Over at Yer Mam On Toast, James is doing a ridiculously ambitious top 50 albums and top 50 singles lists for 2006. He’s reviewing each one in meticulous detail.

Back here, I’m not so ambitious - plus I don’t ‘do’ singles - so here, simply, are my top 10 albums of this year:

1. Beirut - Gulag Orkestar
Unbelievable how someone still in his teens can execute such a concept so well. On Gulag Orkestar Mexico-born, Albuquerque-based Zach Condon has created 11 songs that evoke the memory of Eastern European folk music - something I wish more people would try. Condon’s voice is as rich as the brass that makes this album so timeless.

2. Jens Lekman - Oh You’re So Silent Jens
To be fair, Lekman could release gas and I’d probably still include it in this chart. As it happens, his second full-lengther is a compilation of rarities and unreleased treats from Sweden’s 15th sexiest man. If there was any justice in the world, Lekman would be a rich pop star by now.

3. Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
The Glaswegian collective’s best album since 2000’s The Boy With The Arab Strap. A real redeemer after a few sub-par efforts of late. Stand out tracks are the singles, Another Sunny Day and Funny Little Frog.

4. M Ward - Post-war
His third best album in the past three years is still fourth on this list, which shows just how talented I think Ward is.

5. Final Fantasy - He Poohs Clouds
Having been privileged enough to see his skills first-hand, it’s easy to understand why Owen Pallett is the arranger-of-choice for the Arcade Fire, the Hidden Cameras et al. This album plays out like a musical.

6. Casiotone For The Painfully Alone - Etiquette
Another Owen - Ashworth - moves effortlessly from his usual no-fi home-recording style to something altogether more polished and impressive. Casiotone keyboards are still the key component thankfully.

7. Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene
While not as good as their last effort, You Forget It In The People, this eponymous album by the Canadian collective is still breathtakingly dynamic.

8. The Album Leaf - Into The Blue Again
A former collaborator with Sigur Ros, Jimmy Lavelle consistently produces relaxing ambient-style albums perfect for falling asleep to. In a good way, of course.

9. Guillemots - Through The Window Pane
Given the catchiness of single Trains To Brazil, I was expecting something incredibly poppy of Guillemots’ debut. I found an album full of depth and heavily influenced by 80s music.

10. Camera Obscura - Let’s Get Out Of This Country
Camera Obscura’s slickly-produced latest album is a treat for anyone who likes the 60s, motown, the Concretes or good old-fashioned pop songs.

And here are a few more I’m sure would have been there or thereabouts had I had chance to listen to them properly:

• Pinback - Nautical Antiques
• Damien Jurado - And Now That I’m In Your Shadow
• The Hidden Cameras - Awoo
• Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy - The Letting Go
• Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - #3
• Tunng - Comments Of The Inner Chorus
• Mountain Goats - Get Lonely
• The Radio Dept - Pet Grief
• Juana Molina - Son
• Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat
• Peter, Bjorn & John - Writer’s Block

I’d say 2006 has been a solid year for music, with no decade-defining moments but plenty of quality in depth.