I'd say 1998 was solid, not weak. Just not as many career peaks from certain artists as other years.
― Fastnbulbous, Thursday, 20 August 2015 12:50 (eight years ago) link
Just looking down this list and it's a pretty stellar year for me: GY!BE, BoC, Beta Band, Hollis, the Necks, Gastr Del Sol, Tortoise, the Rev, Gas, Gang Starr, Cat Power, B&S, Dirty Three, Sparklehorse, Plastikman, Sophia, Bang on a Can/Eno...
I'd probably go with the GY!BE from this list, though the Dylan bootleg is the obvious standout.
― Poacher (Chinaski), Thursday, 20 August 2015 12:58 (eight years ago) link
Best albums not featured here:
Royal Trux - AcceleratorCat Power - Moon PixGastr Del Sol - CamoufleurOval - DokSpinanes - Arches and AislesSolex - Solex Vs. The HitmeisterSpoon - A Series Of SneaksSugar Plant - Happy800 Cherries - RomanticoFantastic Plastic Machine - LuxuryJeff Buckley - Sketches From My Sweetheart The Drunk
...and Goldie - Saturnz Return which, yes, I do actually like and which, yes, I do realize invalidates my opinion on everything else I listed so get off my case already jeez.
― Do you have or use horses? (Old Lunch), Thursday, 20 August 2015 13:02 (eight years ago) link
This has me listening to Mansun's Six at the moment. I doubt if I like any other rock from 1998 as much.
― jmm, Thursday, 20 August 2015 13:04 (eight years ago) link
Load of pretentious nonsense by a load of artless Britpop wannabes
(it's my album of the year too, it or Super Ae)
― Yul Brynner playing table tennis with a deviled kidney (imago), Thursday, 20 August 2015 13:06 (eight years ago) link
Numbnuts edit: I meant this list: http://rateyourmusic.com/charts/top/album/1998/1
― Poacher (Chinaski), Thursday, 20 August 2015 13:07 (eight years ago) link
Soul Coughing - El Oso
― frogbs, Thursday, 20 August 2015 13:09 (eight years ago) link
If we count Super Roots 7 as an album, mind you, then sheesh. Almost any year would be decided by that one
― Yul Brynner playing table tennis with a deviled kidney (imago), Thursday, 20 August 2015 13:09 (eight years ago) link
Aquemini in the easiest vote so far
― thom yorke state of mind (voodoo chili), Thursday, 20 August 2015 13:11 (eight years ago) link
TNT is a very important record to me
― ciderpress, Thursday, 20 August 2015 13:13 (eight years ago) link
As meh as this year was for albums, at least the most-acclaimed single of the year was one for the ages.
http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/1998s.htm
― Norse Jung (Eric H.), Thursday, 20 August 2015 13:15 (eight years ago) link
Mezzanine in a walk. My God what an amazing album.
― Mr. Snrub, Thursday, 20 August 2015 13:49 (eight years ago) link
That Neutral Milk Hotel album will never not be horrific wailing to me.― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, August 20, 2015 12:38 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post PermalinkIt will never not be horrific either.― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, August 20, 2015 12:40 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, August 20, 2015 12:38 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
It will never not be horrific either.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, August 20, 2015 12:40 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
OTM.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 20 August 2015 14:01 (eight years ago) link
all of these are fantastic and I could vote for any one of them:
1 119 Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill5 326 Massive Attack - Mezzanine7 435 Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children8 449 OutKast - Aquemini9 453 Madonna - Ray of Light10 475 Fatboy Slim - You've Come a Long Way, Baby15 881 The Beta Band - The Three EP's
These are very good:
13 794 Pulp - This Is Hardcore24 1531 PJ Harvey - Is This Desire?30 1838 Hole - Celebrity Skin32 2049 Queens of the Stone Age - Queens of the Stone Age
― I Am Curious (Dolezal) (DJP), Thursday, 20 August 2015 14:30 (eight years ago) link
I think the NMH album is good, and I'm allergic to abrasively-strummed acoustic guitar and nasal caterwauling.
― Stop counting smart one. (dog latin), Thursday, 20 August 2015 14:44 (eight years ago) link
I went with XO even though I think it's the weakest out of either/or though Figure 8.
― DavidLeeRoth, Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:03 (eight years ago) link
Is this desire is possibly my favourite album of all time (top three on any given day anyway), but I wish I could vote for Madonna too.
― Leonard Pine, Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:11 (eight years ago) link
As a cohesive album that I find really moving, the NMH hits the mark for me. That being said, I can see how many people would find it unlistenable. I voted for it...
― Sam Weller, Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:18 (eight years ago) link
Yeah same as Sam.
― Van Horn Street, Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:19 (eight years ago) link
i can see that too, although i don't get the how it's 'entry level alternative/indie', which is the complaint i often hear about it.
― Stop counting smart one. (dog latin), Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:21 (eight years ago) link
The complaint I make about it is that it's fucking horrific nails-down-chalkboard screaching and banging.
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:29 (eight years ago) link
Having never heard them before (and only being tangentially aware of them because of a Raygun article on Elephant 6), I saw NMH open for Superchunk in '97 or '98, and it's still one of the most amazing live performances I've ever seen. That said, the albums (Aeroplane in particular) are a pale shadow of the live show, and in terms of E6 albums NMH's are lower-tier for me.
― Do you have or use horses? (Old Lunch), Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:31 (eight years ago) link
"EYEEEEE LOVEEEE YOUUUUU JESUUUUS CHA-RIIIIiiIIIiiIiiiIIiiIIiIIiIIIiIIiiiIiiIIiiIIiIIST! JEEEEEESUS CHRIIIIIST EYEEEEEE LOOOOOOVE YOOOOOOOOOU YEAAAAYSSS EYEEEEEEE DOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooDOOOOOOOOOOO!"
*guy-with-hands-over-his-ears.jpg*
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:34 (eight years ago) link
that's like, 20 seconds of the whole thing.
― Stop counting smart one. (dog latin), Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:35 (eight years ago) link
"KEN LEEEEEEEEE! TULIBU-DIBU-DOUCHOOO!"
No, wait, that's a different track... easy to get mixed up, though.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:36 (eight years ago) link
so like,
Mansun - Six <<<fuck you alllllllBoredoms - Super Ae / Super Roots 7Earl Brutus - Tonight, You Are The Special OneHood - Rustic Houses, Forlorn ValleysQuickspace - Precious FallingDälek - Negro Necro Nekros <<<hip-hop taken to new levels iircHalf Man Half Biscuit - Four Lads Who Shook The WirralGorky's Zygotic Mynci - Gorky 5 <<<their first great album imoGorguts - ObscuraGanger - Hammock StyleAutechre - LP5 <<<not my favourite of theirs but it's still greatSix By Seven - The Things We MakeShellac - Terraform
― Yul Brynner playing table tennis with a deviled kidney (imago), Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:37 (eight years ago) link
and that's leaving off the Ulver William Blake album (which is worth a listen despite being absurdly cumbersome)
― Yul Brynner playing table tennis with a deviled kidney (imago), Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:39 (eight years ago) link
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Gorky 5 <<<their first great album imo
uh.... nope
― Stop counting smart one. (dog latin), Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:40 (eight years ago) link
Gorky 5 was the drop-off, IMO, so obviously I disagree.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:40 (eight years ago) link
Bwyd Time and Barafundle are brilliant compared to Gorky5 - that album is patchy as heck.
much better pastoral folk band than scuzzy britpop band imo
― Yul Brynner playing table tennis with a deviled kidney (imago), Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:41 (eight years ago) link
xpost:
Truth be told, I don't actually mind Gorky 5 and think it's got some good songs on it, but for me it doesn't come anywhere near Patio, Tatay, Bwyd Time and Barafundle.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:43 (eight years ago) link
Almost voted for Godspeed though I think that particular album's kind of dull. Luckily I saw Mark Hollis. Would have voted for Six if it was there though in hindsight it's overproduced to fuck.
― Hamsters of Misfortune (ultros ultros-ghali), Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:43 (eight years ago) link
"CAAAAAAATCHING SIIIIIGNAAAAAAAAALS THAT SOOOOOOUND IN THEEEEEEEE DAAAAAAAAARK!"
*nails-on-chalkboard.gif*
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:45 (eight years ago) link
oi, barafundle is not britpop you slanderous wretch
― feargal czukay (NickB), Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:47 (eight years ago) link
Looking at my iPod there is a ton of strong 1998 rock records not here:
Sonic Youth - A Thousand LeavesMyracle Brah - Life On Planet EartsnopLiz Phair - whitechocolatespaceeggSarge - The Glass IntactThe Glands - Double ThrillerRancid - Life Won't WaitQuasi - Featuring "Birds"Pearl Jam - YieldLocal H - Pack Up The CatsNada Surf - The Proximity EffectJohnny Cash - American 2Drive-By Truckers - GangstabillyCadallaca - Introducing CadallacaBlack Box Recorder - England Made Me
― kornrulez6969, Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:50 (eight years ago) link
oi, barafundle is not britpop you slanderous wretch― feargal czukay (NickB), Thursday, August 20, 2015 3:47 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― feargal czukay (NickB), Thursday, August 20, 2015 3:47 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
OTM, and neither are the three that came before it!
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:52 (eight years ago) link
oi, barafundle is not britpop you slanderous wretch― feargal czukay (NickB), Thursday, August 20, 2015 4:47 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― feargal czukay (NickB), Thursday, August 20, 2015 4:47 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
^ I'm actually really surprised by imago's take on this. Have you heard these albums? They're totally in your wheelhouse. Bwyd Time isn't exactly a million steps removed from a sort of folkier version of Cardiacs
― Stop counting smart one. (dog latin), Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:53 (eight years ago) link
manu chao's "clandestino" is superb, one of my favorite albums ever and is very important to me, too bad though that he never did anything else even close to the same universe as that one though. it has my vote.
aquemini is outstanding, my favorite outkast album
miseducation is amazing
i'm not really a belle and sebastian fan but "arab strap" is their best album imo
i don't really care about NMH, i enjoyed that album in college a lot but i don't have much use for it anymorei like BoC but i think are totally overrated in general, i had all their albums but eventually sold off every one except that "in a beautiful place" EP. they are great at ambiance and mood but their beats are corny and wack imo
that dylan bootleg series is all-time but i don't think it really counts as a "1998" album
― marcos, Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:57 (eight years ago) link
QOTSA and all associated acts are the most boring garbage to me
― marcos, Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:58 (eight years ago) link
is that the godspeed with "dead flag blues"? if so that is a good album
― marcos, Thursday, 20 August 2015 15:59 (eight years ago) link
Wait, there's a person who thinks End Hits is the best Fugazi album?
me
― insufficiently familiar with xgau's work to comment intelligently (BradNelson), Thursday, 20 August 2015 16:04 (eight years ago) link
I've sort of skim-listened both Bwyd Time and Barafundle - they've both got cool moments but it doesn't quite come together until later for me - perhaps I should give both albums another go.
Trust you all to take the corniest thing off my amazing list and make a big deal out of it. Pfah!
― Yul Brynner playing table tennis with a deviled kidney (imago), Thursday, 20 August 2015 16:10 (eight years ago) link
That Air album came out of nowhere and was massive that year. I'm sure I dismissed it at the time for being "coffee table music" or "yuppie sex music". I like it now though. That Massive Attack album might be their best. I remember smoking weed for the first time around Xmas 98 and I listened to 'Risingson' and I felt like I was sinking to the bottom of the ocean. I'll go for 'Deserters Songs" tho. It lacks the wildness the made early MR so great but it's a beautiful album for various different reasons.
― tayto fan (Michael B), Thursday, 20 August 2015 16:12 (eight years ago) link
I've sort of skim-listened both Bwyd Time and Barafundle - they've both got cool moments but it doesn't quite come together until later for me - perhaps I should give both albums another go.― Yul Brynner playing table tennis with a deviled kidney (imago), Thursday, August 20, 2015 4:10 PM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― Yul Brynner playing table tennis with a deviled kidney (imago), Thursday, August 20, 2015 4:10 PM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
You should give Patio and Tatay a go.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 20 August 2015 16:19 (eight years ago) link
I think I'm in the minority here but I think 10,000hz the legend is Air's best album. so proggy compared to moon safari, which is a nice chill record but also sounds a bit 'brie' in places
― Stop counting smart one. (dog latin), Thursday, 20 August 2015 16:28 (eight years ago) link
I'm with you on that one tbf
― Yul Brynner playing table tennis with a deviled kidney (imago), Thursday, 20 August 2015 16:30 (eight years ago) link
10,000hz Legend is great. I like a lot of Moon Safari but have never fully connected with it. I looooooove Premiers Symptômes, though.
― Do you have or use horses? (Old Lunch), Thursday, 20 August 2015 17:50 (eight years ago) link
Talkie Walkie is the only Air album I ever have any desire to hear.
― I Am Curious (Dolezal) (DJP), Thursday, 20 August 2015 17:54 (eight years ago) link
aw, it's nice enough but it's only got like 2 or 3 songs i'd call classics (cherry blossom girl is *extremely* classic, though, i'll grant, alpha beta gaga great too)
btw heads up, i've looked at the '99 list and hoo boy i'm gonna have a list of like not exaggerating 30+ albums i'd genuinely prefer to virtually all of them. get stoked ilm
― Yul Brynner playing table tennis with a deviled kidney (imago), Thursday, 20 August 2015 19:35 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAygQls6UNo
― rushomancy, Sunday, 30 August 2015 11:51 (eight years ago) link