Sure, Pete Doherty's been in a whack of trouble these days, but all that aside, the former Libertine manages to salvage some of his talents into a new body of work with Down in Albion. In pure rock and roll format, Doherty expresses rebellion against authority, his personal struggles and even invites his on/off girlfriend, supermodel Kate Moss, to sing vocals on the first track "La belle et la bete." The album, frustratingly sloppy and seemingly unfinished, still somehow manages to come out as one glorious mess.                      -Toni-Marie Ippolito

Goldfrapp
Supernature
EMI Music Canada
Not only is Goldfrapp's third offering a galvanizing '70s electro/glam-inspired album, it also happens to be one of Madonna's favourites. And when the material girl speaks, the world listens. But at first listen you'll hear that this is one fiercely cool disc. If Alison Goldfrapp's seductive vocals don't whisk you away on songs "Oh La La," "Fly Me Away" and "Number 1," the jabbing synths and hypnotic rhythms on "Satin Chic" will take hold of your soul. Overall, Supernature is one beautiful, bizarre and spellbinding experience. - T.M.I.

Tokyo Police Club
A Lesson In Crime
Paperbag Records
Hungry for some urgent punk pop with raw, indie rock energy? Well Toronto's Tokyo Police Club offer up a small taste of what may be the most smashing debut EP this year. Even though songs "Cheer it On" and "Nature of the Experiment" (with their escalating guitar riffs) channel some similarities to The Stroke's Is This It, and "Citizens
of Tomorrow" opening vocals sound like Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Hubbard, the boys of TPC manage to make this disc uniquely their own. But since the disc ends in under 16 minutes, it makes it more of an appetizer that leaves you wanting more. - T.M.I.

Over the past few years British rapper Mike Skinner (aka The Streets) has become a well-known artist in the UK and his new autobiographical-inspired record expresses his struggles since his rise to fame. True to form, Skinner infuses techno beats with his rhyming wit. At times quirky, the songs remain catchy and undeniably infectious. Songs "When You Wasn't Famous," (a humorous club track about scoring a celebrity), "Never Went To Church" and title-track, "The Hardest Way To Make an Easy Living" are not to be missed.                                           -Ryan Chrisp

If you're a fan of Death From Above 1979, Arctic Monkeys or The Hives you'll love new Canadian indie band Cities in Dust. Their debut album Night Creatures is pure garage rock with raw instrumentals, scratchy vocals and new wave melodies. This band oozes serious energy on tracks such as "Beautiful" and "Chop Chop, You're Dead!" Clocking in at just over 30 minutes, expect this one to find a home in your CD player or in your iPod playlist for a while. -R.C.

Moneen
The Red Tree
Vagrant Records
After two albums and a huge following in the underground punk scene, Moneen are breaking through to the masses with their new effort The Red Tree. The album, which is a mix of alternative and punk, results in a more accessible sound than their previous record. The band blends ballads, epic tracks and punk quickies flawlessly. Highlights on the disc include "If Tragedy's Appealing, Then Disaster's an Addiction," "Day No One Needed to Know" and the six minute album closer, "Song I Swore to Never Sing." - R.C.