We had to drag them away from the flagons of egg-nog we were passing around, but managed to grab a few moments with some of the acts who found themselves among the giddy heights of The Music Fix's Albums of 2009 list.

There were just two things on our minds: what were they hoping Santa Claus would bring and, how were they planning to spend 2010?

LITTLE BOOTS

Photo by Lorne Thomson

I'm really very pleased, flattered and excited about my inclusion in your top albums of the year.

In my Christmas stocking I would like a new sofa and a holiday but I don't know if they'll fit!

For 2010 I'll hopefully be taking that holiday, then heading to the states to promote the album which comes out in spring and tour, then eventually get a break to start writing again.

LUKE HAINES

Dear Music Fix, My heart brims with joy and seasonal good will on my inclusion in your list thingy. My heart brims with joy and seasonal good will anyway. You lot deserve my salutations because frankly I don't know how you found 40 albums of the year. Man, I can just about think of 40 albums from the last 40 years that get the old five star treatment. By the way is my 'record' in the Sounds best of the year list? Melody Maker? Who cares, I'm more of a Zig Zag man. BTW, what number am I? Actually it doesn't matter because I operate under a different numerical system to you lot. Anyway; to lists and my inclusion in them. Thank you.

For Xmas I would like a chisel.

Next year I intend to commence work on my replica scale model of the world.

THE JOY FORMIDABLE

Photo by Douglas Baptie

Thank you for choosing A Balloon... in your end-of-year albums list. News received in wintery Vienna and warmed us more than a hot schnapps.

Santa's already delivered a hedgehog and a set of plastic tongues for Christmas.

Currently recording our new album, due for an early 2010 release. In the meantime, new track 'Greyhounds in the Slips' is available to download and we'll be making our Christmas song "My Beerdrunk Soul is Sadder Than A Hundred Dead Christmas Trees" available from our Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/thejoyformidable

INVASION

Zel: It's great to be included in The Music Fix Top 40! You were one of the first sites to give our debut album The Master Alchemist such an involved and positive review which really meant a lot to us.

Xmas is all about family, friends and too much food and booze. As long as I have that combination then I'll be happy. (Although books/cds/dvds are always great to get.)

We are starting to work on songs for a new album now which we're hoping to record early next year. We'll be touring the UK at the end of February (free entry shows with the super amazing Bo Ningen) and going to Europe early March then hopefully America in mid-March to play SXSW and a few shows in NY, LA and San Fran. After that is festival season ... phew!

Marek: Yeah, it was nice to have support on this site particularly. Appreciated!

I'm lucky enough to be going to Goa for Xmas and New Year so I don't think there will be much present giving. Actually, my girlfriend got me some stuff and made me open it when we got home very drunk recently. It was funny and awesome stuff. An '82 Dio backpatch, Hawkwind patch, Dio and Rush t-shirts... doesn't get much better than that for me!

We're really excited about next year and maybe we can rise to the challenge of some of the support we've had, with more killer live shows and even better songs. We're feeling quietly confident I think, exciting times.

CHARLOTTE HATHERLEY

Dear Music Fixers, Thanks very much for including me in yer list of winners. It's ever so kind of you.

For Christmas I want Beatles Rockband...iwannitrealbaaaaaaad.

In 2010 I plan to tour my arse off solo style. I've been too busy with the wonderful Bat For Lashes to properly push it this year, but 2010 is going to be the year. I can feel it in my waters!

THE LOVELY EGGS

Photo by Steven Burnett

Thanks very much to The Music Fix with fried onions and mustard on top! We are over the harvest moon that we have been included in your top 40 albums of the year!

We are hoping for a Tyrannosaurus Rex of course!

We are really excited about 2010. We have started writing and recording some new tunes which we hope to release at some point next year followed up with another UK/Europe/USA tour. This all means we are in the hunt for some obscure venues to play as over the last couple of years we've played on trains, on beaches, in schools, in Oxfam shops, in scrap yards, people's garages, basements and record shops, so keep a look out. We might be doing a tour of roundabouts! We want to PARTY!

DARREN HAYMAN

Lists are infuriating, especially when you're not in them. But that's what they are there for, to encourage debate, to make people disagree. I'm not used to flattery. People say very nice things about my records and I know some people like them a lot but I don't usually find myself in end of year lists.

But I'll take a compliment! It's been a strange couple of years, the Hefner re-issues and related shows have made me aware how much my old band means to people but the honest truth is that I think I'm currently writing the best songs of my life. I tried hard to make Pram Town unusual, beautiful and intelligent. I hope I half succeeded.

I have no idea of how good I am compared to my contemporaries. I guess if you had to push me on it I would say I'm better then the guy out of Snow Patrol but not as good as Emmy the Great. If you say I wrote one of the 40 best albums of the year I'll think you're taking the piss.

But it does make me very happy.

I'm hoping for the Big Star box set in my Xmas stocking. I think I have dropped enough hints to my wife. I think I have a reasonable chance.

It looks like Pram Town may be part of a loose trilogy of albums about Essex. The second Essex Arms is another folk opera about love in the lawless countryside. We hope to have it out by the summer. There is talk of a Hefner Peel Sessions album.

TESLA BOY

Well, it is just amazing and honourable to be included in your top albums list! I'm hoping Santa will put some new ideas for the next record in our stockings. And he will, I guess, for I've been a good boy this year.

In 2010 we hope to release our first LP, tour the world and have fun!

THE DULOKS

Thanks to The Music Fix for ALL your support. We Duloks really appreciate it and are HONOURED to be in your Top 40 albums of 2009 - it was a really good year for music, so lots of competition.

For Christmas, we are hoping for:

Mar - a waterproof mp3 player for the swimming pool (I am truly the nautical Dulok)
Abi - A lesbian. A t shirt with my face on it. A lesbian with my face on it. Errr.
Mira - A reliable source of hot water, and lots of love and hugs from my peeps!

We've been writing and recording our next EP which will be about the majestic element of FIRE! and have plans to tour it in Germany in the spring. And as well as this...Ladyfest Madrid in April and a split 10-inch with You Say Party! We Say Die! Of course we'll be looking to tour and play as many cool shows as we can!

SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS

Let me just start by saying it's so cool to be included on this list. But then again, getting props from other people doing cool things never gets old, don't you agree? Yes, I say! Let the fun continue!

Three things in my stocking: a Gretsch G5265 jet baritone guitar. Oh, in black sparkle. I like how it looks. Second, I would like an all expenses paid adventure to Vietnam. And last but not least, fencing lessons.

In 2010? Well, if all goes well, a trip to Vietnam, most definitely. A new record, and, of course, touring, touring, touring!