Aimee Mann “The Forgotten Arm” Moving into more americana territory than ever before, this is just a great set of really strong songs based around a central concept and beautifully presented. RH/MW

Amy Correia “Lakeville” (Nettwerk) Stunning voice, beautiful songs, great tunes. A record that can make you late for work. JC

Antony and the Johnsons “I Am a Bird Now” (Rough Trade) A thing of rare, original beauty which sounds like a living, breathing person pouring out his soul in your living room. Mercury got it right for once this year. RC/MP

Arizona Amp and Alternator “Arizona Amp and Alternator” (Thrill Jockey) Latest instalment in Howe Gelb’s odyssey. As usual the sublime and the experimental rub shoulders: someone should give this man a medal. PK





Bloc Party “Silent Alarm” (Wichita) Perhaps the best English rock band of the last five years, Bloc Party meld Fugazi rhythmic discipline and personal politics with the cold beauty of Joy Division; singer Kele Okereke shouts “something glorious is about to happen…..!” and you feel you’re right in the middle of it. MP

Blue Rodeo “Are You Ready” (Rounder) This album oozes all the class of a top-flight band - surely one of the best acts that nobody has ever heard of. BJ






Brian McDade “Love Bayou” (Independent) Mississippi meets the Clyde. "Scotiana" that travels the world picking up influences along the way. PE

Bright Eyes “Digital Ash In a Digital Urn” (Saddle Creek) By far the best of the three Bright Eyes records released this year, it’s celebrity free and goes out of it’s way to force Oberst’s alienation through an Optimo blender; will be forever remembered for the line “it was Don Delillo, whiskey neat, and a blinking midnight clock…”. MP




Bright Eyes “I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning” (Saddle Creek) Maverick genius? Or self absorbed and pretentious? Whatever the verdict, on a whim, Oberst turns his hand to Americana and submits an incomperable suite of songs... and they were only the half of it. PG

Broken Family Band “Welcome Home Loser” (Track & Field) Quintessentially British Americana with a devilish sense of humour. RH / MW






Chris Mills “The Wall to Wall Sessions” (Circus 65) Recorded entirely live with a seventeen piece orchestra documenting the finest songs of Mills' career. Nilsson Scmilsson for the roots rock set. PG/LP

Colin Brooks “Blood and Water” (Skywater) A simple recording of some demos that metamorphised into his next release. And mighty fine it is too. PE

Crooked Fingers “Dignity & Shame” (Megre Records) Eric Bachmann borrows the sound of Calexico and adds it to his brilliant songs on this record that has been almost ignored (apart from 4 star review in the Sunday Times). AR

Danny George Wilson “The Famous Mad Mile” (Fargo) One of the most painfully sad and beautifully played albums you’re likely to hear – not even Grand Drive themselves at their best were this good. MW




Dave Alvin “Ashgrove” (Yep Roc) The King of Americana lays claim to the record and the concert of the year at the Borderline. AR

Deadstring Brothers “Starving Winter Report” (Evangeline) Sounding so like vintage Exile era Rolling Stones you could easily believe it was a lost album – invigorating, breathtaking and exhilarating – why use one word when three will do? MW




Donal Hinely “Giants” (Scuffletwon Records) Donal's second release was the discovery of 2006 - accompanied by Will Kimborough and David Henry Donal's gift for concise lyrics, it deserved a wider stage. AR




Ghetto Bells “Vic Chesnutt” (New West) A glorious, skewed concoction that twists and turns with sounds you don¹t expect popping up everywhere. MR





Hobotalk “Notes On Sunset" (Circular) Bouncing back from major label rejection, an immensely impressive collection of songs glowing with an autumn burn. PK

James Blunt “Back to Bedlam” (Atlantic) Tales of lost loves, unnecessary wars and simple love songs. Just wish he wasn't now a pop star. PE





Jeff Klein “The Hustler” (One Little Indian) Still criminally ignored, but thankfully still making great records, this, his third, with Gregg Dulli (ex Afgahn Wiggs) at the controls. That familiar raspy emotional voice wraps itself around some memorable songs. PW

Jeffrey Foucault “Stripping Cane” (Signature) Foucault wears his influences very well whilst retaining his own original voice with vocals of real emotion and restrained power. BJ

JJ Schultz Band “Something To Me” (Last Stop) Tricky to follow a stunning debut with another winner? It seems not. Essential listening in 2005. JC

John Prine “Fair and Square” (Oh Boy) To be able to carry on writing such great material is amazing. “Keep it simple”, they say - he does, and doesn’t it work well? BJ/LP





Josh Rouse "Nashville" (Ryko) Bidding farewell to the city before moving to Europe, Rouse recorded the best and most accessible album of his career representing all the best strands of the Nashville scene. MW

Karl Broadie “Black Crow Callin'” (Universal) Still no UK release for this singer who makes stunning self penned americana making big waves down under with every new recording. MW




Kathleen Edwards “Back to Me” (Zoe) The difficult second album isn’t quite as good as its predecessor “Failer,” but still a very worthy effort. BJ

Lou Barlow ‘Emoh’ (Domino) After all those Sebadoh, Sentridoh and Folk Implosion records, Lou dispenses with the sidemen and their annoying input, discovers clarity and delivers the record we’ve all been waiting 15 years for. DC




M Ward “Transistor Radio” (Matador) M Ward makes records that don't follow any other trend or fashion but his own. Some crooneresque moments make this sound like its from a lost world pre Elvis pre Beatles. Possibly not quite as good as 'The Transfiguration Of Vincent', but still an outstanding record. PW



Magic Car “Family Matters” (Tiny Dog) Dark, Cowboy Junkies/Neil Young influenced, late night music to sooth your soul. JS

Marah “If You Didn't Laugh You'd Cry” (Munich) Seemed they'd never get back up to the high point of 'Kids In Philly', but they may have finally done it this time. This loose set has more of the vibrant feel of their live shows than any record, yet it has the songs too. PW



Martha Wainwright “Martha Wainwright” (Drowned in Sound) Unbowed by the success of the rest of her family, Martha has an incredible sound all of her own, and has succeeded in surpassing this year's effort from her brother. JA




Mary Gauthier “Mercy Now” (Mercury) Vivid, compelling songs leading us wide-eyed through her America - with lyrics to plug gaps our imagination overlooked. MR

Clem Snide “End of Love” (Fargo) EeF Barzelay's creation emerged from emotional “goo” and was said to be about “failing triumphantly” when, really, it¹s simply dazzling. MR / MW

Bonnie Prince Billy and Matt Sweeney “Superwolf” (Domino) A gem - a brilliant and bold collaboration with BPB’s voice soaring to Sweeney¹s sensitive, towering guitar. MR





Michael Weston King “The Tender Place: A Collection 1999-2005” Not a weak track here, just naked honesty, power and emotion from Birmingham’s finest. JS

Miracle Mile “Glow” (Miracle) Pure pop for now people. Glorious and gorgeous, intelligent and indispensable. JS

Mitch Linker “Mitch Linker” (Independent) Eclectically inspired soloist steals a march on everyone from Elton John to the Fountains of Wayne. MW





My Morning Jacket “Z” (BMG) John Leckie's production and the changed line up have brought out something extra special in MMJ, expanding their range of genres as Jim James' voice really comes into its own. JA




Neil Young “Prairie Wind” (Reprise) The man who demanded "More Barn!" delivers yet again. Young at his simplistic best. JC/MR/AR

Nick Stuart & the Federales “24 Hour Security” (Independent) Austin, Texas, comes to Brighton. Lessons learnt, putting the world to right over a tequila or two. PE

Nickel Creek “Why Should the Fire Die” (Warners) Brains and beauty, and despite the loss of Alison Krauss at the production helm, the band stretches itself into ever more diverse territory resulting in masterpieces such as “Somebody More Like You.” MW

Okkervil River ‘Black Sheep Boy’ (Jagjaguwar) This swoops and soars like a bird of prey - with glinting eyes its talons sink into your flesh never letting you go. Detailed and dense with the lightness of a lovers touch, it goes straight to your heart. DC

Patty Griffin "Impossible Dream" (Proper) "Top of the World" is surely one of the bleakest and most poignant songs in years, but there is so much more here for those who like songwriting which is stark, sparse and spine tingling. JH

Pernice Brothers “Discover a Lovelier You” (One Little Indian) Just the best sort of pop - they can do no wrong. LP

Perry Jordan “Georgia Flyer” (Planet 49) A lively blend of rootsy, swampy Americana cries out to see him in a live setting and getting up to do the two-step. I'll have the alligator steak. PE





Peter Bruntnell “Ghost in a Spitfire” (Loose) Superbly crafted, sparse and spiritual, this may be his best work yet, which is saying something. JS /LP

Richard Buckner “Dents and Shells” (Fargo) An intelligent writer with a truly individual, instantly recognisable, haunting voice and an album with thoughtful and varied arrangements. BJ





Richard Hawley “Coles Corner” (Mute) For this South Yorkshire lass living down south, Hawley's homage to a famous Sheffield meeting place has the perfect mix of nostalgia and emotion - and what a voice! JA





Richmond Fontaine “The Fitzgerald” (El Cortez) Impossible to summarize in one sentence. They just keep getting better; restrained playing, poignant writing, the sound of loneliness. RC

Rogue Wave “Descended Like Vultures” (Sub Pop) Whilst we all acclaim Arcade Fire, this great record slipped through the net - each new listen reveals the strength of the song writing. AR




Ry Cooder "Chavez Ravine" (Nonesuch) On his first "solo" album in god knows how long, Cooder marries a social conscience with an excellent trawl through fifties LA Latino sounds. PK /JH




Ryan Adams “29” (Lost Highway) Despite only having heard it a few times through a set of inferior computer speakers, the feeling came through and this sounds like the truly essential RA we’ve been waiting so long to hear. RC

Smog “A River Ain’t Too Much too Love” (Domino) A career defining record: pared down to their essences these songs are as resonant, detailed and spare as a Raymond Carver short story. There is a peaceful ancient stillness where the world seems to revolve around these songs rather than vice versa. DC/RH

Son Volt “Okemah and the Melody of Riot” (Sony) Just as some thought Farrar was running out of ideas, he comes back with an explosive set of songs as powerful and eloquent as the the Son Volt of yesteryear. RC

South San Gabriel “The Carlton Chronicles” (Munich) A concept album from the point of view of a sick cat - too high a hurdle to overcome? Not a chance. Will Johnson clears the bar with distance to spare. It works beautifully as he pulls melody from the most unlikely places and performs as though his life depends on it - a beautiful record. DC/JA/RH

Steve Wynn & The Miracle 3 “Tick Tick Tick” (Blue Rose) Another fine record from the former Dream Syndicate man. Lots of strong, mostly uptempo, guitar driven songs. Good record though it is, it’s no substitute for the storming live show. PW




Sufjan Stevens “Illinoise” (Rough Trade) Enchanting, diverse, crazily ambitious, Sufjan's 50 state project continues to delight and stagger in equal measure. JA / DC / MW





Teddy Thompson “Seperate Ways” (Morebarn). Opening for friend Martha Wainwright in Europe helped this NYC-based Briton make a splash. The music needs no help though. Staggering stuff. 2006 should be his year. JC




Television Hill “Twilight” (Teneral) The modern day Basement Tapes. An eclectic blend of country, folk, rock & blues all topped off by Rob Wilson, a lyricist with a wicked turn of language & a most singular style. PG




The Believers "Crashyertown" (Independent) The spirit of Gram and Emmylou lives on in the superb second CD from this duo, who are surely destined for greater recognition. JH

The Big Low "No Tears in Paradise" (Smoked) A magnificent "world music" inspired work, which also pays homage to Tom Waits and Bruce Cockburn. JH

The Go! Team “Thunder, Lightning, Strike” (Memphis Industries) OK, It’s only a 2005 release because the record company decided not enough people took notice the first time, but this Brighton based cut and paste collective have made one of the most joyous records since Sam Cooke’s “Live at the Harlem Square Club”. MP



The Havenots “Never Say Goodnight” (Cooking Vinyl) Having mastered the art of the three minute song way before they have mastered their twenties, The Havenots must now be taken seriously as the stand alone talent they are amongst UK bands. PG/JS/LP




The Idaho Falls “Concrete Prairie” (Independent) Most beautifully packaged album of the year has the songs to match – a joy to listen to every time. MW

The Kills “No Wow” (Domino) Like ZZ Top riffage over Donna Summer backing tracks with PJ Harvey banshee vocals, even better than their first effort 'Keep On Your Mean Side', simply unmissable live. PW




The Magic Numbers “The Magic Numbers” (Heavenly) Almost a guilty pleasure . . . but irresistible summery pop. RH





The Sundowns ""Calabasas" (Independent) Homegrown Americana, and we all know what Neil Young said about homegrown. PK





The White Stripes “Get Behind Me Satan” (V2). Jack may be pushing at the walls of his self-imposed musical box, but the overall effect is the same: great! JC

Tim O'Brien "Cornbread Nation / Fiddler's Green" (Sugar Hill) Another epic achievement from O'Brien as he traces the common roots of Irish and Bluegrass music, seamlessly merging the old and new. JH




Tree By Leaf “Of The Black & The Blue” (Long Ago Light) Garrett & Siiri Soucy deliver the most accomplished debut of 2005... if there is any justice left they will be on everyone’s best of this time next year! PG




Wilco “Kicking Television” (Nonesuch) Not the only Wilco record released in 2005 but the better of the two, mainly due to the lack of migraine simulations- “Ashes of American Flags” is particularly stunning. MP / RC