The first half of 2013

Now the days are shortening again ('it'll be Christmas before you know it', 'what happened to the summer' etc, etc), I see various pundits are offering their best of the first 6 months assessments.

When - like them - I stop and think, it's been a pretty vintage year for new records. And I don't like to miss an opportunity for a list.

My top ten, in the order I bought them rather than making any attempt at ranking, look like this:

• Yo La Tengo - Fade
• Black Twig Pickers - Rough Carpenters
• Billy Bragg - Tooth and Nail
• David Bowie - The Next Day
• Hiss Golden Messenger - Haw
• Steve Earle - The Low Highway
• Golden Gunn - Golden Gunn
• Kurt Vile - Wakin' On A Pretty Daze
• Laura Marling - Once I Was An Eagle
• Tunng - Turbines

 All available on vinyl and all well worthy of your attention.