Snore. Standard "rock journalism". The only thing missing was the word "seminal".

History is written by the winners. But the history of rock is written by the losers.

I’m highly impressed by the poetic descriptions contained in this piece, such as “a broken down rooster in a jumpsuit”, and “with a face like the worn tread of a Doc Marten boot”.

How completely non-abusive, and I wonder if the author would like the same to be said about her.

But it reminds me of the time I lodged a complaint with a radio station after their announcer said that the “Wiggles” were “past it” and “no longer spunky”.

My complaint was that the music of the “Wiggles” was the most important thing, not their age or their looks.

This article makes a great change from the regular. My pick for the song of the last 25 years is 'Hurt' by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. Not his version however, but the Johnny Cash version. Cash understands these lyrics in a way that Trent does not, and kills me whenever I hear it. A great lament, an existential cry, a heart rending few minutes.

And a beautiful video to accompany the song.

Kylies na na na na na na na is a highpoint in pop music of the last 20 years- close to perfect pop and the equal of anything The Archies ever did.

In Oz, Dave McComb and the GoBs and more recently The Drones have created great, great songs in this time.

I am with you Palimpsest. Hurt covered by J Cash is one of the most outstanding songs of the last 25 years. Gillian Welch 'The Revelator' is prob my all time fav song. I would love someone to introduce me to something that tops that!

Palimpset - you took the words right outta my mouth: great to have an article like this - though the inclusion even of the thought of The Wiggles (?) into the thread shows that this is obviously not the start of a trend.

Music being as subjective as it is its a mammoth task to choose the absolute best but still...Robbie Williams?

Have never considered those three little bars in quite the same light as gone into here and would have thought, if we're talking such technicalities, that Wuthering Heights had it all over Love Will Tear Us Apart. But then Kate isn't exactly a dance music kinda gal.

For my money, just about any track from The Streets first album would be one of the greatest songs to come out of the last 25 years which, I have to agree with the author, is not exactly a stella period. And if we are going to talk technicalities the broken rhythms, the infusion of British rap, the mysticism of the language on, say the first track, ... there's been nothing to touch it.

bfg, Revalator is one of my favorites too. Also love Dear Someone from the same album, think of it as a modern lullaby. The record is a beaut: EP Blues and Ruination Day/April the 14th, My First Lover and Everything is Free. All fantastic songs. And great live.

Kate Bush was cute, but the country gals Lucinda Williams, Gillian, Shelby Lynne and EmmyLou blow all other female contenders out of the water in the recent past.

Robbie Williams? Stickytape on a ducks arse.