Scottish Albums of the Decade #8: The Delgados - The Great Eastern

When I was thinking of a few good reasons why this was my pick for the Scottish album of the decade, I realised it had nothing to to do with it being 'The Best' in any critical sense and everything to do with it being the record that arrived at the right time.

I love picking albums to pieces, breaking them down and evaluating the parts and the sum thereafter. I can't, and won't, do that with The Great Eastern. I want it to just wash over me, like it did in my room in halls nine years ago. I go back to it for that feeling again and again – the day I realised that music could envelop and amplify your own thoughts and feelings, rather than just give you an adolescent stiffy. Not that it never gave me a stiffy, but this album opened the door to a different kind of expression, a more romantic, delicate and Scottish sound.

It was this album that prompted me to start writing songs instead of fat riffs. It made me want to buy a telecaster just like Emma Pollock's. It introduced me to the drama and poetry that all albums should have. For better or  worse, I hold The Great Eastern partly responsible for where I find myself today, playing in a band and trying to write something as good as American Trilogy or Aye Today.

I find it interesting to think that, had I chosen differently in the record store on whatever day it was I bought this album (think I got it in Echo on Byres Rd – sorely missed), I could just as easily be writing about Arab Strap, Ganger or Belle and Sebastian. But I didn't and I'm not. I chose The Great Eastern – as did many of you – and it's fucking brilliant.