1. The Frames For The Birds [Plateau]
Following the dizzying span of musical styles displayed on 98’s Dance The Devil, the Frames went to ground in Kerry and Chicago, recording half the record under Steve Albini’s watch, the other half under Dave Odlum’s. For The Birds witnessed the band morph into a twisted little artfolk outfit not a million miles from Sparklehorse, The Dirty Three or, in parts, Mogwai. Initially considered a somewhat obtuse record, it eventually outstripped everything the band had done to date, going multi platinum in Ireland.
2. David Kitt – The Big Romance [Blanco y Negro]
3. The Strokes – Is This It [Rough Trade]
4. Ash – Free All Angels [Infectious]
5. Radiohead – Amnesiac [Parlophone]