It was over 10 years ago now that I attended Glastonbury, it rained of course and I was hating every moment of it. The crowds, the mud and the miles you had to walk from one stage to the other. It was like an Iron Man challenge if I had known what that was at the time. But in a small circus tent approximately 50 miles from the Pyramid Stage I saw a band comprised of 3 siblings, 2 girls and 1 boy no older than 12/13. They were backed by their parents on double bass and drums. The boy was dressed like Elvis Presley in a jacket too large for him and a slick quiff while the two girls were similarly 50's themed vamp looking. They played rock n roll, blues and soul, really bloody well. They took it in turns on vocals, swapping instruments in between every song as the parents watched on proudly. WHO ARE THESE FREAKS IN A CIRCUS TENT?! I wondered quietly. I even forgot for a moment that I was in a 1000 acre cesspit that I would likely die in by the end of the weekend. I will always remember those kids for briefly elevating me from that horrible weekend and reminding me it was supposed to be about music. Fast forward 10+ years and those kids are onto their 3rd album and unsurprisingly they're really good. Some of the best blues, rock n roll and soul you'll hear in 2015 and its coming from 3 posh white kids. Honestly, go listen to the whole album and thank yourself you're not at Glastonbury.

There's a definite theme emerging from this list of albums that had no right to be as good as they turned out to be. 2 bands returning from lengthy absences (Blur / Sleater-Kinney) and 2 side projects from big indie bands, Will Butler and now El Vy. This is Matt Berninger of The National alongside Brent Knopf of Menomena. If you know me, one of those people is my idol. But still, its a side project, I wasn't THAT excited.. until i heard the first single Return to the Moon. Then I got excited. It was fun, it was catchy, it had the lyrics of The National but more upbeat and funny. The National are a serious band, El Vy is Matt cutting loose, literally letting his hair down (HELLO INDIE THOR!) and teaming up with the always quirky Brent Knopf. Lets not underestimate his part here either, the arrangement of these tracks and the diversity of sounds contained within them are what sets them apart from The National. No, Matt wouldnt be allowed to write "Im peaceful cos' my dick's in sunlight" in his own band, but its really Brent which sets El Vy apart from the two's main projects. There's 3 - 4 big tunes, but the rest of the album is a grower and live they really come good too. You can turn off the quirky side project klaxon, cos this is a legit album of the year contender.

I'm ashamed to say that this is the first Sleater-Kinney album I ever listened to, they passed me by the first time round. However, the first singles got played a lot on radio here so I had a listen to the album on Spotify and pretty much soon after that I bought it. Its one of those rare pure rock records thats all killer, no filler. Perfect 3 minute, guitar, drums, vox rock songs. If, like me, you hadnt heard much by SK, check this out first, its a great introduction to a legendary band.

Lonerism really broke Tame Impala but I didnt really get it. It was too much like a jam for me, a bit hippy-ish and meandered too often. It had some good tracks but overall I chalked it off as not for me. So when this new album launched with "Cause, Im a Man" I was taken aback, it was like an 80's soul tune. A total shift from what I had in mind for Tame Impala. Something Kevin Parker said in an interview also intrigued me, im paraphrasing here but he wanted to show people he wasnt a one-trick pony and really wanted this album to show the full breadth of what they could do. He wasn't wrong, Currents is great, has depth, tunes and sounds different to a lot of bands out there today. Its a great album to put on in the background and get shit done as it ebbs and flows beautifully.

*QUIRKY SIDE PROJECT KLAXON* Yes, this is Will Butler, the quieter of the Butler's in the mega-band Arcade Fire. I never really take side projects that seriously, which is why it is amazing that there are not one but two side projects in my top 10 this year. There's definitely hints of Arcade Fire at their most ram-shackle, but as a whole its a bit more diverse and sharper. There's definite hints of Talking Heads at times, which can only be a good thing. Lyrically its quite honest too, less mystique around it than AF, as witnessed in the track Finish What I Started - where Will bemoans his inability of being able to finishing anything. At 9 tracks it does feel like he gave up or couldnt be bothered making it a round 10 too. Im all for lean albums though, this is perfect at 9 tracks, it feels succinct, it feels like he made an album which encapsulates all sides of his personality, got to 9 and thought "Nope, this is it, ive nailed it".

Unlike Matthew E. White, TJJr (an acronym im sure he's never had used before) is very easy to pigeon-hole. He's a pansy-assed piano balladeer! Y'know the kind - John Lennon - Imagine, Elton John heck even Billy Joel. Those guys. Its a hark back to the 70's sure, but nothing about this album feels hokey. The songs are strong enough to stand alone and still feel contemporary. Go see him live with his band "Duk" and its a different story though - they're brilliant together.

Matthew E. White's 7 track debut showed a lot of promise but ultimately I felt it lacked tunes. In this follow up he rights those wrongs with hook upon hook, humourous lyrics and that velvety voice of his. Its definitely a retro sound but I struggle to pigeon-hole it into soul or rock. Its just goddamn funky as hell and I cant recommend it enough.

Writing this it feels wrong to put them at number 9, they're my favourite band surely they released my favourite album of the year? I couldnt do it though. Dont get me wrong, this is a fantastic Blur album, way better than anyone could expect when you hear how it was born from a a few days jam session during a break in touring. Graham took it upon himself to attone for his previous sins in the band by going ahead and fashioning a new blur album out of recordings which were all but dead. There's some fantastic tracks too - Lonesome Street, Go Out, Ong Ong, Terracotta Heart, Ghost Ship. But it's not higher than this due to a few of the maudlin misery which peppered Damon's solo LP - Im looking at you New World Towers, Pyongyang and Mirror Ball. Still, Im over the moon it was released and I got to see them SOUNDCHECK in a tiny venue in Brooklyn for the release of this record, which will go down as one of the most amazing days of my life - thanks to my mate Felix.

WHEN I SEE A MAN I SEE A LIAR! Shouts little Yannis in the chorus of the opening track of another blinding album from Foals. If I had more time with this album I could see it moving up my list, but its probably the album ive spent least time with due it only being released relatively recently. What I can tell you is its probably the most consistent of all the Foals albums but doesnt necessarily reach the highs of previous efforts, but in the same breath doesnt have the dips in quality either as the earlier releases. Its just solid all the way through.