Albums Out This Week: W/C 15th June 2009

On this day in history, in 1215 King John of England placed his seal on the Magna Carta. In 1752 Benjamin Franklin proved that lightning is electricity and in 1996 a bomb exploded in Manchester England injuring 200 people.

Speaking of bombs resulting in mass suffering, BrokeNCYDE finally release their début album this week. The musical version of "Two Girls, One Cup", it will test the very limits of your endurance and make you wish that life had an 'undo' option..

Turning to music which doesn't make your want to perform Seppuku upon yourself, we have the return of Brody Dalle in her new band Spinnerette and the much anticipated début album for Scottish rock band We Were Promised Jetpacks. Yes we were, also, according to Back to the Future (part II) we should also have flying cars by now... and hover boards, and Jaws 3-D... we did? When?

Blur: Midlife: A Beginner's Guide To Blur

Every time a Blur compilation is released, it really drives home how much they must have hated "Country House". Absent yet again, this two CD compilation album is designed to provide a rough guide to the career highlights of twenty-one-year-old London four-piece.

The Low Anthem: Oh My God Charlie Darwin

Dealing in folk-rock, this East-coast triad get around to releasing their 2008 album in Europe. Bella Union will be handling the release, which is good... we guess. They're not known for putting explosive devices in their jewel cases, so yay!

Cortney Tidwell: Boys

The Nashville country star doesn't spend her nights worrying about respecting the boundaries of her chosen music genre. Sprinkling the formula with elements of electro, indie, blues and jazz, she concocts something unusally inventive for the rodeo gang.

Sunset Rubdown: Dragonslayer

The 21st century has increasingly become the century of the side-project. This one belongs to Wolf Parade man Spencer Krug and allows him to show off his psychedelic side. Fourth album, and they're already chasing dragons. Winehouse would be proud.

We Were Promised Jetpacks: These Four Walls

Sure to be proclaimed as "The Next Big Thing" by all, mostly because (1) Scottish music is hot right now, and (2) They're insanely good. Putting frequent bursts of lovelorn anger against chaotic and sprawling instrumental tapestries is always a good plan. The accent's kind of cute too!

Simone White: Yakiimo

Bouncing from the East-coast of America, to London, to West-coast America in the name of futhering her career in the realm of singer-songwriting. In the time between she has worked with Damon Albarn, Calexico, Silver Jews and received more than a little critical acclaim for her efforts.

Enter Shikari: Common Dreads

The self-made English post-hardcore ravers are back for their second album which raises the bar on their lyrical themes while simultaneously charming any who can withstand the blazing combination of screaming and dancing. If not, you might be needing more glow-sticks.

Ray Davies: The Kinks Choral Collection

The former front-man of The Kinks returns to his material to assist Crouch End Festival Chorus in reworking both Kinks classics and ditties culled from Davies' solo material. Unlikely to resemble Strung Out on Under0ath.

BrokeNCYDE: I'm Not a Fan... But the Kids Like It!

Or more accurately: "No one's a fan... but brain-dead scene kids like it". Possibly the most reviled band in history. Imagine a comination of 50 Cent, N*SYNC and Enter Shikari (stripped of their goodness) and you have a band we're just hoping could still be an actual joke.

Spinnerette: s/t

Brody Dalle, the version of Courtney Love who actually has talent and doesn't make you want to throw puppies off cliffs returns in a post-Distillers collective which sees her teamed up with members of Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Queens of the Stoneage (and not the member she's married to). Expect throat-searing punk-rock aplenty.

Wave Machines: Wave If You're Really There

Alt. pop Scousers fire up their synthesisers for another bout of danceable and catchy music on their début album. Unlikely to get them more than a few lines in the annals of music history, but people will likely smile when reminded of their simple, contageous genius.

Client: Command

More synth-pop arrives, provided by a trio of ladies who perform adorned with Air Stewardess uniforms. Apparently popular in Germany (beats 'big in Japan' anyway) the ladies may not make you more comfortable, but they won't be slamming drinks carts into your elbows either. Set your musical appreactiation mode to 'fetish'.

The Proclaimers: Notes & Rhymes

Really? Still? Two valid questions. Yes, the Scottish trio are still pulsing along, still seeking to compose a tune as resolutely unforgetable as "500 Miles". Will they suceed? Tune in this week... y'know, if you're that bothered.

Mika Miko: We Be Xuxa

"The Smell", not just a great song by British band Engerica, but also the brewing centre of hot new D.I.Y punk music. If you substitute 'hot' for 'grainy'. 'new' for 'tuneless' and D.I.Y for 'cheap' you'll get an even more accurate description. You might also need to swap out 'music' for something else too. Give us an 'S'...

The Lemonheads: Varshons

Now in the fourth year of their post-reunion lifestream, the alternative rock band deliver an album of cover versions: only drunker. Linda Perry, Leonard Cohen, Gram Parsons and Ian Willis all get the Lemonhead treatment.

Chris Isaak : Mr. Lucky

Chris Isaak is Mr. Lucky. Why? Because he's the only man alive who doesn't hear Chris Isaak like the rest of us do, perhaps. Another reason might be that the America rock singer is now cranking out his tenth studio album and that he's still a consistent fixture on both the small- and big-screen. Swings and rounabouts.

Kissy Sell Out: Youth

Described by Mixmag this year as being "one of the most exciting, charismatic and entertaining DJs of the decade". Sounds good, but it's like being proclaimed as "a truly unique and stylishly cool progressive band" by the New Musical Express. Either way it's akin to being crowned king of the geriatric asylum.

Tiny Masters of Today : Skeletons

Most brothers and sisters are still smashing each other in the face with doors when they're 15 and 13 respectively. The American sibling duo of Ivan and Ada are instead releasing their second full-length album of electronically enhanced indie-punk music.