2001: The Good Old Days? - December

One thing I remember the band Ash saying at the start of 2001 was that it was going to be the year of rock. If we make that definition guitar music then based on the new entries in December they were wrong. There were more dance records entering the charts.

From the indie records the only one to get any points was "60 Miles An Hour" by New Order. I initially wasn't too keen on their newer more guitar orientated music but it's grown on me over the years.

Feeder normally make indie records but this time they've gone punk with the record "Just A Day" which is easily the best thing they've ever done. 

There is a case for having "Trouble" by Cypress Hill in the guitar music category. It's a great blend of rap and rock, the chorus very much fitting the latter category. It's part of a double a-side with "Lowrider" which is purely a rap record. Both are decent.

The best record is a dance record which is "Where's Your Head At?" by Basement Jaxx. There is an argument this is rock music given it entered the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, but in reality it's a dance track with rock elements in it.

Much of the dance music is rubbish thought. Vocal trance is leading the way and includes a record with Dannii Minogue providing vocals. There is however a decent instrumental trance record in "Resurrection" by PPK.

There were 2 UK garage records and both were decent. There was "It Ain't Enough" by Artful Dodger and Dreem Team, the final Top 40 hit for both. It had been doing the DJ sets for well over a year by this point. The other one was the Daniel Beginfield debut "Gotta Get Thru This" which is the only decent record he ever made.

The Jackson family represented the R&B genre this month with the only 2 record being "Cry" by Michael Jackson and "Son Of A Gun (I Betcha Think This Song)" by Janet Jackson. Neither are any good.

The worst record is "Paid My Dues" by Anastacia. Her voice is so annoying.

Here's a list of the records with the best on top, worst at the bottom and the good ones in green, OK ones in amber and rubbish ones in red (and in no particular order):

Score: 24%

Here's a look at the chart:

Given the Christmas slump this is a good start. Better than the new Decembers looked at and better than most months in 2002.