Top 10

10. NANCY ELIZABETH
Battle and Victory
2007 wasn't the best year for folk. However, it did unearth one gem: Nancy Elizabeth. This, her debut record is enchanting as well as earthy. If she can somehow improve on this achievement, she may well become a leading folk artist. Now that's not a term you hear every day!

9. RICHARD HAWLEY
Ladys Bridge
I never liked Pulp. They were always too camp for me. Plus I can't stand Jarvis Cocker. Little did I know that beneath it all there was a tremendous singer, guitarist and songwriter. This is the best album to come out of Sheffield this year, not those young upstarts, Arctic Monkeys. Not quite as gloomy as Tom Waits, it's a smooth album full of melodic beauty. Not what you'd expect from the steel city.

8. GLEN HANSARD & MARKETA IRGLOVA
Once OST
The film Once was the sleeper hit of the year movie-wise. The soundtrack is just as good. In essence it's a love album, detailing the beginning of a beautiful romance between the film's two stars. But then in the middle of it, you have a witty little jingle about a guy who fixes parts of vacuum cleaners. Must have been the Guinness.

7. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Magic
Someone over fifty always makes my year-end top 10. This year, it's the Boss's turn. It's a well-deserved entry too. The return of the E-Street Band gained a warm critical reception, and it's no surprise. Many of the songs hark back to his earlier triumphs, although I do have one request for the man: When you come to Dublin next year, play Jungleland. Please.

6. GUI BORATTO
Chromophobia
Gui Boratto is a DJ who worked on the Terry Gillam film starring Jonathan Price, Ian Holm, Bob Hoskins and Robert De Niro. Oh damn, wrong Brazil. I can't say I know too many Brazilian musicians or artists, but if Gui Boratto is anything to go by, they must be all excellent. It's no wonder they all dance around half naked on the beaches. And I wouldn't be too surprised if I ever go there one day and this is the album they're dancing to.

5. HELLO SAFERIDE
Introducing
Funniest album of the year. And it's not even by someone for whom English is their first language. Kind of like Beckett's brilliance in French, except this is music and not at all gloomy. Embraced everything from closet lesbianism to high school penpals. It really was a treat. People born to speak different languages shouldn't be allowed to be more talented than me.

4. ERIC HUTCHINSON
Sounds Like This
In a year where Rilo Kiley tried to become Fleetwood Mac and someone I know actually praised an Avril Lavigne album, the pop world seemed to be stirred up. But Eric Hutchinson was the shining light to emerge. Kind of like a rockier Jamie Cullum, with more heartfelt lyrics (and without looking like a Hobbit), Hutchinson really brightened up my autumn (or fall) with his sugar rock that never once veers over into cheesey territory. Unlike, say, Avril...

3. WORLDS END GIRLFRIEND
Hurtbreak Wonderland
For me, 2007 was the year of the instrumental album. It wasn't until this year that I really began to appreciate lyricless music. Fair enough, this album does have sparse vocals, but since they're in Japanese, they might as well be another instrument. And isn't that what vocals really should be. It's the kind of ambient music that suits every situation.

2. ALCEST
Souvenirs dun Autre Monde
In any other year this may well have been my number one. It's definitely the best French album this year. Kind of like a Gallic Radiohead, except you actually had to pay something to purchase this disc. But well worth the spending money. Extremely powerful yet understated record.

1. IRON AND WINE
The Shepherd's Dog
I really wanted to review this album, but told Dan that no matter how much I asked, that he wasn't to let me do it. If I had have reviewed it, it would probably by TWM's highest scoring album ever. Of course, it would deserve to be. It is that good. Some may say it's a bit too produced, but I've seen Sam live, and him and his band are more than capable of recapturing this beauty on stage. One of the best albums of the decade.