I am looking at my list and I have to say I might be slowly turning into an old prick.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
With one exception, all of the artists have been around for more than 10 years (one, sadly, not with us any more).
Many of the albums are collections of introspective, slow-tempo, stripped-back songs, but the intimacy and sincerity I hear behind them, as well as the beautiful melodies, are what makes me like them so much.
Here is my list (random order):
Conor Oberst - Upside Down Mountain
Roddy Frame - Seven Dials
Jesse Winchester - A Reasonable Amount Of Trouble
The New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers
Damien Rice - My Favourite Faded Fantasy
Eels - The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett
Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott - What Have We Become?
Ben Watt - Hendra
Allo Darlin' - We Come From The Same Place
Suzanne Vega - Tales From The Realm Of The Queen Of Pentacles
Morrissey - World Peace Is None Of Your Business
James - La Petite Mort
Looking forward to your Best-of lists.