All the other girls are still at war

It's that time of the year when every other TV or radio show is some god-forsaken retrospective of things that happened in the year and what people were listening to and reading. I have to confess that I actually find some of these quite useful because they often point out good albums or books that I may have missed so I thought I'd pick out some of my personal highlights. Unlike other such lists almost none of the works on this list were released in 2004.

The Glenatron Awards 2004

• Best Album: The Decline of British Sea Power - I bought it in 2003 but somehow it only took over my brain this year with it's combination of fantastic tunes and unique identity.


• Best Film: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King - another that began in 2003 but came into it's own with the extended edition this year.


• Best Book: The Shining Company by Rosemary Sutcliffe. I picked this up in passing last January and having no preconceptions it completely swept me away. Set in the 7th century it is a story of a young man who becomes a squire in an elite celtic strike force sent to perform a pre-emptive strike on the saxon army before they can sweep away the final resistance in northern britain. She is most famous for her childrens stories about roman britain- you are most likely to have read The Eagle Of The Ninth- and although this is also aimed at the younger reader it is uncompromising in it's storytelling.


• Best Game: Half Life 2 - classic gameplay, classic design, very immersive but best of all very Half Life. Someone should breed this game with Deus Ex immediately as the offspring of the two would be ultimate. I also completed Warcraft 3 which had a fantastic story and solid gameplay and Lou and I played a lot of co-op Neverwinter Nights which is a bit D&D at times but pretty good- decent games that can be played co-operatively are really at a premium currently so anything like that is nice.


• Best Gig: Wilde Theatre Unsigned Showcase - not sure if that is the correct name, but the show we played in mid-july was absolutely outstanding- particularly the two bands above us on the bill, Wire Jesus and Big Wednesday were both fantastic. If you get the chance to see either of them you should take it. Also, if you get the chance to see us you should take it, but you knew that already.


• Highlight of the year in general: I got married to the girl I adore. That may well turn out to be the highlight of my life. Best idea ever.

So there we go, congratulations to the winners, commiserations to the losers, many of which may have been winners in any other year and here's hoping that whatever happens next year has as much to offer...