John Grant: Queen of Denmark

In theory, the star turn on this solo debut from Colorado singer Grant is the backing band: Texan rockers Midlake. But they've never played on anything as good as this masterpiece of soft, 70s melodies and sadness. Grant recently confessed to suicidal thoughts but he can also see the funny side of the end of one's tether, hence the fabulous "Sigourney Weaver", which sounds like the Carpenters and compares an existential crisis to the actress facing down insane odds in Alien , or the hapless Winona Ryder in Dracula , when she just couldn't "get her accent right". Terrific.