Album of the year contenders #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 & #6

Last year, in an effort to keep track of the years great albums I'd blog about an album I loved - for no other reason than as a reminder. I intended doing the same this year - but this year has been funny - I still haven't managed to get used to the downloaded = owned thing - so it took me a while to realise that I owned some great albums from this year even if I couldn't hold them. So this is catch-up. I only have physical copies of two of these albums - which is bothering me a little...



Low - Drums and Guns

After the near-grunge annoyance of The Great Destroyer with Drums and Guns it seems Low are heading back in towards being the band I love. This is the first Low album since Low - Secret Name that is likely to make my end of year lists. Maybe it's all relative - maybe it's not better than Low - Things We Lost in the Fire but it is an improvement on the previous album (which TWLITF clearly wasn't).



Blonde Redhead - 23

It took almost three years for me to like Blonde Redhead's previous album Blonde Redhead - Misery Is a Butterfly, but I love it now. 23 worked its magic a little quicker



Kristin Hersh - Learn To Sing Like A Star

There seems to be such a blurry line between Kristin Hersh's projects - this is the solo album that could almost be a Throwing Muses album - which is a good thing. And it is a good thing.



Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity

Maybe it's because this is supposed to be Deerhoof being accesible that I can get it more than the bits of Deerhoof I've heard previously - but I do get it and it is good.



Alasdair Roberts - The Amber Gatherers

Alasdair Roberts has been on my "must listen properly sometime" list for a while - this album made me sit up and notice and him - now I have to work backwards.



Dean and Britta - Back Numbers

Obviously. Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg, Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood, Dean and Britta. Sometimes I wince at how far Dean is now from Galaxie 500 - but then I just stop caring - The Sun is Still Sunny.