Severin

Has anyone mentioned The Darkness yet?

I guess I'd be voting for Architects this week Personal choice would probably be between - HotWax - One More Reason Slung - Laughter

One of my favourite directors of all time. Eraserhead, Elephant Man, Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet and even Dune (which he disowned) are all very special to me. In 1990 he re-wrote the rules on tv and did it again in 2017. A true genius

Not sure I'd agree with that. Love and Cuntology are the two weakest tracks for me but the last one is just a silly number. I do think the album would have been stronger with a track or two off the EP added.

Uses a very similar melody to Forever Delayed this one

Just had to double take on why Rolf Harris was in the video!

Can't knock Splodgenessabounds as it's always been something of a fun novelty track. I also have fond memories of liking Sailor's Girls, Girls, Girls back when I was very young. After that, at a stretch I'd say I quite like the Jesus Jones and Godley & Creme tracks

I'd like to see Leclerc win it too but there are still question marks about his consistency, especially when under pressure. Even if the Ferrari is streets ahead this year, Hamilton should be able to challenge him at least occasionally. maybe even repeatedly. I'd be happy enough to see Verstappen win it again as he is the best driver out there right now. Of the other expected front runners, I'd be content with Piastri or Antonelli, although both, especially the latter would be a major shock. I expect Norris, Russell and Hamilton to be in contention for wins and potentially the championship. Ultimately I think whoever out of Max, Charles, George or Lando has the best car, will walk away as champion. Ferrari as Constructors (he says hopefully)

Fun fact - the 2025 season will be the first since 1988 not to feature a Finnish driver in the grid. If Keke Rosberg had raced the two years '87 and '88, that record would go back to 1976. I'm pretty sure only Germany and Britain can claim a longer record with both going all the way back to 1950 (and beyond)

Totally deserved if they can hold on. Phoebe in particular has worked so hard just to keep the band together when members kept leaving. Since she paired up with Lily they've gone from strength to strength. It's ine of my favourite albums for several years.

I suspect you won't be able to go anywhere this year without hearing her music, so in that sense she will be the sound of 2025. It's just that she was the sound of 2024 too and typically of Radio 1, they're always a few steps behind.

Hopefully this will bump up a few less obvious tracks. Had to give dear Siouxsie full marks. I've bolded the double a-side track that matters for clarity It's most old stuff because the charts are pretty much a deadzone for my tastes these days +30 Siouxsie and the Banshees – Hong Kong Garden +29 The Fatima Mansions / Manic Street Preachers – Suicide Is Painless (Theme from MASH) / Everything I Do (I Do It for You) +28 Betty Boo – Doin' the Do +27 Soul Asylum – Runaway Train +26 Grandmaster Melle Mel – White Lines (Don't Don't Do It) +25 Prince & The Revolution – Let's Go Crazy/Take Me With U +24 Suede – Animal Nitrate +23 The Sisters of Mercy – This Corrosion +22 Elton John – Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting +21 Kirsty MacColl – A New England +20 Garbage – Why Do You Love Me +19 Wink – Higher State of Consciousness +18 Oasis – Cigarettes & Alcohol +17 Iron Maiden – Run to the Hills +16 Nine Inch Nails – The Hand That Feeds +15 Beatmasters featuring Betty Boo – Hey DJ! I Can't Dance (To That Music You're Playing)/Ska Train +14 The Stranglers – Strange Little Girl +13 Editors – Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors +12 Tori Amos – Pretty Good Year +11 The Cure – The Love Cats +10 Girls Aloud - Long Hot Summer +09 Green Day – Basket Case +08 Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit +07 Amy Winehouse – Rehab +06 David Bowie – Boys Keep Swinging +05 Wild Cherry – Play That Funky Music +04 The Doors – Light My Fire +03 Billy Idol – Mony Mony +02 Radiohead – Creep +01 Pulp – Disco 2000

Probably even worse when you didn't even write it as well

My plans so far - JAN 15 2025 - Lambrini Girls - Resident Music, Brighton, England JAN 17 2025 - Lower Slaughter, Francis Pig, Staff Party - The Hope and Ruin, Brighton, England JAN 18 2025 - Man/Woman/Chainsaw, Flip Top Head, SLAG, goodbye - Green Door Store, Brighton, England JAN 29 2025 - Cucamaras - The Hope and Ruin, Brighton, England FEB 21 2025 - Eville, Blue Eyed Giants, Hell Hotel - Green Door Store, Brighton, England FEB 22 2025 - Motionless in White - O2 Academy Brixton, London, England FEB 25 2025 - Heartworms - Concorde 2, Brighton, England MAR 01 2025 - Eville, Winter Gardens, Fever Rouge - Hope & Ruin, Brighton, England MAR 03 2025 - HotWax - De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill, England MAR 07 2025 - HotWax - Resident Music, Brighton, England MAR 08 2025 - Black Orchid Empire, WREX - Daltons Showrooms + Bar, Brighton, England MAR 13 2025 - The Pale White - Green Door Store, Brighton, England APR 12 2025 - Lambrini Girls - Chalk, Brighton, England MAY 27 2025 - Public Image Ltd - Chalk, Brighton, England JUN 07 2025 - The Orb - The Forum, Royal Tunbridge Wells, England JUN 22 2025 - Forever Now Festival - Kraftwerk, Billy Idol, The The, Johnny Marr, The Damned, Death Cult, The Jesus and Mary Chain, UK Decay, The Psychedelic Furs, Theatre of Hate, Berlin, Peter Murphy, She Wants Revenge, Happy Mondays, The Chameleons, Public Image Ltd JUN 28 2025 - Iron Maiden, Halestorm, The Raven Age - London Stadium, London, England JUL 09 2025 - 2000 Trees Festival - TBC

Supports are Halestorm and The Raven Age. I'll be there too

You should also check out the band Wife Swap USA (now sadly defunct) but both Phoebe and Lily were in them for a while. As was Catt Jack, the original drummer. Neither provided vocals as it was Harry's band really but they had the same humour and raucous punk spirit.

The last two singles have definitely had a much mellower approach compared to the earlier releases. Jacked sounds like it may be different to the rest of the album and it's the only track on there she was playing live a few years back. I'm hopeful that she hasn't changed her sound too much as I love the rawer stuff

As should everyone. Great to see the years of brilliance are starting to pay off for them. They've been the hottest ticket in town for nearly five years now.

Speaking of tracks that we will lose, one of Imola, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez or the Las Vegas Strip Circuit will drop off the calendar following this year's race. It's unlikely to be Las Vegas given Formula One have put so much effort in to it and so it's a toss up between Mexico and San Marino (I know). Will Mexico still be willing to stump up the cost given there won't be any local drivers to cheer and this could affect attendance or will Liberty look to drop yet another classic European circuit? Worth bearing in mind that Northern Italy is far from poor and money is unlikely to be an issue. Also, Imola is effectively Ferrari's home circuit, much more than Monza is, although that didn't stop it disappearing in the past. Personally, whilst neither of the two offer great spectacle in terms of racing and both have lost absolutely brilliant corners (Tamburello and Peraltada) from their heyday, I hope it's Mexico we lose. Imola just offers a much greater challenge to the drivers and whilst both have passionate fans and a great atmosphere, the Tifosi shade it in this respect. Imola also has so much rich history and that is a priceless asset for the sport. What would be everyone else's preference to lose?

The only one I think looks hard done by in that list is Bottas. He hasn't been amazing or anything but the car has made some decent performances here and there look worse than they were

This! I do like this idea though. There a five singles out this week that I like - Heartworms, Bob Vylan & Amy Taylor, Lacuna Coil, Dana Dentata and the Manics. The Manics track is the least interesting for me but it gets my vote here. Interestingly, and for reasons I can't really explain Squid just aren't that well thought of in Brighton, which is weird as the town loves its own normally.

Brilliant work and a worthy winner. Thanks for this. As the Pogues reached #3 in 2005, I wonder if they'll win next year's #3s rate too!

Kurt hated Teen Spirit Liam hates Wonderwall Elton hates Crocodile Rock Slash hates Sweet Child Of Mine Bowie hated most of his '80s work (he singled out Absolute Beginners, the Scary Monsters album and Loving the Alien as exceptions)

Even allowing for the inevitable Mariah and Wham, I'm finding the top 10 of this countdown rather palatable. Pleasantly surprising

In years to come, people will look back at this and say 'here was where they crossed the line and the seeds were sown for losing the best circuit F1 ever had'. Go now while you can.