best albums... bloc party 'silent alarm' (really didnt want to like it because of the hype but its fantastic) 66e's one... its brilliant worst album... or maybe most disappointing is idlewilds warnings/promises, although i thought their recent ambassador gig was brilliant. the songs from the album sounded great live too.

think i mentioned these somewhere else... tom mcrae - all maps welcome (more in common with 'tom mcrae' than 'just like blood', excellent) jose gonzalez - veneer (for those who like to keep things simple. reminds me of gravenhurst, kinda...)

Best album so far...... .....Edan - Beauty & The beat. Worthy also ran horses include Beck, Lcd Soundsystem, Tom Vek, Bloc Party. But the release date of an album shouldn't even be an issue. Its a silly way to categorise music, you don't see books being rated half as much in a similiar fashion.

Wasn't feeling the Common album that much, he never really got back to reality after the Electric Circus - too much time hanging out with Eryka Badu would mess anyone up... Some nice bits and pieces on the album, but nothing that really stands out. My advice to Common is to find himself a Delorean, and go back to a time when he made decent albums like the Resurrection. Haven't heard the Lord Quas stuff yet, the singles were medicore, but then Madlib is the kind of bloke who excels when creating albums rather than songs. Ghostface and Doom dropping this year......I smell trouble. I reckon Edan is safe with the "Twisted Genius of HipHop" title for the time being anyhow.

I don't know man. I think the Common album is a real return to form. There's a couple of Syrupy choruses on there but it's still miles ahead of Electic Circus. It hasn't got anything as good as I Used To Love Her on it but then what does. Also hanging around with Eryka Badu didn't too Andre 3000 too much harm. You got to hear the MF Doom tune "Closer" on the Quasimoto album, it's quality. Is that Ghostface/Doom collaboration really going to happen? The only place I heard about it is HCC and I wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them.

DJ Format - If You Cant Join Em....Beat Em! Quality old skool hip hop with fantastic rapping by Abdominal and amazingly funky tunes that puts other so called hip hop stars to shame. Exactly the same "format" as his first album, Music For The Mature B-Boy, but im not complaining. Sublime

The Format album is good - maybe even great, but it definately isn't the hiphop album of the year. Format kinda shows himself as a one-trick-pony, same production techniques, same emcees, even the way the album is arranged is pretty much the same as Music For the Mature B-Boy. For me, its gonna have to be a wee bit more creative & original to warrant a place in the album of the year awards. Actually, scrap that - The award for the album most likely to sound exactly like the one he made 2 years earlier goes to.....DJ Format. Outkast - w**k juice. Making something different doesn't mean that its any good. Ghostface/Doom album is going ahead, or so he said when he dropped over to borrow teabags last week.

I dont know about you, but after listening to Abdominal rap on them two albums i feel sorry for other artists in that genre, does he have any solo albums/other collaborations available? Anyone know?

I have to say I like Format's production but he's hardly pushing new ground now is he. Plus Abdominal is a MC who's best enjoyed in small doses, over the course of a full album he can become a bit tiresome. Also D-Sisive doesn't sound like the same MC who did Popped with DJ Serious. Don't get me wrong it's still a good album, but it's nowhere near as cohesive or innovative as Edan. Oh and Outkast are complete legends. It's one thing to be revered by backpackers on message boards it's takes a completely different brand of artist to break new ground, win Grammys, have an amazing live show, sell millions of records, recieve critical acclaim and make amazing records at the same time.

Gonna have to correct you on that one Unicron, i thought Jurassic 5 consisted of DJ Nu-Mark Cut Chemist Chali 2na Marc 7even Akil Zaakir Unless he's changed his name or something It will be interesting to see where he goes with his next long player, although i'd be happy with another album of funky tunes to listen to

"He's in Jurassic 5" No he isn't, but he kinds has that vibe, doesn't he? He had an EP out with a Canadian producer by the name of DJ Fase a few years ago which is pretty slick. He's definatly one of the most technically amazing rappers around, though his lyrics will hardly move you emotionally. Fair enough about Outkast, you like them - I don't. "Players Ball" was amazing, as was "Spottieottie..", but for me, tracks like "I Like the Way You Move" seriously tarnish their reputation. Just my opinion though.

I think you're a bit confused Unicron. Chali 2Na & Akil from Jurassic 5 do pop up on the tune We Know Something You Dont Know Music For The Mature B Boy album, and they appear again on The Place on the new If You Can't Join Em, Beat Em LP. However Jurassic 5 hail from LA while Abdominal comes from Canada. If you want to check out Abdominal's earlier stuff pick up Flowtation Device by Abdominal & Fase.

I stand corrected, I knew someone on Music for the Mature B-boy was in J5 and Abdominal's rhymes reminded me of them (especially the "I'm so great" s**t). Feeling quite foolish now as I inaccurately said he was in J5 when I plugged Format's Red Box/Crawdaddy show in the gig guide a while back. Next time I'll do some real research and not just relay on my ears.

The Gorillaz album is as good as any released so far this year... As is Nashville by Josh Rouse and Blinking Lights by the Eels. Am a big fan of Willy Mason's album - Oxygen being the best single of the year so far. Also loving Transistor by M Ward, Anniemal by Annie, and Queens of the Stone Age. Some pretty interesting music this year but the English guitar band scene is shockingly poor this year - Kaiser Chiefs will be gone within a year, Bloc Party sound like a punky Cure (without the tunes) and Kasabian/Razorlight/whoever else are a yawn. So thank the lord for the Americans! Antony and the JOhnsons, both the Wainwrights, Joshes Homme and Rouse...

Gorrilaz make me puke. And Razorlight and Kasabian were released last year, weren't they?

low - the great destroyer the evens - the evens bonnie billy and matt sweeney - superwolf martin finke - crown time arcade fire - funeral (if this counts?)