For me the musical year revolved around two men, one Mr. Nick Cave and one Mr. Cathal Coughlan. Both are God, if this is possible.

Cave’s ‘The Good Sun’ and Coughlan’s ‘Viva Dead Ponies’ were the albums of the year – my opinion on which is better changes daily and is consistent with whatever side of the bed I happen to struggle out of each morning. We also had LPs for the time capsule from The Chills, Happy Mondays, Public Enemy, Jane’s Addiction, Robert Foster, Galazie 500, That Petrol Emotion, The Fall, The Rollins Band and Ride. I could have mentioned A House’s ‘I Want Too Much’ in there as well but I wanted to give them a sentence of their own because they are lovely and it is special and they have commendably bad skin.

Gigs? Where to begin? Nick Cave at Reading: the best thing ever. The Blue Nile at the Gaiety. Whipping Boy everywhere. The Petrols everywhere. Fatima Mansions and Inspiral Carpets at McGonagles. Billy Bragg at the Olympia. The Charlatans at the Top Hat. The unfairly ridiculed Adamski at The Point’s Get Fresh, who were far, far better than an underpar James. James themselves at Glastonbury and The HMV shop in London, Rollins Band in Paris. A House at UCD.

The downside: Prince was crap, My Bloody Valentine and Fugazi disappointing. The Daintees and The Bunnymen embarrassing,Technotronic just plain appaling and Ride indescribably awful. Lord John White played some terrific gigs, release the fabbest domestic single of the year and deserve to be huge, so wake up, Lush’s luscious ‘Deluxe’ was the song of the year and they were wonderful at Glastonbury. The Harvest Ministers rose from the dead with the standout tracks on the latest Danceline compilation and the promise of life shows soon. Engine Alley appeared and shone like the stars they are destined to be. The Divine Comedy and Therapy? led the northern invasion with Therapy? led the northern invasion with Therapy? making my ears bleed just a day or two ago.

Above all though, 1990 was the year I stood in a muddy Somerset field, gazed openmouthed at an American band called Galaxie 500 and blubbed into a monogrammed handkerchief. May ’91 bring many such moments and the first division title to Leeds. Oh yeah, The Stars Of Heaven split up this year, you are personally responsible and I hate you. But have a good Christmas anyway.