ANOTHER year ends, providing a suitable time for reflection on the twelve months previous. So, entering into that spirit, here's my 2008 top 20 albums, along with a best and worst three tracks of the year.

Some are fairly predictable, some wilfully obscure, but that's the idea; they're my favourites, and who knows, maybe some of you will be driven to investigate further as a result.

Inescapably it's not been a vintage year - last year I managed a top 25 - and numbers 11-20 are virtually interchangeable, but the top five in particular are utterly wonderful and a class apart.

Feel free to email me your own - to andrew_sl@tiscali.co.uk...

1 - Pete & The Pirates 'Little Death' (Stolen) By a mile, never in doubt. Immaculate indie-pop like they used to make but rarely do these days. Album of the year, band of the year, not a weak song. Splendidly uplifting and not tiring even after eleven months of constant rotation. Even better live too!

2 - Cats on Fire 'The Province Complains' (Marsh Marigold) Scandinavian indie-pop with nods to The Smiths and the 80s' C86 sound; seemingly recorded without the budget that gives others an advantage, but all the more charming for it. The best indie-pop songs this side of Pete & The Pirates...

3 - Peter Broderick 'Home' (Bella Union) A prodigiously talented singer-songwriter in his early 20s and already on album three - raising the bar in an over-populated field with far more than just acoustic strum and introspective lyrics. The way he creates the backdrop to his vocals is quite astonishing, as is evident in his startling live shows; looped guitar, piano and violin lines along building to crashing crescendos but never putting his wonderful songs and vocals in the shade.

4 - Vampire Weekend 'S/T' (XL) Much-lauded and rightly so; Afro influences often compared to Paul Simon (or Sting if you're not onside) but ultimately putting a unique spin on US college indie with a debut album that stands up without jumping on any passing bandwagon.

5 - Bon Iver 'For Emma, Forever Ago' (4AD) Incredibly emotive but without any of the pretence that often accompanies the genre. Famously created in log-cabin isolation over three months but sounding authentic and fully justifying the hype. Sincere and utterly beautiful.

6 - Neon Neon 'Stainless Style' (Lex) Classic 80s pop concept album from SFA's Gruff Rhys and hip hop producer Boom Bip, with a handful of blinding tunes (and a couple of duffers).

7 - Sparks 'Exotic Creatures of the Deep' (Lil' Beethoven) More of what you'd expect from the brothers Mael; theatrical performance art pop. No-one does it better.

8 - The Dodos 'Visiter' (Wichita) Compelling psych-folk from Meric Long's labour of love; great on record and incredible live.

9 - Max Richter '24 Postcards in Full Colour' (Fat Cat) Affecting contemporary classical compositions from the genius Richter - a true master of his art, and his finest since the genre-defining 'The Blue Notebooks'.

10 - Fleet Foxes 'S/T' (Bella Union) Another critics' fave this year, and with good reason; the surprise hit of the year but with the songs to back it up. A new benchmark in Americana, the monthlies and broadsheets will have you believe.

11 - School Of Seven Bells 'Alpinisms' (Ghostly International) Definite nods to shoegaze but with a modern electronic bent and female vocal hooks; unique and rather special.

12 - Johann Johannsson 'Fordlandia' (4AD) Scandinavia's answer to Max Richter; another tremendous talent with a wealth of stunning back catalogue, and an album that stands up to his finest work to date.

13 - Earth 'The Bees Made The Honey In The Lion's Skull' (Southern) The post-rock record of the year, though such a narrow pigeonhole does it a disservice. Perhaps more melodic than some expected but all the better for it.

14 - Benga 'Diary Of An Afro Warrior' (Tempa) Dubstep but with myriad influences that separate it from the competition; techno touches are prevalent, for example, and it benefits from the attention to detail that so often lacks in dance music.

15 - James Ruskin 'The Dash' (Tresor) Classy techno/electro on the peerless German label; some dancefloor and some more considered, but always firing.

16 - Dears 'Missiles' (Dangerbird) Though they seem to have slipped off the radar since their 'next big thing' hype of a couple of years, they've still got the knack when it comes to heartfelt, emotive indie rock.

17 - Hush Arbors 'S/T' (Ecstatic Peace) Noisy alternative rock with plenty of squeal and feedback but crucially the songs to back it up.

18 - Tim Ten Yen 'Everything Beautiful Reminds Me Of You' (Pointy) A true showman with some of the best out-and-out pop songs you've heard in years; perfectly crafted and deserving of a much wider audience.

19 - Tom Brosseau 'Cavalier' (Fat Cat) More acoustic singer songwriter business, but with enough about it to make it special; stark production, tremendous songs, gorgeous vocals.

20 - Truckers Of Husk 'Physical Education' EP (My Kung Fu) Only a mini-album but worth its place in the 20; post-math-rock with a clear nod to 2007's alternative heroes Battles, supported by ultra-tight and thoroughly entertaining live performances.

Singles:
1 - Alphabeat 'Fascination' Just the best pop song of the year, and one that makes you smile every time you hear it - even with the over-exposure it has received. Not even a guilty pleasure, nor an ironic one - simply classic, perfect pop.

2 - Last Shadow Puppets 'The Age Of The Understatement' Awesome lead single from Alex Arctic Monkey's other band; though the album at times underwhelmed, the title track was breathtaking.

3 - Supergrass 'Diamond Hoo Ha Man' Back to their rockin' best; riff-tastic! Or something.

Worst singles:
1 - Ida Maria 'I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked' All over XFM for some reason, and despicable on every level; lyrically abominable. Utterly awful, no redeeming features.

2 - Audio Bullys 'Dope Fiend' At least this is funny, though unwittingly I suspect. They may claim they're being ironic, but I doubt their numbskull fans recognise that - if indeed they have any. 'Trainspotting' anthem for Kasabian fans. Laughable.

3 - Gabriella Cilmi 'Sweet About Me' Sickeningly contrived - everything that's wrong with major labels. Rather distasteful and as insincere as it's possible for music to be.