These albums are not ranked in order of preference, but listed in date order, since each one is special to me in its own way.

1. The Man Who by Travis (1999)

Takes me back to long road trips to Cornwall as a kid- definitely a treaured childhood album.

Favourite Song: The Last Laugh Of The Laughter

2. Call Off The Search by Katie Melua (2003)

Katie was probably one of my first best-loved artists- I would learn all of her songs on the piano.

Favourite Song: I Think It’s Going To Rain Today (originally by Randy Newman)

3. Aerial by Kate Bush (2005)

Another beloved childhood album, introduced to me by mother who was the biggest Kate Bush fan.

Favourite Song: How To Be Invisible

4. Corinne Bailey Rae by Corinne Bailey Rae (2006)

Reminds me of such a sweet and innocent time- I was only about nine.

Favourite Song: I’d Like To

5. The First Days Of Spring by Noah & The Whale (2009)

Honestly, I love everything this band put out and was a little bit heartbroken when they split. Nevertheless, this is the album that always stuck with me.

Favourite Song: The First Days Of Spring / Our Window

6. Ceremonials by Florence & The Machine (2011)

Florence has such a big and bold sound, beautiful lyrics, and powerful orchestration.

Favourite Song: What The Water Gave Me

7. Sing To The Moon by Laura Mvula (2013)

Truly an inspirational album for me, every song is simply perfect in my opinion. Laura’s second album, The Dreaming Room, is also beautiful too.

Favourite Song: She

8. Dancing On The Edge by The Louis Lester Band (Adrian Johnston) (2013)

Perhaps a little bit of a wild card, since this album isn’t by a real band at all, but by one from a TV drama by the same name. Still, I just love listening to it, so it has made the list!

Favourite Song: Here To Stay

9. Hozier by Hozier (2014)

No list would be complete without this album included. Each track is memorable and is cemented in a very specific time of my life.

Favourite Song: In A Week

10. Standard Time by Trio HLK (2018)

Wacky cool. I saw them perform this live at my college and it has always remained permanently etched in my memory.

Favourite Track: Smalls

Bonus:

11. Urban Hymns by The Verve (1997)

Released the year of my birth, it is one of the earliest albums I remember listening to.

Favourite Song: The Rolling People

12. The Golden Age Of Song by Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra (2012)

One of the best- I honestly wanted to be Jools Holland when I was younger.

Favourite Song: When You’re Smiling

13. Sleep by Max Richter (2015)

To me, this is probably one of the most impressive classical projects (in the form of an ambient concept album), to ever exist.

Favourite Track: Path 3 (Parts 1-5)

14. An Evening With Silk Sonic by Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak (2021)

Effortlessly cool, super smooth, and fabulously funky!

Favourite Song: Love’s Train

Compilation Albums:

15. The Best Of by James (1998)

As far as compilation albums go, has anything ever topped this?

Favourite Song: She’s A Star

16. Ella Fitzgerald: Gold by Ella Fitzgerald (2003)

As peculiar as it may seem, this was my most listen to album when I was fifteen. I knew all the words of all the songs- this lady practically taught me how to sing.

Favourite Song: S’Wonderful (composed by George & Ira Gershwin)

Listen Here:

*Dancing On The Edge has been removed from Spotify and Youtube (for reasons I do not know), so, alas, it couldn’t be added to the playlist.