Every year, when the albums of the year lists come out, I end up checking out quite a few things that I hadn't given much time or even heard of, and feel totally baffled I hadn't checked them out sooner.

Favourite finds thus far...

Jenny Hval - was Kyle who does our rap columns' album of the year. Really powerful oddness. A bit like Arab Strap if they were a Nordic lady and their favourite song was 'O Superman'.

Vampire Weekend - had no idea they had a record this lovable in them.

Local Natives - one of those acts I'd kinda shrugged off as being aesthetically the sort of thing I like but not really for me. Much better record than I first thought, although still hasn't totally clicked.