richie

Aye, happy hardcore had a huge following in Scotland (and still does, albeit less popular) in the mid 90s. Not sure why we weren't as sophisticated as those down south, but there you go. I'm sure there was a much harder (better) version of 'I Want to be a Hippy' going about a year or so before, but I've never managed to find it. Not that it's really worth tracking down.... Still think Tricky Disco is the best thing GTO ever did - although The Bullfrog is a close second.

True, but I'm lazy! I didn't actually go to the pics that much last year. If you've a foreign film category then I'll nominate The Further Adventures of Belle and Sebastian!

Not actually sure I know 'So Pure' but a good act to start the year off.

Ooh, top of the head on this one... 1980 - Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart 1981 - The Specials - Ghost Town 1982 - The Clash - Rock the Casbah 1983 - New Order - Blue Monday 1984 - Jesus and Mary Chain - Upside Down 1985 - Julian Cope - Sunspots 1986 - New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle 1987 - Pet Shop Boys - It's a Sin 1988 - My Bloody Valentine - You Made Me Realise 1989 - Carter USM - Sheriff Fatman

In what reality is Richard Blackwood a newcomer? Skipped most of the categories as I don't watch them...and the definition here of drama and comedy is very thin indeed.

Ah well, I try to forget these things! Robert blimmin' Miles then?

Although I don't see 1996 being much of a year (Sash!, Sash! and more Sash!?) looking forward to seeing this thread back on page one.

I'd say it WILL be back to back wins. I'd say this also means that Lesnar will not enter the Rumble as I'm guessing they would have had him win it to set up a WM32 rematch between him and Reigns otherwise. This way they can have anyone they like face Reigns at WM32 instead of having to stick with the Rumble winner and that probably will be Lesnar but he probably wants to just be given the shot rather than earn it...or they might still be in negotiations and want to keep things fluid. The Reigns must defend clause smells of business continuity far more than an intentional, scripted bit of excitement but they'll be hoping it works both ways. Just as long as Reigns doesn't enter at number 2 and keep clearing the ring for 60 minutes. Boring.

Didn't watch very many on the definitive list so I'll just nominate two. Best Director - Sarah Gavron for Suffragette Best Animated Film - Big Hero 6

+30 Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Kill Your Television +29 Paris Angels - Perfume +28 Carter USM - Bloodsport for All +27 Sultans of Ping FC - Where's Me Jumper? +26 Teenage Fanclub - Star Sign +25 Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Diamond Dew +24 A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebum +23 Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Until You Find Out +22 Happy Mondays - Lazyitis +21 Urusei Yatsura - Strategic Hamlets +20 Sleeper - Delicious +19 Suede - The Drowners +18 Orbital - Belfast +17 Flowered Up - Phobia +16 Teenage Fanclub - The Concept +15 Cud - Oh No Won't Do +14 Sabres of Paradise - Wilmot +13 Monie Love - Monie In The Middle +12 Salad - Drink The Elixir +11 Arab Strap - Here We Go +10 Saint Etienne - Like A Motorway +09 The Divine Comedy - The Certainty Of Chance +08 Blur - She's So High +07 Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Patio Song +06 Orbital - Omen +05 Digital Underground - Same Song +04 PJ & Duncan - Tonight I'm Free +03 Arab Strap - Afternoon Soaps +02 DJ Shadow - Stem +01 Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Spanish Dance Troupe

Listening to Under the Sun now - solid stuff, so will happily spin the new LP when it's out.

Two episodes in and rather enjoying this. Some of the connections between characters are quite clever.

Thought the first episode was rather good.

Yeah, I can live with that one.

Definitely one for Peanuts fans but I really enjoyed it. Yes, Snoopy vs the Red Baron scenes are the worst by far. Pointless action for modern audiences. But all the rest is great - very true to the old specials. My only gripe is the inclusion of modern pop in places in favour of the traditional piano jazz.

Not sure how this morphed into a discussion about The Skids. But you'll want to hear 'Into the Valley' by them before anything else. Not sure in what way they are new romantic though.

The Clash are by far the most talented of the punk bands. They started off with roots in rock 'n' roll (check Strummer's previous band The 101ers), embraced the three-chord sound quickly but were one of the first to move out to a classic rock - thanks partly to Guy Stevens as producer on London Calling - and reggae and dub influenced sound. Best not mention Cut the Crap.

Not a huge fan of Tracy Thorn's voice but Missing is a well-crafted and sophisticated remix.

32 and 31 are great!

Absolutely thrilled the X Factor record crawled in at 9. The sooner the brief careers of winners stops being profitable to Cowell, the sooner it'll finish for good. Mind you, it hasn't stopped The Voice... At least it'll be possible to have a race for Christmas no.1 again.

Ha, well I really like the groove of the original Stayin' Alive and have always enjoyed Ricky Lyte's rap style so, while I can appreciate they spent longer on Set You Free, I like them about the same. 'Euphoria' when it comes to dance music is an auto-antonym for me. I feel far from euphoric when I hear that kind of thing. It does me nut in!

Aw, I love the Fox and the Hound. ...and Dumbo certainly isn't forgettable. Yes, the story is simple but the film is excellent, there are great songs and it has the pink elephants on parade sequence!

Yep, Rain is a brilliant song and a great flip to Paperback Writer. Definitely the best Beatles single overall.

What's your obsession with 1997? :P

The original and best (by miles and miles and miles) mix of Higher State of Consciousness there. It still sounds fresh 20 years later which you can't really say for the '96 remixes. Didn't know that tidbit about Sonique (should remember that she was also in S'Express briefly in 1990!)