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I'm keeping things brief this month, for two very good reasons. Firstly, November's typically when the music industry begins to slow down for Christmas and its accompanying slew of seasonal compilations and unnecessary best-ofs, so brand-new albums of quality are in short supply. And secondly, we're starting our year-end round-ups later on today on the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Music Blog, taking the shape of a series of top fives from writers and presenters alike. Click back this way over the coming weeks for entries from a number of contributors as well as the likes of Gideon Coe, Steve Lamacq, Bob Harris and Huw Stephens. Every weekday there will be new content here, so be sure to swing by frequently.

But before we get stuck into the very best of what 2010 has had to offer, album wise, here are my picks of last month.

Editor's Album of the Month

Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
(Roc-a-Fella, released 22 November)
Recommended by: Zane Lowe, 6 Music Album of the Day

"This album really is something special - something that scales heights of ambition barely touched not only by his previous work, but by 2010 in general. Don't let the reported $3 million price tag and plethora of A-list guest spots fool you, as this is no vacuous shell: its depth, detail, ideas and sheer scope of vision is staggering."

Read the full review and listen to previews

The Best of the Rest

Neil Diamond - Dreams
(Sony, released 1 November)
Recommended by: Radio 2 Album of the Week, Another Country with Ricky Ross

"There is a world of difference between Diamond singing Hallelujah and an X Factor contestant wobbling their scales. Neil sounds like he means it. What in lesser hands might come across as cheese incarnate broods beautifully on Dreams, a splendid showcase for that evergreen, emotive voice."

Read the full review and listen to previews

Devlin - Bud, Sweat & Beers
(Island, released 1 November)
Recommended by: Zane Lowe

"Devlin is a razor-sharp addition to the UK rap scene. Every song here is shot through with such a furious intensity that there's a relentlessness to Bud, Sweat & Beers which can be utterly knackering. But in small doses, the Dagenham MC does nothing but impress."

Read the full review

Cee-Lo Green - The Lady Killer
(Warner Bros., released 8 November)
Recommended by: Nick Grimshaw, Gilles Peterson, Dermot O'Leary

"When you've a voice as powerful as Atlanta-born Thomas Callaway's, it's not going to stay unheard for too long. And with material of a standard to match his fantastic pipes - number one single Forget You is just the tip of the iceberg - with The Lady Killer he has crafted his finest Cee-Lo long-player yet."

Read the full review

Brian Eno - Small Craft on a Milk Sea
(Warp, released 15 November)
Recommended by: 6 Music Album of the Day

"The more you listen and synchronise with its rhythms, the more rewarding navigating by its obscure landmarks becomes. Sounds that seemed incidental, like Complex Heaven's piano strokes or the chimes percolating out of the sub-aquatic drone of Calcium Needles, become resonating hooks."

Read the full review and listen to previews

Bruce Springsteen - The Promise
(Columbia, released 15 November)
Recommended by: Another Country with Ricky Ross, 6 Music Album of the Day, Radio 2 Album of the Week

"The Promise is as compelling an advert for the Boss's beautiful, blue-collar soul as you're likely to find outside of the hits; an indispensible portrait of an artist at the top of his game. File this one under American Greats."

Read the full review and listen to previews

Take That - Progress
(Polydor, released 15 November)
Recommended by: Radio 2 Album of the Week

"Taking in bombastic stadium rock, sleazy funk, up-tempo RnB, operatic techno, Bowie-esque whimsy and demented disco, Progress is most definitely not the sound of a wildly popular act playing it safe and raking the millions in. It's more of a fresh start than a final destination."

Read the full review and listen to previews

Twin Shadow - Forget
(4AD, released 15 November)
Recommended by: 6 Music Album of the Day, The Late Show with Stuart Bailie

"George Lewis - AKA Twin Shadow - makes synth-led bedroom music that sounds at once thoroughly new wave and thoroughly fresh. Forget is an album to let your senses play over and, all in all, it is a magnificently accomplished debut."

Read the full review and listen to previews

Buddy Guy - Living Proof
(Jive, released 22 November)

"The legendary pioneer of the Chicago blues turned 74 in July this year, and he's determined to show that he's still in fine voice. He proves that he's still one of the most exhilarating and inventive guitarists in the world, and here he has recorded what is surely the blues album of the year."

Read the full review and listen to previews

Teeth of the Sea - Your Mercury
(Rocket, released 22 November)
Recommended by: Tom Ravenscroft

"Teeth of the Sea are the best thing to come out of Manor House since, um, ever. This is the start of an odyssey built on crap lager, British sitcoms and noise rock that looks set to build menacingly in the future, and one that you would be daft to ignore. Play very loud."

Read the full review and listen to previews

Rumer - Seasons of My Soul
(Atlantic, released 1 November)
Recommended by: Radio 2 Album of the Week, Edith Bowman's Album Show

"Rumer's debut is an immediately engaging, gently engrossing set. It wears its cracked heart on a neatly stitched sleeve of the most luxurious fabric, strong and elegant despite the hardships that sit of the centre of every song."

Read the full review and listen to previews

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Find all previous Editor's Pick articles by clicking here