In 2007 I picked out my highlights of the punky year and put them in the news section of the site. Now I have decided to put them here - in a section all of their own and hopefully where they can stay as evidence of some darn good releases and performances by bands. So without further ado...

2009

PUNK PEDDLAR OF THE YEAR - Hey lets get straight down to it here and again give it to two riotous retailers. First I give a nod to good old Vincey boy at the Studs and Punks website. The initial embryo that has hit the cyberspace circuit seems destined to just get better and better and really is a nice piece bit of website design. It covers many areas of punk and most importantly peddles the underdog. He's a grand lad with a decent attitude and that will do for me. Hopefully the site can grow and grow and he can really shift some arses into action. Nice one fellar and keep crackin' away. On the promoter front look no further than Punkined the unassuming punker that puts on gigs for all the right reasons. Great nights out, great value, great lad - hows that! By the way that's two years in a row mate - the pressures on for 2010.

BAND OF THE YEAR - To be honest the band I am picking this year are always in my thoughts and really get sold short by this fuckin' scene. Great people with no egos, no pretensions and no attitude and really supportive of each and every gig they attend. Always willing to supply gear, always hanging around watching other bands and always good company. They are not outgoing in yer face twats but a bunch of honest lads just trying to spread some good music and give people a darn good time. The music they write is subtle genius and put together with consideration to both melody and lyrical content. The band is Most Likely To Fail and Joel, Martin, Dave, Sean and Paul I thank you for being great lads, keeping the faith and carrying on despite the odds stacked against. Through thick and thin I hope we can carry on and I hope a few more punk peddlars will showcase these guys and enjoy everything they do. It has been my pleasure and these guys are the ultimate SAS band. Do yourself a favour - check em' out in 2010. I may (most probably will) achieve very little with the SAS Tour but one success for me is meeting this crew - the small things essentially matter - fuck the empty flash trash so many seek - I know the score!

MOST OVERLOOKED AND UNDER-RATED OUTFIT - Fuckin' hell the way punk scene is there are many bands I could give this too. Unfortunately I am only going to pick one and that is to be the mightiliy impressive 3 Black Dwarfs. A very talented crew who have tampered with their line-up but never paused in the progress they are making. All they need now is to just spend 12 months basically playing here, there and everywhere and just getting their name spread even further and than move it up a notch. The bands style may not be orthodox punk rock and that, as well as their excellent musical application, gives them my vote. Don't just take my word for it though check em' out on Myspace and then in the 'live' arena you scumbags.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR - Much deliberation has been taken over this years choice (as is the norm) and it really has been a close run thing. Dun2Def, The Murderburgers, Citizen Keyne and Crashed Out amongst many others all had a shout in the final melee but, and perhaps controversially, I am opting for an album that mixes streetwise attitude, skanking reggae accuracy and cheeky chappie nouse and comes out smelling of roses. 'Keep On Keepin' On' is an overlooked classic and really was a pleasure to review. Add to this a nod of agreement from my wife and daughter and it seems the album has scope to transcend many boundaries. I like it and despite the disagreement that may come my way am sticking with it. Seriously - check this one out and listen with an open ear. The band by the way are called DILE and 2010 could be a very bright year indeed for this impressive crew.

PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR - There has been, as usual, some darn good shit to view in the underdog arena and so I have the same self-inflicted annual struggle when it comes to pinpointing one very special outburst that deserves this accolade. Kings of the Delmar have put in a couple of exquisite bursts and The Murderburgers headlined the SAS Spillage with aplomb. The Stopouts impressed me big time in Bradford and Citizen Keyne gave me a great memory from the SAS 3 dayer. The Kingcrows deserve a mention because they are bloody good as do the consistently pleasing Most Likely To Fail. The Terrors, The Senton Bombs and the Pop Fosters raised my spirits but the one stand out effort has to go to the Madri Gras Bombers and their stunning set at The Retro Bar back in late summer. This embryonic band knocked me for six with my initial viewing but this was a real treat. 2010 looks a big year for these twats as long as they do not over-expose themselves - they get my support whatever they do - quality in abundance!.

SONG OF THE YEAR - Once again I have heard some really impressive stuff this past twelve months with 'Sick Scum and Apathy' by Born To Destruct, 'The Murderers Shoe' by Wonk Unit, 'Stop Staring At Me' by The Murderburgers and 'Come And Get It' by Freedom Faction all worthy of note. There are a whole lot more than this but one song that has stood out from the pack and is nothing short of an anthem and like I have said on many occasions - if this was written by a so called bigger band the adulation and sycophantic nonsense would be pouring the bands way. In case you are curious the band is Citizen Keyne and the song is the quite magnificent 'Stand Proud'.

2008

SONG OF THE YEAR - 'This Town' by Wild Trash, 'Junkfood Generation' by Mispelt 2.0, 'A Country Fit For Heroes' by Gimpfist, 'Bastard' by The Scabs, 'All One Riff' by May Contain Nuts are all pipped at the punky post by a real emotional piece of gifted punkology. The song deals with subject mater rarely touch upon and the heartfelt upset and eventual defiance comes across by the bucketload. 'Time To Go' by One Man Stand is a great song from a band who never get the credit they deserve - well in this instance they do and I am well proud of em'.

BAND OF THE YEAR - 2 Sick Monkeys - why not indeed - hard work, great noise and no fuckin' pretensions - that'll do for me. Just released their best shit to date as well so next year these guys could finally get their just rewards.

PUNK PEDDLAR OF THE YEAR - A last minute inclusion this one and it goes to two great promoters and peddlars of the cause. Firstly Dean 'Slit Boy' Diggle of Slit Records. A fuckin' great lad who is reawakening the Manchester scene with some crackin' gigs. He's making slow and steady progress and his 2009 gigs deserve support for the fact that they are quality and done for the right reasons. The other joint winner is a real Spit and Sawdust urchin who does it for the sheer love of it - Bradfords finest Punkined (aka Leon). Loves his punk and has no hidden agenda and is one of the few genuine 'erberts I meet on the scene - can't fault him. He helped The Shay in Halifax put on some stunners and now he has got a new venue on the go and if there is any justice these gigs should be fuckin' rammed. Support these two fine pushers of the punk drug and the future will be healthier by far. I for one am proud to know these guys and will help their cause all I can - respect!

ALBUM OF THE YEAR - I have seen a lot of codswallop lately about this album and that album getting pushed for an accolade here and there due to it being released by a big name. Well fuck that - the album of the year for me goes to D' Corner Bois/Barse split 'Everything's A Mess'. This is fuckin' brilliant and combines two bands with very different flavours but both oozing punk spirit. There ain't one bad song on the whole album and that for me is something very special. There is a review here on my site on Page 25 of the CD reviews - check it out. Mention must be made to several other gems who were in the mix namely by One Man Stand, The Scabs, Gimp Fist and The Murderburgers - maybe next time but full marks for some real stunning efforts.

GIG OF THE YEAR - Well I will get stick for this I suppose but I really couldn't give a toss. The SAS afternoon gig at The Thatched House recently really raised my spirits as did the Bradford SAS gig a few weeks before. But, once again, the 3 dayer at The Thatched House in Stockport was a personal high. I put on gigs that I want to enjoy and this I surely did. Lots of personal faves and plenty of variety - it was a pleasure throughout.

MOST OVERLOOKED AND UNDER-RATED OUTFIT - Well this is a tough one but I am going to opt for a real classy outfit who go by the name of The Senton Bombs. When I first saw these I was of the opinion that they were just OK. Don't ever be fooled by first impressions - these guys fuckin' rock and have really blew me off my feet with their cultured songs that are blasted out with both barrels blazing. Unorthodox and emanating a classy edge that really has pleased me no end this year. Check em' out as soon as you can - you won't be disappointed and if you are see them a few more times to really get to grips with their heavy duty artillery.

PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR - 3 performances stand out that really made an impression for me. 2 Sick Monkeys rattled off a blasting set despite only 2 punters being present at The Dog and Partridge in Bolton and that for me highlights belief to the cause. In fact this was the best I'd seen 2SM (and that is saying something) so there really isn't much to add. Flat Back Four have just produced a fuckin' gem at The Thatched House in Stockport with the most organised and well delivered outpouring I have seen them do. I knew they were capable of attaining new highs and the work I have done with these guys has been plentiful and when you see performances of this stature it makes one real proud. The pick of the year though goes to Mispelt 2.0 for their soul raising effort at The Mannville Arms in Bradford where they lifted my lowly spirits with the scene no end by dishing out a set with faultless energy and accuracy. Add to this the fact that every song I deemed a pleasure and with the new lead vocalist Gen being a delight to watch you will know why I have opted for this lot. The fact also that all the other bands on the bill played a solid set made the finishing shine that little bit brighter. Oh and my young daughter thought they were ace too.

OVERSEAS ALBUM OF THE YEAR - Vaporised My Brain by The Mome Raths - because the blend of the simplistic innocence, pop punky edge and darn fine melodies all verge on a garage-esque sound which adds a subtle rawness and beauty to each and every track. This is indeed a disc to savour over and over again and with only a hundred copies in distribution I do consider myself extremely fortunate. A hidden diamond for punkers of all leanings and ages.

2007

ALBUM OF THE YEAR - Persecute The Weak, Control The Strong by Riot Squad - This really made my hair (what's left of it) stand on end. If you are going to be full-on and raucous then this is the way to do it. A full album of balls-out, throat shredding violence that is a classic of its kind. Utterly faultless and one of the highs of punk history.

SONG OF THE YEAR - More War Stories by Gimpfist - a simply superb offering that captures both old and new influences in one quality track. If The Clash would have wrote this number then it would have been deemed a classic by the entire punk community - for me it still is. Now go check it out somewhere or buy the latest Slit and Sawdust compilation where this track features. Really proud to have this song as part of the CD! Couldn't believe my luck when they agreed to it but there you go - a nice early Christmas present for me!

BAND OF THE YEAR - Well after much debating and consideration I have come to a conclusion about who deserves to be be given the fungalpunk title. It goes, most deservedly to The Shadowcops. The reasons are many but for four young 'erberts to stay so level headed and approachable and produce such a sonic blast of rampaging riffage as this has truly left my jaw on the ground at every performance. They really are a stunning outfit and time and again they amaze me with the energy and power soaked performance.

GIG OF THE YEAR - well without being biased it has to be the 3 day SAS fest at The Thatched House in Stockport. The reason is simply because all bands contributed some excellent performances, the gig ran as smooth as butter and the beer was abundant.

MOST OVERLOOKED AND UNDER-RATED OUTFIT - must surely go to Most Likely To Fail. I love this outfit and the song writing and composure is second to none. Great guys too which is always a bonus and surely things can only get better for this fantastic band in 2008. In fact add these lot to myspace friends now by going to http://www.myspace.com/mostlikelytofail.  

PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR - its gotta be The Objex for two crackerjack shows at Manchester and especially Bradford. The music was a tight and efficient show with enough on-stage passion to match. A cracking band and definitely ones to go and see again when they are over this way.