Living Things
Habeas Corpus
Jive/Sony
Habeas Corpus is the sophomore album from Missouri band, Living Things. Influenced by the state of the global economy and the American political environment, their lyrics are politically charged with attacks on capitalism, war and the ‘dumbing down’ of society, hidden behind anthemic funk rock melodies and guitar/synth based glam rock. Superbly produced and well crafted. This is rock-n-roll with a conscience that will also have you up and dancing with your fists in the air. – Nat Ripepi

Lady of the Sunshine
Smoking Gun
EMI
Lady of the Sunshine is the solo project of Angus Stone, otherwise known as one half of brother sister duo Angus and Julia Stone. If you’ve heard the first single from the album, White Rose Parade, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Angus has taken a complete left turn from his musings with his sister and turned out a raunchy blues rock album, but not so. Smoking Gun is indeed darker and heavier but it’s still unmistakably Angus Stone. – Nat Ripepi

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Pet Shop Boys
Yes
EMI
It’s been a little while since we’ve heard from PSB and interestingly for their tenth studio album they employed a team of people from Xenomania (Kylie, Girls Aloud). The title track is receiving great reviews in Europe and rightly so because it’s great, but, standout hit on this should be More Than a Dream, a nod to a world after the Bush administration, and almost in the same league as Go West. Yes, it is sardonic, yes it is very polished and yes it is a perfect piece of electropop.- Brett Dias

Chris Issak
Mr Lucky
Universal
Always compared to his hero, Roy Orbison, Issak’s voice is stronger than ever and towers over the melody on this, his new album. Enough slide guitars to sink your country teeth into, but with variety in abundance, the album never lapses in pace or direction. Ably assisted in the duet department with the divine Trisha Yearwood on Breaking Apart the two part harmony is breathtakingly beautiful. – Terry Larder

Legless
Finding Mr Perfect
Hardrush Music
This all girl concept band put the rock back in punk rock. With their awesome drumbeats and sarcastic lyrics, Legless will please lovers of Veruca Salt and L7. Appearing as their sexy characters, Schoolgirl Amanda, Policewoman Shazza, Nurse Ra and Virgin Bride Imaj, the Adelaide foursome matches their look perfectly with their sound. Includes the funkiest version of Advance Australia Fair (including the little known second verse) you are ever likely to hear. – Amy Henderson

Miss Kittin & The Hacker
Two
Nobody’s Bizzness/Inertia
Miss Kittin (Caroline Hervé) & The Hacker (Michel Amato) are back together again (Yay!!), double the trouble and double the fun, with a brand new album, Two. Here Miss Kittin & The Hacker leave behind electroclash contrariness and unmask a perfectly accessible, more elegant, more mature and more distinct, yet, still pop. The album serves up a stellar sprinkling of metallic soul, glamorous space disco, glossy vocal nuances, crystalline beats and swirling melodies. – Stuart Miles

Fever Ray
Fever Ray
Etcetc
Karin Dreijer Andersson, one half of the bro and sis duo The Knife, returns to the airwaves with her new solo project and self titled album, Fever Ray. Here she layers vocals from the demonic to the screech to explore the dark metaphysics of rural life, raising a family and love. The music is distinct and enigmatic, compelling and beguiling. It has already been voted album of the year by Pitchfork and with just cause too: it’s a masterpiece that openly seduces the darker parts of our souls. – SPM