Mark's Albums Of The Year!

[Maximo Mark]

20 Jet "Shine On"



It seems odd that this is only one place higher than The Fratellis album despite being so much better. I loved their debut "Get Born" so was hoping for something equally excellent from their follow-up. "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is", the first single showed promise but the two after didn't. I still got it though, and luckily there's a hell of a lot more to it that the three singles. As with the first album, the quality of up-tempo songs is higher than the quality of the slower songs but only slightly. "Holiday" is a really good song for its type and the title track and "Kings Horses" are also excellent. It's not as good as their debut bit there are 4 or 5 tracks on here that would be worthy of being on it.

Key Tracks: Holiday, Shine On, Kings Horses

19 Snow Patrol "Eyes Open"



Unlike last year I do actually like this years biggest selling album. And it's a good album and quite consistant but not brilliant. For what it is, it's good but I certainly wouldn't buy it. First single and opening track "You're All I Have" is one of the most mediocre songs of the year and an incredibly weak song to come back with but it does pick up from there. "Chasing Cars" is a really good song though I do think it is a bit overhyped. For me, "Set The Fire To The Third Bar" with Martha Wainwright is the standout track. The vocals match each others superbly and it's incredibly haunting. As is "You Could Be Happy", the stand-out non-single track. Anyone who does liek this album should listen to their advice and PUT SUFJAN STEVENS ON!

Key Tracks: Set The Fire To The Third Bar, You Could Be Happy, Chasing Cars

[Maximo Mark]

018 The Feeling "Twelve Stops And Home"



Ok, so I should probably hate an act like this. Radio freindly MoR stuff isn't my type of music normally but I can't help but really enjoy this album. The 4 singles aren't the standout tracks, infact I'd say "Never Be Lonely" is possibly the weakest on the album. It's not an amazing album or anything groundbreaking but 12 fun pop songs.

Key Tracks: Love It When You Call, Helicopter, Kettle's On

17 Hot Chip "The Warning"



I found this album a bit of a disappointment to be honest. The 3 singles were all very good and I'd got "Careful" off an NME CD which is my favourite track on the album. It's also recieved a lot of hype so I thought it must be a decent album. And although it is, and a hell of a lot better than their debut, I still felt a bit let down. There aren't many bad tracks on it, only "So Glad To See You" and hidden track "Won't Wash" I don't listen to.

Key Tracks: Careful. Boy From School, Over And Over

[Maximo Mark]

16 The Kooks "Inside In/Inside Out"





In the words of the great Stone Roses; "I could never bring myself to hate you as I'd like". I know they aren't a great band and I know they've been played to death by virtually every radio station there is but I can't help like them. I only got this album for Christmas - i didn't ask for it, was a surprise. But it really surprised me how good it was. I thought the singles would be the standout tracks but they really aren't. There are a few weak tracks on it, "You Don't Love Me", "I Want You" and "Got Not Love" being them. But overall it's a rather good album full of catchy pop songs. "See The World" and "Sofa Song" being the best examples.

Key Tracks: See The World, Sofa Song, Matchbox

15 The Futureheads "News & Tributes"



After their amazing first album and the brilliant stop-gap single "Area" I had incredibly high hopes for this album. But unfortunately it was a bit of a let down like so many other second albums this year. It's still a good album and does have some really good songs on it. It's just a shame that there's a bit of filler on it too. "Back To The Sea" and "Favours For Favours" are both classic Futureheads uplifting, catchy pop songs and the title track is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard all year and the lyrics (written as a tribute to the victims of the Munich air disaster) are very moving.

Key Tracks: News & Tributes, Back To The Sea, Worry About It Later

[Maximo Mark]

14 Clap Your Hands Say Yeah "Clap Your Hands Say Yeah"



Self-titled debut from an act that were tipped for a huge year this time last year. Unfortunately it wasn't to be, though may have been if they'd have bothered to promote it better but only two singles from it this year and one of those limited didn't do anything for it. They are coming back in January though with a second album which I look forward too and are also touring it. The thing that probably stopped them from having mainstream success was Alec's voice - it really isn't very radio friendly.

Key Tracks: Is This Love?, Over And Over Again (Lost And Found), In This Home On Ice

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



I guess I was caught up in all the hype and I absolutely adored them for about 3 months from September to December of 2005 and I already had the majority of the tracks off the album then, a long while before its release. I still bought it in the week of release though and it has recieved an awful lot of both praise and critisism recently. But even now when I listen it still has some excellent songs on it and there's rarely a letdown ("Fake Tales" and "Vampires" are the only ones I'd skip). I feel that they do deserve the majority of their praise and the rise to the top was incredible, so quick. You won't find many, if any, indie albums with as many great songs on as this. "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor", "Still Take You Home" and "A Certain Romance" are all superb.

Key Tracks: I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, A Certain Romance, Still Take You Home

[Maximo Mark]

12 Jim Noir "Tower Of Love"



I've no idea how I discovered this guy but I remember hearing "Key Of C" somewhere and then also liked "My Patch" but despite not hearing either much I bought this album on impulse. It was an excellent decision. Unfortunately he never made it into the mainstream even though I thought he would when "Eanie Meany" was used on an Adidas advert during the World Cup. But as it's probably the weakest song on it it's not entirely surprising that it never caught on.

Key Tracks: Key Of C, Turn Your Frown Into A Smile, I Me You I'm Your

11 Gnarls Barkley "St. Elsewhere"



There's more than just "Crazy"! I wasn't sure how good this album would be, whether it would live up to "Crazy"'s hype. In ways it did and in ways it didn't. Half of the album is killer and half filler. There are some real moments of genius, especially on "The Boogie Monster" and "Necromancer" - both incredibly brilliant songs with some of the best lyrics I've heard all year.

Key Tracks: Crazy, Just A Thought, The Boogie Monster

[Maximo Mark]

10 Lily Allen "Alright, Still"

How the hell do you ever expect that you'll get laid? When all you do is stay in and play on your computer games?



This is an absolutely brilliant pop album which is full of life throughout. Yes, she may be a little off-putting just by being her but that doesn't transfer to her music. I wouldn't say she's a great singer but she certainly sings songs which suit her. Opener "Smile" which everyone knows is a good song but one of the weaker tracks on the album. Closer "Alfie" is easily the best song on it and it's criminal that it's not been released as one of the first 3 singles. Elsewhere, "Everything's Just Wonderful" and "Friday Night" are also excllent, upbeat summery pop songs and "Not Big" is the best song I've heard about a man being sh*t in bed in a long time. The only real low points on the album are the slow songs where she goes all ballady - "Littlest Things", "Friend Of Mine" and "Shame For You" porbably the three weakest songs on it.

Key Tracks: Alfie, LDN, Everything's Just Wonderful

09 "The Jarvis Cocker Record"

Some skinny b**** walks by in some hotpants and he's running out the door....



Although I only bought this just over a week ago I've listened to it an incredible lot and it's a really good album, I think I probably prefer it to both the Pulp albums I own. The first track that was released to the public; the marvellous "Running The World" is cruely left on here as a hidden track! First single "Don't Let Him Waste Your Time" released next week is absolutely marvellous with it's big, catchy chorus and really shows what a great writer of songs he is. Other highlights include "Big Julie", "Fat Children" (a dig at child obesity) and "Black Magic" - all worthy of 10/10 marks. It's a great pleasure to have him back!

Key Tracks: Don't Let Him Waste Your Time, Black Magic, Fat Children

[Maximo Mark]

08 CSS "Cansei De Ser Sexy"

I bought that posh clothing but it still looks ugly...



The best word to describe CSS would be arty. They manage to mix various genres into one to make it sound a little odd, but still good. Opening track "CSS Suxxx" is the gorgeous Lovefoxxx saying that over and over again for the best part of two minutes yet it's still quite fabulous. Second song "Patins" starts off with a guitar riff which sounds so Strokes-like I first thought that Julian Casablancas was going to start singing, but the song is actually quite good and not at all like The Strokes. The two singles are next and both are fabulous but there's better to come in "Alcohol" and "Music Is My Hot, Hot Sexx". New single "Off The Hook" isn't the best choice but is still a decent song.

Key Tracks: Alcohol, Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex, Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above

07 Pendulum "Hold Your Colour"



Hold your colour against the wall, when they take everything away...

A fabulous drum n bass album which really shows just how good the genre can be. There's not a bad track on it though a couple towards the end aren't quite up to the high standard of the rest of the album. The opener "Slam" is probably the best song on the album though "Fasten Your Seatbelt" and "Through The Loop" run it close. There are songs on the album with vocals, both male and female (it's not just instrumentals!)which are probably best shown in "Sounds Of Life" with Jasmin Lee and "Tarantula" (the first of their songs I ever heard) with Fresh, $pyda and Tenor Fly. A superb album which is currently just £3 in HMV's sale. That's right, THREE QUID. Well worth £3 of anyone's money!

Key Tracks: Slam, Through The Loop, Fasten Your Seatbelt

[Maximo Mark]

06 Belle & Sebastian "The Life Pursuit"

Well look at the kid from school, he's teaching mamas and papas how to be a little cool...



Belle and Sebastian hadn't ever been a band I'd taken any notice of until the release of this album. I heard lead single "Funny Little Frog" on the radio and really wanted to know what it was, surprised who it was by really. I then illegally downloaded the whole of the album and at first thought it was a bit poor apart from the two future singles "The Blues Are Still Blue" and "White Collar Boy" but the more I listened to it the more I started to love it! Every song on it is actually really good. Brilliant and catchy pop songs throughout. Oh and for anyone wondering, I have since purchased the CD legally!

Key Tracks: nother Sunny Day, Funny Little Frog, Dress Up In You

[Maximo Mark]

05 The Pipettes "We Are The Pipettes"

An overwhelming urge to smile, laugh and flirt....



Maybe people thought this would be higher than maybe they didn't. I know I thought it probably would've been, especially when I first got it. But I guess I've tired of it a little and it's also the perfect summer album - so compiling an album's list in the middle of winter doesn't exactly play into the album's advantage. They are still amazing and I love them to pieces. The one thing I can say about that is better than the albums ahead of it is that I don't really LOVE as many songs on them as this. The title track, "Your Kisses..", "Dirty Mind" (my favourite :wub:), "Pull Shapes", "One Night Stand" and "Because It's Not Love" are all tremendous tracks that I shall still be listening to when I die... At first I couldn't really pick fault with the album but after having it 6 months and giving it many a listen I have realised that it's a bit fillerey in a couple of places. But on the whole, an excellent debut album from an incredibly good pop act.

Key Tracks: Dirty Mind, Pull Shapes, Because It's Not Love (But It's A Feeling)

Track ratings:
We Are The Pipettes - 10
Pull Shapes - 10
Why Did You Stay? - 09
Dirty Mind - 10
It Hurts To See You Dance So Well - 07
Judy - 09
A Winter's Sky - 06
Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me - 10
Tell Me What You Want - 08
Because It's Not Love (But It's A Feeling) - 10
Sex - 08
One Night Stand - 10
ABC - 06
I Love You - 08

Average - 8.64

[Maximo Mark]

04 The Long Blondes "Someone To Drive You Home"

You're only nineteen for God's sake, you don't need a boyfriend...



This is an album with a pattern. 12 tracks - the first 4 are great, they're then followed by 2 simply OK tracks. The next 4 are also great (the best sequence of four songs on any album this year) and then ends with two which are ok. Opening track "Lust In The Movies" is a superb track to open with. One which you listen to and get the feeling it's so good that the rest of the album might go downhill. But it doesn't. New single "Giddy Stratosphere's" is a highlight though I wouldn't put it in my top 3. Their last single "Once And Never Again" I've only really started to appreciate in the last month or so and really should've made my top 100 singles of the year. At first when I saw the tracklisting and there was no "Autonomy Boy" on it I was disappointed as it's a really good track but now I don't feel the album's worse for not including it when you have such brilliant edgy songs as "You Could Have Both", "Swallow Tattoo" and "Weekend Without Makeup".

Key Tracks: You Could Have Both, Weekend Without Makeup, Lust In The Movies

Track Ratings:
Lust In The Movies - 10
Once And Never Again - 09
Only Lovers Left Alive - 08
Giddy Stratospheres - 10
In The Company Of Women - 07
Heaven Help The New Girl - 07
Separated By Motorways - 10
You Could Have Birth - 10
Swallow Tattoo - 10
Weekend Without Makeup - 10
Madame Ray - 07
Knife For The Girls - 07

Average Rating - 8.75

[Maximo Mark]

03 Jenny Lewis With The Watson Twins "Rabbit Fur Coat"

I heard that he walked, he walked the earth...



It seems a crime that this is only my number 3 album of the year when I love it so much It was a completely random illegal download off Soulseek towards the beginning of last year. It took me a while to find its beauty and it really IS a beautiful album. I bought the album proper in the summer although I appear to have lost it I'm sure it'll turn up though... Opening track "Run Devil Run" is just over one minute of Jenny and the twins singing the same words over and over again yet it still manages to be really good. Elsewhere on the album she forms her own "supergroup" with Ben Gibbard and Bright Eyes on the cover of another supergroup, The Travelling Wilbury's "Handle With Care" which is really good and everyone is used to great effect. The standout track has to be the title track, just her voice over the same acoustic guitar note. So simple yet so effective. Simply gorgeous.

Key Tracks: Rabbit Fur Coat, You Are What You Love, Melt Your Heart

Track Ratings:
Run Devil Run - 8
Big Guns - 9
Rise Up With Fists - 8
Happy - 9
The Charging Sky - 8
Melt Your Heart - 10
You Are What You Love - 10
Rabbit Fur Coat - 10
Handle With Care - 9
Born Secular - 10
It Wasn’t Me - 8

Average Rating - 9.00

[Maximo Mark]

02 Richard Hawley "Coles Corner"

I feel so strange, I feel so weak. I've walked a world of empty streets...




As much as I hate Q magazine I would probably never have bothered to check this guy out if they'd never put his cover of The Jesus & Mary Chain's "Some Candy Talking" on a free compilation. It was one of the most beautiful songs I'd ever heard and although it took me quite a while to actually buy his album, I think the Mercury nomination was what made me buy it, it was certainly worth the wait... He did only appear once in my top 100 singles of the year with "Born Under A Bad Sign" but that was really because I didn't know what he'd actually released. Other than "Hotel Room" which I would put in my least favourite two tracks on the album. The opener and title track is absolutely stunning and should've been a huge hit when it was released. But he's gone pretty much un-noticed apart from a month in the summer. It's a shame as this album is so good. People may find it quite boring as there aren't many up-tempo moments on it, but I just find it completely brilliant and well worth the £7 I paid for it! Alex Turner was right when he said he was robbed at the Murcury's, but there was one act who were robbed more....

Key Tracks: Coles Corner, The Ocean, Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet?

Track Ratings:

Coles Corner - 10
Just Like The Rain - 09
Hotel Room - 08
Darlin' Wait For Me - 09
The Ocean - 10
Born Under A Bad Sign - 09
I Sleep Alone - 09
Tonight - 08
Wading Through The Waters Of My Time - 08
Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet - 10
Last Orders - 09

Average Rating - 9.00

[Maximo Mark]

01 GUILLEMOTS "THROUGH THE WINDOWPANE"

It's five o clock on a Friday morning, one hundred telephones shake and ring...



When I first bought this I got it the same day as The Pipettes album so it took a while for this to have a few listens. And it did take a while to really grow. But once I really started to like it I fell in love with it. It's pretty much the perfect album with almost every track being completely superb. Yes, "Blue Would Still Be Blue" is a bit sh*t and yes tracks such as "Go Away" and "Who Left The Lights Off, Baby?" should probably have been included but it's still one of the most mesmorising albums I've ever heard. Opener "Little Bear" takes a while to get going but is a lovely song, as is Redwings. I certainly prefer the more up-tempo songs on the album with singles "Made Up Love Song #43", "Trains To Brazil" and "Annie, Let's Not Wait" all being amongst the albums best tracks. I think even without its best song it would still have been my album of the year by an absolute mile! And the best song on the album; well it couldn't be anything other than the marvellous epic that is "Sao Paolo". Standing at almost 12 minutes it was easily the best song I discovered last year and everytime I hear it moves closer to becoming one of my favourite ever songs. It's just the most fabulous song imaginible, so much happening all the time and so clever. The best part of it though has to be the end where the music builds up to the ringing of churchbells. Extraordinary.

Key Tracks: I'm tempted to say all of them but Sao Paolo, Trains To Brazil, Redwings

Track Ratings:

Little Bear - 10
Made Up Love Song #43 - 10
Trains To Brazil - 10
Redwings - 10
A Samba Through The Snowy Rain - 09
Through The Windowpane - 10
If The World Ends - 10
We're Here - 09
Blue Would Still Be Blue - 06
Annie Let's Not Wait - 10
And If All (Interlude)
Sao Paulo - 10

Average Rating - 9.45

[Maximo Mark]

20 Jet "Shine On"
19 Snow Patrol "Eyes Open"
18 The Feeling "Twelve Stops And Home"
17 Hot Chip "The Warning"
16 The Kooks "Inside In/Inside Out"
15 The Futureheads "News & Tributes"
14 Clap Your Hands Say Yeah "Clap Your Hands Say Yeah"
13 Arctic Monkeys "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not"
12 Jim Noir "Tower Of Love"
11 Gnarls Barkley "St. Elsewhere"

10 Lily Allen "Alright, Still"
09 Jarvis "The Jarvis Cocker Record"
08 CSS "Cansei De Ser Sexy"
07 Pendulum "Hold Your Colour"
06 Belle & Sebastian "The Life Pursuit"
05 The Pipettes "We Are The Pipettes"
04 The Long Blondes "Someone To Drive You Home"
03 Jenny Lewis With The Watson Twins "Rabbit Fur Coat"
02 Richard Hawley "Coles Corner"
01 GUILLEMOTS "THROUGH THE WINDOWPANE"

[Admin]

I know what you mean about The Feeling's album, I bought it for Mel, taped the non single tracks for the car and find myself liking it, whether it will last, we'll see
I liked the 2 Jim Noir singles as well, didn't know there was an album. I only have snow patrol and arctic monkeys from your list, and I'd swap fake tales with riot van as worst track

[Doctor Blind]

YAY for the Guillemots.

I also own and love these:

19 Snow Patrol "Eyes Open"
17 Hot Chip "The Warning"
16 The Kooks "Inside In/Inside Out"
15 The Futureheads "News & Tributes"
13 Arctic Monkeys "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not"
11 Gnarls Barkley "St. Elsewhere"

10 Lily Allen "Alright, Still"
09 Jarvis "The Jarvis Cocker Record" (only just got, and it's great! )
08 CSS "Cansei De Ser Sexy"
06 Belle & Sebastian "The Life Pursuit"
05 The Pipettes "We Are The Pipettes"
04 The Long Blondes "Someone To Drive You Home"

Great list Mark!

[Chris]

Have to agree about the Lily Allen album and Alfie being the best track,so catchy.