As always, the game is simple. Describe your favorite records of the year. Count backwards.

I'll be honest. I've never understood a word Woomble is saying. It doesn't get any better here as Idlewild's lead singer makes his major label debut.

"My secret is my silence?" "Look out across the wall and into the Atlantic?" I have no idea what any of it means. I don't care. The music is just too beautiful to be denied. Woomble strips the music down, unplugs, and gets great backing vocals from his sister. The result is different from, but intimately connected to, his work with the full band.

The only band news is that I've listened to an advance copy of the new Idlewild record and it's terrible. I'm going to give it another chance, but I hope Woomble didn't use up all his good ideas on this solo record.