OK, not so much the company’s, but mine. Who says it’s a democracy? Next year we’ll maybe do a more inclusive roundup, but here’s what cheered me up this year:

Public Service Broadcasting – The Race For Space. Bleep, bloop, astronauts are nice was how I described this record, unkindly. It’s fantastic stuff and a good thing to bathe your brains in.

Iron Maiden – The Book of Souls. This was proper Maiden and maybe the best thing they’ve done since Seventh Son. And I met Bruce in the airport on the way back from New York. *fist pump*

Tom Mcrae – Did I Sleep And Miss The Border. Still grumpy, still singing about rain, still fantastic. How this man isn’t selling out big venues is a mystery to me, but it meant we got to go for a work night out to see him at King Tut’s in Glasgow which was ace.

Trivium – Silence In The Snow. Just big metalcore loveliness. Trivum have always been one of those bands I couldn’t quite be arsed with, but this is a cracker.

Soilwork – The Ride Majestic. See Trivium. If it wasn’t for Maiden, this would be my metal record of the year. It’s been on pretty constant repeat since I first listened to it.

And record of the year goes to:

The Unthanks – Mount The Air. I don’t even know how to start describing how gorgeous this record is. The voices, the arrangements, the fluttering sound effect and the drone in Magpie, the catharsis of the title track, it’s all amazing. And if you can see them live, do. Proper shiver down the back time.

So there it is. I can only imagine Coldplay and Adele are furious not to have made it. Let me know what I should have included below.

Cheers

Mark