1) Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
An irresistible concoction, bursting at the seams with flavour, yet never too rich or sickly sweet. read more
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – In This Home On Ice
Listen and feel the worms in your gut become butterflies
2) Bloc Party – Silent Alarm
Do believe the hype. The British music press get it right on this fractured, angular, splintered shard of guitar pop. read more
3) Sufjan Stevens – Illinois
2 down, 48 to go, and Stevens is already honing his songwriting technique to the point of perfection. read more
4) Mew – And The Glass Handed Kites
You know the people you meet who are really hard to get to know, but end up being one of your best friends. Well here’s the musical equivalent. read more
5) Sigur Ros – Takk
The voice of a generation with nothing to say. read more
6) Architecture in Helsinki – In Case We Die
Eight Australians launch another jaunty, ADD-friendly attack on the world. Wide-eyed and wonderful.
7) Wolf Parade – Apologies To The Queen Mary
Yes, they do sound like that other band, but they still have plenty to say, and shout, for themselves.
8) Brakes – Give Blood
16 songs, fast and furious, country punk, sore neck. read more
9) The National – Alligator
A seemingly innocuous incognito that’ll lurk in the shadows and will hit you when you least expect it. read more
10) Caribou – The Milk Of Human Kindness
Electronica comes of age, Manitoba who? read more
Best of the rest
11) Franz Ferdinand – You Could Have It So Much Better
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
12) Stephen Malkmus – Face The Truth
Ex-Pavement frontman rediscovers his knack for the shambolic.
13) Michael Knight – Youth Is Wasted On The Young
Ireland finds its own Belle & Sebastian, Beach Boys & South Ambulance. read more
14) Super Furry Animals – Love Kraft
Nine years on, and the Welsh lads still haven’t lowered the bar.
15) The Ponys – Celebration Castle
Frenetic guitar onslaughts periodically make way for melodic chorus’
16) British Sea Power – Open Season
At least one thing good came out of the great war. read more
17) Doves – Some Cities
Cemented their reputation as a must-see live act, and at least the first four songs on this record are a must-hear. read more
18) Mercury Rev – The Secret Migration
The old stagers prove that the songs haven’t deserted them yet. read more
19) Maximo Park – A Certain Trigger
Spraying aural graffiti inside your head.
Honourable Mentions (in no particular order)
The Go! Team ““ Thunder, Lightning, Strike
Willy Mason – Where The Humans Eat read more
The Spinto Band ““ Nice & Never Done
Elbow – Leaders Of The Free World
Thirteen Senses – The Invitation read more
Boards Of Canada – The Campfire Headphase
The Magic Numbers – The Magic Numbers
The Arcade Fire – Funeral (2004’s winner) read more
Stars – Set Yourself On Fire
Belle & Sebastian – Push Barman to Open Old Wounds (best compilation)
My Morning Jacket – Z
Animal Collective ““ Feels
Calla – Collisions
Kaiser Chiefs – Employment
The Boy Least Likely To – The Best Party Ever
Editors ““ The Back Room
Low ““ The Great Destroyer
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