Not gonna disagree with it because Gar is.. a)one of the few people on here who will have actually taken the time see most of the bands on the Dublin scene at the moment and.. b)likely to give a personal, non-cynical yet unbiased opinion (even if his tastes often differ from my own) It's a bit Dublin-centric but I suppose thats understandable, minor gripe aside - respect! Let the flame war over who really is the best Irish band begin! (but keep it civil please)

(retards) and Betamax Format wouldve been in there for mine... Really cant get my head around the Delorentos hysteria!

Ah of course - each to their own n all that but a lot of people really are singing their praises. ah well - thats just my opinion also I suppose. Few good smaller bands on their way up too and hopefully will get a chance to make some waves this year - Sick boy, Zealots, Dark Room Notes etc.

id have mainline in there aswell, i started off the year as not being a big fan but they have really grown on me. Hopefully theyl go that extra bit further this year!

bulls**t. No Givemanakick, or any of their Out On A Limb cohorts? Just call it Gars top ten bands in dublin and ditch the pretence that this is anything else.

The reason why The Marshals, Humanzi and Director are included, even though they are currently signed, is because the piece is meant to have followed each act throughout the whole year of 2005. Each of those bands rose from the underground scene and have gotten snapped up. Regarding the Dublin centric calls, I simply don't have the time to travel around the country to see every band. If I was getting paid to do so, I happily would. But I did consider numerous bands from outside of the capital - none impressed me more than the ten that are on the list though. Examples: Fred, Cartoon, Stanley Super 800 (Cork), Giveamanakick, God Is An Astronaut (Limerick), Lucas (Galway), The Flaws (Monagahan), Leya (Belfast), The Gurriers (Louth) were all really good but not great in my opinion. Aren't The Marshals from Athlone though? I've nothing against any particular genre or label (including Out On A Limb - I liked the new Giveamanakick album and looking forward to the new one from Waiting Room). It is simply just an opinion piece about the best acts that I've seen and heard, merely trying to highlight the best around right now. I would have made a Top 50 list if I was allowed but sure we'll have that sort of thing to Q Magazine.

Of course there is, as I said before I simply don't have the time and money to travel around the country. But I do what I can to stay in the know of the best emerging acts in Ireland. Just because I haven't littered the piece with acts from outside of Dublin, doesn't mean I am ignoring them - they do play Dublin aswell and release music here too. The ten I chose are simply the ten best I came across this year.

I have to say, Gar's piece struck me as unbiased and without bulls**t. Good choices, although personally, I would include Leya, The Immediate, Chuzzle and Neosupervital. Must check more stuff out from Director, don't really know them.