I’ve seen a good few ‘albums of the decade’ lists kicking about and thought I’d throw my own in. I tend to change my mind about these things every five minutes so this isn’t intended to be definitive. It was judged on the following criteria – Every so often I forcefully eject the entire contents of my iPod and vow only to replace it with music that hasn’t been on there before. I find it a good way of discovering new things and not getting too stuck in listening habits. There are however always some albums that I can’t seem to do without and which stubbornly maintain their place in my heart and ears. In no particular order, here are ten albums from the last ten years that have caused me to flout my own iPod laws:

Low – Things We Lost In The Fire
Elliott Smith – From A Basement On A Hill
Iron & Wine – The Creek Drank The Cradle
Nick Cave – Lyre Of Orpheus / Abattoir Blues
Esbjorn Svensson Trio – Viaticum
Do Make Say Think – Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn
Richard Hawley – Coles Corner
Cinematic Orchestra – Ma Fleur
Tom Waits – Orphans
Radiohead – In Rainbows