Ahem, The National - High Violet?

Not for me, thanks.

No Beach House? Loved that album (and devotion) back in the bleak mid to late winter.. admittedly gone a bit cold on it since the days got warmer but still think it merits a place. Fairly new to this blog-been turned on to some great stuff i would never have heard otherwise-cheers! Favourites from your list-blitzen trapper and sun araw. ALso loving the new ariel pink, but have given up trying to like hot chip

Can't argue with too many of them (the main offender for me being Vampire Weekend: I know the arguments against them are tiringly well-established and need not be re-hashed here for the gazillionth time; but I'd suggest this is the case because said arguments are so blatantly obviously true). Then again, I'd have the Gaslight Anthem on my list, a band seemingly determined to provide unlimited ammunition to their detractors. Anyway, top list: I'd also try and find room for the Truckers, Guilty Simpson, Male Bonding, Polar Bear and (especially) the Roky/Okkervil River album.

Although I'm ambivalent about his earlier work (some killer tunes but a lot of noodling), I'd definitely have Gill Scott Heron up there. The Besnard Lakes too. Am running out of patience with Vampire Weekend as well, probably more to do with me than them...

Thats a good list although MGMT, Love Is All, Caribou, Flying Lotus, Gonjasufi and Here We Go Magic have been some of my highlights of the year so far.

My favourites so far, in no particular order - Gonjasufi, Flying Lotus, Caribou, Gorillaz, MGMT,Joanna Newsom, Ali & Toumani, Pete Molinari, Paul Weller, Phosphorescent, John Grant, Besnard Lakes, Massive Attack, LCD Soundsystem, Bonnie Prince Billy. Looking forward to new Sun Kil Moon and Coral.

Gonjasufi was just outside my 30. Caribou would've made the cut if he didn't sing. Otherwise, none of these anyone's mentioned are anywhere near my list.

Gotta agree with Avi Buffalo at no.1, it really is the best thing I've heard in a long time.

Avi Buffalo isn't at Number One. They're in alphabetical order.

Great clutch of records. Would have the new 'Alps' record, Le Voyage on my list. If they were in order of preference, John, which record would top the list. I'd probably go with Jack Rose, Vibracathedral (Joka Baya) and Rangda which I belive will earn my an asbo

What about Malcolm Lincoln "Loaded With Zoul"?

Never heard of Malcolm Lincoln, I'm afraid. I do need to hear that Alps record, though - did like the last one, if not as much as the Arp solo stuff.

Villagers and Josh Ritter are my top two so far. Looking forward to listening to gaslight anthem and teenage fanclub for the first time today though.

Whatever

Phosphorescent album is quality too. Alex = Prick

Play nice, everyone. We do well here at avoiding name-calling; let's try and keep it that way.

Malcolm Lincoln's music is mixture between Associates, New Radicals and Beck with male vocals similar to Cocteau Twins, but my other favourite albums so far are Joanna Newsom, Ariel Pink, Spoon and Owen Pallett, with some wonderful songs by Laura Veirs and Vampire Weekend.

Will James Blackshaw and Robbie Basho tribute make the grade?

Not massively inspired so far this year though there are still some on your list I need to check out. Still waiting for Ariel Pink to come in the post, too, but here are some I like: Four Tet – There Is Love In You; White Fence – White Fence; Sleepy Sun - Fever; LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening; Hot Chip – One Life Stand; To Rococo Rot - Speculation

Yeah, I'm another fan of Beach House, such a fantastic album that is certainly near the top of my list. Also, in response to the others dissing Vampire Weekend, I actually think it's a more consistent album than their debut. 10 really catchy and well constructed songs, I find myself listening to it at least once a week.

Archie Bronson Outfit - Coconut. Also the Polar Bear album is pretty wonderful and I'm still finding more to love about the Joanna Newsom triple bonanza. Oh, and Wildbirds & Peacedrums - Retina EP. OK, that last one isn't an album, but I still think it warrants a mention.

John,some excellent choices there. Obviously the Newsom album will be in many top 10 lists, but delighted to see the Mason cd there, cracking album. Just a quick one though, have you heard the new Current 93 album? I've enjoyed the last couple of releases, and I imagine you would be quite into them, but have yet to get round to picking this one up yet.

How about The Big To-Do by Drive By Truckers, a return to form after the meandering Brighter Than Creations Dark which still had some stonkers on it. Looking forward to Phophorescent + The Besnard Lakes, just got them ... The Besnard Lakes were excellent in concert also.

Nice list, John. I'd also throw in "Lux" by Disappears, "Warm Slime" by Thee Oh Sees, "Does It Look Like I'm Here?" by Emeralds and "Make It Real" by Pocahaunted.

Yeah good calls, Simon. I need to get hold of the Emeralds and Oneohtrix albums on Mego actually.

I'm sitting here listening to Beefheart's original 'Bat Chain Puller' recordings from '76 and wondering why almost 35 years later it's still so far ahead of most anything I'm likely to hear this year, next year, or any other... Not been a vintage year so far, but the albums I've kept going back to(in alpha order) are: Emeralds, Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté, Faust, Gil Scott-Heron, Jagga Jazzist, Jonanne Newsom, Jonas Reinhardt, LCD Soundsystem, Magic Lantern, Phosphorescent, Pocohaunted, Prins Thomas, Samamidon, Steve Mason, Sun Araw, Trembling Bells and Vibracathedral Orchestra. Got bored with Vampire Weekend and Hot Chip too quickly, both Midlake and Shearwater albums were disappointing (but for different reasons), and I still can't work out if Gonjasufi album is a work of genius or an unfocused mess. Oh, am I the only person other than Paul Morley to quite like the Lonelady record?

If the Oneohtrix Point Never album is out this month that also goes on my list. Interesting stuff Editions Mego seem to be signing these days....

No Weller or Gorillaz? Too poppy or catchy for your tastes. Brilliant albums to me and that's from someone who has been unsure of Gorillaz and Weller before. Avi Buffalo - genius songwriter but his voice grates after about two plays. Thanks for your comments as always.

I like the Lonelady album Nick if that makes you feel better, apart from all the obvious ones damien Jurado never seems to get mentioned, as well as eels, each to there own eh!

Oh another one is the Strange boys!

Best few this year for me although ive still not heard enough are Strange Boys, Black keys, Vampire Weekend, Sleepy Sun, and Joanna newsom. really want to hear that white fence record, got to be next on my list. oh yeah and and the two james Murphy efforts.

Totally off piste and I know you've probably put the next issue to bed by now, but was Ronnie Lane's "Anymore for Anymore" included in the great lost albums feature? And while I'm on the current issue, if Grand Funk are now deemed cool, who else can we expect to be resurrected in the pages of Uncut in the near future? How about a proper feature on The Modern Lovers, Faust, Captain Beefheart, John Fahey, The Teardrop Explodes, Suicide, Cluster, The Saints, or the whole San Fran 60's thing with Quicksilver Messenger Service, Jefferson Airplane, Moby Grape and of course the Dead...Just a thought

Twin Sister - Colour Your Life EP Spoon - Transference tUnE-yArDs - BiRd-BrAiNs O Emperor - Reverie EP

Hey John, respect and all but The Tallest Man On Earth and The Black Keys are the two albums of the year by far

OK, respect and all, but do we have actual empirical proof of this, The_Hexx? I thought we were talking about personal favourites here, but maybe critical science has moved on without me noticing?

Great list so far.. Here’s a list of 30 that haven’t been mentioned anywhere above (in alphabetical order):

1. Chrome Hoof – Crush Depth

2. Clang Sayne - Winterlands

3. Demdike Stare – Forest of Evil

4. Dirk Mont Campbell – Music from a Walled Garden

5. Elephant9 – Walk the Nile

6. Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part Two

7. Extra Life – Made Flesh

8. Fenn O’Berg – In Stereo

9. Grouper/Roy Montgomery - Split

10. Growing – Pumps!

11. Harvey Milk – A Small Turn of Human Kindness

12. Indignant Senility – Plays Wagner

13. Jan Jelinek & Masayoshi Fujita - Bird, Lake, Objects

14. Janka Nabay – Bubu King

15. Julian Lynch – Mare

16. K-X-P – K-X-P

17. Lean Left – The Ex Guitars meet Nilssen-Love / Vandermark Duo - Vol 1 & 2

18. Manorexia - The Mesopelagic Waters

19. Mark Van Hoen – Where is the Truth

20. Omar Souleymann – Jazeera Nights: Folk & Pop Sounds of Syria

21. oOoOO – oOoOO

22. Rangers – Suburban Tours

23. Rene Hell – Porcelain Opera

24. Richard Skelton – Landings

25. Shining – Blackjazz

26. Sightings – City of Straw

27. Sone Institute – Curious Memories

28. Thomas Fehlmann – Gute Luft

29. Yellow Swans – Going Places

30. Zs – New Slaves

Well I'm sure I can get at least 12 people to agree with me, is that enough proof? Come on people, the wild hunt, how good is that album? And haven't the black keys blossomed to one of the greatest rock'n'roll bands around, surely the songwriting is immense? Who's with me?

Glad the Black keys are getting some credit here, a little bit of a lull, in between Rubber Factory and Attack and release but the latest is a great record, when they produce themselves they are much better in my opinion. and yeah the song writig gets better and better,i really thought his solo album was too over looked.

Perhaps not exactly traditional Uncut fare, but am really enjoying the new Sage Francis album "Li(f)e".

Interesting list, John. Looking forward to investigating the few that I have not heard of. I would like to add fine albums by Natural Snow Buildings, Anais Mitchell, Actress and Charlotte Gainsbourg to the mix.

so what's the deal with that gruff rhys album? i have a feeling it's not good. you seem to have heard it already.

Teenage Fanclub, best LP from them in years. The Sadies new one as well, backed up with phenomenal live shows here in Canada. Voice of the Seven Thunders is also a favourite of mine at the moment.

Two I forgot from my list: I think you're being harsh on Caribou. There's at least one song with horrible singing, but it doesn't mar the whole album. I also forgot Spoon, who get no love here or at Uncut in general, but whose latest I enjoyed.

1. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening 2. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach 3. Four Tet – There Is Love In You 4. Plan B – Strickland Banks 5. Pantha du Prince – Black Noise 6. Chemical Brothers - Further 7. Massive Attack – Heligoland 8. Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma 9. Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can 10. Goldfrapp – Head First 11. Liars – Sisterworld 12. Midlake – The Courage Of Others 13. John Grant – Queen Of Denmark 14. Lindstrom & Christabelle – Real Life Is No Cool 15. Diskjokke’s new one 16. Holy Fuck – Latin 17. James Murphy – Greenberg 18. Blood Everywhere – The Shift 19. Steve Mason – Boys Outside 20. Caribou - Swim

Just a few off the top of my head (slim pickings for me so far due to a lack of funds) LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening Dead Weather - Sea Of Cowards Archie Bronson Outfit - Coconut Moon Duo - Escape Sun Araw - On Patrol Wooden Shjips - Vol 2 and then my mind goes blank.....

Lots of nice albums this year but I'd guess there are probably only six I'll still be playing this time next year: Fools Gold, Blitzen Trapper and Ali & Toumani (all on your list) and Tallest Man on Earth , Gorillaz and Phosphorescent (not on your list). Tamikrest is good but as there will be at least another half dozen west African desert blues records every bit as fine in the next 12 months, it probably doesn't meet my test of being something I'll still be listening to a year hence. However, it certainly deserves to be in a list of the best Jan-June 2010, in my humble opinion.

Some ace stuff there, John. I've not heard of Avi Buffalo, so will have to go check that out. Ditto with Tamikrest. It's been a hell of a year so far, though - here's a list of what I've been into so far: http://rateyourmusic.com/list/shitehawk/good_records_of_2010_so_far