I'm finding it hard to look beyond the latest offering from Elbow. I've always been a fan, but think is their strongest album yet. It's got a couple of cracking singles, a guest vocal from Richard Hawley and bags of imagination.

In terms of the album 'moving' me, the first track, Starlings, is astounding. It's rare you hear lines - especially on the subject of love - that can stop you in your tracks, but (as previously mentioned on a thread from a month or so ago) the line, "You are the only thing in any room you're ever in" did just that. And the almost throwaway style in which Guy Garvey mutters "Darling, is this love?" just before an enormous horn and cymbal explosion always makes me smile.

Best album of 2008 so far I'd say

has stolen my thunder. Didn't know anything about Elbow - saw them on tv - loved the song that was on. Bought the album - fell in love with Starlings - played it over and over again. Bought the entire back catalogue in a month - never done that before in over 35 years of buying music.
Shelby Lynnes Just a little lovin has had a similar effect - was fortunate to see her perform much of it live in a record store - was standing a few yards from her and i thought she was singing to me. Her performance made me cry. Both she and the songs had a fragility about them - it was a 'moment' as they say.

Doesn't always get a great press in the Kate Bush canon, but I listened to it again a couple of weeks ago and the directness of the lyrics which are full of loss, in what was clearly a difficult period for her, really got to me as I was driving home.

I thought perhaps in losing one of their principle songwriters, Jason Isbell, that they might be off the boil, but no, they keep getting better. Their new record is a wonderful mixture of country and southern styles pumped up with ragged massed Neil Young-style guitars and the welcome addition of Spooner Oldham (who appears to be touring with them) on piano. Their own description of the recording process captures it to a tee. "It was written, learned, played, mixed and mastered for vinyl. It's how it was meant to be heard and it shines like Rain Dance Car Wax on a 69 Camarro." Made me go back and dig through their catalogue.

...I heard 'Grounds For Divorce' on Bob Harris' show. I heard them before and I wasn't too blown away, but this reasonably heavy, riff-driven track made me pay attention. Was surprised to hear it was Elbow, and that this was a British rock band with some, if you'll pardon the expression, bollocks, rather than empty posturing. I bought the earlier albums after hearing that but I have to say 'The Seldom Seen Kid' is my favourite, as it's so diverse. 'Starlings' is another amazing track. I loved the review in Word of The Courteeners' album which advised people to buy 'The Seldom Seen Kid' instead of that!

Beginning of the year it was Scott Walker's 'Climate Of Hunter'. I only had a Walker Brothers best-of prior to this, but this album made me buy most of his others as I was very impressed. 'Sleepwalkers Woman' is one of the most extraordinary things I've ever heard.

Last year, it was Van Morrison's 'Common One'. I owned, and enjoyed, 'Astral Weeks', 'Moondance' and a best of that got sporadic plays. However, finding this for £1.25 in a charity shop opened my ears to a whole new world of music- my jaw was on the floor for 'Summertime In England' and particularly 'When Heart Is Open', both of which are just gorgeous and maintain my interest for their not inconsiderable lengths. Spent a few months locating his other albums, which was harder than it should have been as most were deleted at that time. A few bumpy albums (those mid 90s ones are particularly weak, what Retropath2 labelled the 'echolalia years') but barely a day goes by without me playing one of Van's albums!

I have always been a big fan of Squeeze, they along with Elvis Costello, kind of laid the foundations for me following them into the industry, so I'm sure my other half would dearly love to kick them for the years we spent broke while I get started. But I do think Mr. Difford has done himself hugely proud with the new record. It's not Squeeze, not by a long chalk, and that's probably the best thing about it - it's the man finding another voice (His first solo album I Didn't Get Where I Am now sounds like the first step on the journey, however much I love it.) to complement his more familiar output. And the whole band is great, with special mentions for the gorgeous vocals of Dorie Jackson and the fine, fine steel guitar of Melvin Duffy. I'll admit to a slight bias, but I stand by my comments! : )