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 CONDITIONS
The Temper Trap Liberation 4 stars Melbourne-born London-based rockers The Temper Trap have been on our radar since 2006, with the release of an EP and a couple of well-received singles, ‘Science of Fear’ and ‘Sweet Disposition’. Conditions is their long-awaited debut – and it’s quite impressive, I have to say. Like a fusion of neo-soul and alt-rock, the album marries persistent indie dance rhythms with clean guitars and singer Doug Mandagi’s sweetly haunting vocals. He sounds a bit like Chris Martin – especially his echoey falsetto – and in fact the band is quite Coldplay. There are also hints of 80s English outfits like Fine Young Cannibals, and comparisons have been drawn to 80s Melbourne group Kids in the Kitchen (but I don’t know if that’s really fair). Opener ‘Love Lost’ is a cracker, especially the first verse. I look forward to their next offering though, because I think the best is yet to come.
 THE COOL LIST
Various Artists Universal 3.5 stars Thank the lord! A half-decent compilation has finally made its way to my desk, even if the title is almost unbearably naff. Disc One includes ‘Spaceman’ from The Killers (a guilty pleasure of mine I have to say); ‘Walking On A Dream’ from Empire of the Sun; ‘Talk Like That’ from The Presets; ‘Talons’ from the fabulous Bloc Party; ‘Changes’ from Van She; and ‘Too Much To Do’ from Sparkadia. Not to be outdone, Disc Two features ‘21st Century Life’ from Sam Sparro; ‘Ghosts N Stuff’ from Deadmau5; ‘Embrace’ from PNAU; and ‘I Said I’m Sorry’ from British India. Some choices are a bit odd, like the positively horrible ‘A Milli’ from Lil Wayne and ‘Spaz’ (which is what I’d become if I listened to that song more than once) from N.E.R.D.
 FOR(N)EVER
Hoobastank Universal 2 stars Whenever I hear the name ‘Hoobastank’, all I can think of is their 2004 hit ‘The Reason’, a song that I actually quite liked until commercial radio stomped down its well-trodden path of overplaying songs to the point where I never want to hear them again. But this album doesn’t really help their cause. It’s too formulaic and pedestrian for me – the A/B rhyme, the heaving chorus, the underdog angst. The touches of funk or mellow keys are very welcome, but sadly such flourishes don’t appear anywhere near enough. And those hoping for another great pop-rock ballad like ‘The Reason’ will be disappointed. Basically For(n)ever is a monochromatic metal album – and certainly not compelling enough for me to listen to it more than once.
 RAGGED AND ECSTATIC
Yves Klein Blue Universal 4.5 stars I had never heard of Brisbane outfit Yves Klein Blue, but this is their debut album. From the absolutely irresistible opener ‘Make Up Your Mind’, I was sold. It’s all just so much fun – the playful ska of ‘Summer Sheets’, the delightfully-swaggering first single ‘Getting Wise’, and the impressive Dylanising on ‘About the Future’. Ragged and Ecstatic actually perfectly encapsulates the album – it’s spontaneous and energetic and has a live pub-back-room feel to it. Michael Tomlinson’s vocals are blissful. In fact, the boys don’t really put a foot wrong here and I’m glad to have found a new Aussie band that I’m really excited about. They are touring around at the moment, so do yourself a favour and check them out.
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