Albums Out This Week: W/C 8th June 2009

What's Jewish, bounces off the walls and makes you sneeze when you look at it?

Why, the highlights of this week's album releases of course - and possibly Sacha Baron Cohen as well, We have returning masters Placebo, Kasabian, Anti-Flag and Sonic Youth, hungry new guns The Shitty Limits and Benni Hemm Hemm and the rest of them, which we'll assume are dull until someone tells us otherwise.

We might have to strike Elusive Parallelograms from that last sweeping denouncement, they have a habit of kicking our tyres and lighting our fires. None of which answers the most pertinent of questions this week: is that Brian Molko a dude or a lady. We're as confused as Aerosmith.

Placebo: Battle For The Sun

You can level a lot of charges at Placebo, one that won't stick, however, is that the band sound like everybody. Sure, they usually sound the same as themselves but still... Front-man Brian Molko assures us that this album is about "stepping out of the darkness into the light". So, Battle for the Sun, an album for nyctophobics everywhere.

Dirty Projectors: Bitta Orca

Dave Longstreth has led the Dirty Projectors through six semi-successful albums since their formation in 2002, the last of their albums, Rise Above, featured only Black Flag songs and overall received magnificent feedback. Domino picked up the New York dwelling chaps in April of last year so this will be their first record for the label.

Kasabian: West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

Sure, the album title makes about as much sense as a fossilised dog wearing a crown and a rocket launcher, but besides from the fatuous name that the indie king-pins chose for album number three there are also some other rather strange aspects to the record; such as a duet with actress Rosario Dawson and some very bizarre videos that you can watch HERE

Sonic Youth: The Eternal

This will be the sixteenth addition to the Sonic Youth album cannon, all released on a range of labels from Geffen to Neutral records and now their new home: the mammoth Matador Records. The album artwork was crafted by finger-painting pioneer John Fahey.

Oi Va Voi: Travelling the Face Of the Globe

You probably haven't heard much from the British collective Oi Va Voi, unless you're Yiddish... then you'd know that their name actually translates into oh dear and you'd probably enjoy the eclectic sound-base. However, for those that aren't of Hebrew essence here's a wiki description for you; Their sound draws on Jewish music from both the Ashkenazic and Sephardic traditions, including both Klezmer and Ladino music, as well as Eastern European, especially Hungarian folk music, as well as contemporary electronic music.

Mocky: Saskamodie

Saskamodie will be the fourth album from Canadian solo artist Dominic Salole, when he announced the record last year he stated that it would be mostly instrumental which is a far cry from his previous poppy material. This sounded like a promising transition to us, but if we'd known that Dominic actually meant really tedious mundane elevator music when he said 'Mostly Instrumental' we probably wouldn't of got our hopes up. 

Anti-Flag: People Or The Gun

Anti Flag only began the recording of this album in December of last year, shortly after in February they announced that nine songs had been recorded already! Yet the band still went on to record 17 songs for the album even though they wanted to keep it under 30 minutes. The result; A ten-track record and a limited edition 4 track E.P of unreleased material. 

Black Moth Super Rainbow: Eating Us

Experimental Pennsylvanians Black Moth Super Rainbow will be releasing their fourth album with a slight twist as usual; Eating Us also comes in a limited edition 'hairy cover' which includes synthetic hair in the packaging, it is apparently what everyone wants because the limited edition has sold out through pre-orders alone.  There's a lot of happy bald men now.

Orbital: 20

Orbital are back! After a five year hiatus the British electronic duo have returned to performing. It's just a shame that 20 is not a new album as such, instead it's a 2 CD collection of remixed Orbital songs from the past 20 years and some unreleased material. Still worth a listen though perhaps to the more ardent of fans.

Astrid Williamson: Here Comes The Vikings

As a multi-instrumentalist Williamson has written, produced and mixed four albums in her solo career as well as a wide catalogue of material with other artists. Here Comes The Vikings sounds like a promising record from one very talented lady. 

Adrian Crowley: Season Of The Sparks

Season of the Sparks has been out in Ireland since April where it has picked up some rave reviews and been featured in many charts across the Irish lands so far. Crowley is yet to break into the international scene but we have high expectations for this young man, take the opportunity to visit his MySpace and render your own judgement. 

Elusive Parallelograms: And Everything Changes

With a mix of 90's punk and modern day indie, Elusive Parallelograms seem to have produced a record that could have gotten Scrooge dancing at a mid-night mass. On the other end of the spectrum their album also holds ingenuity which is far from the norm of any other punk-dance band. 

Ad Vanderveen : Faithful To Love

53 Year Old Ad Vanderveen was born a Dutchman and raised a Canadian, he picked up a guitar at the age of 14 when he joined his first Rock 'n' Roll band where he stayed until the early 90's when started a solo career. Eleven solo records later and he's releasing an all new album full of acoustic Folk tunes to please your Hillbilly needs. 

Benni Hemm Hemm: Murta St. Calunga

Benni Hemm Hemm or Benedikt H. Hermannsson released his début album back in 2006, since then he's collaborated with a huge amount of artists for live performances. Hermannssoni and his band are embarking on a European tour this June to showcase this long-awaited second L.P. 

The Shitty Limits: Beware The Limits

The Shitty Limits will be releasing their début L.P this week and they have already accumulated a huge amount of publicity from across the world. Maybe this is due to their ridiculous name or the continuous touring around Europe and America. Whichever it is, you can be sure to see these British punk rockers explode onto the radars everywhere sooner rather than later.

Gretchen Peters : One To The Heart One To The Head

Gretchen Peters is another artist from this weeks releases boasting country folk music inspired by early rock 'n' roll. Born and raised in New York she's released seven fairly successful albums, however her country sound can be a bit mundane at times, especially for younger listeners (and by younger we mean those with their own hips). 

J Dilla: Jay Stay Paid

James Dewitt Yancey or J Dilla passed away back in 2006 leaving an endless wake of good music. Jay Stay Paid features 28 tracks picked by Pete Rock along with contributions from Black Thought, Havoc, Raekwon, MF DOOM, and M.O.P.