It's been a while, but I thought I'd procrastinate / ignore my paper / exam needs and write this... I've been very good most of today, so it's a deserved treat. Honestly.

Anyway, I have been listening to my 1998 playlist, and it's a bit of a golden year, it would appear. So let's start with the singles of the year...

Music Sounds Better by Stardust - Alan Braxe is a genius, anyway, but this is one of his many pinnacles. It is completely evocative of a summer where I danced away, particularly one night where KTB and I went to Turnmills ostensibly to see Fatboy Slim, who was off his rocker and rubbish, so we saw the Lo-Fi Allstars in the chillout room, and they were absolutely brilliant. I think the last four songs included Out of Space by the Prodigy, this, and some other classics. We knew it was going to be good when we walked in and they were playing Mama Said Knock You Out by LL... sweet.

If You Can't Say No by Lenny Kravitz - this is such a gorgeous, seductive song; poor old Lenny is having to be realistic about the thought of his woman cheating on him. Another one that I only knew due to the wonders of KTB.

Concrete Schoolyard by Jurassic Five - it's just a choon, summery, and old school.

Broken Homes by Tricky & PJ Harvey - heartbreaking, beautiful, haunting... that gospel choir at the end. Despite being on a SCARY album, this is absolutely the best thing he's ever done, in my opinion.

What It's All About by Slum Village - this is so good and features Busta Rhymes just as I like him - as a guest artist, which is just the right amount...

Start the Commotion by The Wiseguys - although Ooh La La got more attention, this is by far the best thing they did, with an utterly genius video. Sadly not available on youtube just yet...

Galaktika by MC Solaar - this is just a fricking genius tune from one of my favourite artists - although surely that's not right given that I can't understand a word he says...

Albums of the Year:

Mezzanine by Massive Attack - In some ways, this is my favourite album of theirs. It's darker, creepier, and genius (they were clearly smoking something rather specially strong at the time, it's utterly paranoid in its sound). But that may be influenced by the three absolutely brilliant singles, Teardrop, Angel, and Risingson. Nonetheless, I love it, and there are many other moments of beauty, such as the sinister Man Next Door - Horace Andy, I love you so.

Moon Safari by Air - it took me a while, but particularly La Femme D'argent reminds me of when me and the other half first got together and went out on a trip to see a heavy meteor shower. Plus I just found out that a friend of mine is in the video for Kelly Watch The Stars - she's the dark haired one...

Bring It On by Gomez - extraordinary range, fun, playful, soulful, and that guy really does sound like Tom Waits. Shame all their other stuff was pants, but Tijuana Lady will always be a favourite...

Hello Nasty by The Beastie Boys - it was a grower, certainly. Gets a place on the list for the glorious Intergalactic and, of course, the mighty Just a Test. Genius.

On the Floor at the Big Boutique by Fatboy Slim - this was the year of big beat, and no one beat it bigger - this is also there simply because of his remix of Because I Got It Like That by the Jungle Brothers, which is my all-time top listened to tune on Last.fm...

Ray of Light by Madonna - my favourite Madonna album. Full stop. Bar none. Worth it for Nothing Really Matters and The Power of Goodbye.

Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk by Jeff Buckley - because it's glorious, funny, sexy, and a poignant pointer as to what could have been... Plus Everybody Here Wants You is my favourite song.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - told you this was a bumper year. This was an extraordinary album, and I've recently started listening to it again, absolutely brilliant. It made me excited to be young and carefree...

New Forms by Roni Size - it was London, new, different, and I could dance to it - oh how I loved drum and bass. This is still a quality album... even if perhaps OK Computer better stood the test of time, this captured a time in music and culture that made it a worthy winner of the Mercury, too...