Contenders! Ready?

I'm just copying Andy with this post.

Audrey - Visible Forms - I have raved before so suffice to say it's all brilliant

Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther - comparisons to The Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev haven't dampened my enthusiasm

Espers - Espers II - stand out: Mansfield And Cyclops

Tara Jane O'Neil - In Circles - tjo's voice is oddly sexy - check this out

My albums of the year seem to equal the albums I have bought this year (except Nina Nastasia's On Leaving - Andy is a big fan and really likes this new album but I feel it's a bit dull lacklustre and, rather like PJ Harvey's, I think her first two albums (Dogs and The Blackened Air) are head and shoulders better than the subsequent ones).