Album of the year / Album of the decade

As it's getting close to the end of the year and the end of the decade, Mark asked me earlier what are my album of 2010 and album of the noughties. I had to think about it for a whole 20 seconds. So, if you're interested, here are mine.

Album of the year 2010
This was a quick decision. Without doubt it has to be Blood/Candy by The Posies. Nothing else released this year has grabbed me by the throat, heart and soul like this one.

What an amazing musical trip! It's adventurous, crossing and mixing styles not only throughout the album, but within the songs themselves on occasion too. There are moments where, to my mind, I can hear reference to Brendan Benson, Nada Surf, Beach Boys, The Beatles etc etc - but it never 'sounds like' those artists. The Posies always manage to create something unique to them. They are their own sound.

My personal favourites on Blood/Candy are So Caroline, She's Coming Down Again, Cleopatra Street and Notion 99. That's not to say that I like those a LOT more than other songs on the album, they're just my favourites. It took me a while to get into Licenses To Hide, but once I'd heard it live, I 'got it' and now really enjoy listening to it.

This much anticipated (by me at least) return, after a 5 year break since their last album, was worth every minute of the wait. I never thought I'd say it, but I honestly think this is their best album ever (so far). I say so far because who knows what they'll come up with next...

Album of the decade 2000-2010
Slightly more difficult to decide this one. There has been some cracking music released in the last 10 years. It's heartening to know that music ISN'T dead. It's alive and kicking, but struggling for breath in the world of downloads for free and a music industry twitching in its death throws. Honourable mention to Doves and Radiohead, who have both made some exceptional music in the last 10 years, as have many other artists.
So in true top anything style - I've chosen not one, but two albums, because I think they score equally and I can't choose between them.

I'm judging this not on technical perfection (though in my opinion my choices are both pretty close to perfection). I'm not judging it on what anyone else thinks, or how popular or successful the album was. Tish and pish to that! I'm judging this purely on how many times I've felt inspired to listen to this album. Whenever I look to our music collection to entertain me, or my iPod to take me away from it all, these two albums have consistently been first choice, over and over again. And it's testament to the music that I've NEVER got bored of hearing them. That I can still be moved to tears or find something new in a song I've heard many times before is all I need to make my choices. So here they are.

Songs From The Year Of Our Demise by Jon Auer

Every hour of every day of every year that Jon Auer laboured over his solo album can be heard in the finished article. Every tear, every bead of sweat is somehow reproduced in these stunningly beautiful songs. I listen to this album at least once a week. It takes me from tears to a massive grin and everything in between - every time. Every emotion gets a look-in. It's a treasure.

Magnetic North by Iain Archer

From the very first song, the very first time I saw Iain Archer perform live (purely by accident, but what a beautiful accident) I was utterly enthralled. I'll never, ever forget standing in front of him as he played this wonderful, intelligent music, while all the 'cool kids' totally ignored him. Magnetic North is an achingly beautiful collection of songs that sometimes punch you in the eye and sometimes give you a warm loving hug. The musicianship is something to behold and his fragile voice, sometimes on the verge of breaking is just mesmerising. Again, once a week at least this gets a spin and I never tire of hearing it - far from it.