Alisha's Attic - Alisha Rules the World

"Here we are again, the jangle of my ankle chain is the only sound I can hear..."

If you're in your 20s it's easy to like this album, you probably grew up with Alisha's Attic. It came out in 1996, when Britain was not very discerning about music (the Spice Girls were top of the album chart for eight agonising weeks), but Alisha Rules the World is not just an LP for those who want to reminisce.

It's a bloody brilliant pop record (in the best sense) on which almost every track is radio-worthy. I Am I Feel, Air We Breathe, Alisha Rules The World and Indestructible were all released as singles and tracks like Stone In My Shoe, White Room and Just The Way You Like It would probably have done as well.

Sibling harmonies are always pretty special and sisters Sharon and Kellie Poole's are no different, thier voices blend perfectly and they've taken inspiration from the the master of harmonic intricacy: Brian Wilson. Couple this thoughtful orchestration with seriously catchy melodies and imaginative songwriting and, in my book, you're onto a winner.

The one thing that may take some getting used to for the virgin AA listener is the lyrics: they're just so nineties. Jangling ankle chains, purple skirts and flickering candles are all indicitive of what a rubbish decade it was aesthetically. Lime-green velvet shirt, anyone? Thought not.

Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks

First things first: If you like music and haven't yet listened to Bob Dylan go out and buy Blonde on Blonde, Highway 61 Revisited and Blood on the Tracks immediately.

Blood on the tracks (1975) is Dylan's 15th album, widely believed to have been penned during his separation from then wife Sara. It shows him at his most vulnerable. The lyrics are heartbreaking, the melodies some of his best, and the songs flow beautifully into each other, it feels just perfect.

The first two tracks: 'Tangled Up in Blue" and "Simple Twist of Fate" are two of my favourite songs, his esoteric rhythmic rhymes which are often coupled with acerbic, political lyrics, are this time used to convey longing and regret.

In a radio interview Bob said: "A lot of people tell me they enjoy that album. It's hard for me to relate to that. I mean, it, you know, people enjoying the type of pain, you know?" At other times he has claimed that the album is not autobiographical.

Whether Blood on the Tracks is a heart wrenching tale of lost love or a work of fiction, one listen and you cannot fail to be moved.

Stars - Set Yourself on Fire

Set Yourself on Fire begins with a spoken: "When there's nothing left to burn you have to set yourself on fire". Thus commences Your Ex-Lover is Dead the haunting opener. If Campbell 's simple, honest vocals don't floor you, then guitarist and singer Amy Millan's enchantingly pure delivery of the stunning line: "This scar is a fleck on my porcelain skin" is sure to do so.

Although the former is certainly a stand out track, the remainder of the album is consistently good. There is not a single song that needs to be skipped, and several are excellent: The jazz-stained melancholy of The Big Fight sees Millan and Campbell assuming the roles of quarrelling lovers and Millan fronts the band on the beautiful, bittersweet Calendar Girl. Delicate orchestration is thoughtfully juxtaposed with guitar-driven electro-pop on this eclectic record.

"Live through this and you won't look back," intones Millan on Your Ex-Lover is Dead . The same could be said of Set Yourself on Fire.

To do list

Roberts

• Neutral Milk Hotel - In the aeroplane over the sea
• Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan - Ballad of the Broken Seas
• Eels - Daisies of the Galaxy
• Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
• Jeff Lewis - It's the ones who are cracked that the light shines through
• Frou frou - Details
• Bright Eyes - Lifted
• Nick Drake - Five leaves Left
• Alisha's Attick - Alisha Rules the World
  
• Paul Simon - Graceland
• Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water
• Anthony and the Johnsons - I am a Bird Now
• Willy Mason - Where the Humans Eat
  
• Rufus Wainwright - Poses
• The Decemberists - Picturesque
• Iron and Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
• Stars - Set Yourself on Fire
• The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
• Brian Wilson - Smile
• The Beach Boys - Wild Honey
• Bob Dylan - Hard Rain
• Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - No More Shall We Part
• Tom Waits - Closing Time
• Warren Zevon - A Quiet Normal Life
  

Didymus

• Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II
• Morrissey - Vauxhall and I
• The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
• A - A vs. Monkey Kong
• Radiohead - OK Computer
• The Smiths - The Smiths
• Muse - Origin of Symmetry
• Terrorvision - Regular Urban Survivors
• The Libertines - Up The Bracket
• The Strokes - Is This It
• Doves - Lost Souls
• Green Day - Dookie
• Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
• Klaxons - Myths Of The Near Future
• Muse - Absolution
• Art Brut - Bang Bang Rock And Roll
• Oasis - (What's The Story) Morning Glory
• Stone Roses - Stone Roses
• Air - Moon Safari
• The Horrors - Strange House

Hamblin

• Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds- The Boatman’s Call
• PJ Harvey- Is This Desire?
• Brighteyes- Fevers and Mirrors
• Songdog-Time of Summer Lightning
• The Clash- Combat Rock
• Damien Rice- O
• Jamie T- Panic Prevention
• Jeff Buckley- Mystery White Boy
• The Smiths- The Queen is Dead
• Amy Winehouse- Back to Black
• Ryan Adams- Heartbreaker
• Manic Street Preachers- The Holy Bible
• Imogen Heap- Speak for Yourself
• Rilo Kiley- More Adventurous

Legg

• Interpol – Turn On The Bright Lights
• The Knife – Deep Cuts
• PJ Harvey – Rid Of Me
• PJ Harvey – To Bring You My Love
• Kate Bush – The Kick Inside
• The Cure - The Head On The Door
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Fever To Tell
• Blondie – Eat To The Beat
• Weezer –Pinkerton
• Television - Marquee Moon
• Architecture in Helsinki – Places Like This
• Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
• Modest Mouse – The Lonesome Crowed West
• Arcade Fire - Funeral
• Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
• Bjork – Debut
• Bob Dylan - Desire
• Saturday Looks Good To Me – Sound On Sound

True

In no particular order:

• Belle and Sebastian - Fold Your Hands Child You Walk Like a Peasant
• Cocorosie - The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn
• Rufus Wainwright - Want (One and Two)
• Willy Mason - Where the Humans Eat
• The Carpenters - A Song for You
• Crowded House - Woodface
• David Kitt - The Big Romance
• Dolly Parton - Country Girl
• Eels - Electro Shock Blues
• The Folk Implosion - One Part Lullaby
• Guillemots - Through the Windowpane
• Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender
• Kristin Hersh - Hips and Makers
• Muse - Absolution
• Pulp - We Love Life
• Radiohead - In Rainbows
• The Smiths - Hatful of Hollow
• The Strokes -Is This It
  

Just to clarify my philosophy, these are not necessarily the albums I consider to be exemplary for each artist, but they are the albums I would save if all the music in the world was being burned.

Brown

• The Kinks – Kinks are the village green preservation society
• The Zombies – Odessey and Oracle
• Big Star – Number One Record
• The Flying Burrito Brothers – Gilded Palace of Sin
• Buffalo Springfield – Buffalo Springfield
• Leonard Cohen – Songs of Love and Hate
• Bert Sommer – The Road to Travel
• The Velvet Crush – Teenage Symphonies to God
• Phil Ochs – Live in Concert
• The Byrds – Sweetheart of the Rodeo
• Richard Thompson – The Old Kit Bag
• Dillard and Clark – The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard and Clark
• Kelly’s Heels – Blunt Cut
• The Shins – Chutes Too Narrow
• The Jayhawks – Tomorrow the green grass
• Bob Dylan – Bringing it all back home
• Sufjan Stevens – Seven Swans
• Beau Brummels – Bradleys Barn
• Antony and the Johnsons – I am a bird now