Well, these aren't really the most "musical" events. But these are events involving people working in the music industry. Did I mention I had brain surgery in July? Let's just be glad this year is over and that we get another year to do it right. That is, until 2012, when the world will--once again--end.

I am psyched!

25) The Death Of Ron Asheton: Beginning a trend that would include Lux Interior, Willy DeVille, Les Paul, Jay Bennett, Jim Dickinson, Jim Carroll, Ellie Greenwich, Sky Saxon, John Martyn...the list went on longer than you'd like and so few were of an age where you might expect it.

24) President Barack Obama's Inaugural Ball And The "We Are One" Celebration: Rock music back in Washington ! U2, Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Mellencamp and Shakira at the Lincoln Memorial and Beyonce singing a little "At Last" for the First Couple at the Inaugural Ball. What could go wrong?

23) Etta James Slams Beyonce: Oh boy. Beyonce played Etta James in the movie Cadillac Records and then

Now the question "Do You Remember 1999?" might seem a little insulting to some, but rest assured I am not intending to insult your memory. I know it was only 10 years ago. But without looking up specific release dates, I wouldn't know that many of these "happened" in 1999. Part of that is a weird phenomena, amongst myself, where I don't remember the years I lived through as well as the years I've read about--and I really don't remember the "adult" years like I do my teens.

1999 is a blur. All I really remember is the disappointment when Y2K hit and nothing happened. The banking system eventually nearly blew up, but it wasn't because of a couple of computer clocks going wonky.

You could easily convince me that many of these albums happened a year or two before or after their actual release dates.

They're not my 25 faves of the year or anything, but 25 that represent a skewered look at what was going on.

Be sure to list your faves. But double check those release dates. You might be

I didn't watch the CMAs. What's defined as "country music" these days mostly doesn't interest me. Once in a while I'll hear something labeled mainstream country I like, but I rarely think of it as "country." I usually file it with the rest of pop music, be it Britney Spears, the Black Eyed Peas or Rihanna. No big deal. But I start to feel like Steve Buscemi's character in Ghost World, where he goes to see an ancient bluesman and after the real thing is treated to Blueshammer. It might be someone's cup of preferred tea, but it's not what they think it is.

It's not a puritanical thing. I don't care that this music exists. Celebrate it all you want. But stop calling it country music. Call it Billy Joel. Call it Kiss. Throw a crapload of hyphens together and let it be that. Cosmopolitan-Country-Pop? If music is to continue, it has to cross-pollinate with other genres and these things will happen. The pop machine will determine the prettiest get the most votes. It's always been like that.

Scottish Singer and winner of--well she wasn't the winner of anything and that's kind of the point--Susan Boyle had her first album I Dreamed A Dream hitting QVC on November 5, three weeks before its official November 24 release. It's been noted that the album contains songs she clearly didn't write. Which in the days of Sinatra wouldn't be much to note. But ever since the Beatles and Bob Dylan--if not Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly before them--made it seem important that singers write their own material or else be considered losers, or uncreative types (or people with no hand in the publishing jar), it's forced people to write their own songs. A bit like the way you take a job in journalism and get sent out to sell ads.

Oddly, Bob Dylan's new album, Christmas In The Heart, is also covers (granted, Xmas tunes). Boyle's new one features such classics as the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses," Madonna's "You'll See," the Monkees' "Daydream Believer" and God's own "Silent Night" and "Amazing