1 Radiohead: A Moon Shaped Pool

Radiohead’s finest in years. While it contains disappointingly little in the way of noisy guitars, it also pulls back on the glitchy electronica, replacing both with some lush strings arranged by Jonny Greenwood. Thom is his usual doom-laden self, but lyrically it’s wonderfully from-the-heart and poetic. It’s a sumptuous masterpiece and it flows, feeling like a coherent album when maybe there last few haven’t… and it’s got a whole bunch of really stunning songs on it, from “Burn the Witch” to “The Numbers” to “True Love Waits”. And it all sounds particularly gorgeous on vinyl.

2 David Bowie: Blackstar

Even putting aside any possible re-appraisal due to his untimely demise, this is a magnificent album. Jazzy, sad, beautiful, introspective, profound, funny, noisy and experimental. Not much more to say really.

3 Heron Oblivion: Heron Oblivion

A debut album from a Sub Pop supergroup made up of members of Espers and Comets on Fire didn’t necessarily generate huge initial excitement. But it’s ended up being the most-played album in the shop, and the one that has generated by far the most “What on Earth is this?” moments from customers, who then purchase the album directly from the record player. Hard to describe, but basically it is Meg Baird’s beautiful 60s influenced voice (think Grace Slick or Sandy Denny) over a spectacular quiet/loud wall of feedback-drenched guitar (think Neil Young or Sonic Youth), but leaving plenty of space for it all to echo around your head/shop/lounge. Perfect from beginning to end.

4 Syd Arthur: Apricity

I’m worried I might be seen as biased as Canterbury’s finest band are also friends of the shop. But based on sales alone, it’s our number one album by a clear margin. It’s a fabulous sun-kissed album full of some of their finest songs yet, particularly Into Eternity, No Peace, Sun Rays and Apricity. The production is more polished than their two previous albums, and Liam’s voice has never sounded better: sweet, soulful and slightly stoned.

5 Nick Cave: Skeleton Tree

I think we all know the back story to the album. It’s not an easy listen by any stretch, but it’s a beautiful album in a bleak, heart-breaking kind of way. It’s been a customer favourite since the day we opened.

6 Car Seat Headrest: Teens of Denial

A random, sprawling, lo-fi indie-rock gem from the very singular mind of Will Toledo. With songs about drugs, killer whales, more drugs, the Costa Concordia sinking (featuring a blatant Dido verse), and Frank Sinatra, it has some of the funniest and most memorable lyrics on any album of 2016. There is a song on it called “Joe Gets Kicked Out of School For Using Drugs With Friends (But Says This Isn't a Problem)” which probably tells you all you need to know…  and Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales would be a very strong contender for song of the year!

7 Dinosaur Jr: Give a glimpse of what yer not

They had to be in here somewhere! The new album once again features the classic line-up of J/Lou/Murph and combines the classic Dinosaur Jr sound with ever greater focus on songs and melodies. J remains one of the world’s very finest purveyors of grungy guitar solos.

8 Let’s Eat Grandma: I, Gemini

Possibly the weirdest debut of the year. Two teenage girls from Norfolk have produced a weird, unique, occasionally quite sinister album. Based around keyboards, gentle beats and their unsettling voices, it also features instruments as diverse as recorders, saxophones, xylophones and ukuleles. With songs about shiitake mushrooms and chocolate sludge cake…. It is entirely weird but very wonderful.

9 Dungen: Haxan

Originally recorded as a soundtrack to a 1920s silent film, this is Swedish psych-gods Dungen’s first wholly instrumental album. Varying from gently folky flute-driven tunes to full-on psychedelic rock, it’s a fabulous listen.

10 Hinds: Leave Me Alone

Joyfully ramshackle guitar pop by a 4 piece all-girl band from Madrid. A total feel-good album of lo-fi indie-pop songs, mostly about love: sometimes happy, sometimes not so much.

11 Wolf People: Ruins

Sometimes folky, sometimes psychedelic, sometimes full-on heavy and dirty. But with real swagger throughout…. 

12 Goat: Requiem

More funky voodoo-flavoured world music from the enigmatic Swedish psyche-rock band.

13 Sunflower Bean: Human Ceremony

Jangly 80s/90s-esque guitar pop from a youthful New York trio. Often sounding like the Sundays, the Cure, and even Galaxie 500, it contains some lovely dreamy songs (especially the single “Easier Said”)

14 Lapis Lazuli: Wrong Meeting

Best album yet from Canterbury’s proggy jazzy marvels. 3 twenty(ish) minute epics of awesomeness, plus an extra side of jams!

15 Causa Sui: Return to Sky

A massive and welcome return to form for this Danish instrumental psychedelic/post-rock band, after a series of somewhat patchy live and “sessions” albums. All five glorious guitar-led tracks are in excess of six minutes long, giving each one the space to ebb and flow…