Was there ever any doubt? Certainly not for anyone who's had to hear me rave on and on about this album for the last month. I would apologise for being such a poptacular bore if it weren't for the fact that I have done these heathens (meaning my indie friends of course) a great service by introducing them to the unmatched frissons of pleasure which one derives from being immersed in such a perfectly executed and, more importantly, way-super-fun album as Girls Aloud's Chemistry.

Xenomania have resurrected an idea which may never have been executed to this degree of perfection in the first place - namely, that of the pop album. Ironic really, considering the let's-download-the-single-screw-buying-the-album times we live in. Or perhaps Xenomania just viewed this as an extra challenge. Regardless, unlike almost every cd in my collection, I never feel the urge to skip over a track. The exception to that rule being It's Magic, which I've since grown to enjoy thanks mostly to it being Cola's song. In any case, there's a reason this is my album of the year as opposed to my collection-of-a-couple-of-great-singles-some-mediocre-crap-plus-filler of the year (which would be Sugababes by the way).

Some highlights then? Yes.

• The intro. Always a great idea in my book and brilliantly sets the tone here. It's all about the hell of it it's all about the game.                                                                                             
• "I know what you're thinking, you been thinking 'bout my butt". Besides being utterly hilarious, has the added bonus of making the Girls seem funny and clever next to "My hump, my hump, my hump, my hump".                                                                                             
• Biology. 'Nuff said.                                                                                                                
• Whole Lotta History. I swear to God I'm not usually a sucker for these soporific ballads, but when Nicola chimes in with her heart-breakingly sweet "Hello, did you call me?" I'm reminded of the Dawson's Creek-obsessed sap I really am. Damn you Joey! Dawson was your soul-mate!!       
• The lyrics. Besides the line from Watch Me Go mentioned above, there's the oft-quoted "She's made seduction a work of art, a PHD with her legs apart", plus countless other gems including "I know you like to wear my dressing gown when I'm not there" - the best lyric about cross-dressing lovers since Courtney growled about Kurt's penchant for trying on her frocks in Beautiful Son.                                                                                                                                                                                 
• Every single other song on the album. Classic energetic GA pop like Models, Wild Horses, Watch Me Go, Waiting - all of which could be singles - to full-on experimental songs like the brilliant Swinging London Town. Even See The Day is bearable!                                                                                                 
• Oh, and the creaking bed noises in Racy Lacey. Ace.                                                                     

So thank you Brian Higgins, Miranda Cooper, the rest of Xenomania and of course The Aloud. You have earned the dubious distinction of not only winning my accolade of Album of the Year, but also being the subject of my first ever post on this blog. May all other posts be as worthy.                                                                                                                                                               

P.S. Long Hot Summer is way underrated.