Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes

An amazing debut with beautful harmonies, like an otherworldly Crosby, Stills & Nash crossed with the Beach Boys.

Dr. Dog – Fate

I’ve only recently discovered these guys, they sound like Wilco crossed with late-period Beatles.This or theFleet Foxes album would be my favourite of the year.

Paul Weller – 22 Dreams

I’ve dipped in and out of Weller’s solo career, mostly off of late, but this is a corker. An eclectic masterpiece.

The Ruby Suns – Sea Lion

This too is very eclectic and a hugh improvement on their debut album. It often goes off at tangents but in a good way!

The Week That Was – The Week That Was

The second off-shoot from the excellent Field Music chaps, this one I think was the better of the two albums released by the Brewis brothers this year. Mixes 1980′s influences without sounding deliberately retro or naff.

MGMT – Oracular Spectacular

A great pop record reminiscent of The Flaming Lips. A bright future is assured.

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American Music Club – The Golden Age

How Mark Eitzel and his band are not bigger than they are bemuses me. One of the great American songwriters this is a slow burn winner

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Jim Noir – Jim Noir

More lo-fi mastery from Mister Jim. It’s a shame this seemed to pass everyone by.

REM – Accelerate

The hackneyed old critic phrase, “return to form”, seemingly always occurs when REM release an album these days. None more so that this one. Apart from their last weak album, “Around the Sun”, they’ve never really dipped in form. This is a belter.

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – Cardinology

Probably the best Ryan Adams record since Love is Hell.

Elvis Costello – Momofuku

Another to file in the category of veterans producing the goods this is also Elvis’ best record in several years.

Brian Wilson – That Lucky Old Sun

As with Elvis this also proves there’s still life in Brian yet. Bar “Smile”, this is his best solo work.