Listmania!
Melancholy Masterpieces
Things We Lost in the FireThings We Lost in the Fire by Low
Buy new: £9.98 / Used from: £5.07
Low's best effort to date, believe it or not their most up tempo album before The Great Destroyer. Strangely good in the summer........
Five Leaves LeftFive Leaves Left by Nick Drake
Buy new: £4.59 / Used from: £3.63
The man that made sadness an artform, so beautiful it's hard not to smile whilst listening. Why did they change the cover??
Sea ChangeSea Change by Beck
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £2.44
Lonesome Tears indeed, may be a bit of a shock to fans of the man's other incarnations, Mutations excepted. Been dumped? This one's for you.
Ease Down the RoadEase Down the Road by Bonnie Prince Billy
Buy new: £6.20 / Used from: £5.59
A dark country heart wrapped in a suprising warmth, listen for the twisted lyrics!
Either/OrEither/Or by Elliott Smith
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £4.00
One of the many triumphs of Mr Smith, not as lo-fi as some and easier on the ear as a result. A shame he can't provide us with more moments like these.
Time (The Revelator)Time (The Revelator) by Gillian Welch
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £4.99
I came to this via the more upbeat Soul Journey which like all this artist's work is excellent, gillian sounds like someone fron the 1920's with better recording gear.
Spirit of Eden: RemasteredSpirit of Eden: Remastered by Talk Talk
Buy new: £4.05 / Used from: £4.07
One of a pair of magical albums made with care you can hear. Rare and astounding. Check out Laughing Stock too.
Cast of ThousandsCast of Thousands by Elbow
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £8.49
Often dismissed as indie nonsense, I think they achieved what their previous output suggested they were capable of. Emotion was felt.
LevitateLevitate by Idaho
Buy new: £6.23 / Used from: £7.22
This proves the guitar's possibilities haven't been exhausted, chiming and melodic. Check out Hearts of Palm too.
The Creek Drank the CradleThe Creek Drank the Cradle by Iron & Wine
Buy new: £8.99 / Used from: £5.64
Seemingly recorded on a dictaphone but still oozes character. A man, an acoustic, possibly a bottle and eventually an album.
The Golden BandThe Golden Band by American Analog Set
A gentle breeze of melody glides over listeners, anger is not an option. For a more upbeat version try Know By Heart.
Superwolf [Us Import]Superwolf [Us Import] by Bonnie Prince Billy and Matt Sweeney
Buy new: £5.87 / Used from: £5.89
There is something creepy about this, as with all of will oldham's stuff there is a dark sexual edge to it. Nice because it's Matt Sweeney doing the music for a change, atmospheric.
No Earthly ManNo Earthly Man by Alasdair Roberts
Buy new: £11.99 / Used from: £6.53
Hard going, done in a thick Scottish style which may not be to everyone's taste but a world away from the norm, which can't be bad.