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It was quite a strange year for music in 2008 with many household names doing their absolute best to deliver but much of the best work coming from the lesser known and more obscure artists. We managed to get another satisfactory release from Coldplay, an adventurous collection from The Killers, the return of rock legends such as AC/DC, Metallica and Guns & Roses which had nothing wrong with them but there was little substance to make them stand out from the crowd. In a year where Katie Perry kissed girls, The Kings Of Leon had sex on fire and Duffy begged us for Mercy, there was much to keep us in high musical spirits (no I don't mean High School Musical).

There are three albums deserving of a very special mention in 2008, each of which with a unique sound and immediate charm.

2008 was a great year for comebacks and for me, none were better than the Mercury Award Winning The Seldom Seen Kid from the underrated Elbow. Quiet, steadily and without much fuss, Elbow have gradually developed into one of the finest British bands from their debut album, Asleep at the Back to the magnificent 2005 release Leaders of the Free World. Each album has progressively displayed more depth and emotion than most bands will achieve throughout their entire career.

Although Elbow have never reached the heights of their often compared contemporaries Coldplay, they seem to have almost taken it upon themselves to keep outside of the limelight and stay one of the hidden treasures of Manchester. The Seldom Seen Kid brings a nice freshness to their sound and from the outset it is instantly appealing.

The tone of the album is set off perfectly with Starlings, big blasts of noise that settle down to tell the story of pursuing a lover. The track is filled with self-depreciation and comes across as very emotional with the obvious desperation in singer Guy Garvey's voice. Garvey's lyrical talents also shine through on the flamenco feeling track The Bones of You and the rocky Grounds for Divorce. The versatility of Elbow is obvious throughout with the 50s style guitar riffs of The Fix and the whispered ballad of Mirrorball.

Elbow provide a stately kind of elegance to the music world which is encapsulated best in the title, The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver, summing up exactly what they are all about. This is a superbly eloquent album mixing quiet tones with guitar riffs and jazzy themes, creating a beautifully crafted work of art filled with emotion.

Next up is the stunning self titled debut

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