2000:10 – Corky’s dizaine

In a definite boost for the stuttering top 10 of the decade series (resuming soon! - I told you it would take all year), City fan and Leeds’ finest Corky offers an inspiring top 10, full of regional detail and free of London insular bias. LCD, the 'Werk and !!! among them - this is getting the compi fingers itching now.

You can socially network with him on mespace and facebonk, but for now, forsake the (very well articulated) hate to feel the love.

1. LOSING MY EDGE – LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
The tale of the ageing hipster, been there, done that, got it on white-label, being overtaken by the kids with their downloaded knowledge. A simple, driving basslines, a droll monotone vocal, a list of great bands, great records, great times. Still on heavy rotation on my iPod after six years. And yes, I bought it on import before you did. I was there.

2. HOUSE OF JEALOUS LOVERS - THE RAPTURE
Before I heard this there were only two records guaranteed to get me onto the dancefloor. Now there are three. It reminds me of Friday nights at the Cockpit, drunken euphoric nights, sambuca, chain-smoking, too much dry ice. The Rapture morphed from neo-goth to punk-funk to dancefloor killers and this, sadly, was their apex, a great live band as well.

3. VITAMIN – KRAFTWERK
I was shocked when Kraftwerk announced that they were finally going to release a new album after 17 years. 17 years that had seen a remix album and the Expo single – levels of productivity that made the Stone Roses look like workaholics. The Tour de France single was ok but it was with some trepidation that I approached the album. I wasn’t disappointed and this, for me, is the standout track on the album – typical Kraftwerk, a seemingly mundane lyric (a list of vitamins and minerals ) repeated over a simple, echoey beat. It's as good as anything as Kraftwerk have ever done and, like all their best stuff, it's timeless and otherwordly.

4. SHE’S HEARING VOICES – BLOC PARTY (ep version, not album)
Bloc Party’s first and finest moment came to me via the first Art Goes Pop compilation. Punky, funky, shouty, angular, insistent – you know the words. Doesn’t sound like Gang of Four, despite the media insistence that it does. Every Bloc Party release since this one has been a pale imitation, I try to like them but they just don’t move me or make me want to move.

5. SINKING – CRYSTAL STILTS
A grower. The Stilts were recommended to me by Matt at Jumbo Records and at first listen I was disappointed – it just sounded too lo-fi, a pastiche of early Mary Chain and sundry C86 fodder. By the third listen I was hooked, yeah it sounds like it was recorded in a dustbin but its soooo beautiful and simple that it wormed its way into my heart and stayed there. Catch them live, if you can – short and shambolic.

6. PDA – INTERPOL
The early 80s of the Chameleons, Bunnymen & Joy Division distilled into five minutes of perfect pop. Wear black, gel your hair, scowl and get your ass onto the dancefloor. Apparently they have 200 couches, go figure.

7. NOTHING EVER HAPPENS – DEERHUNTER
The most played song on my iPod, single of the year 2009, best live band I’ve seen in an age. I find Deerhunter hard to define, they remind me of many things and yet they remind me of nothing. If there was any justice, Deerhunter would be massive and Bono would be found dead in a wardrobe. Sadly, there is no justice.

8. FUCK THE PAIN AWAY – PEACHES
“Sucking on my titties like you wanted me, calling me, all the time like Blondie, check out my chrissy behind It's fine all of the time. Like sex on the beaches what else is in the teaches of peaches? Huh? What?” What’s not to love?

9. BIOLOGY – GIRLS ALOUD
If you are just gonna be a snob about Girls Aloud because they are a ‘manufactured group’, well you can go fuck yourself. Pop music has always been manufactured and reality tv has given it a transparency that doesn’t diminish the end product. Girls Aloud make great pop records and this is one of their finest. It's a strange record, it's three records in one, it makes no sense and yet it works on every level.

10. ME & GULIANI DOWN BY THE SCHOOLYARD- !!!
Chk Chk Chk put the funk in the punk funk revival. I’ve run out of things to say. Buy all these records. Now.

Honourable mentions to School of Seven Bells, Wavves, Navvy, Mekon, the Rakes, Clor, Hot Hot Heat, South Central etc etc.

Expect more reader charts and comments as the 2000:10 progresses.