Daveportivo's Cultural Evaluation Facility

Forgettable, yes, Retrospective, yes, univentive, yes. All these words and more have been used to accurately describe Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, so while they were not by any stretch of the imagination the next big thing in the rock world, they did at least manage to muster this one unforgettable classic. Oddly Spread Your Love is one of those tracks where most people don't actually realise it's by BRMC, poor guys.

While Faithless normally float by on auto pilot, producing track after monotonous track, in 2004 they changed tack. Sure it was the same overplayed formula musically but suddenly Maxi had found his voice, as the laid back anti-war, anti-racism, anti-media preacher for the twenty first century. Of course this new sense of relevance didn't extent beyond these three minutes, but damn it, if only fleetling Faithless actually had something to say.

I really should hate N-Dubz, everyone should, they're cheesey and chronically lame, but there's something earnest about them, they are a legitimate underground success story, and they seem so overcome by celebrity that they have smiles permanently plastered across there faces. And to be honest, they have a postive message, they're good role models, and in Number One they actually made a great pop song, that of course went straight to number one.

It must be tough being the Vines, not only do you get unfairly over hyped to the extent where your greeted with a massive critical backlash but you also have internal turmoil and catastrophe, it was simply never meant to be for The Vines. It's a shame as the future seemed so bright back in 2002 when we heard those first crunching chords of the hellacious Get Free.

So it's 2008 and it's time to kick your dad out of your cookee folksy indie band, and transform into a super slick eighties revival indie hit makers. Well the eighties revival didn't go to well and 2008 wasn't a particularly memorable year for Indie, but the Mystery Jets' gorgeous Cure-lite anthem Two Doors Down almost makes up for the entire collective indie aberration.

So when Panic revealed they'd been indulging their interest in British pop from the 1960s, the world was less than thrilled. Panic needed to change the formula, but this was a step to far turning off their fan base, some good music came from this period but it's largely been resigned to history except for the one undeniably brilliant stoner anthem Nine In The Afternoon.

Rise Of The Eagles was a distortion laden beast, sung like Vic Reeves on Karaoke night, this ridiculous rocker was always destined to be a hit, after all who can resist shouting "I Wanna Fly Like An Eagle, I Wanna Sing Like Sinatra, I Got A Date With Destruction, I Wanna Love Like A Mother". When it comes to no brainer party songs, Rise Of The Eagles goes criminally underrated. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szR6kf_t9p4

It may have taken the best part of a decade but maturity finally found Blink, and surprisingly it suited them. Of course Tom Delonge would take it too far with Angels & Airwaves and Mark would regress dramatically, but for a brief moment in 2004, Blink were a truly credible act. Always played the emotional card, had a killer drum line and best of all an inescapable video making it Blink's most complete single to date.

In 2005 Eminem's mic skills were fading and he seemed more interested in mocking Michael Jackson or morosely rapping about a girl with An Ass Like That. Luckily he saved his energy, passion and fervour for this one gem Like Toy Soldiers. Eminem decides to pull no punches and rips to shreds the mindless bravado that keeps getting so many young men in the rap game killed. It would be his final classic track.

The Hives make music to be played at football games and in festival fields until the end of time. It's hardly the height of sophistication, but they've never had the pretence of being anything more than a great party band. In the early 2000s they were on fire, and it speaks volumes about just how hot they were, that Main Offender was their weakest song of the period.

We had to wait far, far, far too long for the return of Annie, it couldn't possibly be worth the wait could it? Of course it bloodly could, Songs Remind Me Of You was like a blast of ocean air, it knocks you back for a second, but once it's passed feel totally refreshed. A diamond studded dance floor killer of the highest order.

Simple and straight to the point Who's Got A Match doesn't hold any great pretence it just wants you to shout, head bang and then explode in time for one big guitar beatdown. It's a party starter, a throwaway, and ultimately a classic single.

In 2003 the shadow of Radiohead still loomed large over Coldplay's music, and they were still successfully taking down beat gloom and combining it with love stories and sweet harmonies to devastating effect. God Put A Smile Upon Your Face was a beautifully subdued piece, it was the unholy love kid of Radiohead and U2.

Yes for the record Kasabian spelt cut with two ts. In 2005 Kasabian were building a grating lad rock empire based on single after repetitive single of empty sentiment and bloshy bravado. Cutt Off seemed to show that the boys had a sense of humour, of course they didn't and continued to take themselves far too seriously. It may not have been ground breaking but Cutt Off was as catchy as catchy could be.

Another one hit wonder, and oddly another Swedish act, I see a pattern emerging here. Well Jerk It Out benefited from a slot on a TV ad, but it's to the tracks credit that I remember the track but not the advert. Jerk It Out was simple, sharp and effective pop music.

"I was like good gracious, arse is bodacious" hmmn...okay so your IQ may plummet rapidly if you listen to this track for too long, let alone if you dare question the spelling of the title, but honestly who cares, because this was your classic unstoppable summer hit that just refused to die. Damn the Neptunes and their irresistible beats.

You can normally tell the quality of a Darkness single from the title, if it makes sense (Growing On Me, I Believe In A Thing Called Love) it'll be alot of fun, if it doesn't (Love On The Rocks With No Ice, One Way Ticket To Hell And Back) then it's gonna suck almighty balls. Thankfully Get Your Hands... made perfect sense and it was a riotous debut single.

Black Boys was a fantastic moment, when cruising channel U you generally saw vast swathes of low brow grime, or Brit's aping American culture, with gats and bitches, but luckily Bashy always seemed to have his head screwed on straight and in 2008 he made a joyous celebration of Black culture in Black Boys. The most powerful and aspirational single to ever emerge from the Grime scene.

In 2005/6 Lily Allen broke down the door, and opened the way for the low fi British song writer. Adele felt one part Allen one part Winehouse when she forged her mammoth anthem Chasing Pavements. It felt tragic and downbeat but had the uplifting triumphant classic pop chorus to carry it to the top of the chart. One of 21st century Britain's finest ballads.

When the Lostprophets returned with their third album Liberation Transmission many expected the Lostprophets to continue their cross over success but few foresaw just hold high these welsh lads would fly; as they unleashed a series of sure fire hit singles headed by the lung busting anthem Rooftops.

Take one Clash sample, combine it with one Britain's finest MCs and set it all against the back drop of inner city london and you have a sure fire underground classic. Akala surprised many by proving that it was he, not his sister Miss Dynamite, who was the families great social commentator. This Is London is frank and honest, it bashes the street thug mentality and lampoons the rich aristocracy in the same breathe, sheer genius.

From a lyrically genius to one of the most idiotic bands in all of pop music. The Ting Tings are quite simple one of the worst bands I've ever seen live, and I've endure them on three separate occasions, so it wasn't a mere off day. Lucky for them in the studio, they have a knack of crafting simply, catchy and ultimately inescapable pop music like Shut Up And Let Me Go.

In early 2001 Limp Bizkit were knocked off the top of the charts by a little song called Whole Again, little did we know it would take over a year for this little ditty to leave the pop charts. Whole Again is the definition of dominance, it took the sugary girliness of early Atomic Kitten and added the beef and sass of an All Saints record and well the rest is history.

From sugary sweet pop stars to a bold and creative "internet phenomenon". I really hate that term, but the truth is Imogen really did take over the internet in '05 with this track and it's endles parodies. Under a buzzing wave of eltronic fuzz lays a beautiful and fragile ballad, that grows in strength and builds to a powerhouse conclusion, a rare modern day acappella classic.

It seemed like an odd match at the time; the underground punk legends Rancid and Travis Barker the sticks man from the biggest goofy pop punk band on the planet, but remarkably it work splendidly. The Transplants didn't last long, but by throwing together ska, punk lite and the thundering thrash of Rancid they briefly re-invigorated the punk scene. Diamonds & Guns wasn't the finished article, but it showed tremdous potential, it's a shame the Transplants didn't stick around. They were the leaders the scene was crying out for.