1. m b v – My Bloody Valentine – Decades later and this is nearly exactly the album you had hoped, guitar modulations and bruised melodies aplenty.
2. Claire's Diary – Claire's Diary – A sonic surf and pop debut album so fresh and bitingly alive.
3. Without A Net – Wayne Shorter – It is, of course, all about the horn. But he plays it often and the music is unlike what we rockers are even slightly used to
4. Beautiful – Teena Marie – Ivory snow r&b old school. A magnificent album filled with strong songs, great vocals and, well, naff lyric kinda comes with the territory but a fine farewell from the great dance diva.
5. Fourth Corner – Trixie Whitley – Highly ambitious, somewhat polished, blues pop from a new master on her debut album.
6. Reasons To Live – Hilly Eye – Another debut album, another soundscape folkie feminist masterpiece.
7. Fade – Yo La Tengo – High melodic quotient stories of monogamy.
8. I Got A Boy – Girls Generation – Nice piece all girl band throws everything they've got at K-Pop and watch a lot of it stick.
9. Fidlar – Fidlar – Punky rock and roll from L.A.
10.. Adam Ant is marrying The Gunner's daughter – Adam Ant – A sprawling mess of a rock and roll album.
11. My True Story – Aaron Neville – His back pages, produced by Keith Richards.
12. Cheaters Game – Kelly Willis And Bruce Robison – Songs for swinging married couples.
13. Honeys – Pissed Jeans – Way out there punks come noise merchants come hardcore guys.
14. Less Radio – The Normal Living – Spector meets Springsteen at Penn Station
15. One Big Particular Loop – Polysenso – Jazzy, experimental, obtuse, catchy. From the Mid-West.
16. Jamie Lidell – Jamie Lidill – Blue eyed soul goes hi-tech.
17. Face The Music – Avant – Classic r&b
18. Tinvulva – Tinvulva – Rioting grrrls
19 The Bronx IV – The Bronx – Hard rocking album.
Best reissue:
Rumors (Super deluxe) – Fleetwood Mac.
Best Over 50
Without A Net – Wayne Shorter – It is, of course, all about the horn. But he plays it often and the music is unlike what we rockers are even slightly used to
Adam Ant is marrying The Gunner's daughter – Adam Ant – A sprawling mess of a rock and roll album.
My True Story – Aaron Neville – His back pages, produced by Keith Richards