The problem with list-making (other than the OCD connotations) is that it’s very hard to firmly decide on a final line-up – I’ve been wavering over the bottom couple of choices on the list, but I think that what follows just about covers the most interesting albums of the year (in my opinion). Once again the comments section is there for you to offer your favourites.

1. The Knife in Collaboration with Mt. Sims and Planningtorock – Tomorrow, In a Year

Following my choice of chart topper last year, it may seem that I’m a bit of a Karin Dreijer fan-boy. To be honest I probably am, but that doesn’t mean that Tomorrow, In a Year wasn’t completely, unexpectedly amazing. Although the influences are easy to spot (Aphex Twin, Philip Glass, europop) the music that the Dreijer siblings, along with musical partners Matthew Sims and Janine Rostron, came up with felt very new and unique and worked on record just as well as it did with the accompanying stage show.

2. Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz

An initially baffling experience, and perhaps even a disappointing one after such a long wait for a new album from Stevens, however, with repeated listens The Age of Adz slowly revealed its hidden depths and still feels like it has much to offer. Despite what I said in my review, I think it’s probably his best album to date.

3. Joanna Newsom – Have One on Me

Although not as challenging a listen as the first two albums on this list, Have One on Me also seemed like a daunting prospect due to its ridiculous length, so it was a major surprise to find out just how consistent the quality of the album is. In many ways it may even be her most accessible album as, thanks to an obvious Joni Mitchell influence, Newsom relies a little less on allegory instead going for something more emotionally direct (of course, the fact that she can no longer wail quite as shrilly as she used to may also win over some new converts).

4. Yeasayer – Odd Blood

The 80s synth pop revival may already be old news, but at least it went out on such a high. As manic as their debut album, but a lot more fun – I think my prediction back in February that it would prove to be one of the most enjoyable albums of the year was, luckily, an accurate one.

5. Sleigh Bells – Treats

Noisy, dumb and silly, in the best possible way. It’s kind of like the music you’d expect five year olds to make, if they knew their way around a laptop. The fact that in places Alexis Krauss’ vocals reminded me of much-missed 90s act Lush didn’t hurt either.

6. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

Three albums in and Arcade Fire already seem like indie royalty. By taking the best qualities of their previous two albums (Funeral’s personal themes and energy and Neon Bible’s fantastically rich production work) the band came up with an album that may be, in my opinion at least, not quite as good as the first two but still pretty damn great, and probably a lot less divisive than Neon Bible.

7. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

He may still have an insufferable ego, and not be a technically great rapper, but Kanye, thanks to his formidable production skills and lengthy list of friends, managed to pull off an immense, fascinating and even moving record.

8. LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening

I actually much preferred this to 2007’s Sound of Silver, it may not have anything quite as incredible as All My Friends on it but it did feel considerably more consistent and satisfying. Even if he may be a bit overweight and the wrong side of 40, James Murphy is still the coolest man in music, and long may he continue to be so.

9. Zola Jesus – Stridulum II

Technically a couple of EPs bolted together (not that you could tell where the join was), Stridulum II was a gorgeous, enveloping experience thanks to Nika Roza Danilova’s operatic vocals and the dramatic backdrop they were set against. The cover was rather good too.

10. Emeralds – Does it Look Like I’m Here?/Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross – The Social Network

It may be cheating having two albums at number ten, but the they actually compliment each other very well. Up late at night and looking for something suitably nocturnal to listen to? Try sticking on the Emeralds album followed straight after by The Social Network soundtrack – Reznor and Ross’ score of moody, tense electronica makes for a pleasant comedown from Emeralds’ fizzy and hypnotic, retro synth sound.

Of course there were plenty of albums that nearly made the list but just didn’t quite stay with me like these albums did (such as Owen Pallett, Foals, The National and Gil Scott-Heron).

What were your album highlights of the year?