OK so I go on a bit at times! You are welcome to communicate AND to have an entry here.
	Perhaps the TV channels won't print these. 2001. (cue Richard Strauss.) Is well under way now but the charts don't seem to have changed all that much, apart from the assorted US "Rock (ish)" acts

The first comments here are year end Highs and Lows, Best albums and the like. I have made a response to some, but not all of them. There are also links to elsewhere on the site and to the web.

New 2001 comments are at the foot of this page until I edit the end 2000 section.

Channel	Original comment.	My comment. (unless stated)
Vibe Rod Fraser	Highs of the year - sadly can't think of any. Lows - Oasis, Muse and Coldplay peddling the same tired old stuff, Radiohead trying to be different and making a mess of it.(Dec 24th).	Hmm, follow your formula and be damned, change and be damned! Now where have I read that before?
Void The Voice of Reason	It annoys me when Radiohead brought out the highly experimental but overall disappointing KidA it was critically acclaimed by most pundits. Morcheeba released a fab album and it was universally panned. "Fragments of Freedom" may be more upbeat than their usual fare, but if they'd kept doing all the same stuff as their previous albums they'd have been just as slated. The album is stunning and Skye Edwards has never sounded better.	I stated the same argument regarding "Six" by Mansun. Another album is "Xtrmntr" by Primal Scream (which I have yet to hear, as is true for the Morcheeba album) "Popular" music fans (and critics) are a fickle lot. It also doesn't help when Radio is so limited too. If a band does experiment the fans should at least give them a hearing and not be led by critics alone!
Vibe Marc G (21) Netherlands	Best albums of the year? Easy; Kid A, Parachutes, The Marhall Mathers LP and Sorrythankyou by the Unbelievable Truth. Best single of the year was Coming Around by Travis. (Dec 24th)	I have all of these, including the Marshall Mathers LP. Marc is entitled to his opinion, but swear word abusive "lyrics" are NOT the only way to tell it as it is!
Vibe Funkster Leicester	My highs of 2000 would be seeing the amazing Courtney Pine in Leicester and Morcheeba at Nottingham's Rock City. My lows, being unfortunate to witness the start of Motown Mania, with Steps and Westlife both miming pathetically. I like Motown, but this was an insult to it rather than a celebration of it. (Dec 24th)	Can't say I caught the gigs you mention, but my sentiments regarding the Motown Mania are the same. It they MUST create these short term puppet bands, why the hell don't they create some of their own material, rather than either recycle a formula song or cover something which was nearly always done better originally!
Vibe James Williams	Coldplay's debut album Parachutes was a massive high. (Dec 24th)	Agreed, but look up the Blue Room too if you get the chance, or Brothers and Sisters.

Void Lady Monster Muncher	Re the Eminem debate - all you Eminem haters talk as if discussing real issues is a bad thing. Does that mean Belle and Sebastian's The Chalet Lines about rape is bad? Any song by the Smiths? If you really want meaningless songs, go and listen to Westlife and Robbie Williams... and I'm not an Eminem fan in the slightest. Please can we finish this debate as it's getting boring. Record of the decade anyone? Mine goes to Handsome Boy Modelling School. (Dec 23rd)	Site Comment	Songs on social issues have a long history, WAY before Radical American Poetry emerged. The fuss is partly because RAP is seen (wrongly?) to be a non white medium and in some cases that the Eminem tracks are fictional entirely, like Stan for instance. The use of expletives in rap has become expected, (or is it a marketing ploy?) and is to the detriment of it in my opinion. Robert Johnson, Woody Guthrie, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, Tim Buckley, David Ackles, John Lennon and others all wrote on social issues without resort to expletives.
Void John Dee Rochdale	Who agrees we need a wider range of radio networks? It works in the US, with all its specialist music stations, so why not here? It's better than having all those "blandies" pumped at us.		Agreed entirely here. There is more variation on Radio 3 than on Radio 1 at weekends. Are there not stations on the Net too.(Hum) If you have the right phone connection I guess! Stuff the playlists!
Void Er name won't fit!	To Super Rob: I think you are underestimating Coldplay's potential. Pablo Honey hardly set the world alight did it? The Beatles went from Love Me Do to Eleanor Rigby in four years, so let's wait and see. I just hope Coldplay are incapable of producing something as dribbly dull and badger droppings as Kid A Badly Overdrawn Boy (£2,600 and rising...) Via e. mail	Void Princess Manic	Well done to the useless generation of teenyboppers / clubbers for effectively destroying another of the UKs most revered publications. The death of Melody Maker means the only real access fans of decent music have to info about bands we love is the ever unreliable internet (the arrogant ramblings of NME writers have worn thin). (Dec 27th 2000) Void Sez. Oi Princess! What about us then? Don't we count? Its info city here, you know!
Void	Album and single sleeves above. I have always rated A-ha. Good to get support here!	Void Dec. 27th.	Critics from NME, MM, Mixmag, Q, the Guardian, Mojo and others have voted for their top albums of 2000 and A-ha came in at no:-29, well Us (56), Bjork (70) and Fatboy Slim (67). Surprised? Have a listen to "Minor Earth Major Sky" and you'll realise why. Clare.
Void Dark Grey Wolf via e.mail	Slipknot are so pathetic. All they are is a bunch of morons who are the rock version of Westlife. You know, popular, but fake. Anyone could do what they do. Take a look at what they did when they won Best Band in the Universe.Get some Taste.	Site comment	Best Band in the Universe? I thought that was "DISASTER AREA" or was that just the loudest? (Zaphod Beeblebrox).
Vibe Alex	Ironically the best album I bought this year was one from 30 years ago. Neil Young's After the Goldrush. The emotion in his songs puts so-called emotional songs by Westlife to shame. (Dec 25th.)	Site comment	Some of the older albums are worth looking up, that's why I have the "influential" pages here. As regards emotion, it makes a hell of a difference if YOU actually wrote the song!

2001 A new Millennium?Or yet more manufactured Crap!
Popstars	Ye gods! Now "bands" created on live TV! Can it get any worse!	Heresey	Sorry, folks, but they are an over hyped poor example of an easy genre.
Vibe April 13th	Captain Rock and Roll lives I went to see Reef earlier this year in Bristol and they were amazing. Talentless commercial poppers and monotonous computer generated "music" just cannot compare with a genuine live rock band.	Vibe April 13th	Smigg It just goes to show that with a huge amount of hype, marketing and other people writing your songs, anyone can have a number one. I might as well have a go at it. Wish me luck.
Site	Re the comments above. All too true, but there are so many "tweenie" buyers!
Vibe April 13th	T-truth Nottingham Can all those who intended to buy Presley's Suspicious Minds not be put off by Virgin Megastores advert rubbishing Presley fans? Talk about bad timing!	Vibe April 13th	Vince If you want to know why Elvis Presley earned his title as The King, buy the single Suspicious Minds, it could become his 58th top ten hit.
Site	Not seen the Ad. In any case, why follow ads at all? You might have bought "Heresey"!
Void April 13th	Mark Crookes Sheffield I think "Death to Grunge" wouldn't know a grunge band if it came up and bit him. Grunge never advocated mindless swearing if you would actually listen to it. Try listening to Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Screaming Trees, Pearl Jam, and Dinosaur Jr before passing judgment on grunge music.	Void April 13th	John ICB (11/4): Without previous bands taking risks with their sound, you wouldn't even have Terris, Lowgold or Muse. Muse had an in-studio jacuzzi while recording their new album. That sums up their mediocrity.
Site	Er Pixies too perhaps?		Muse Mediocre? Not in my opinion!
Void April 13th	The Voice of Reason Why is it that when Lou Bega followed up his huge hit Mambo N0. 5 with a song that sounded almost exactly the same, it bombed, deservedly. But when Oxide and Neutrino release slight variations of the same song three times no-one complains and they have chart success? Is this a double standard against Germans, or are Pete Tong, and dance fans simply stupid?	Void April 13th	Jason Canada must come a close second to Germany for industrial music, with Skinny Puppy and Front Line Assembly. Let's hope SP's "Doomsday Festival" gets released soon. "Brap on!" Pic original lineup.
Site	Musically challenged perhaps, or do they simply NOT listen? Chart dance = DULL!	Skinny Puppy were active from about 1984 to 1996. The keyboardist, Dwayne Goettel is alas dead. See US music2
Void April 13th	Sinisterpenguin@yahoo.com Could the fan of japanese music tell me where to find anything by the superb Merzbow? In general, marketing and music should be reprioritised.	http://www.alien8recordings.com/merzbow.php3 http://www.geocities.com/~zaraza_doom/merzbow.htm The links above and more. Use Yahoo! search See link.
Site	As in less manuhype?	Looked up links for you.
Void April 17th	Astrid, Perthshire Robert Baggio 13/3 to state Pixies are the only decent US band, you obviously haven't heard Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr, Yo La Tengo, Pavement, Trail of the Dead, Pearl Jam, REM, Shellac and countless others. Get a grip and open your eyes (ears surely?). It's not all nu-metal and wannabe punk.	Peachy Please tell me what has happened to the kids in this country. Lump sugar, Don't Slip, Uncle Perch and a guy named after a packet of sweets. They share the same musical depth as Worstlfe. Marketing perhaps?
Void April 17th	Sam Jarrett I think its pretty amazing that D-12 made it to No 10 in the charts. I mean it recieves no daytime airplay. Can't wait for the album. Voice of Reason - Please shut up! Er Why should he?	The Beautiful Store Hippo All local Radio stations claim to play a "variety" of music. My two local radio stations, Beacon and BRMB do just that and they're awful. They think they're so clued up on indie / alternative music, they play Biskit or David Gray between SClub and Steps. I hope their fence-sitting DJs get Splinters.
Site replies.	Presumably the lack of airplay reflects the use or abuse of language? I have, so far missed D-12.(Can't stick the Sunday Chart Show). Er how many sales to hit No 10 these days?	Indie can mean Independent label AND a music genre. That could explain the dilemma. Incidentally try "Splinter" by the Sneaker Pimps! As regards "variety" No good to turn to R1 weekends!
Vibe April 23rd	Dave 182 Bradford Pete (22/4) How can you say Blink182 are a fake punk band? Obviously you haven't heard any of their old material which is without question punk. Punk is much more than just the music. Its about doing something different and new. Along with Offspring and Green Day Blink182 have taken punk into the 21st Century.	Andrew Cambridgeshire Can anyone tell me what Ocean Colour Scene have done to offend the media? There has been an almost total blackout of media coverage of their new album, and the reviews I have seen mostly just slated the band for their style of music. they are a great band with a great new album, and it's a real shame the "great British Media" can't give them the credit they deserve.
Site replies.	Pete must be a punk purist. Is it not mainly a reaction against convention primarily? Joey Ramone was quoted in a similar vein. Should punk stay true to its roots or evolve?	Probably too busy writing about "Hairspray" er "Heresey" or whatever! The Media is always after the "next big thing" or something of the like. Older acts often get this neglect.Corrs for instance just did! 27 was it?
June 21st Void	Gorky's Monkey Muse's Origin Of Symmetry is horribly overblown and self important, indeed it's nothing like Thom Yorke. I get the impression the acclaim derives from their cliched rock & roll live antics, rather than any kind of musical competence.	Site comment. This is a typical comment whenever a band goes for a more varied, more complex soundscape. To suggest Matt has no musical competence is WAY off the mark! The album shows a great range of influence, and all of it is carried off well. Muse B sides also show the band's ability. And Yes, I DO have Gorky's Zygotic Mynci tracks too!
July 2nd Vibe	Ross Bedfordshire Blink182 are a quality band - their album should be at the top of the charts, not rubbish like Travis. They play proper music, not manufactured trash.	Site Comment. Er Blink182 are a good example of an anarchistic Punk Rock band. (Just seen the Video on German MTV) As such they do not appeal to as wide an audience as the current Anthemic Travis style. To call Travis Manufactured trash is an insult! Their music is no more Manufactured than Blinks is. in that it follows a successful formula to a degree. The real "Manufactured" stuff is that procuced by "bands" such as "Here'say", created just to satisfy an undemanding market. I hear yet another is being set up even now!
July 2nd Vibe	Will, London Muse's New album Origin Of Symmetry is the best album of the year so far. Anyone agree?	Site Comment I sure do, at least from those I have heard so far. We all must qualify opinion in that manner unless we can get review copies. The Chameleons new album is next on my list.

This Page created 24th. December 2000 End of year comments.Edited 26th. Feb. 2001 stuff? See date on the posts.