Whenever year's end comes round, I can never reliably remember which albums have really floated my boat. With that in mind, I invite you all to give props to the quality releases of the year as they happen. It needn't just be albums either - good films you've watched, quality televisual entertainment and excellent gaming has its place herein also.

Sticking to the albums, I've been all over the following:

Portishead - Third. Not every 'head fan's cup of char, but I love it. Very different to the earlier triphop days, but still a tremendous release.

Pete And The Pirates - Little Death. Ramshackle indie-rock, low on originality but high on tunes and energy, there's not a single song on it that doesn't put some bounce 'n' swagger in my step.

Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes. Only listened to it for the first time yesterday after it dropped through the letterbox from Rough Trade, but it had an instant effect on me. Several times during listening I had to drop what I was doing, lean my head back, close my eyes and soak up the harmonic beauty.

A further shout is needed for the Rough Trade Shops Counter Culture 07 comp, too. Technicallt the best of last year, its release in the early months of this one qualifies it for entry. A simply stunning comp packed with a little bit of everything, and a cherry on top.

There will be more, I don't doubt...

For me, Camille's Music Hole is a brilliant album. Although without the French cuteness of her last one, this record has her miaowing.
I think Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip's first offering of Angles is definitely in my top list so far, as is The Inevitable Rise And Liberation Of Niggy Tardust by Saul Williams.
Ditto on the Portishead.

Edit- just remembered. You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into by Does It Offend You, Yeah? has to be on there too.

Frank Turner - Love, Ire and Song. It's a fanastic second album. Frank sounds more polished and professional, without compromising his sound.

Nine Inch Nails - The Slip. For no other reason than it was free ¬_¬

The Ting Tings - We Started Nothing. Enjoying that one mightily.

Possibly my favourite album of the year now is 'Dear Science' by TV On The Radio. Utter perfection from start to finish - I was totally sold on it within the first three tracks.

Also 'Inside Over Here' by Rozi Plain. So impossibly lovely that it's almost hard to believe that it was created by a real person, and not transported mystically to us from an etherial plane of folky joy. Thanks, Daria.

I think Leo should nominate Rihanna.

I think leo would like to do something to Rihanna, but I don't know if 'nominate' is the right verb...

Flobots - Fight with Tools. Mhari put me onto that one with a few tracks. It's really not something I'd usually listen to, but the live band and lyrical content just makes it for me.

Well, not unless "nominate" has another meaning which the Oxford mob have yet to cotton on to.

Rinominate (verb) - to become associated with imaginary (as in i) nomming (nomnomnom, yeah) of Rihanna.

Except here nomming means tearing up into tiny shreds and setting on fire rather than a cute way of eating.