Another week, another Tuesday, another flurry of new music. As new albums drop, this column will do its best to track the notable releases so you don’t have to. Only new material is included in this list; compilations, re-releases, live albums and remixes will generally not be covered.

There’s quite a bit of new material hitting shelves this week. Without further ado, the list:

• Dengue Fever - Venus on Earth

This Los Angeles based six-piece sounds pretty much like every other prog-rock/psychedelic outfit utilizing Southeast Asian sounds with melodic vocals in Cambodian out there. Which is to say they are quite unique and with a slowly building, lilting auditory aesthetic.

• Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful of Sunshine

The British pop singer’s third solo album.

• Jet Lag Gemini - Fire the Cannons

New Jersey pop-punk in the vein of latter-day Alkaline Trio mixed with the All-American Rejects.

• The Audition - Champion

Yet more pop-punk, this time in the shape of a less lyrically clever, more musically straightforward Panic! at the Disco.

• With Blood Comes Cleansing - Horror

With all of the experimentations in modern music there aren’t many genre combinations that surprise me anymore. Christian Death Metal is definitely one of the few that does.

• Zox - A Line in the Sand

Pop-driven rock songs with slick production. On each successive track they apparently give anything that’s ever worked in indie-pop a shot.

• Matt Costa - Unfamiliar Faces

I’m betting Mr. Costa listened to a lot of The Beatles (who didn’t?) growing up. Not in an annoyingly derivative way, however, but in a pleasant, this-sounds-familiar-but-isn’t-quite way. Reminiscent of the Decembrists, but less melodic.

• Hayden - In Field and Town

Acoustic, folk-tinged indie-pop never sounded so good.

• Damemas - Let Your Tape Rock EP

Jangly, slightly dirty rock and roll. This brand of rock isn’t exactly hip right now, but it’s always popular.

• Hello, Blue Roses - The Portrait is Finished and I Have Failed to Capture Your Beauty

There are a lot of people that struggle to find success with even one band. Daniel Bejar has, at this point, found it with the New Pornographers, Destroyer, and will soon likely find more with Swan Lake. Not to rest on his laurels, however, he has formed this two-piece and so far it sounds pretty good. I’m starting to wonder if it’s even possible for Canadians to only be in one band.

• Get Set Go - Sunshine, Joy, and Happiness

These Southern California rockers produce songs that sound exactly what you’d expect Southern California to sound like. Their light, airy pop is unassuming, a tad infectious, and evokes images of frolicking on a sunny beach doing The Swim or The Twist. Or possibly, if you can do it, The Frug.

2008 is starting to heat up. As music advances you’ll never be left behind as long as you keep checking up on What’s New.

© Eric Atienza 2008 for Listen In. Some rights reserved.

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