1. JOIN DAN SARTAIN - DAN SARTAIN (ONE LITTLE INDIAN): Alabama rockabilly Dan Sartain made a second album as cool as his quiff. official site BUY

2. BEWARE OF THE BIRD - CLAUDE VON STROKE (DIRTYBIRD): bottom-heavy San Francisco house that's constantly enlivened by inventive sample sources, like the chimpanzees on ‘Chimps’. myspace BUY

3. TO FIND ME GONE - VETIVER (FAT CAT): the second album by Andy Cabic and his band of Californian dreamers' was a beautiful ray of psych-folk sunshine. official site BUY

4. A DAY OF NIGHTS - BATTLE OF MICE (NEUROT): startling collaboration between post-rockers Red Sparowes (who had their own very good album this year) and metallers Made Out Of Babies. myspace BUY

5. ON LEAVING - NINA NASTASIA (FAT CAT): New York songwriter steps back from the precipice of her previous album to deliver a subtle, literary collection of songs. official sit e BUY