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 There's a whole bunch of new albums this month, from Ne-Yo and Lady GaGa right through to Blondie and the Living End. We tell you what's worth checking out, and what's better just left.
We've also got Liselle's interview with Donovan Frankenreiter (remember him? A little like Jack Johnson, but not so clean shaven!)...
Donovan Frankenreiter is a well travelled man. From making surf movies along the beautiful coasts of our very own country then around the world and back again, it’s safe to say the man knows a thing or two about the places to hit and the things to see.
 In what some may call fate working its magic, Donovan was in need of a place to crash while he was surfing in Haiwaii as a teenager. Unfortunately for him, everything was booked out but his now good friend Jack Johnson came to the rescue. Jack Johnson’s mum was renting places at the time and so he ended up renting a room with the family. “To actually live with them for a couple of months was  great. That’s how the friendship started which was wonderful. Sixteen years later I made my first record on his label so it was kind of a crazy thing. When we were children, if someone had said “Jack you’re gonna be this huuuuge music star and you’re gonna have your own label” we would have been like what the heck. It was sort of like no way but it was funny how that happened. It was beautiful, it was great.” Where do you most like to... Surf: Hawaii Play music: anywhere, it doesn’t matter. It could be a back yard BBQ or it could be a festival, I don’t care just any where I can play. Take your kids on holiday: Tahiti Visit at least once: Europe Never go back to: no, I’ve never been to a place that I’m like “I’ve got to get out of here “
D onavon Frankenreiter Pass it Around Chilled, beach, surf, summer, good times – just some of the imagery Donovan Frankenreiter’s new album will conjure up. Donovan’s smooth and distinctly summer time voice and buoyant riffs make this album surfer-cool and feel good to the max. While the acoustic jam vibe may also conjure up images of Jack Johnson (he can’t escape it just yet) there’s more layering to Frankenreiter’s music that takes it beyond those same monochromatic tendencies – there’s just more to be excited about. This is an album of positives and the live life to the max messages are epitomised in first single 'Life, Love and Laughter 'then continued throughout the album to make it a very cheerful and organic sounding album.
 The Grates Teeth Lost, Hearts Won
There’s an energy about The Grates that is unmissable, infectiously loveable and seemingly unforgettable. Indie-pop rock that has the sound of being both polished and disorderly, this is an album that showcases the bands talent and chaotically-fun personality. Plenty of chanting, handclaps and drum rolls maintain the jumpy dancibility the band has been known to bring out in people alongside some edgier, darker tunes. Lead-singer Patience’s vocals are rock n’ roll powerful, the music tight and the tunes bouncing goodness. L ady GaGa The Fame
Tearing up the clubs with first single ‘Just Dance’, Lady Gaga shows she’s got an ear for the catchy, for the infectious and for the danceable. It’s a debut album that puts Lady Gaga up in the ring with Madonna and Gwen – brimming with cohesive and energetic dance-pop tracks that are so easily likeable with their sassy edge and once again, insatiability catchy qualities. Both to the albums detriment and appeal, the same elements run through all the tracks meaning, depending on taste, the songs can flow logically from one to another or eventually blur into one. Either way, Lady Gaga has a flair for theatrical and a taste for the fun and that’s exactly what you get. T he Veronicas Hook Me Up
The Veronica’s have taken on a more dance vibe with this album - introducing some synth and club-worthy electro-beats to their previous more guitar driven pop-tracks. The twins still showcase their signature harmonies and teen-pop is still in the name of the game with some angsty-boy lyrics, breakups and emo trimmings. Over-all this new direction works for Veronica’s and their second album is a poptastic return filled with catchy tracks – for previous Veronica’s fans it might just take a couple of spins to get into. Ne-Yo Year of the Gentleman  Year of the Gentleman takes the signature stylings of Ne-Yo to a whole new place. It’s a more pop orientated album of club hits and synth infused dance tracks in and around some smooth loved-up songs. He’s still catchy, he’s still suave, he’s still churned out a good album. The song writing needs work in places, with obvious and simple rhymes bringing down some of the tracks but all up Ne-Yo has naturally progressed to ease fans into a new and sexy sound. T he Living End White Noise The Living End have got their groove back and White Noise is an album that blends the old with the new for a more mature album. The political messages are still a major theme but the frenetic punk-vibes toned down in favour of some more classical rock arrangements. This is not something to be snuffed at. While there are some softer moments, the songs reflect a developed conscious and return to a more polished version of the classic Living End formula. Bl ondie Parallel Lines
Blondie still rocks and the collector’s edition release of Parallel Lines (first released 1978) is here to bring her back into spotlight where she belongs. Featuring tracks such as ‘One Way or Another’, ‘Heart of Glass’ and ‘Hanging on the Telephone,’ this is the album that secured Blondie’s place in musical history and if you haven’t listened to it before, is a good opportunity to do so. Singer Debbie Harry’s full throttle vocals are full of attitude and sass and the tracks just as catchy and rock n’ roll as they ever were.
Liselle
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