20
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Sonique - Feel So Good
Those who happen to reside in the Big Smoke that is known as London will fully appreciate that Capital FM consider that the entire city moves to the rhythm of Sonique. I'm certain that the light on top of Canary Wharf tower blinks in perfect time with this when I put it on. Infectious, uplifting dance that fully deserved to sit at the top of the chart. Head nodding to this almost becomes a reflex action.
Jason M
No of votes: 7, Score:
40, Highest vote: 1st
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19
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Badly Drawn Boy - Once Around The Block
Artist link: 36
How appropriately titled this primary offering from Damon Gough turned out to be - bonus marks for anyone who got their paws on it when it originally came out in 1999. Still, you can't blame the re-release considering he walked off with the Mercury Music Prize this year (well, the title in any event, he threw the £10,000 cheque on the floor). He might be a quirky performer, but boy does he carve out gorgeous pop songs. Check out the video too (but not while you are eating your tea).
Jason M
No of votes: 7, Score:
43, Highest vote: 2nd
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18
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Grandaddy - The Crystal Lake
Something I suspect the alternative crowd have championed. Musically, it stands on a pedestal for originality, with guitars, cheesy electronic synths and that rising and falling tinkly keyboard riff floating over the top like some space ship sound effect on an old 1980's games console. Lyrically, it's truly, truly bizarre. "The Crystal Lake it only laughs, it knows you're just a modern man, it's shining like a chandalier, shining somewhere far away from here." You bin taking those pink 'uns again boy? Get the album and help to keep their drug habit going.
Jason M
No of votes: 7, Score:
47, Highest vote: 2nd
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17
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Toploader - Dancing In The Moonlight
We'w, like I always says, after a 'ard days slaving over a hot stove, when you come to serve up the grub you need to 'ave some pukka choons whilst filming the dinner party. Whilst the missus would rather have some bleedin' Chopin piped froo the stereo, I reckon Toploader gets 'em salivatin' even before I've slapped the anchovy brioche down in front of 'em. Like Auntie Delia says, Toploader makes food taste better. Dunt'cha darlin?
Jason M
No of votes: 8, Score:
38, Highest vote: 1st
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16
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Blur - Music Is My Radar
Artist link: 31
With just about enough petrol in the tank left following the emotional battering that Damon Albarn gave himself on 13, he managed to coast home with one new track to give Blur fans something to treasure whilst everyone else went and bought the "Best Of" album for the other singles. (I'm sure they could have got away with putting Popscene on instead if they had wanted, since that's a popular hit with the fans and is not on any of the albums). It leaves a tantalising taste of a possible change in direction for the band, but then we knew Damon has a bit of a hip-hop fetish for some time. Question is: will they be back?
Jason M
No of votes: 8, Score:
49, Highest vote: 1st
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15
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Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
Artist link:4 11 28  34
This one tops the chart of "songs not originally on the aide-memoire", so full credit to Malcolm Wailes for jogging my memory. They might be a bit less full on these days than they used to be, but they sure know how to carry off a ballad or two. Undoubtedly one that goes very nicely next to "Under The Bridge", but this is a bit of a mailed fist in a velvet glove, issuing a warning life in that popular west coast resort. I think the cover adjacent sums it all up perfectly.
Jason M
No of votes: 9, Score:
47, Highest vote: 1st
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14
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S Club 7 - Reach
Artist link: 9
A big pink and yellow bus? Group members handing out huge gobstoppers to passing Girl Scout troops? Paul "driving" the bus by motorbike? What was that video on about? Nevertheless, a class song and my holiday song - criticise it and DIE!
Kat B
No of votes: 9, Score:
48, Highest vote: 1st
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13
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All Saints - Black Coffee
Artist link: 4
If I may be so frank, I thought some of the singles off of the first album were real dogs. But with the Appleton sisters safely out doing movie work, Shaznay Lewis and William Orbit were giving the All Saints something of a musical makeover. And how - no need for 60's cover versions any more as we get swept along by the heavenly vocals and Orbit's trademark ambience.
Jason M
No of votes: 10, Score:
41, Highest vote: 2nd
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12
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Robbie Williams - Rock DJ
Artist link:16  29 35
Good ol' RW. He loves our fine pop musical heritage. In fact, he loves it so much that he feels the need to dust it off and give it a new lease of life in his songs. Nevertheless, he does manage to produce some truly original material to keep us on our toes, and Rock DJ falls nicely into that category. He's turned his back on rock now and has decided that funky pop is where he wants to be and like the versatile performer that he is, he's willing to take himself apart to do it. And as for the bloody video........quite.
Jason M
No of votes: 10, Score:
52, Highest vote: 1st
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11
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Bloodhound Gang - The Bad Touch
Inspiration is a funny old beast. It can lie dormant for years, then all of a sudden, whilst you are watching some earnestly narrated natural history programme, WHAM! BAM! THANK YOU MA'AM! And the Bloodhound Gang suddenly found animal instinct got the better of them. Tongue planted firmly in cheek, the Discovery Channel gets sexy, thanks to the endorsement of geezers in monkey costumes. If that ain't direct enough, you'll be pleased to know the album is called "Hooray For Boobies".
Jason M
No of votes: 10, Score:
54, Highest vote: 1st
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Thanks go to the following people for assisting with getting together our comprehensive aide-memoire: Danny G, Ali H, Paul M, Kat B
A MASSIVE THANKS also to all those who slaved over a hot keyboard to produce the write ups: Kat B, Isaac H, Milly H