Playlist - Best of 2004

It's taken a while to get this list ready. These are the songs and albums that rocked my world in 2004. Please note that I'm using slightly unconventional and random categories because a) I felt like it and b) this ain't the Grammys!

• Best Pop Album: Keane - Hope & Fears
• Best Rock Album: Razorlight - Up All Night
• Best R&B Album: Joss Stone - Mind, Body & Soul
• Best Female Singer: Gwen Stefani
• Best Female Newcomer: Joss Stone
• Best New Band(s): Keane, Razorlight, Scissor Sisters
• Close but no cigar: Franz Ferdinand
• Kickass Rock single: Green Day - American Idiot
• Future Classic Rock track: Libertines - Can't Stand Me Now, Runner Up: Velvet Revolver - Fall to Pieces
• Most Welcome Return to Form: U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, Runner Up: ليلي نهاري - عمرو دياب (the album)
• Best Dance Track: Martin Solveig - Rocking Music, Runner Up: Shapeshifters - Lola's Theme
• Best Hip-Hop track: The Roots - I Don't Care, Runner Up: LL Cool J - Hush
• Best R&B Single: Mario Winans - I Don't Wanna Know
• Obscure R&B ballad: Sweetback - Lover
• Best for lazy afternoons: Bebel Gilberto
• Sexiest Arabic song: آه ونص - نانسي عجرم, Runner Up: ليلي نهاري - عمرو دياب (the song, not the singer!)
• Heartbreaking Arabic song: كل القصايد - مروان خوري
• Unexpected Great Arabic song: وبعيد - سعود ابو سلطان
• Guilty Pleasure: Girls Aloud - What Will the Neighbors Say?
• Unexpected Great Single: Britney Spears - Toxic (who knew?)
• Sexiest Single: Christina Milian - Dip It Low
• Overlooked Soul/House track: Amp Fiddler - Superficial
• Warm Band from Freezing Climate: Iceland's The Honeymoon - Dialogue
• Party Starter: Michael Gray - The Weekend
• Booty Shaker: Nina Sky - Move Ya Body
• Best Lounge CD: L Restaurant & Bar - Ralph & Elie from REG Project
• Most Bizarre Duet: William Shatner with Joe Jackson - Common People
• Best Dance/Rock hybrid: Deep Dish - Flashdance
• Best French Band: Phoenix - Alphabetical
• Best Cover Version: Scissor Sisters - Comfortably Numb
• Wittiest Video: Kings of Convenience - I'd Rather Dance With You
• Best Christmas Single: Jimmy Eat World - Last Christmas
• Best Live Show: Madonna - Reinvention Tour (which I saw live) Runner Up: Scissor Sisters (on DVD)

I'm sure I've forgotten something, but the list almost sums up my personal music highlights for 2004.

Would you like a Worst of 2004 list too? Because God knows there was plenty of garbage this past year!!