50
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Sum 41 - Fat Lip
If ever a video was going to get a person into a song it was this one. Are they The Monkees with piercings, oversize shorts and hangers-on that can skateboard? Or are they Canada's answer to Blink 182 doing Rage Against The Machine Impressions? Who cares? Just so long as they can bounce up and down in time to the irony-free-granddad-metal-influenced riff and suddenly do a twisty-kick-type-thing at the key change I really don't mind and nor should you. Perhaps these Commonwealth cousins of ours should be reduced to their essential oils and added to the latest face packs for sun wrinkled trouts. Preferably not, as I'd like to see if they can produce an album with more than 35 minutes of songs on it.
P Shoo
No of votes: 4, Score:
25, Highest vote: 2nd
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49
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The Strokes - Hard To Explain
Artist link: 3  33  33
How totally true, couldn't have said it better myself. It's odd what catches the eye of the music press and how bands can go from modest beginnings to going supernova. Not that the beginning for The Strokes was modest (and this wasn't it either), but "Hard To Explain" captured the mood for indie kids sick of melancholy and nu metal and all of a sudden nonchalance was all the rage again.
Jason M
No of votes: 4, Score:
25, Highest vote: 1st
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48
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Gabrielle - Out Of Reach
My word, has it already been 10 years since the mysterious patch eyed diva came to our attention? Now that the court cases have subsided she's been having consistent chart success over the past few years. Out Of Reach continues to provide the sort of soul comfort that Bridget Jones' nationwide require as they wash their enormous knickers (yes, it is on the movie soundtrack). I expect the Best Of will mop up the stragglers nicely.
Jason M
No of votes: 4, Score:
26, Highest vote: 2nd
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47
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Blink 182 - First Date
Artist link: 8  18
Whilst certain sections of the media may snipe at those who think guitar based brat-pop-punk is 'like, a rily neet idea' they miss the point that these bands talk deal with the doomed, wrecked, pointless relationship situations 'The Kids' want to hear about in a way that exhilarates. First Date cuts straight to the chase by dealing with insecurity in the young adult male without the whinging of Morrisey, the droning of Radiohead or the introspection of Coldplay. The guitar breaks kick too.
P Shoo
No of votes: 4, Score:
33, Highest vote: 5th
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46
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Destiny's Child - Bootylicious
Artist link:22 50
What a beat! This song is one of my favorites for getting ready to before heading on a big night out, best played very loud, it never fails to get me in the mood for some serious grooving! Yet another fantastic song from those independent women.
Ana L
No of votes: 5, Score:
19, Highest vote: 1st
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45
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New Order - Crystal
After aeons of not speaking to each other, New Order have returned to the fray to discover indie music in a similar state to when they first emerged in the early 80's (ie, in the minority). This does not disappoint those who have patiently waited for the spats to die down, it's trademark New Order, the usual combination of Hook's bassline, and Barney's vocals tied in with the rhythm section of the current day. I look forward to next album in, oooooh 2009.
Jason M
No of votes: 5, Score:
22, Highest vote: 2nd
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44
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The Supermen Lovers - Starlight!
You're a potato-like dude. Short of becoming a crisp, or watching the skeleton cabaret .... what can you do for fun? Well if there's a funky mouse DJ hiding in your wall, you could always knock out a song like this.
Starlight had to be one of the best uplifting happy tracks around, and if you wanted to keep some 'cred' by not mentioning the likes of S Club (I say ace to them too) then this is the tune for you. As for who the Superman Lovers are, or who the owner of that glorious voice was, I don't know but it doesn't matter. Because it was all accompanied by one of the best animated videos of 2001 which had the best bits of potato boy, mouse mc, and funk lovin' aliens to keep you amused.
Dan Mc
No of votes: 5, Score:
23, Highest vote: 2nd
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43
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Starsailor - Alcoholic
Artist link:49
What a great year these guys have had! A fan since the release of their first single 'Fever' I went to see them live at the Forum last November. Though Alcoholic is not my favorite track on the album, the refrain has great sing-along-ability and was by far the biggest hit with the crowd. Can't wait to see what they throw our way in 2002.
Ana L
No of votes: 5, Score:
24, Highest vote: 2nd
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42
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PJ Harvey - This Is Love
Artist link:48
Grammy award nominee Polly Jean (the power of research!) is back at her scary best with this single from early 2001. A rock ballad in the truest sense - ie a ballad that rocks not a vomit inducing 80s throw back (I'm sorry they were hard years). Hmm ... I couldn't really tell you what its about, but there's a cracking opening lyric "I can't believe life's so complex, When I just wanna sit here and watch you undress" Ahh ... Scary and sexy at the same time. The song that is!
Isaac H
No of votes: 5, Score:
26, Highest vote: 2nd
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41
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David Gray - Sail Away
Artist link:26
I'll admit it - I'm not the biggest fan ever of David Gray. But I'm not here to do the guy an injustice, this track is worth buying White Ladder for on it's own. It's one of the ballads of the year, an intriguing blend of acoustic guitar with the occasional synth throbbing away in the background. Of course as you'd expect from David Gray, its the vocal performance here is that makes the song. This is not pointless vocal aerobics just because he can, this is sung with all the emotion the man can muster. Boy does he sound like he needed to get that off his chest.
Jason M
No of votes: 5, Score:
27, Highest vote: 3rd
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Thanks go to the following people for assisting with getting together our comprehensive aide-memoire: Danny G, Paul M, Kat B, Caz T
A MASSIVE THANKS also to all those who slaved over a hot keyboard to produce the write ups: Danny G, Paul H, Paul M, Kat B, Andrew S, Angela T, Isaac H, Milly H, P Shoo, Dan Mc, James B, Ana L, Derek K, Harley R