For years I’ve followed the path of others calling this list “The Best of…” Of course it can never be simply because neither they nor moi hear everything released during a year. It’s what makes annual gongs like the Mercury Prize so worthless - many albums are not submitted and how carefully and often do the ‘judges’ listen to those that are? So this year I’ve qualified it by adding ‘My’…

For me, the music industry continues to decline in quality and increase in mediocrity led by the playlist policies of various radio stations, especially BBC Radio 1 and 2. How can it be justified by any stretch of the imagination to have people like Gary Barlow, One Direction and Olly Murs plastered wall to wall on TV? It’s all becoming a very poor joke.

Now onto the good stuff and although 2013 was nowhere near as good as other more recent years there were some gems. Here’s my list:

Patricia Barber SMASH. Decca/Universal. Modern Jazz

The Temperance Movement. THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT. Earache. Blues/Rock

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. PUSH THE SKY AWAY. Bad Seed Ltd. Indie Rock

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. SPECTER AT THE FEAST. V2. Alt Rock

Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo. Linn. Popular

Lori Lieberman. BRICKS AGAINST THE GLASS. Drive On Records. Contemporary Folk

Sigur Rós. KVEIKUR. 4AD. Pop/Rock

Robert Vincent. LIFE IN EASY STEPS. DB Industries. Contemporay Folk

Amelia Curran. SPECTATORS. Blue Rose. Contemporary Folk

Moby. INNOCENTS. Little idiots. Electronic/Rock/Pop

Editors. THE WEIGHT OF YOUR LOVE. Play It Again Sam. Indie Rock

John Grant. PALE GREEN GHOSTS. Bella Union. Contemporary Folk