The year in music

Justin Timberlake, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Beyonce are e+'s best of 2006

Music is personal business. My favourite, your nightmare. You hate, I love. It's hard to decide whether the commercial charts are worth listening to or not. If not, why are they so commercially popular in the first place?

The debate about what's good and what's not in music might never end. So doing a year-end countdown of the best and worst of music in 2006 is a daunting task, to say the least. However, in the name of fairness, we've only listed albums/tracks based on worldwide sales and chartplay.

What we've noticed this year is that rap, R&B and hip-hop have all made a huge impact. Rock, sadly, seems to be on its way out, while pop's undying charisma still linger.

But the biggest highlight of the year was not about musical genres, it's about the artistes. If there's one thing to be said about 2006, it's that it's been the year of comebacks.

Everyone from Take That to All Saints and Meatloaf saw to it that they were back in the charts on the hitlists. So, without further ado, we give you e+'s lists of the best and worst in the music bizz.

Top tracks of the year

You're Beautiful: James Blunt
With a voice this beautiful and lyrics so emotional, it's no wonder than Blunt won myriad awards for this work of art.

Sexyback: Justin Timberlake feat Timbaland
This one needs no introduction. We don't need to say why it's on this list. Everyone on Earth should know.

I Write Sins Not Tragedies: Panic At The Disco
Although at first listen it sounds very avant-garde, it's actually one of the best releases of the year and surely one that grows on you more with each listen.

Hips Don't Lie: Shakira feat Wycleff John
If it's good enough to be the main song performed at the FIFA World Cup finals, it's good enough to be on this list.

Déjà vu: Beyonce
Listen to this song. It's easy to see why it did as well as it did. Besides, it's Beyonce on the track with a little help from boyfriend Jay-Z. How could it not work?

Most annoying songs of the year

Stars Are Blind: Paris Hilton
The stars may be blind, but the critics surely aren't. Paris' debut song was an instantly annoying ditty that was dissed as soon as it was released.

London Bridge: Fergie
What we all thought was an innocent tune about Fergie's favourite landmark, turned into a dirty pop song about a threesome. But the worst bit is that it never was a good song to begin with.

Temperature: Sean Paul
Okay so this one's really catchy - but annoyingly so. Once you've heard it, you can't stop it running havoc in your mind all day. Just like Snoop's Drop It Like It's Hot.

Unfaithful: Rihanna
With lyrics such as I don't wanna hurt him anymore/ I don't wanna take away his life/ I don't wanna be a murderer, how can this song be anything but mindnumbingly annoying?

Buttons: Pussycat Dolls
If it wasn't for how they looked, with music this bad, they would never have made it.

Biggest comebacks of 2006

Take That
They've proved one thing. With or without Robbie Williams, Take That promise their fans that this time, they're back for good.

All Saints
The Appleton sisters are back to prove that girl bands still reign supreme.

Barry Manilow
Despite being one of the biggest names in the entertainment world, Barry Manilow had pulled the disappearing trick on his fans.

It wasn't until this year's appearance on American Idol and the launch of his new album, that fans and critics agreed that Barry was back - with a bang.

Best albums

Stadium Arcadium: Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Peppers are back with a new 2-disc live album, and they're hotter than ever.

FutureSex/ Love Sounds: Justin Timberlake
This was the album that made all the difference for Justin. From being a girly heartthrob, it transformed him into an artiste you have to respect.

B'Day: Beyonce
Released on the diva's birthday, it features catchy tracks and danceable rhythms from start to finish. Fans loved it and sales were well over expectations.

Corrine Bailey Rae: Corrine Bailey Rae
Out of nowhere came Corrine and just swept everyone off their feet. This is an album to treasure.

The Breakthrough: Mary J Blige
The lady is an an institution on her own and every album she releases sounds even better than the last. Although one of the first releases of the year, it's made an impression that has lasted a long time.