Songwriter Albums Of The Year 2014

1. JOHN FULLBRIGHT : Songs - Proving that less is often more, the Oklahoma troubadour delivers a masterclass in simply sung Americana.

2. RYAN ADAMS : Ryan Adams - After all those years of sublime singer-songwriter subtlety, Ryan Adams finally plugs in and rocks like Tom Petty.

3. ANDY WHITE : How Things Are - Belfast boy charts his marriage break-up heartache in sublime songs ranging from fragile folk to dark rock and roll.

4. ROBERT PLANT : Lullaby And The Ceaseless Roar - Plant says this is “a celebratory record, powerful, gritty, African, trance meets Led Zeppelin” – and he’s so right.

5. JACKSON BROWNE : Standing In The Breach - His first album in six years wants to set the world to rights but don’t let that put you off such superb songwriting.

6. SION RUSSELL JONES : Lost No More - You’ve heard the Cardiff singer-songwriter’s songs in the soaps, but this set smacks strongly of classic Paul Simon.

7. NEIL YOUNG : Storytone - The ornery ol’ cuss still loves to bowl curveballs, this time bringing in a concert orchestra and a sassy, swinging big band.

8. SUZANNE VEGA : Tales From The Realm Of The Queen Of Pentacles -  Loved her when she started out in Tom’s Diner but soon got bored. Thankfully, Vega’s back big-time and even rocks out.

9. MARTIN STEPHENSON & THE DAINTEES : California Star - Upfront and upbeat, Stephen’s no longer as delicately Daintee as he used to be, and it’s a gold star success.

10. MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER : Songs From The Movie - Mary Chapin Carpenter’s warm vocal is caressed by the sweeping strings of a full orchestra for the first time.