2002 - "Love At First Sight" - Kylie Minogue

Guilty pleasure alert! Even us new wavers slash old ravers need a piece of bubble gum every now and then. This track is so nostalgic yet futuristic; it's Daft Punk meets the disco. 

After the 9-11 hangover, a lot of us needed a bit of optimism. Despite the throwaway lyrics, "Love at First Sight" tosses a little magic in the air and binges on a pulsating groove. A cozy brand of infectious pop perfection.

The video reinforced my love for excel spreadsheets. Kylie, I can't get you out of my head.  

Other favourites from 2002: 

"Brother Down" – Sam Roberts 

"Here Is Gone" - Goo Goo Dolls

"Easy" - Groove Armada 

"Trains" – Porcupine Tree 

"Hella Good" – No Doubt 

2001 - "Wish You Were Here" - Incubus

The atmospheric intro grabs my attention, the acoustic and electric guitar interplay create texture, the sprinkling of old school scratching a little razzle-dazzle. Add dreamy verses and a dramatic singalong chorus and voilà, repeated plays.

A relaxed drum arrangement helps express complete contentment, and the alternating mellow verses provide the yin to the more intense yang that is the yearning in the chorus. 

Other favourites from 2001: 

"Lady" – Modjo

"Imitation of Life" - R.E.M.

"Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" – Daft Punk 

"Short Skirt/Long Jacket" – Cake 

"The Other Man" - Sloan

2000 - "Everything In Its Right Place" - Radiohead

Radiohead trades in the guitars for synths to kick start the new millennium. Mesmerized by those opening melodic synth chords in the opening scene in the underrated "Vanilla Sky" film, this hypnotic track is still a trip worth taking.

"Everything In Its Right Place" also opened Radiohead's "Kid A" album, signaling their foray into electronica.

This is a headphones kind of tune. A strong, hypnotic melody mixes with a paranoid vocal samples and electric piano; it's the collision of warm and cold.

Everything about this track is amazing. Everything in its right place, indeed!

Other favourites from 2000: 

"In A Beautiful Place Out in the Country" – Boards of Canada

"One More Time" – Daft Punk

"Sour Girl" – Stone Temple Pilots

"Beautiful Day" – U2 

"Porcelain" - Moby

1999 - "One Man Army" - Our Lady Peace

Lead singer Raine Wilson shows off his vocal and emotional range as he howls, yodels and utters random utterings (twitch!) all the way through "One Man Army".

While the driving bass hooks and the guitar melody rocks, it's the high energy chorus that makes this track for me. A perpetual running fave, best saved when I need an extra gear to grind through the middle miles. 

Other favourites from 1999: 

"Steal My Sunshine" – Len

"Praise You" – Fatboy Slim

"Learning to Fly" – Foo Fighters

"Les Nuits" – Nightmares on Wax

1998 - "I Think I'm Paranoid" - Garbage

Grungy electronica me likey. 

Near the top of the list of groups I've always to want to see live, I've been a fan of Garbage since they debuted in 1995. Their trademark fusion of rock and electronica is epitomized on this track with its big production and a fat chorus.

Shirley Manson's versatility and vulnerability are on full display.

Other favourites from 1998: 

"Angel" – Massive Attack

"Frozen" - Madonna

"I Think I'm Paranoid" - Garbage

"Push It" – Garbage

"Ava Adore" – The Smashing Pumpkins

"La Femme d'Argent" – Air