1. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
I've read about Wilco for years and I knew they were good. But why, I didn't know. And it was only when Pitchfork gave it a 10.0 that I finally decided, "Wow, they're really good!"

Works best on:
Train journeys from London to Coventry and vice versa. Preferably in summer when travelling at 7 pm is still a joy because you can look out the window and still see lazy livestock grazing on vast open fields, orange skies and graffiti on tunnel walls. As opposed to complete darkness in the winter.

2. The Hives - Veni Vidi Vicious
The Hives are to me what Tony the Tiger is to kids. Hyperactive, bursting with energy and simply grrrrreat. Thanks to them I have a new found appreciation for all things garage rock. Which subsequently lead me to discover the Pixies for the first time (don't laugh).

Works best in:
Your living room with the curtains drawn close and ample space so no one can see you miming along to the music and imitating lead singer Howlin' Pelle Almqvist.

3. Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights
Just as the Hives turned me on to the Pixies, Interpol was one of the reasons for my becoming a late-blooming Smiths' fan. Like the Smiths, Interpol's music is chock full of sad melodies and memorable tunes. And dressing well is always a bonus.

Works best when:
You're alone.

4. Madlib - Blunted In The Bombshell Mix
It's Madlib. Madlib does no wrong. Listening to this mix of reggae tracks on Trojan Records may actually get you higher than smoking sensimelia itself. Mmm ...

Works best in:
A friend's crib with everyone bringing something for a 'pot'-luck of off-your-face madness. Call my good friend Jo for your absinth needs.

5. Beck - Sea Change
From slacker to sampler and now country, another man who can do no wrong. Beck is the true chameleon of modern music.

Works best when:
Stuck in traffic. Or waiting for a bus. Ideally a situation in which everything seems to be moving except yourself.

6. Various Artists - Peanut Butter Wolf's Jukebox 45's
Half of this compilation features either Madlib in one of his guises or behind the boards conducting beats for other peeps. The other half features funk gems, more beats and quality hip-hop. Worth it if only for Lootpack's 'On Point'.

Works best while:
Making your regular trawl through the record stores on Berwick Street.

7. Daedelus - Invention
In short, Invention is digital analog music. Daedelus succeeds in producing organic music through electronic means, however unbelievable that may be. Proof that not all things IDM is cold and HAL-like.

Works best while:
Reading the latest edition of the Wire.

8. The Roots - Phrenology
Read my blog entry.

Works well when:
You need some hip-hop Alka Seltzer after an overindulgence of Pixies and Smiths.

9. Farben - Textstar
Leading the way in all things glitchy and micro is Jan Jelinek. While last year's loop-finding-jazz-records was a minimal masterpiece, Textstar showcases Jelinek in one of his many monikers in a different light. Less clicks and pops, more upbeat, but sparse nonetheless. Music is all around you. All you need to do is sample, slice, filter, tweak and Pro-Tool it.

Works well while:
Navigating your way through the 21st century urban crowd of central London.

10. Various Artists - Morvern Callar Original Soundtrack
The film is rooted in the music that Morvern listens to on her walkman which is what makes the music more than just a mere accompaniment to the film. In Morvern Callar the music actually tells the story, through a diverse line-up of people from Can to Ween. One of the best movie soundtracks that I've ever heard, second only to Kids.

Works well when:
You're feeling aloof and psychedelic. Or when you're slicing up a dead boyfriend.

11. Boards Of Canada - Geogaddi
Arguably not as good as Music Has The Right To Children, Geogaddi is still a wonderful album on its own. No one makes sampling from children's records more ethereal or eerie than BOC.

Works well while:
Imagining how it'd be like attending kindergarten in the 25th century.

12. Metal Fingers - Presents Special Herbs Vol. 1 and 2
Special Herbs is a compilation of instrumentals produced by MF Doom, some of which are tracks from Operation: Doomsday. Along with Edan and Madlib, MF Doom is what I would call lo-fi hip-hop. Very basic, very simple but super-effective beats and rhymes coupled with a very stringent D.I.Y. ethos.

Works well when:
You need some hip-hop to think to without it being too intrusive.

13. Sigur Ros - ( )
 

Works well when:
 

14. Sonic Youth - Murray Street
I am surprised and slightly annoyed that Murray Street wasn't included on Spin's year end list. I mean, what the f**k, Moby at 29 and not even a honourable mention of the best band to ever come out of New York? I can't really compare this album with anything else that they've done, having been exposed to the band only this year ("Pixies, Smiths, gawd, where the hell have you been dude?!"). But a very nice album indeed.

Works well with:
Umm, anything really. Fun fact: did you know there's actually a Murray Street in London?

15. The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
Can you think of any other two-member band with as much energy as the Stripes? Candy colours, pigtails and mysterious band member relationships. These are a few of my favourite things.

Works well while:
Playing with Lego blocks.

16. El-P - Fantastic Damage
Def Jux had a pretty good run this year (RJD2, Mr Lif) but nothing represents the label's success more than its impresario's debut as a solo artist. Remember the opening scene of Terminator 2 when the T-1000 crushes a skull under its metal foot and lasers start criss-crossing behind it and all apocalyptic future hell breaks loose? That's El-P bringing it on.

Works well while:
Imagining how fun it'd be to impale a shivering P. Diddy through the eye with a liquid metal spike.

17. Ladytron - Light & Magic
The funkiest people to emerge from the electroclash resurgence. As with Interpol, dressing well is always a bonus. Catchy tunes, vintage electronics and two cute female vocalists gets extra points.

Works well while:
You're still 17. Because when you're 21 you're no fun.

18. Various Artists - ?uestlove presents Babies Makin' Babies
There are soul-funk compilations. And then there's this baby. There's nothing better than a collection of soul and R&B gems mined by a true enthusiast who knows his music inside and out.

Works well if:
You have a love life. Anything even minutely better than mine will do.

19. Sage Francis - Personal Journals
I'm anti-Anticon. I can't stand all this overindulgent, pseudo-bohemian, 'forward-thinking' hip-hop table scraps. But Sage Francis offers a breather from all this with Personal Journals. Unconventional all the same, but unlike Dose One, at least he's talking about something.

Works well with:
Headphones, baggy jeans and a copy of some Nietzsche text in your backpack.

20. DJ Shadow - The Private Press
This comes in last in the list. And even so it's just hanging on the edge. I've never had to think about whether I like an album or not as much as I had to for The Private Press. Read my blog entry for more details.

Works well with:
A copy of Endtroducing in front of you to remind yourself that Shadow is actually capable of more.