Just for the record

So now it's the best albums of the last ten years (that I own!!!!). This was quite a hard task initially as I thought that there were many that I could include, but when I actually looked at them there were some tracks that I didn't like, so the list was fairly straight forward.

1. Testimony – Neal Morse; a double album from the ex lead singer and keyboard player from Spock's Beard. It tells the story of his life and how he became a Christian, hence the title. It's a complete "prog fest" as well and features Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater on drums, who is the finest rock drummer in the world bar none. Morse has released many good albums since this one  but this remains his finest hour.
   
2. The Crane Wife – The Decembrists: An American rock band from Portland, Oregon, they are named after the Russian uprising of 1825. This was their fourth album released in October 2006 and I first heard of it via the mighty Word magazine. It's a glorious amalgam of indie rock, folk and prog, with each song being well crafted and produced. The subject matter is wide and various ranging from the murder squads in the N Ireland (the Shankhill Butchers), an old Japanese story about a Crane producing incredible silk from its feathers (the Crane Wife) and the 900 day WWII siege of Leningrad (When the War came).
   
3. 12 stops and home – The Feeling; a genuine pop album from this a 5 piece former covers band. Led by Dan Gillespie Sells, who sings and plays guitar, this was their debut album and there's not a bad track on it. It's very 70's influenced with touches of both ELO and 10cc in parts. There is also a Queen influence on some vocal harmonies and the guitar parts as well. It produced three hit singles and never tires from repeat plays.
   
4. OVO – Peter Gabriel; this was the sound track to the show at the centre of the Millennium Dome and was performed twice a day. As well as drawing on many references within our own folk traditions, the music also draws on the cultural origins of the many people's that now comprise contemporary British culture. It layers Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Australian and European elements against a mostly contemporary British backdrop. From 12th century hurdy gurdy to didgeridoo, from the pulsing rhythms of the Dhol Foundation and the nostalgic brass of the Black Dyke Band, from Arab laments over drum and bass to meditative moments with string section - the soundtrack is a really eclectic mix. Gabriel's finest moment to date!
   
5. Outrospective – Faithless: The only dance album in this list, Faithless is the brainchild of Rollo Armstrong, along with DJ/keyboard player Sister Bliss and singer/rapper Maxi Jazz. This was their third album and is their most consistent. It includes hit single "We come 1" and also "Tarantula" a version of which was used by the BBC for its 2002 World Cup theme. Faithless have always featured "guest singers" to support Maxi Jazz and this album includes Zoe Johnson and Rollo's sister Dido, who went on the record two of the decade's UK biggest selling albums as a solo singer. Best played loud.
   
6. The Rising – Bruce Springsteen; Inspired by the events of 9/11 when allegedly shortly after the attacks a passer-by told Springsteen "we need you now". The 15 songs are his response to the horror of the day and to my mind as an outsider, hit the nail on the head as to how he could support those involved or affected by the disaster. It's a full band record with the E-Street band and marks both a reformation with them and a real return to song writing of the highest order.
   
7. Absolution- Muse; A rock trio from Teignmouth in Devon (a less likely sentence to write will be hard to find!); this was their third and lift-off album. 15 songs in all all played with great skill and dexterity. The band is lead by Matt Bellamy, who sings, plays guitar. piano and writes most of the music (show off). Large Queen influences are found together with prog-metal and Rachmaninov type piano pieces. It rocks.
   
8. Songs for Silverman – Ben Folds; Alternative US singer songwriter, this was his second solo album, his previous releases having under the banner of his trio "The Ben Folds Five! His song-writing is excellent and this album cemented that reputation with stand out songs such as "Trusted" and "Landed" His band (which is still a trio if you include him) support him wonderfully, but it is his song-writing and piano playing that make this such a great album.
   
9. Continuum – John Mayer; better known of late as being Jennifer Aniston's boyfriend, Mayer is a brilliant guitarist, who has developed into a main stream song-writer, who also has a jazz trio he tours with as well. An album full of break up/-broken-up songs,. He sings sadness vey effectively!
   
10. Experiments in mass appeal – Frost*; A British prog rock band lead by keyboard player Jed Godfrey (the only rock star to follow me on Twitter!). Godfrey has a parallel career writing and recording jingles and pop songs (he co-wrote Atomic Kitten's "Whole again"). This was the band's second album and while it is a prog rock album it's very much at the heavy end of the spectrum, with also great vocal harmonies and production. Another to be played loud.
    

Happy New Year.