090

http://images.musicnet.com/albums/005/088/347/c.jpeg

Ash 'Free All Angels' (2001)

 

Ash were another band I liked when I was younger. It's the only album of theirs I actually own, which might be a bit surprising, but songs I've heard from albums before and since haven't been as good. 'Walking Barefoot' is my favourite Ash song by a distance. Should definitely have been a single.

 

087

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/BLPRERELCD.JPG

Bloc Party 'Intimacy' (2008)

 

Something of a return to form I thought. It took me a while to buy it because I was never massively impressed with 'A Weekend In The City' and I didn't think much of the two singles (especially 'Talons', I still don't see the fuss, it's crap!) but the rest of the album is excellent. It's very varied and they keep progressing their sound.

 

I love 'Walking Barefoot' aswell, infact I liked Ash, then I heard walking barefoot and I fell in love.

 

I personally love 'A Weeking In The City' but I do love the variedness and progression of 'Intimacy', songs like 'Ares' and 'Halo' are brilliant (especially live at the last show I went to, they were highlights for me, Halo is such a good opener, and Ares is great for a dance).

Those Dancing Days was good. I raved about Hitten, and thought the album was disappointing. :lol:

 

Intimacy is very very good. Agree about a return to form.

:lol: I always thought it was a decent enough song, just wasn't sure what was quite so good about it!

146 Jet 'Get Born'

145 Chemical Brothers 'We Are The Night'

144 The Enemy 'Music for the People'

143 Hold Steady 'Seperation Sunday'

142 Nine Black Alps 'Everything Is'

141 Linkin Park 'Hybrid Theory'

140 Bloc Party 'A Weekend In The City'

139 A 'Hi-Fi Serious'

138 Coldplay 'A Rush of Blood To The Head'

137 Idlewild 'Make Another World'

136 Lemon Jelly '64-'95'

134 Rumble Strips 'Girls And Weather'

133 System of a Down 'Mesmerize'

132 Futureheads 'News & Tributes'

131 Gnarls Barkley 'St. Elsewhere'

128 Bravery 'The Bravery'

126 Graham Coxon 'Happiness In Magazines'

125 Stereophonics 'Just Enough Education To Perform'

124 Bright Eyes 'I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning'

123 Foals 'Antidotes'

119 Battles 'Mirrored'

118 Jack Johnson 'Inbetween Dreams'

115 We Are Scientists 'With Love And Squalor'

114 Prodigy 'Invaders Must Die'

113 Enemy 'We'll Live And Die In These Towns'

112 Good, The Bad & The Queen 'The Good, The Bad & The Queen'

110 Pendulum 'Hold Your Colour'

109 Bombay Bicycle Club 'I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose'

106 Mystery Jets 'Twenty One'

102 Willy Mason 'Where The Humans Eat'

101 Libertines 'The Libertines'

 

A good large proportion there! :D

This gets its own reply. When I first heard 'The Hand That Feeds' I got pretty obsessed too, I think it was the first NIN song I heard, I think it led somewhere with my music taste? 'Right Where It Belongs' is a great choice from the album, my fav track off it possibly, so beautiful, on par with 'Hurt' :wub: Anyway I wont go too far into my love for this album, we'll see where it comes on my countdown ;)

 

As for not hearing other material, have you ever tried, or are you just saying you havent felt compelled too? If you havent, you should check out 'The Downward Spiral' or 'Pretty Hate Machine' I perfer PHM but TDS is an amazing piece of music, I really think you would enjoy it despite it not being your type of music, as for being a fan of the slower songs, you should check out some of these tracks, 'Hurt', 'In This Twilight', 'Something I Can Never Have' 'The Fragile', 'Lights In The Sky', if you love 'Right Where It Belongs' you'll love those.

I've just never really bothered with it, whilst I like 'With Teeth' it's not the type of music I listen to a lot of and too much I'd probabaly get bored fairly easily. I do know some other tracks and I don'd dislike any of them though, mainly their more well known ones though; 'Closer', 'Hurt', 'March of the Pigs'...

085

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/WIGCD199.JPG

Animal Collective 'Strawberry Jam' (2007) Fireworks

 

When you get into a band who've released a lot of material previously I've always found it natural to work your way back with their most recent stuff first. It's what I decided to do with Animal Collective although I've only gone one album back so far... It's certainly good enough to make me want to go back further though.

 

084

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/9362488762.JPG

Rilo Kiley 'More Adventurous' (2004)

 

When I said that no one had more than three albums in the top 100 there was one person I'd forgotten who does but not with the same act....! First up is Rilo Kiley's 'More Adventurous', a great US Alt/Indie/Country album, it's more varied than other albums by them, but no less great!

 

083

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/5829972.JPG

Blur 'Think Tank' (2003) Moroccan Peoples Revolutionary Bowls Club

 

I've always felt that 'Think Tank' was a vastly underrated album. It's not as good as Blur's best 90s albums but it still has some great songs on and showed they could still make interesting music without Graham Coxon.

 

082

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/2280342.JPG

Late of the Pier 'Fantasy Black Channel' (2008) Bathroom Gurgle

 

Late of the Pier probably came along a year or two too late. Whilst not sounding overly similar, they'd probably have been bunched in the Klaxons led 'Nu-Rave' movement and would've been much bigger than they were, especially as they're a hell of a lot better than Klaxons et al.

 

081

http://images.metrolyrics.com/albums/9552608_stellastarr_civilized.jpg

Stellastarr* 'Civilized' (2009)

 

Stellastarr* first came along in the early-mid part of the decade from New York with the likes of Interpol. They never really had any success anywhere but they've kept on going and came back this year with their third album, greatly underappreciated.

 

Stellastarr* 'Tokyo Sky'

080

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/GOWOW010.JPG

Glasvegas 'Glasvegas' (2008)

 

When I first heard Glasvegas in the early part of last year they were a band who soon excited me and I couldn't wait for their album to arrive. I loved it from first listen although I have to say I have gone off them a bit in the past few months, the second half isn't perhaps as strong as I'd hope it to be.

 

079

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/RTRADCDX460.JPG

The Hold Steady 'Stay Positive' (2008)

 

Whilst not as good as the album which got me into the Hold Steady, 'Stay Positive' certainly didn't disappoint. Another album where the first half is the strongest but it's got enough tunes to be entertaining throughout.

 

078

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/DOVESKINGDOM.JPG

Doves 'Kingdom of Rust' (2009) Compulsion

 

Another of the decades most underrated bands. Third album 'Some Cities' was a bit weak for them but thie years return was definitely a vast improvement. Some classic Doves on here, none more so than lead single 'Kingdom of Rust'.

 

077

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/LONGBLONDES.JPG

The Long Blondes 'Couples' (2008)

 

I think this album showed that the Long Blondes showed great potential. After a great first album they refined their sound to come up with an album which was completely different, generally slower paced and more electronic. It was a sad day when they split up. :(

 

076

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/SANTOGOLDCD.JPG

Santogold 'Santogold' (2008) You'll Find A Way

 

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I bought this album, I thought it could be amazing but I thought it could've been a massive disappointment. Luckily, it's far nearer the former.

 

The Hold Steady 'Constructive Summer'

Soem good albums there. :wub: Strawberry Jam, Fantasy Black Channel, Stay Positive.

Late of the Pier and The Long Blondes both good albums. Wasn't keen on Glasvegas album.

075

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/2564689603.JPG

Little Boots 'Hands' (2009) Stuck on Repeat

 

A year ago I had incredibly high hopes for this album. 'Meddle', 'Stuck on Repeat', 'Mathematics' and 'Earthquake'... Any album that contained those four songs was surely going to be a pop classic. Unfortunately it was a little disappointing. Whilst the other 8 songs are not bad songs only 'Remedy' comes anywhere near the afformentioned four for me. This album possibly deserves to be higher in terms of quality, but the great disappointment that came from hearing it means I shall never love it as much as I really wanted to.

 

074

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/INTERPOLPRE.JPG

Interpol 'Our Love To Admire' (2007)

 

This was another album I greatly anticipated, although I wasn't sure what to expect as I thought 'Antics' was overrated. Lead single 'The Heinrich Maneuver' promised much and on the whole the album delivered, it perhaps trails off a bit towards the end but 'Pioneer To The Falls' is Interpol at their finest and if released would've given them three of my top 20 singles of the decade.

 

073

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/BQT85048.2.JPG

The Long Blondes 'Someone To Drive You Home' (2006)

 

As you can probably tell from their similar positions I rank the two Long Blondes albums pretty much equal. Whilst I think 'The Couples' is probably more consistant, it was their debut that had the better songs. The raw energy of 'You Could Have Both', 'Once & Never Again' and 'Lust In The Movies' more than made up for the final two tracks which I always thought let the album down...

 

072

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/WEBB187CD.JPG

Los Campesinos! 'We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed' (2008) You'll Need These Fingers For Crossing

 

Whilst most people seem to rate this as the better of their two albums I've always preferred their debut. This certainly doesn't make this a weak album by any means, just that a couple of tracks are a bit 'more of the same' and it feels like I've heard it before. Judging from their recent single it looks like it's going to be a third album of the same sound which will be disappointing, they had so much promise.

 

071

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/hvnlp35cd.JPG

Doves 'The Last Broadcast' (2002) Words

 

For a band I love so much it's perhaps a surprise that their highest album is only #71. But I guess they've been consistantly very good, rather than consistantly excellent. This is probably their most known album and it's always been my favourite of theirs, it has some great longer songs on it which their others don't tend to. The rest is good too, just not perhaps as good.

 

 

The Long Blondes 'You Could Have Both'

070

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/BRILCD103.JPG

The Knife 'Silent Shout' (2006) Silent Shout

 

For a long long while 'Deep Cuts' remained my favourite Knife album as I found this one somewhat harder to get into. But over time I've come to realise that this is the stronger of the two, both in its consistancy and in its best songs. The four singles are all wonderful.

 

069

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/RTRADLP491.JPG

Jenny Lewis 'Acid Tongue' (2008) See Fernando

 

This was another album which I couldn't wait for, and to be honest I was surprised it was released so soon. I didn't think her second solo album would come just 2 1/2 years after her debut with the Watson Twins. Whilst not as good or as beautiful as 'Rabbit Fur Coat' this was still a great album with some great pop songs ('Pretty Bird', 'See Fernando'), a fantastic 9 minute gem ('The Next Messiah') and utter beauty ('Sing A Song For Them').

 

068

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/PARADISE16.JPG

Kasabian 'Kasabian' (2004)

 

In 2004 I always thought that Kasabian were probably the new indie band that could go furthest. 'Kasabian' is a cracking debut and you could tell there was enough room for improvement. Unfortunately it didn't really come with 'Empire', although that's probably just personal taste as it sold well and they'd kept their interest up for their third album this year. Like other bands that emerged at the time I didn't think they'd improve on their debut. How wrong I was....

 

067

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/PRERELCDSIO.JPG

Siobhan Donaghy (2007)

 

It wasn't until this year that I really payed any attention to Siobhan. I'd always wondered what the fuss was over an ex Sugababe who was a member during their weakest era. Once again I was quite wrong though as this album is brilliant, whilst the singles and 'Medevac' are my clear favourites the whole album is great, it's consistant and different to generate interest all the way though, something I tend to find to be a rarity in albums by solo females. There are only five more albums by solo females left to come...

 

066

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/9871043.JPG

Razorlight 'Up All Night' (2004)

 

Despite Razorlight becoming the most ghastly and overrated band since The Verve I've never been able to let it stop me from loving their debut. Because I'd grown to hate them so much I didn't listen to this for a long time. My loss though, I still love it as much now as I did when it came out. Brilliant and energetic.

 

Siobhan Donaghy 'Medevac'

065

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/5822912.JPG

Athlete 'Vehicles and Animals' (2003) Shake Those Windows

 

Athlete are another act who I felt promised much but ended up delivering little. I've always found their debut to be an especially strong album, some very good pop songs on here.

 

064

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/SNY936302.JPG

Franz Ferdinand 'Franz Ferdinand' (2004) Auf Achse

 

Whilst I think Franz' debut is a very good album, I seem to be in a minority who don't feel it's their strongest album. Whilst the best songs are fantastic, I've always felt there were four or five that, whilst good songs, were simply just that.

 

063

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/MUSERESIST.JPG

Muse 'The Resistance' (2009) Resistance

 

I've always found Muse to be fairly overrated. Of their first four albums I only really liked one of them. When I first heard 'The Resistance' I can't say that opinion changed, but unlike their previous albums this was an album which I started to love. People say it's too OTT and overblown but I really don't see it. It's a rather varied and rather challenging album. Title track 'Resistance' is my highlight, even if I do think it's going to burst out in a chorus of 'It's a Sin' everytime I hear the intro...

 

062

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/XLCD418.JPG

The Horrors 'Primary Colours' (2009)

 

As I mentioned in my singles countdown, The Horrors were an act I thought very little of when they released their debut, however this album produced one of the greatest ever turnarounds in my opinion. Brilliant and consistant from start to end, and 'Who Can Say' is stunning.

 

061

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/XLCD383.JPG

Friendly Fires 'Friendly Fires' (2008)

 

It took a while for me to fully appreciate Friendly Fires, I first thought they were quite good but a bit overhyped, but as I listened to them more I realised that they weren't. One of a few albums that I think even I would get up and dance to most tracks...

 

The Horrors' Mirror's Image'

 

 

Franz Ferdinand. :wub: Surprised to see it so low! :o I thought you loved it? Or maybe I'm thinking of someone else.

 

Horrors and Friendly Fires are great, naturally. I despise Muse.

060

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/9362481402.JPG

Red Hot Chili Peppers 'By The Way' (2002) Tear

 

I'd always been a fairly casual fan of the Chili Peppers but this was the first (and remains only) album that I properly liked by them. I went through a stage of finding it a bit dull, but I think that was never forgiving them for the monstrosity that was 'Stadium Arcadium'. I've got back into it a lot recently and there are a lot of great tracks beyond the singles.

 

059

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/PRERELCDGORILL.JPG

Gorillaz 'Demon Days' (2005)

 

I tend to like the concept of Gorillaz more than I like their music, not that it isn't impressive. It's an absolutely fantastic creation and really shows how good Damon Albarn is creatively. Whilst their debut album was OK they made a real step up with this album I felt, it's far more consistant and so different from everything else.

 

058

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/KWCD34.JPG

Editors 'The Back Room' (2005)

 

I'd though Editors were a decent act for a while and then I saw them live supporting Franz Ferdinand. It made me buy the album and it probably (just about) remains the best live set I've ever witnessed. It completely converted me and I loved the album from the go. They certainly didn't need to re-release three singles when they had the likes of 'Fall', 'Fingers in the Factories' and 'Lights' on here.

 

057

http://images.musicnet.com/albums/007/318/993/c.jpeg

Imogen Heap 'Speak For Yourself' (2005) Headlock

 

Whilst nothing on this album is quite up to the standard of 'Hide and Seek' it's still generally fabulous. She really is excellent and deserves far more recognition than she gets.

 

056

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/WIGCD161.JPG

Franz Ferdinand 'You Could Have It So Much Better' (2005)

 

As I said before I do seem to be in a minority in thinking this album is their strongest, but I did right from as soon as I heard it. For me this album has three songs which could be precieved as week. Bizzarely, they're 3 of the 4 singles which is probably why not many people bought it!

 

Franz Ferdinand 'Outsiders'

055

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/WEBB160CD.JPG

Los Campesinos! 'Hold On Now Youngster' (2008)

 

Whilst it seems that most people tend to prefer their second album I've always thought this was the better album. So much energy in it and different to anything else out at the time. I like their slightly less refined and polished sound more.

 

054

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/9362499565.JPG

Rilo Kiley 'Under The Blacklight' (2007)

 

I seem to remember this album getting a lot of stick when it came out, mainly for it being a more mainstream sound than the band had previously persued. But it was completely underserved, they'd still made a great album, just a great album of a different style. The album contains some fantastic pop songs.

 

053

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/WIGCD162.JPG

Arctic Monkeys 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not' (2006)

 

I'd been a Monkeys fan for about four months before anyone had heard of them, with 5 or 6 of their songs getting a hell of a lot of plays before I'd even heard '...Dancefloor'. I'd have most of this album (10/13) for months before it came out but I was still excited for it. A lot of it was possibly hype but I still think it's generally a great album with some fantastic lyrics. A couple of tracks shorter and the original version of 'Riot Van' and it'd probably be 20+ places higher.

 

052

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/YEAHYEAHS09.JPG

Yeah Yeah Yeahs 'It's Blitz!' (2009) Soft Shock

 

I'd never been particularly fond of Yeah Yeah Yeahs until this album, I'd tried to get into them but failed. I thought 'Zero' was great so I may as well give the album a listen. I was glad I did, it took me surprise how good it was. Consistantly good from start to finish.

 

051

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/PERMVAC0452.JPG

Sally Shapiro 'My Guilty Pleasure' (2009)

 

I'd seen Sally Shapiro mentioned in various places on the internet before this year but never listened to anything by her. I downloaded this album on a whim though and was so glad I did, it's a stunning album full of pop gems. Brilliantly subtle.

 

Sally Shapiro 'Looking At The Stars'

Your charts have pleasantly surprised me! :o

050

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/PRERELCDSIMIAN.JPG

Simian Mobile Disco 'Attack Decay Sustain Release' (2007)

 

I tend to find dance albums end up being disappointing, whilst I like the genre I've always found that a whole album by the same artist can be a bit repetitive. So this was a rather nice surprise, certainly helped by the contrast of guest vocalists and instumentals and different styles though.

 

049

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/MUSH93CD.JPG

Muse 'Origin of Symmetry' (2001) Dark Shines

 

The other album of theirs I actually quite like. It has the knack of sounding a bit pretentious but also not at the same time. There aren't many (if any) albums above this that manage to have two tracks that stand out so much from the rest ('Bliss' and New Born') but still be consistantly excellent.

 

048

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/CDSTUMM188.JPG

Goldfrapp 'Felt Mountain' (2000)

 

A lot of times when I discover an act late after they've released their 'better' albums I often find that they're far from my favourites. With Goldfrapp though, it was always obvious that this was their best album. It's wonderful, beautiful to listen to.

 

047

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/1792832.JPG

Noisettes 'Wild Young Hearts' (2009)

 

Noisettes debut album 'What's The Time Mr Wolf' was one I thought was ok but nothing spectacular. They came back this year with smash hit 'Don't Upset The Rhythm' but I thought it was more of the same, it was ok but I didn't see what the fuss was about. I downloaded the album anyway and soon realised it was probably the weakest song on it. It's a truly great pop album.

 

046

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/COLDPLAY07.JPG

Coldplay 'Viva La Vida or Death & All of His Friends' (2008)

 

I've said before but I've always thought Coldplay were better than a lot of people said but not as good as a lot of people said. I've always quite liked them, but never at great length. That was until last year, when they released what was for me, their first great album. Shame others didn't see that and it sold f*** all in comparison to their others! '42', 'Viva La Vida', 'Lovers in Japan' and 'Death And All Of His Friends' are all amongst my favourites of theirs.

 

Noisettes 'Cheap Kicks'

045

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/RTRADCDX280.JPG

Belle & Sebastian 'The Life Pursuit' (2006)

 

I'd never really paid much attention to Belle and Sebastian until they released 'Funny Little Frog' at the beginning of '06 and it really grabbed my attention. Its parent album turned out to be just as good, full of fantastically twee singalong pop songs.

 

044

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/5402430.JPG

Idlewild 'The Remote Part' (2002)

 

This was the album which, like many others, got me into Idlewild. Hit singles 'You Held The World In Your Arms' and 'American English' were incredibly catchy and the album was generally more of the same. There are a couple of weaker tracks on this but it's still enough to be top 50 as it possesses my favourite track ever never to be released as a single; 'In Remote Part/Scottish Fiction'. Infact if it was it'd probably been #2 behind 'One Day Like This'... A song split into two, the first a gorgeous love song, the second a traditional Scottish poem. I've adored it since I first heard gave the album a listen. It's just so utterly beautiful and always makes me smile. :wub:

 

043

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/PRERELCDKINGS.JPG

Kings of Leon 'Aha Shake Heartbreak' (2004) Day Old Blues

 

I quite liked the singles off their debut but never really paid much attention to them. It wasn't until they released this albums lead single 'The Bucket' that I really began to quite like Kings of Leon. I tend to find this is their album which gets the least amount of praise, it's as raw as 'Youth And Young Manhood' but with far greater consistancy, there's a lot more past the singles on this than there was on their debut.

 

042

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/WHITELIESLOSE.JPG

White Lies 'To Lose My Life' (2009)

 

Whilst this is in my top 3 listened to albums of the year, I don't quite rank it as one of the 3 best. It's still a very good album though, they were worthy of the hype and they're far more than the next Joy Division rip-off. It's perhaps not as quite as consistant as it good be but half of the songs on this are creacking tunes which sound even better loud.

 

041

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/VVR1021818.JPG

Elbow 'Cast of Thousands' (2003)

 

As you can probably imagine, this isn't the only Elbow album in this countdown so I won't say too much about it. I've found that I rank Elbow's albums in the order I bought them... This has some fantastic songs on it, especially 'Fugitive Motel', 'Ribcage' and 'Grace Under Pressure', which easily ranks in my top 5 Elbow tracks.

 

 

 

Idlewild 'In Remote Part/Scottish Fiction'

040

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/ARCFIRENEON.JPG

Arcade Fire 'Neon Bible' (2007)

 

One of just three acts to have more than one album in the top 40.... It took me a while to really appreciate this album. I think I was so caught up in unrealistically hoping for another 'Funeral' that I could never like this as much as I wanted to. But the more I listened the more I realised that it was still a great album.

 

039

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/1744780.JPG

Robyn 'Robyn' (2007)

 

I wasn't really sure whether I'd like a whole album from Robyn but after 'With Every Heartbeat' it was hard not to get it as I could really be missing out on something. I would've been, as this is one of the best pop albums I own. It may contain an utterly hideous cover of 'Cobrastyle' but other than that, it's all good.

 

038

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/WIGCD208S.JPG

Last Shadow Puppets 'The Age of the Understatement' <a href="

target="_blank">Seperate and Ever Deadly[/url]

 

As a Monkeys fan I was obviously anticipating this project quite a bit but I never for one minute thought it would be this good. For a long while I preferred this to Arctic Monkeys themselves, it's of a much different style which I think suits Alex's voice more. It wasn't short on tunes either, most of the album could've been released as a single.

 

037

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/INFECT102CD.JPG

The Temper Trap 'Conditions' (2009)

 

This was an album which took a while to grow on me. I wasn't overly fussed to start with but 'Sweet Disposition' kept growing on me to the point where I was listening to this a lot. I soon realised that the whole album was great, if not quite up to the same high standard of the song everyone knows them for. I definitely prefer the second half of the album to the first though, especially the final three tracks, which would all be my next favourites on it.

 

036

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/NUL03LP.JPG

The Futureheads 'This Is Not The World' (2008)

 

After the disappointing (but still quite good) second album 'News & Tributes' I was absolutely delighted with this album. They were back on form and it's incredibly catchy all the way through. This was the Futureheads I fell in love with, and it made me fall in love with them again.

 

The Temper Trap 'Resurrection'

035

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/5205842.JPG

M83 'Saturdays = Youth' (2008) Skin of the Night

 

'Kim & Jessie' was the first song I heard by these and it made me buy the album. It's a great album although I can appreciate it might be quite hard to get into, I sometimes feel it could be a bit shorter but not often. A great slice of indie/electronic music.

 

034

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/CDSTUMM251.JPG

Richard Hawley 'Coles Corner' (2005)

 

This was the album that made him (kind of) well known and has been his biggest critical and commercial hit. I'm glad it was, he's been around for a long time now and deserved some recognition. I like a lot of his other work but none of it comes close to this. It's utterly gorgeous, fantastic for relaxing.

 

033

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/82876533112.JPG

Foo Fighters 'One By One' (2002) Low

 

Whilst not really my 'type' of music I've always thought this album was brilliant. I find them a bit overrated, their supposed best albums 'The Colour and the Shape' and 'There Is Nothing Left To Lose' I'm not at all fussed on, but I adore this. Having the singles at the start is always risky but it definitely works on this as although they're the best four tracks on the album it manages to remain consistant throughout. Their Greatest Hits album should've been huge, they're a fantastic singles act. But what were they thinking with 'Wheels'? Every song on this album is tonnes better.

 

032

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/KINGSLEONPRECD.JPG

Kings of Leon 'Because of the Times' (2007)

 

People thought that Kings of Leon came from pretty much nowhere last year but I always thought it was on the cards from this album. Over half a million copies sold and Glastonbury headliners? They were hardly small to begin with... I think this album is definitely their most consistant and also contains more of their strongest songs than any others, especially 7 minute opener 'Knocked Up', definitely my favourite Kings of Leon track.

 

031

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/VVR702468.JPG

Phoenix 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix' (2009)

 

I'd heard a few songs by Phoenix before this year but not many and nothing to make me particualrly interested in them. Lead single 'Lisztomania' changed that though and the album is almost all as strong. It's full of indie pop gems much better than those have consistantly been hits over the past four years or so. Why wasn't this massive? I've no idea.

 

 

Richard Hawley 'Coles Corner'

SO FAR

 

101 Stereophonics 'Language. Sex. Violence. Other.'

100 Fleet Foxes 'Fleet Foxes'

99 Knife 'Deep Cuts'

98 Idlewild 'Warnings/Promises'

97 Bruce Springsteen 'Working on a Dream'

96 Van She 'V'

95 Goldfrapp 'Supernature'

94 Arctic Monkeys 'Favourite Worst Nightmare'

93 TV On The Radio 'Dear Science'

92 Nine Inch Nails 'With Teeth'

91 Coldplay 'Parachutes'

 

90 Ash 'Free All Angels'

89 Those Dancing Days 'In Our Space Hero Suits'

88 National 'Boxer'

87 Bloc Party 'Intimacy'

86 Bat For Lashes 'Two Suns'

85 Animal Collective 'Strawberry Jam'

84 Rilo Kiley 'More Adventurous'

83 Blur 'Think Tank'

82 Late of the Pier 'Fantasy Black Channel'

81 Stellastarr* 'Civilized'

 

80 Glasvegas 'Glasvegas'

79 Hold Steady 'Stay Positive'

78 Doves 'Kingdom of Rust'

77 Long Blondes 'Couples'

76 Santogold 'Santogold'

75 Little Boots 'Hands'

74 Interpol 'Our Love To Admire'

73 Long Blondes 'Someone To Drive You Home'

72 Los Campesinos! 'We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed'

71 Doves 'Last Broadcast'

 

70 Knife 'Silent Shout'

69 Jenny Lewis 'Acid Tongue'

68 Kasabian 'Kasabian'

67 Siobhan Donaghy 'Ghosts'

66 Razorlight 'Up All Night'

65 Athlete 'Vehicles And Animals'

64 Franz Ferdinand 'Franz Ferdinand'

63 Muse 'The Resistance'

62 Horrors 'Primary Colours'

61 Friendly Fires 'Friendly Fires'

 

60 Red Hot Chili Peppers 'By The Way'

59 Gorillaz 'Demon Days'

58 Editors 'The Back Room'

57 Imogen Heap 'Speak For Yourself'

56 Franz Ferdinand 'You Could Have It So Much Better'

55 Los Campesinos! 'Hold On Now, Youngster'

54 Rilo Kiley 'Under The Blacklight'

53 Arctic Monkeys 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not'

52 Yeah Yeah Yeahs 'It's Blitz!'

51 Sally Shapiro 'My Guilty Pleasure'

 

50 Simian Mobile Disco 'Attack Decay Sustain Release'

49 Muse 'Origin of Symmetry'

48 Goldfrapp 'Felt Mountain'

47 Noisettes 'Wild Young Hearts'

46 Coldplay 'Viva La Vida or Death and All of His Friends'

45 Belle And Sebastian 'The Life Pursuit'

44 Idlewild 'The Remote Part'

43 Kings of Leon 'Aha Shake Heartbreak'

42 White Lies 'To Lose My Life'

41 Elbow 'Cast Of Thousands'

 

40 Arcade Fire 'Neon Bible'

39 Robyn 'Robyn'

38 Last Shadow Puppets 'Age Of The Understatement'

37 Temper Trap 'Conditions'

36 Futureheads 'This Is Not The World'

35 M83 'Saturdays = Youth'

34 Richard Hawley 'Coles Corner'

33 Foo Fighters 'One By One'

32 Kings of Leon 'Becuase of the Times'

31 Phoenix 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix'