My top ten albums (doesn’t have to be in order!)

I started thinking about this last week, and I thought I'd post it here… Its been a struggle to come up with a list as short as 10, so I thought I really should share…
The only rules I used are that compilation albums (best ofs etc…) aren’t allowed and it can only be albums I genuinely love, and not ones that sound good to put down… The only flaw here is that some will probably change next week! Ah well!

If you have your own list, or want to think of one, email it to me at crackingcheese@hotmail.com and I'll post it up...

[By the way, the person who got me thinking of this is now on the top of my hitlist as they also challenged me to do the same thing with songs… And its driving me mad…]

Graceland – Paul Simon
I couldn’t decide between this and You’re The One – although in the end, the fact that Graceland introduced me to African music (and in particular the distinctive guitar picking), and made me want to listen to the rest of Paul Simon’s catalogue means that this has kind of shaped a lot of my music tastes now…

Rubber Soul - The Beatles
The album that makes me smile and hum more than any of their others – and I love them all… It’s not the best album they made, but it’s the first I really listened to, and fell in love with, so its special to me! That, and despite the flaws, it inspired Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys, so it must be pretty good!

Document - R.E.M
The first album that I heard by them, and, looking back, the first real signal of the band they would become. Has two of my all time favourite songs on it – One I Love and It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (and I feel fine). It’s witty, clever, rocking and thoughtful all at once.

Glo – Delirious?
My favourite of their albums, I think – because of a mixture of good memories and some of the best songs they’ve ever produced.

Marquee Moon – Television
I was introduced to this when I worked for MVC, and loved it, but it took me a couple of years to get hold of my own copy – when I did, I was in heaven! Every time I listen to it, I get totally absorbed.

Rumour and Sigh – Richard Thompson
Folk meets 80s rock… Richard Thompson is a proper genius, and this is arguably his most popular album, but for me, the reason it’s on the list is because there’s a song on there about a guy just released from prison who wants to go and smash someone’s head in because it feels good – and the tune makes you want to dance around the room!

On The Night – Dire Straits
Best live album in the world, ever. I could have chosen one of several of their albums, and as Brothers In Arms is the trendy pick, I went for the one that sees a CD player more often our house!

Free Peace Sweet – Dodgy
Memories of the last throes of school and songs that never fail to make me grin like I’ve taken something illegal…

Little Lights – Kate Rusby
The first KR album I bought, and still the one that makes me float off into a summery haze. Makes me feel like I had waited an awfully long time for this album.

The Cammell Laird Social Club – Half Man Half Biscuit
Anyone who hasn’t heard HMHB needs to now! This is one of their best, with laugh-out-loud lyrics, reassuringly scruffy production, and some surprisingly catchy melodies, definitely one of my favourite albums.

Honourable mentions:
Maybe You Can Drive – Barenaked Ladies
Jollification – Lightning Seeds
Absolution – Muse
Selling England By The Pound – Genesis
The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway – Genesis
Gold – Ryan Adams
Wired – Michael McGoldrick
Liege and Leif – Fairport Convention
Blue Lines – Massive Attack
Seven Swans – Sufjan Stevens