Top 33 of the Year.....Numbers 15 - 14

15. Sleigh Bells - Treats.

Continuing with my spot-prizes, Sleigh Bells win for giving us the LOUDEST (see, it's in capitals and everything) record this year.

Derek Miller's guitar is so loud that it almost becomes distorted, the programmed drums are on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and Alexis Krauss vocals vary from ear splitting scream to, thankfully just for a bit of respite, a goregous pop coo. Treats is a record made up of riffs, hip hop beats, a bit of electro, and some quite brilliant simple melodies.

'Infinity Guitars' is the highlight of an album that's very much a celebration of all that's fun about making music.




14. Titus Andronicus - The Monitor.

Channeling the spirit of Bruce Springsteen and The Pogues, wearing their punk hearts on their sleeves, and singing songs about the US Civil War - that's the New Jersey way, that's what Titus gave us on The Monitor.

This was rabble-rousing emotional communion at its best, with plenty of chanting, singalong choruses, epic song lengths and terrific stadium rock riffing - in the best possible sense of the phrase of course. It's hard to pick out one moment from the record that captures all that's great about this band, but try this: 'A More Perfect Union'.