The Best Albums Of 2010

10/ RPA & The United Nations Of Sound - "United Nations of Sound"
The latest offering from The Verve's Richard Ashcroft won't be to every ones tastes, it being overblown orchestral and in the running length of the tracks, but there's no denying the unique soulfulness of his style of rock.
[Standout track = Royal Highness]

9/ Stone Temple Pilots - "Stone Temple Pilots"
I have no idea whether lead singer Scott Weiland is off the sauce or not, but this album from the reformed grunge legends is one of their best. A little more laid back and commercial from what we're used to, it hasn't a bad track on it.
[Standout track = Take A Load Off]

8/ Skunk Anansie - "Wonderlustre"
Another reformed band from the 1990's featuring the vocals of Skin, one of the greatest female vocalists of all time. On a par with their second album Stoosh, it's brilliantly written and performed with a surprisingly restrained performance from all involved. Mellow. Glad to see them back.
[Standout Track = My Ugly Boy]

7/ Morcheeba - "Blood Like Lemonade"
Morcheeba have been going since the mid-90's, but kind of lost their way when they departed company with iconic vocalist Skye Edwards. Now she's back and that chillout magic has returned. Jazzy, funky, bluesy, poppy, rocky, hip-hoppy cool.
[Standout track = Self Made Man]

6/ Chemical Brothers - "Further"
I've always admired from afar The Chemical Brothers...until now. Further takes the electronic vibe of both theirs, and The Prodigy's, work and fuses it with a lyrical ambiance worthy of a Vangelis film score. Hypnotic, groovy and raw.
[Standout track = Dissolve]

5/ Avenged Sevenfold - "Nightmare"
The same can be said of Avenged Sevenfold; I've always liked their sound and love a few songs, but there's not one album I adored until Nightmare came alone. Song writing of the highest order combined with flawless musicianship and vocals. This is one to turn up loud and proud!
[Standout track = Buried Alive]

4/ Airborne - "No Guts No Glory"
After Airbourne's magnificent debut album a couple of years back I feared the AC'/DC sounding Ozzie rockers may be a one-album wonder. Not so as No Guts No Glory just builds mercilessly on what they've achieved before. Modern classics done in a timeless retro way.
[Standout track = Back On The Bottle]

3/ Monster Magnet - "Mastermind"
If Mastermind wasn't up to scratch as an album there would be hell to pay as Monster Magnet are official my favorite band ever. As you'd expect it's meatily produced Sabbath riffs combined with Dave Wyndorf's soulful vocals.
[Standout track = Ghost Story]

2/ Rob Zombie - "Hellbilly Deluxe II"
Good old Rob Zombie, probably the most fun you can have listening to rock music. Virtually every track is a radio friendly track and it gets better, and catchier, everytime I listen to it. Several bonus tracks in an extended edition didn't hurt either.
[Standout track = Sick Bubblegum]

1/ Lostprophets - "The Betrayed"
The 'Prophets are a band whose style and quality has fluctuated over the years, but it wasn't until The Betrayed where both crystallised with the brilliant The Betrayed. Lushly produced with every single track being catchy as hell, this album is firing on all cylinders from start to finish. It all has the quality of every track being a different style or tempo or attitude, showing off the versatility in their song writing. It took me weeks and weeks to drag me away from the stereo with this album.
[Standout track = For He's A Jolly Good Felon]