Some of the best albums of all time

In absolutely no particular order whatsoever.  I consider these to be albums that have provided the soundtrack to my life.  Yes, some of them may be unfashionable.  Some of them may be plain miserable.  Some may be considered classics.  However, they are all very special to me.  So, without further pre-amble...here we go.

• 'Grace' by Jeff Buckley.  I didn't really know much about Jeff Buckley's work until I had a holiday in New York with Miss Underscore.  She recommended him, and in particular this album.  So, it was purchased and devoured.  I absolutely love it.  Standout tracks for me are 'Lilac Wine', 'So Real', 'Forget Her' and 'Corpus Christi Carol'. I remember vividly one night, I had just finished a physio appointment and it was a dark autumn evening.  I was playing this CD in the car and was on my way home - it was just so atmospheric.
• 'Black Celebration' by Depeche Mode.  A really difficult task for me, picking my favourite Mode album.  This just wins by a whisker.  I wish I had been able to experience them touring this album.  I believe that they played at Whitley Bay Ice Rink, but I didn't really 'get into' them big style until after this album was released.  I love the way that Gore and Gahan's vocals compliment each other perfectly.  I could listen to Martin Gore's voice and never tire of it - it is sublime.  Quite unlike his speaking voice, which is, frankly, hideous.
• 'Interpol' by Interpol.  Bittersweet one, this.  I bought it when it was first released in September 2010.  However, I didn't really play it much until I was on 2 weeks annual leave at the end of September.  That was when Debbie left me.  So, I tended to play this, whilst wallowing in a sea of tears, tissues and Laphroaig single malt whisky.  I would never want to feel like that again.  It's strange that I love it so much, despite the uncomfortable memories it conjures up.  A work of art, pure and simple.  Best tracks - 'All of The Ways' and 'Barricade'.
• 'Best of 00-10' by Ladytron.  Again, very hard just to single out one studio album from this band.  So, have opted for the cheat's way out and gone for the compilation.  Words cannot describe how much I adore Ladytron.  Criminally under-rated in this country.  I first discovered them whilst at an Interpol gig in Manchester.  Ladytron were the support act and they just blew me away.  So much that I actually went out and bought their entire back catalogue upon my return.  Best tracks for me are 'Light & Magic', 'Discotraxx' and everything from the 'Velocifero' album.
• 'The Holy Bible' by Manic Street Preachers.  I feel very fortunate to have seen the Manics when they toured the Holy Bible.  The venue was atrocious - Newcastle University.  The band were on fire.  Not literally, you understand.  Just everything about the way that they played had an 'edge'.  Not long after this, Richey disappeared and things were never quite the same again.  I had the biggest crush on Nicky Wire - worshipped him.  I still think he's a bit of a genius. Lyrically, this is about as good as it gets.
• 'No Parlez' by Paul Young.  This was the first album that I purchased, on my tenth birthday from The Spinning Disc in Sunderland.  It still holds very special memories for me.  I think it was a wonderful debut album, and one that Paul Young never came close to rivalling.  Call me unfashionable, but that is what I think.  I also believe that he can be forgiven for covering 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'.  It wasn't that bad.  
• 'Doolittle' by The Pixies.  This is a fantastic album.  My ex-boyfriend bought me a copy of the CD in 1991, I think.  I always wanted to be like Kim Deal - she was just so utterly cool.  Not a bad track on this.
• 'Going Blank Again' by Ride.  Another vastly under-rated 90's shoe-gazing band. I went to see them live at Newcastle Mayfair, with my then boyfriend, Leighton.  They made another couple of albums and then split.  Andy fucking Bell went on to join Oasis.  Twat.
• 'Melody A.M.' by Royksopp.  This is a wonderful album.  So trippy, chilled out, eerie....They never matched it's sheer brilliance on future releases, sadly.  Although they did come close with a couple of tracks on 'The Understanding' (Beautiful Day Without You and What Else Is There?)
• 'Love and Other Demons' by Strangelove.  Strangelove could have been massive.  They weren't.  Patrick Duff's drug habit was the price they paid.  One of my favourite albums from the 90's.  Every track a stunner.
• 'The XX' by The XX - I categorically decree that they will never be able to come close to this kind of perfection on their second album.  They will probably split under the pressure.  It really was/is that fucking gorgeous.
• 'A Rush of Blood To The Head' - yes, he's a cock. Yes, he's married to a Hollywood star.  I suspect that he's probably not that good at rumpy-pumpy.  That aside, this is a great album.  Then they got too big and got a bit silly with it.  Nonetheless, I still enjoyed their headline slot at Glastonbury.  I always think that liking Coldplay is rather like masturbation.  You know it's wrong, but it feels so good at the time (or so I'm reliably informed...)
• 'The Back Room' - Editors.  Whilst if absolutely pushed, my favourite album of their's would be 'An End Has A Start', I would not have got there without loving this album first.  He's got the most gorgeous voice - like being teased with Thornton's treacle toffee.

And there you have it.  My top albums of all time.  For my next magnum opus, I will work on the standout tracks of all time. Ooooohhhh!!