Ins Gras« (»Into the Grass«), his fifth solo album »for adults«. A musical jack-of-all-trades, he plays every instrument himself as the songs move between chanson and pop. With black humour and playful wit, he approaches serious subjects – as in »Hoch die Tassen, Prost« – fully aware that he, like everyone else, will one day have to »bite the dust«. Preferably with a smile and van Thom’s characteristic irony. For the jury: Hans Reul