Top 33 of the Year.....Number 2.

Okay, so we've come this far and now let's just go for brevity now that the finishing line is in sight.

2. Women - Public Strain.
This was an incredibly difficult choice. I really wanted to put this record at number one just as a plea for the band not to split up after recent difficulties, but I decided to let the record speak for itself.

In any case, this is the second-best (so nearly best) record released this year that I've had the pleasure of hearing. An angular, angry, noisy, fuzzy, bleak beast of an album, sounding like it was recorded down a drain, but bursting with energy, excitement, harmony and terrific tunes.

The finest moment is the last track, 'Eyesore'. Tight, tense grooves finally give way to the most wonderful outtro riffing which you just want to go forever:



Hopefully not the last song we'll ever hear from Women. A talent too good to fall prey to the rigours of the road.