30. Maximo Park – Nature Always Wins
Seven albums ion and, the North East gang can still find innovative ways of making their introvert pop music come alive.
29. The Umbrellas – The Umbrellas
The beauty of Jetstream Pony and the pop majesty of the Bangles. Truly joyous!
28. Jackson Browne - Downhill From Everywhere
The maestro proves he still has hearts to melt and thoughts to provoke in his twilight years.
27. Little Simz – Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
All the potential has come to fruition. This is an artist approaching the peak of their powers.
26. Blue Orchids – Speed The Day
Warped Stranglers-esque bangers about the future. What more could you want?
25. The Other Ones – The Other Ones
Intelligent, raw, and emotive, it doesn't just tick all boxes, it shatters them! (Full review)
24. The Catenary Wires – Birling Gap
Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey writing partnership have matured to career-high. A great sense of Englishness comes from their folk meets indie splendour.
23. La Luz – La Luz
The fuzz, the funk, the wizardry. More, please!
22. The Shop Window – The State of Being Human
The excitement, hope, and splendor of Blur’s ‘Modern Life Is Rubbish’ is reimagined via the Roses, Ride, and Teenage Fanclub.
21. The Stan Laurels – There Is No Light Without Dark
From The Shins to Housemartins to Edwyn Collins, John Lathrop’s 4th album under this guise is riddled with great pop sensibilities.
20. David Long & Shane O’Neill – Moll & Zelis
Long and O'Neill's life-long connection has burrowed through the inhuman aspects of technology to really connect musically. (Full review)
19. Mogwai - As The Love Continues
Right in the slot of what makes them great!
18. Paul Weller – Fat Pop
Another lockdown (mostly) written album. Weller manages to channel his inner Baxter Dury and Erland & The Carnival on yet another fine album.
17. Billy Bragg – The Million Things That Never Happened
The best album from the Barking songwriter since 2008’s ’Mr Love & Justice. A heartfelt exploration of modern politics, letting go of the past, and parking cynicism to the back of the mind.
16. Ian M Bailey – Songs to Dream Along To
The heart and soul of CSN, The Byrds, and REM are reawakened here. With help from Daniel Wylie, he manages to conjure endless rays of sunshine.
15. Robert Plant & Allison Krauss - Raise The Roof
The follow-up to 2007’s masterpiece ‘Raising Sand’ doesn’t hit the same highs but, their connections remain as authentic, challenging, and romantic as ever.
14. A Smyth - Last Animals
‘Last Animals’ is awash with the characteristics of great songwriters past and present. Perhaps, at times his vocals don’t find their distinct voice but, to tales this good, does, should, anyone care? (Full review)
13. The Coral – Coral Island
The double album should have been condensed into one truly great one. However, it’s impossible to deny the scouse bands pedigree as they approach their 20th anniversary.
12. For Those I Love – For Those I Love
Despite the specificity of David Balfe’s grief and portrayal of Belfast, his songwriting pertains to a universality opening the album up to all.
11. Desperate Journalist - Maximum Sorrow
An album written in lockdown had the potential to be a lacklustre album from the tour bus; insular and lacking intelligent exploration. Not here, not Desperate Journalist. Every word is packed with vitriol and torment, and despatched with wit, intelligence, and charm. (Full review)
10.. Daniel Wylie - Atoms and Energy
No matter the mood or subject, Wylie can pivot to a happier sonic and thus, allows each song to develop greater depth and value. (Full Review)
9. Fightmilk – Contender
It will bash your soul, break your heart and patch you up mentally, emotionally, and intellectually better than ever! (Full Review)
8. The Reds, Pinks and Purples – Uncommon Weather
Joy and devastating pain collide on this glorious windswept album. The pain of The National is taken for walk Elliot Smith and c86 and the results are sublime.
7. Jarvis Cocker – Chansons d ’Ennui Tip-Top
Billed as the comparison art piece to Wes Anderson’s latest film ‘The French Dispatch’, Cocker has conjured pure majesty on his album of French pop covers.
6. Damon Albarn – The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows
His second album touches nature with the isolation of lockdown. So pure is its connection with his surroundings, even Bon Iver will wonder how it was done.
5. Afflecks Palace – What Do You Mean It’s Not Raining
So many have striven to be like the greats, Afflecks have found space in their slipstream on this debut. How soon they can overtake remains to be seen but, their destiny clearly lies alongside them at least! (Full review)
4. Bobby Gillespie, Jenny Beth, and Primal Scream – Utopian Ashes
This achingly beautiful delve into a fictional failed marriage is laced with southern soul, Emmylou, and a vulnerability so stark that, you’ll be lost from note one.
3. David Crosby – For Free
After various health scares, Crosby is unsurprisingly reflective mood. The results are astonishing as he turns his soul inside out.
2. The Institutes - Coloseums
This album’s spirit is nothing short of heroic. Its quality vastly towers over its peers. (Full review)
1. James – All Colours of You
Locked inside, missing the death of a parent, the soul should have been crushed. It could have been the end for this illustrious band. However, through the grief and the agony, they have produced a benchmark-setting album. Few can say they have ever laid their soul this bear with such poignant poetry.