In truth it was a crappy year for music with hardly any essential album releases and most of the interesting fads being fashion-related retro throwbacks to an era that only a couple of years ago was universally reviled as one of the worst humankind has ever experienced (yes even worse than the dark decade that was the 1460s).

Hell even Eyeballkid's album of the year will probably be looked upon as a novelty record in a couple of year's time. So let us add for posterity that on its release it seemed like the most important album for a long time. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Let's fetch the gold-leaved envelopes, quaff some sparkling wine and present to you, the 2002 Eyeballkid Best Of The Year Awards.

ALBUMS

1. The Streets
'Original Pirate Material'
The drug induced ramblings of a Mockney stoner or urban poetry for the post-X generation? Two-step for your dinner party or UK garage's most coherent moments yet? Who cares? Mike Skinner's debut album managed to be funny, intelligent and more relevant than anything else this year, while opening up a previously scorned genre of music to a whole new audience (of dinner party guests).
What we siad at the time>>

2. Cinematic Orchestra
'Everyday'
Grand ambition matched with a musical dexterity means 'Everyday' will be credited with classic status in time. J. Swinscoe's blend of jazz and broken beats is used to create deep and meaningful songs from the mechanical beauty of 'Man With A Movie Camera' to the soulful collaborations with the sensational Fontella Bass. Essential.
Cinematic Orchestra review>>

3. 2Many DJ's
'As Heard On Radio Soulwax'
Okay so not quite a proper album but for the sheer effort in getting the licensing for all the tracks used on this mix album some kind of awards must be given. Add to that the dynamism with which they captured the headrush nature of their DJ sets and the stupendous mixes -the Stooges with Salt n Pepa, Destiny's Child and 10CC -and you have a record that is as timeless as the tracks on it.
2Many DJ's @ Red Box>>

4. Blackalicious
'Blazing Arrow'
More high quality hip-hop from the underrated Oakland duo.
Blackalicious @ Red Box>>

5. David Holmes Presents The Free Association
The Belfast DJ gets himself a band and redefines soul and hip-hop along the way.
What we siad at the time>>

6. DJ Vadim
'USSR -The Art of Listening'
More collaborations than Irv Gotti but Vadim is more Gangstarr than gangster.

7. Doves
'Last Broadcast'
Anthemic, stirring and a reminder of what rock can do for your soul.

8. Cornershop
'Handcream For A Generation'
Putting fingers in so many musical pies yet still managing to get a good taste of each one

9. Herbaliser
'Something Wicked This Way Comes'
From hip-hop to be-bop via soul and jazz with a little Chinese opera thrown in for good measure. More superb stuff from the Herbaliser.

10. Flaming Lips -
Yoshima Battles the Pink Robots
Tales of killer robots, computers with emotions and meditations on death are the stock in trade of this strange yet undeniably beautiful record.

SINGLES

1. The Streets
'Let's Push Things Forward'
It was a close run thing but Mike Skinner completes a clean sweep and why not. With those horns, that two-step organ beat, the dub bass line, and those lyrics there could be only one winner. "This ain't your archetypal street sound".

2. Ms Dynamite
'Dy-na-mi-te'
Okay so in the grand tradition of the Mercury Music Prize the album is highly overrated but this certainly isn't. A cool laid-back groove backs sweet rhymes and the year's most memorable chorus.

3. Eminem
'Without Me'
Whatever you may saw about pop music's most controversial figure -and these days with credible movie performances and serious press attention, it's mostly nice things -it is certainly a duller place place without him. Yet for all his self-awareness and lyrical dexterity if the music wasn't up to scratch no one would care. It is, we do.

4. Amon Tobin feat. MC Decimal R
'Verbal'
The obtuse Brazilian may never have a hit but as singles go this is most deserving of praise. A wonderful Latin guitar lick and precisely spliced vocals in front of a familiar back-drop of fucked-up beats means as sweetly intense an experience as Tobin will ever manage.
Amon Tobin Live >>

5. White Stripes
'Fell In Love With A Girl'
It's like the Pixies never went away. Short sharp rock brilliance.

6. Aphrodite feat. Wildflower
'See Through It'
Drum n bass mayhem from Aphrodite with Wildflower's unique rapping propelling a song that is more hectic than shopping on Christmas Eve.

7. Doves
'Pounding'
The title says it all as massive drums clear the way for an anthem worth standing to attention for.

8. X-Press 2 feat. David Byrne - Lazy
Talking Head Byrne comes up with his best work in many a year and helps the X-Press trio to one of dance music's finest moments.

9. Missy Elliot 'Work It' Freaky
Sexy stuff from hip-hop's most inventive producer.

10. The Coral 'Dreaming Of You'
Like some very cool gypsies with Hammonds and acid.

FILMS
1. Donnie Darko
Intriguing, surreal, intellectual and entertaining exploration of the end of the world, time travel and growing up. All this plus Patrick Swazye and a giant demonic bunny rabbit. Unmissable.

2. Y Tu Mama Tambien
Sexy and moving Mexican coming of age film about two teenagers taking an older woman on a road trip to a beach that doesn't exist. Crude yet tender with some wonderful asides detailing the social conditions of the country.

3. The Royal Tenenbaums
Quirky comedy from Wes Anderson who gathered a sterling cast to play the oddball family of screwed-up geniuses. Always funny yet sweet without descending into mawkishness.

4. Mulholland Drive
Would be higher if it weren't for the fact that you leave the cinema completely unaware as to what just happened. Still it's an enjoyable trip and once you do find out what it's about (your best bet is www.salon.com) you'll be itching to see it again.

5. Insomnia
Superb thriller with a brilliant twist on the standard serial killer plot. Al Pacino is outstanding as the cop who can't sleep in the 24-hour Alaskan daylight.

6. The Two Towers
Epic stuff as the second part of The Lord of the Rings trilogy is magnificently brought to life. The story is compelling despite the three-hour running time and the special effects are magnificent.

7. Bowling For Columbine
More polemic from Moore in this documentary based around the Columbine high school shooting. As usual he's well worth listening to, especially as you get some laughs with your politics.

8. My Little Eye
Big Brother gets the slasher treatment in a horror that breathes new life into the genre with some original twists and a playfulness that is never farcical, intentionally or otherwise.

9. Talk To Her
Almodovar's engaging drama on life, death and bullfighting with all his usual touches of dark humour, pathos and tragedy.

10. Spiderman
Best comic book adaptation since Batman, that has little to do with great performances or special effects and more to do with a tight script and faithfulness to the character.

LIVE ACTS
1. Blackalicious
2. Groove Armada
3. DJ Shadow
4. Cinematic Orchestra
5. Ladytron

DJ'S
1. 2Many DJs
2. Mr. Scruff
3. James Lavelle
4. Radioactive Man
5. John Peel

TV SHOWS
1. The Sopranos
2. Six Feet Under
3. The Office
4. Life Of Mammals
5. I'm Alan Partridge

ASSHOLES OF THE YEAR
1. George W. Bush
2. Tony Blair
3. Saddam Hussein
4. Robert Mugabe
5. J-Lo (okay so she's not quite in the same league as the four world leaders above but 'Jenny From The Block' does take the piss.)