Albums Out This Week: W/C 18th August 2008

After a tumultuous birth, the realisation of Ra Ra Rot's debut album "The Rhumb Line" has finally arrived. Working through the tragic death of a bandmate, the boys and girls have finally sent their child out into the world.

Likely to appeal to fans of both Green Day and The Monkees expect to be hearing the name The Gaslight Anthem repeatedly throughout the new decade. Oh, and Damon Albarn's been up to something again, something to do with primates again we think.

Damon Albarn: Monkey: Journey to the West

Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett team up again post-Gorillaz to put on record their theatrical extravaganza - but the LP is different. For a start it remains entirely in Mandarin, with Albarn thankfully not trying to sing on any of the 22 tracks. Electronics fused with Chinese elements, on sale just in time for the Olympics. Canny huh?!

The Week That Was: The Week That Was

Sunderland, England offers to us a musical ensemble rather adept at spacious indie-rock.

Xavier Rudd: Dark Shades of Blue

Socially minded Antipodean singer-songwriter who will be bringing darkness with a fair amount of digeridooing. We kid you not.

The Academy Is: Fast Times at Barrington High

Your mom's favourite pop-punk band, in all likelihood. We sat down the other day and decided what would be really original was such a band influenced by the themes of 1980's teen-comedies, and lo and behold...

Bowerbirds: Hymns for a Dark Horse

Recently taken under the wing(?) of 'The Mountain Goats'. Nu-folk from North Carolina.

Uh Huh Her: Common Reaction

PJ Harvey inspired electronic indie duo. Leisha Hailey and Camila Grey joined forces back in 2007 to bring you their debut album today.

Dandy Warhols: Earth to the Dandy Warhols

With the crumbling monolith of the music industry put firmly in their wake, Veronica Mars' favourites give their new album the CD treatment after its exclusive release to subscribers of their premium service a few months back.

Jaguar Love: Take Me to the Sea

The Blood Brothers may have divorced, but their separate ways are still ways. This path being that of Johnny Whitney - the tortured child department of his previous band - as he formulates deviously catchy pop songs with that trademark black-tar undercurrent.

Ben Weaver: The Ax in the Oak

Minnesotan electronic indie-pop singer who has been compared to Aled Jones, Tom Waits and Lee Marvin.

Indian Jewelry: Free Gold

Dark, foreboding, and mysterious Texan trio.

Earlimart: Hymn and Her

Pixies and Sonic Youth inspired Californians release their sixth album.

Death Vessel: Nothing Is Precious Enough for Us

Joel Thibodeau packed his trunk and said goodbye to the Germans. Then he moved to Brooklyn, signed with Sub Pop and now he brings the vessel around for a second wave.

Ra Ra Riot: The Rhumb Line [Import Only]

The long-awaited debut album from the hotly tipped New Yorkers. On paper, they should sound similar to the Arcade Fire. On record.....

Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez: Why Is Bear Billowing

Cuban visual artist goes solo folk on his new album.

The Gaslight Anthem: The '59 Sound

One of New Jersey's most promising new punk acts. The '59 Sound fuses the sound of which the album title suggests, with the immediacy of melodic punk. Made history recently by being the only band ever featured on the cover of Kerrang! magazine, without the publication having previously printed a single word about them.

Heavy Heavy Low Low: Turtle Nipple and the Toxic Shock

Mathcore from the West-coast of America. Recently signed to Ferret/New Weatherman Records, and it isn't coincidence that this is also home to one 'Foxy Shazam'. Complexity, brutality and keyboardosity await.