Album of the week is Martha Wainwright’s I Know You’re Married But I Have Feelings Too. I gave the record it’s first spin last night out in the back yard, eating some yummy BBQ. It’s a much more mature album than her debut, and more stylistically diverse all held together by that great voice.

A long awaited release, and this weeks runners-up are hip-pop duo Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip. Hugely demonstrating to their doubters that last year’s Thou Shalt Always Kill was no flash in the pan, this is a record full of intelligent rhymes, deft beats and plenty of humour. A fantastic full length debut, only beaten into second place by a Scroobius Pip beard-hair’s breadth. The title track is a particular treat.

Also in the running for album of the week was Campbell & Lanegan’s second collaboration, Sunday At Devil Dirt. Deciding that the formula of 2006′s Mercury-nominated Ballad Of The Broken Seas was too good to break, the second LP is much the same. However, it is no less intriguing or satisfying. A rootsy, bluesy, cracked record full of songs about love and loss.

Death Cab For Cutie Narrow Stairs MP3: I Will Possess Your Heart

Pendulum In Silico . MP3: Propane Nightmare

Flight Of The Conchords S/T . .

Death Cab For Cutie release their second major-label LP, Narrow Stairs this week. The band claim the record to be wildly different to previous outings, a dangerous game to play when your last record was so critically acclaimed. Pendulum also try and follow up a massive success with In Silico. Flight Of The Conchords follow their cult TV hit with an album of their fun folk songs that made the series.

Martina Topley-Bird The Blue God .

Gemma Hayes The Hollow Of Morning MP3: Out Of Our Hands

Santogold S/T MP3: L.E.S. Artistes

Three great singers, three new albums. The most hyped of the bunch is Philadelphia’s Santi White, aka Santogold. Her debut, self-titled album has been preceded by storming single L.E.S. Artistes. I hope the album follows that track more than her contribution to Mark Ronson’s Version, I found her vocals on Pretty Green really annoying.  The other two hae been relatively quite since their nominations for the Mercury Prize in the early 2000s. Both those albums, Quixotic and Night On My Side, were a complete treat. Having heard several tracks on Jools Holland recently, The Blue God isn’t as hot. Hayes’ form since her debut has been patchy too, but I haven’t heard The Hollow Of Morning.

Adem Takes . .

The Black Angels Directions To  See A Ghost MP3: Science Killer

The Shortwave Set Replica Sun Machine . .

Finally, amongst the featued releases are three diverse albums from three diverse artists. Adem presents an album of covers as his third LP, featuring tracks by artists who inspired the Fridge bassist. The Black Angels’ second LP, Directions To See A Ghost is an unexpected treat. Picking up good reviews in most places is The Shortwave Set’s Replica Sun Machine, so that finds it’s way into this list.

Also out this week are the following: Duels – The Barbarians Move In, Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours, Wiley – Grime Wave, Drive By Argument – S/T, Matmos – Supreme Balloon, Shout Out Louds – Our Ill Wills, Stapleton – Rest And Be Thankful. Truly a bumper week.

Don’t forget to vote for your favourite release of the week, the poll is in the left sidebar.

Last week’s top 3 as voted by the readers were:
1. No Age – Nouns
2. Elvis Costello - Momofuku
3. Delays – Everything’s The Rush