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[Concept]: blather on about some sort of predictions for the year 2001.

[Reason]: boredom.

[Execution]: as follows...

We were all a bit disappointed that BJORK didn't get an Academy Award nomination for her role in "Dancer in the Dark," but it's redemption time. Because of her nomination for Song of the Year, the Academy has announced today that Bjork will be performing "I've Seen It All" live at the Oscar ceremonies on March 25th. It's our understanding that Bjork will be accompanied by a 55-piece orchestra for the performance, but there's still no word about who, if anyone, will handle the male vocals on the track, which was performed on the adapted soundtrack by Radiohead's Thom Yorke.

We don't have dates confirmed yet, but our new Icelandic heroes SIGUR ROS are prepping for their very first American tour, according to NME. We'll keep our eyes peeled for an official announcement from the band, and as soon as dates start appearing, we'll have them here...

We're finally going to see a release of PLACEBO's Black Market Music album. It will be release on May 15th by Virgin. A US tour is also being planned around the release.

Get ready for one of the greatest promotions machines in the music world to get rolling again, as DEPECHE MODE have kicked into the hype for their upcoming record "Exciter." Starting today, you can log onto the band's official website, www.depechemode.com, and hear excerpts from the band's new material. Today's excerpt appears to be, erm, six seconds of a cappella vocals. The album is slated for European release on May 14, and in the States the following day.

Well, it finally seems as if the holiday lull is starting to end, and musicians and promoters are finally getting back to... well... music and promoting. Today brings news that June 4th is to be declared a Sacred Day of Release, as RADIOHEAD will be unveiling their new album, "Amnesiac." News of the confirmed release date spread across the Net like mad today, until a spokesman confirmed the date this afternoon. We don't know as of yet whether the album will have a simultaneous US release, but of course, we'll let you know.

THE MANIC STREET PREACHERS have unveiled both of their forthcoming new singles this week. One of the two a-sides, "So Why So Sad," is currently available for listen in its entirety on NME, and, boy, it's a bit odd (but we think in a good way.) The other a-side, "Found That Soul," has been given a 30 second sneak clip at the band's official website. As we reported earlier, both singles will be released on the same day in the UK (a rather unusual move) - on March 5th.

The end of the year column is always sort of a pain in the arse to do, 'cause (a) it's easily the longest column I write every year, and (b) it's a tough column to put into words. I'm not a music critic - that much is self-evident. What I am is a music FAN. And when I hear something I like, it's really tough for me to justify that inner "like" about a record. I simply like it, and that's that. The joy of music isn't a joy that can easily be put into words, otherwise we'd be a Book of the Month website... music brings an inner joy - something that's a couple shades outside the realm of normal thought processes. And what I'd really like to do is simply force all of you guys to listen to all of my favorite records, and, of course, force you to like them as well. It'd make my job a lot easier... cause essentially what I have to do now is not only talk about the 25 records that really made 2000 happen for me, I also have to sell you on them. You already know these are gonna be positive reviews... all I have to do is make my pitch as to why you should go buy them, listen to them, and snag some pretty good emotions from 'em. Sounds easy, right? Well, wish me luck...
But before I turn into Casey and do my countdown, a couple words about the Year In Music 2000:

"NOT BAD."

     Quiet. Compartmentalizing Of Music According To The Christian Calendar System going on here. And you, at the back -- yes, you -- check out the Top 10 Records of 2000:

Well, we're still here. No Y2K catastrophies. No apocalypses. No second comings, unless you're talking about Travis. 2000 wasn't the last year of our lives, just as 2001 likely won't be the year we make contact. In fact, 2000 might only be known throughout the annals of time as "The Year Radiohead Made That One Album... You Know, The Weird One."

But... for all the hubbub (or lack thereof,) what we DID end up with was a pretty good year for music overall. Lots of new heroes, lots of returning champions, lots of great tunes from both sides of the Atlantic.