The best record I've heard for a very, very long time. I just know I'll be listening to it for years to come. It really is wonderful.

Two outstanding albums - "Here's The Tender Coming" and "Sigh No More" respectively.

The Unthanks are one of those bands that just HAVE to be seen live - the interplay between Becky and Rachels' vocals, the great playing of the whole band, and, of course, the clog dancing, are breathtaking - a truly awesome live experience. But the album is also an absolute classic in a run of great albums from the Unthanks.

Mumford & Sons - One of the things I love most about Sign No More is that it's one of those albums that builds throughout it to an amazing peak at the end. You have to listen to it all the way through

Pop - Lily Allen "It's Not Me, It's You"

Singles led, but a number of hummable pop ditties. Enjoyable on journeys.

Rock - The Prodigy "Invaders Must Die"

Not rock apparently, though large intrusive beats and heavy guitar with distorted vocals certainly puts it in the Kerrang category. Plus its superb.

Folk - The Deer Tracks "Aurora"

Again, not strictly folk, more sort of twinkly folk-inflected Scandinavian post rock, but I've found myself coming back to this again and again.

Folk - Unthanks - Here's the Tender Coming - blissful and spooky, great stuff.

Rock - Dinosaur Jr - Farm. J's got some tunes again, and those great riffs are always there. Cracking guitar sounds and a band on top form. Not from this year, but The Dictators "D.F.F.D" is a big fat cheesburger of New York Rock & Roll - Les Pauls setting Marshalls howling, and it asks the great question - "Who Will Save Rock & Roll?".

Pop - dunno.

I completely concur with Patrick's comments above. Buy it now. If it doesn't get the Mercury Prize next year, no folk album ever will.

Pop: I don't know whether it's really "pop" but I have really enjoyed the A Camp album - Colonia, which has several songs which are just as good as anything Abba ever did.

I'm afraid I gave up on heavy metal after losing my virginity, so I can't help you there. I do like the Decemberists album though, which is a bit raucous in places.

I've really enjoyed the XX's album - which is gloom-pop, I guess

Pop: I know it winds some people up, but I love La Roux's debut release

Classical: The McAlmont/Nyman album The Glare has only just come out and it's not, strictly speaking, classical, but I think it's fab

Also loved Regina Spektor's latest, Far.

I have already got the Unthanks's latest so lets take this one as read.

2 albums at the heavier end of spectrum that have stood out for me are Crack the Skye by Mastodon and Wrath by Lamb of God.

All in all, I think it's been quite a lean year for great albums in most genres though :(

Backspacer - Pearl Jam
Before The Frost...After The Freeze - The Black Crowes
Cause I Sez So - New York Dolls
The Liberty of Norton Folgate - Madness
Sunny Side Up - Paolo Nutini
Secret Agent - Tony Allen

bits of the U2, Springsteen, Costello, Tinariwen, Dylan, Doves, Decemberists and Prince albums from this year are good too.

EDIT: Obviously, I didn't read the original post at all, apologies.

RAWK - Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown

Pop/Dancy - Little Boots

My personal fave - A Camp's Colonia

POP - Little Boots Hands is singles-led but having listened to it an awful lot over the past couple of weeks it is a great pop album, only the odd duff track.

ROCK - Doves, Kingdom of Rust. How do you like your epic moody soundscapes? Like this please. Almost one long track. Kerrang might play them. They are definitely V Fest material..not sure if they are raaack, no they're definitely not.

FOLK - Not a big folkie but have really enjoyed listening to the Kelli Alli album Rocking Horse after seeing her at the Moseley Folk Festival (our local one).

by any stretch of the imagination.

Pop: A Camp "Colonia"

Rock: Eels "Hombre Loco" or Sonic Youth's "The Eternal" or New York Dolls "Cause I Sez So"

Folk: I'm not a folkie but in the "other music" category, I like Seasick Steve's "Man From Another Time"

My other favourites are Raveonettes "In And Out Of Control", Madness "Liberty Folgate", Robert Pollard "Crawling Distance" & Wilco "Wilco".

Haven't really had time to listen to the new Flaming Lips or Brendan Benson ones yet but on first spin they sound half decent.

For modern classical I'd recommend James MacMillan, Jonathan Dove and Sir Philip Ledger.

In fact there's a first recording of Philip Ledger's requiem which is just about to come out from Regent Records. The choir with which I sing is performing this piece on Sunday and it's lovely - not a big heavy requiem like Verdi - more intimate, really lyrical, puts me in mind of tudor motets and early music, it sounds familiar but modern at the same time.

Try that!

Try Nancy Wallace's 'Old Stories' - one of the tracks was on a Word CD a few months back - a lovely album.

Also, Diana Jones - Better Times Will Come. This may help those suffering from Gillian Welch withdrawal syptoms.

2009 was the year in which me and Mrs C discovered, and have mostly been listening to, the Nouvelle Vague albums, which give New Wave classics a bossa nova/lounge jazz/Via con Dios treatment. Their third came out this year, but in our view the first one is the best. Just a thought for your "pop" category.

I should also mention Lindstrom & Prins Thomas II, Baaba Maal's Television, and Easy Star All Stars' reggae treatment of Sergeant Pepper. (I expect to be getting my coat shortly after nominating the last one)