First, but not last, end of year thing from this pen/keyboard. A summation of a year dominated by people who won't be making music again but not ruled by it because it was also a year driven by people who made music socially and politically relevant again, Also a top 10 that somehow doesn't include Nick Cave's Skeleton Tree. Still not sure how that happened. Can I have a Top 11 please? (I'll be writing about the top 10, or 11, or 20, elsewhere soon.) BLACK DAYS, BLACK STAR

Offline this began with Beyonce’s Sorry, from one of the best albums of the year and one of the most important albums of the year, but when your (hoped for) next fortune is meant to come from a streaming service not that many people are going to willingly, or at least with much enthusiasm, you take whatever measures you can to drive traffic. And hell no, I’m not going to Tidal. Got enough trouble justifying Apple Music and Spotify, let alone a third. ​ ​If there’s an ‘’80s/ea

The second half of the near impossible task of pulling 50 songs from 50 years. A mad idea, filled with frustrations at all the ones I couldn’t pick. But, yeah, fun nonetheless. 1990: Sonic Youth – Kool Thing The year I finally got Sonic Youth, or they crossed over to my side. Droll, sexy and sung by one of my favourite bassplayers (along with Tina Weymouth, Bruce Thomas, Paul McCartney & Andy Rourke). Found out recently she’s a pretty cool interview too. 1991: Joni Mitchell –