Albums of 2011: Number 1 - The Felice Brothers - Celebration, Florida

OK, here it is... thanks for your indulgence... This is my  Number One album for 2011:

1. The Felice Brothers - Celebration, Florida

I discovered this at the back end of the year and again I'm late to the party with The Felice Brothers. This album pulls together some great concepts, funky brass, bewildering syncopation and brilliant tunes. I haven't found a box to put them in but I think their name let's them down as they sound like they've got Jools Holland's Later stamped all over them - they haven't.  It's a really great album.

Here's a reminder of my full Top Ten for this year:

• 10. James Blake - James Blake
• 9. Battles - Gloss Drop
• 8. Aidan Moffat & Bill Wells - Everything's Getting Older
• 7. Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia
• 6. Delta Maid - Outside Looking In
• 5. Yes - Fly From Here
• 4. Zombi - Escape Velocity
• 3. Zomby - Dedication
• 2. Glen Campbell - Ghost On The Canvas
• 1. The Felice Brothers - Celebration, Florida

... and here's a Spotify Playlist of this year's Top Ten.  Enjoy!

Albums of 2011: Number 2 - Glen Campbell - Ghost On The Canvas

This year's countdown continues...

2. Glen Campbell - Ghost On The Canvas

By the time I realised what an incredible album this is his farewell tour had sold out. It's great stuff from end to end and includes one of my favourite ever Guided By Voices tunes, Hold On Hope.

This year's big Number One revealed tomorrow... any guesses?

Albums of 2011: Number 3 - Zomby - Dedication

This year's countdown continues...

3. Zomby - Dedication

22nd century prog rock

Number 2 tomorrow...

Albums of 2011: Number 4 - Zombi - Escape Velocity

This year's countdown continues...

4. Zombi - Escape Velocity

21st century prog rock.

Number 3 tomorrow...

Albums of 2011: Number 5 - Yes - Fly From Here

This year's countdown continues...

5. Yes - Fly From Here

20th century prog rock.

Number 4 tomorrow...

Albums of 2011: Number 6 - Delta Maid - Outside Looking In

This year's countdown continues...

6. Delta Maid - Outside Looking In

She's as scouse as they come but you'd never know it from this album of cute country and bluegrass. Just great.

Number 5 tomorrow...

Albums of 2011: Number 7 - Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia

This year's countdown continues...

7. Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia

I'd missed out of PW before this year's album but have enjoyed catching up. Poppy, melodic but heartfelt too.  A bit old-fashioned and none the worse for it.

Number 6 tomorrow...

Albums of 2011: Number 8 - Aidan Moffatt & Bill Wells - Everything's Getting Older

This year's countdown continues...

8. Aidan Moffat & Bill Wells - Everything's Getting Older

I saw Aidan and Bill do this at Manchester's Deaf Institute last month - the perfect venue for them. A mix of spoken word and lilting melodies over a jazzish backdrop. Try The Copper Top as a sample track. Even better watch The Copper Top video.

Number 7 tomorrow...

Albums of 2011: Number 9 - Battles - Gloss Drop

This year's countdown continues...

9. Battles - Gloss Drop

Nobody thought they'd do anything much after Tyondai Braxton left them in the lurch mid-way through recording this album. The remaining members deleted all of his parts and built the rest up from scratch using guest vocalists to good effect where required. It's what I though all music would sound like in 2011 when I was in 1975. I saw them in Sheffield a couple of weeks ago and they do this stuff really well live.

Number 8 tomorrow...

Albums of 2011: Number 10 - James Blake - James Blake

OK, it's that time of year again. Pleasingly it's a little bit harder pulling together a list of ten favourite albums from this year as it's been a reasonable year for music.

I'll do it as a countdown this year.  Today it's Number 10.

10. James Blake - James Blake

This year's Burial or XX entry. Spooky, ethereal, haunting and so on and so forth. Good though.  If you like this check out Jamie's Woon's Mirror Writing too.

Number 9 tomorrow...