My Favourite Releases of 2000

Albums released 2000:

• All That You Can't Leave Behind (U2) - This was released with much hoo-ha and it was bizarre to hear so many people describing it as a return to their rock roots. Sure, it will probably go down as a U2 classic but you can hardly play this and The Joshua Tree back-to-back and say they're cut from the same cloth. There were plenty of synthesisers and nifty effects and if anything, it was simply a pop album by one of the great rock bands. After playing this album to death for no apparent reason, all I can say is that Bono is probably the most distinctive rock lyricist and vocalist around.

• Red Dirt Girl (Emmylou Harris) - Those who bought "Wrecking Ball" are probably now doomed to buy everything else she ever releases in the hope that she produces something as good as that album, so this album didn't help matters at all. Emmylou decided to try her hand at writing the songs and came up with some evocative, poetic stuff. "Bang The Drum Slowly" was one of the most moving songs of the year.

• Kid A (Radiohead) - God knows what it was all about but Radiohead have a habit of making noise that somehow gets under your skin anyway. Incomprehensible but compelling stuff.

• Faith And Courage (Sinead O'Connor) - One of the most surprising albums of the year. As a woman known for being a little bizarre, this was strong, polished and her most mainstream effort yet. "Jealous" was one of my favourite pop songs of the year.

• Crossing Muddy Waters (John Hiatt) - This one almost didn't make this list but after a conversation with a friend about a failing relationship brought me back to the song "What Do We Do Now?" I was forced to admit that yes, some of these songs were worthy additions to the canon of Hiatt classics. I'm not convinced that the songs needed to be presented acoustically for us to properly appreciate them (unlike, say, Springsteen's "Nebraska") but you can't knock an album of songs this well written. Hiatt remains a vital songwriter.

• This Time Around (Hanson) - In this case, the indefensible is well worth defending. No, really. While U2 were getting serious about being great, these guys got serious about making great, fun pop music. Pop doesn't always need to be this bright and irrepressible but someone has to do it occasionally and these guys do it very well indeed. Dismiss it if you like but then it's probably a fair bet to say you never actually heard this album, did you?

Musical discovery of the year:

• Juggernaut (Hunters & Collectors, 1997) - Nothing knocked me sideways like Lyle Lovett did last year but if I was making a 1997 list now this album would definitely be on it. The final studio album from a band I've paid little attention to was a bit of a gem, featuring sharp lyrics, great tunes and tight (but not overdone) production. This album gave me real reason to mourn their breakup. The $5 price tag also made it my bargain of the year.