This is one that I will definitely try to find.

1998, I was eighteen. Just started my freshman year of college. I hadn't opened my eyes to the world outside of mainstream radio yet. But the seeds were planted. And 1999-2000 marks my entry into indiedom. Maybe since this was my last year in the mainstream, I never really revisited this year to discover albums I missed by my ignorance.

However, I'll say that Pearl Jam - Yield is one of their better albums and one of the albums I listened to most that year.

In terms of things that Obners might not have heard - Robert Earl Keen's Walking Distance is a mixed bag but offers a couple of his better songs. Including my favorite song of his, "Feels So Good Feeling Good Again."

I'll also second Derris's approximation that Mermaid Avenue is one of the better things Wilco has ever done. I relistened to it recently and it held up.

I'm surprised you're not already familiar with it. Pretty sure you'll like just about all of Gastr del Sol's stuff.

Jenny Mae followed the extremely lo-fi sorta charming alcoholic mess of There's A Bar Around the Corner... Assholes with this far more accomplished work. She assembled a decent band behind her, one that could follow her down whatever attention deficit disorderly path she stumbled upon, so it all worked whether it was the sluggish torch of "Ho Bitch" or the funk of "Dairy Boy" or the slightly shoegazer rock of "Drapes" or the warped country of "Tunis Loomis". This is one of those albums that not many people have even heard of, but most people on this board would probably love or, at least, like.




After the dissolution of the Raspberries following 1974's Starting Over, bassist/vocalist Scott McCarl waited a quarter of a century before releasing anything else. I can't say Play On was worth the wait - that's a looooooong wait - but it's strong enough that it makes one wonder why McCarl has been so coy about his talent over the years. Any fans of the Raspberries, Badfinger, and, of course, the Beatles would enjoy this thoroughly.



Often negatively and unfairly compared to the Pixies, Sunset Valley traffic in what used to be called power pop; though it's power pop infused with a slyly avant-garde twist. This is an album of minor glories. I'm not sure what mainman Herman Jolly is singing about in "Blanketville", but the way the joyously jumpy rhythm stops dead for the panted chorus of "you make me disbelieve in time", which in turn leads into the almost comically exaggerated guitar hook, makes me want to bundle the song up in chocolate and send it out as a Valentine. It may be too noisy and strange for pop fans and too pop for most indie scenesters, but Sunset Valley occupies that thankless middleground like a true underdog.



At this point, you're either on the Fleshtones train or you're fatally flawed as a human being, and even though they've resolutely, stubbornly (and gloriously) stuck to their sound for over 30 years, More Than Skin Deep ranks as one of their best. I have it from the man himself that it's Peter Zaremba's personal fave, and it's easy to hear why: this plays like it could be its own live show. The sax showpiece "Blow Job" is the only respite in this 40 minute party, and the inclusion of classics like "God Damn It" and "I'm Not A Sissy" among a host of others ensure its place in the Fleshtones canon.



The Largest Living Things only put out two EPs before leader (and ex-Crowded House drummer) Paul Hester committed suicide. This second one isn't entirely successful but it contains the track "Hellbent", which would have been a highlight of any CH album and remains one of my favorite songs from the 90s.

Steve Reich-Music for 18 Musicians

Here the king of "phase music" explores pulse with absolute perfection. The idea was is to create phrases of differing lengths based around a unifying key with continued dynamic crests and troughs for any uncertain time (based on musician playing the phrase). For this Reich applied that idea to 18 different performers starting phrases at varying points within an initial phrase and allowed a natural evolution or drift that was to an extent planned though not transcribed. This is probably the best album to display well done pulse in my opinion.

RIYL: Any and all things drone, Tony Conrad, Tom Carter

Eliane Radigue-Trilogie de la Mort

This is a monster of 3 hours of ARP and tape drone in three movements. Though it is probably easy to draw a line between this albums overt take on Eastern Religion and the meditative drones of LaMonte Young and Tony Conrad, I could honestly care less about that. What I care about is the subtle introductions of raga and folk to the dense electronics here. What this record introduced (at least to me) was a series of influences that led more to the sound perfected by favorites Six Organs and Sun City Girls than it did to really changing anything in the minimal classic world. Don't get me wrong, it's three hours of seriously heavy music, not a sunny Saturday afternoon record, but I think there are more than a few people on here that would really dig this.

Yann Tiersen-Le Phare

I don't know if it is due to his relative young age or if it is due to his pop/folk/waltz leanings, but I don't think Tiersen has ever been given due credit for just how damn accomplished he is as a composer. Much of this record has been reimagined to serve as the soundtrack for Amelie (one of my favorite film scores of all time), but here the stripped down versions sound so inviting and warm. Pulling largely from French folk and '70s pop and being a monster on the accordion (if one can be a monster on the accordion) his pieces give such a different feel than most modern compositions. They bounce and move and feel young and full of energy. It may sound ridiculous but listening to this record brings an instant smile every time. Also, my daughter loves it for some reason, so maybe there is some appeal to younger ones as it does sound fun and is very easy to dance to in your socks in the kitchen.

RIYL: Stereolab, Whysp (maybe), making cookies with your kids on a weekday afternoon

Dolly Varden - Thrill of Gravity



Dolly Varden are one of the few alt-country bands that I really like alot. I don't get how stuff like the Old 97's and Ryan Adams are popular while no one seems to take notice of them.

They sound a little flatter live here, the harmonies are stronger on the albums and there's a fuller sound with the steel guitar but it'll give you a little taste:



Also this was the year of Johnny Dowd's Debut, "The Wrong Side of Memphis



RIYL: Gothic Country, the idea of a hillbilly version of Nick Cave, and dark lyrics like "I won't say that I'm lonely, 'cause there's too many voices in my head"

i picked up that dolly varden a couple months ago and think its really good.

The Gloria Record: S/T

A haunting EP I still play regularly...

one of my favorite live albums.

some others not mentioned:



i could keep going...Deserter's Songs...Brighten The Corners...

a damn fine year in my opinion

I was there

The Black Light is great. Maybe my favorite Calexico.

archers of loaf white trash heroes - not their best album, which i think is vee vee, but still a damn good swan song from these guys. i love the title track.

Six albums by some of my then-favorite artists, although this was the beginning of the end for some of them, that I didn't notice being mentioned yet:


Tricky - Angels with Dirty Faces

I think this album is unfairly maligned, as I quite enjoyed it. Sure, it's no Maxinquaye, but it's still pretty good and Tricky's done much worse since.



The Afghan Whigs - 1965

Not much to say. You already know what you're getting into.



PJ Harvey - Is This Desire?

Um, I guess this is the album PJ Harvey released between her two best albums. Still, some good stuff on here.



Soul Coughing - El Oso

I kept waiting for Soul Coughing to live up to the promise of Ruby Vroom, but they never did. "Circles" is super-annoying, but "St. Louise is Listening" and other tracks are worth it if you like Soul Coughing.



UNKLE - Psyence Fiction

Waiting for something new from DJ Shadow, this was a decent stop-gap. Guest vocals from Richard Ashcroft, Thom Yorke, Mike D, Badly Drawn Boy, and Alice Temple.



Liz Phair - Whitechocolatespaceegg

Like Tricky, most people only talk about her first album, but, like Tricky, she actually put out some decent music through her third album. Unlike Tricky, since her third album she's been utter crap and he's been whatever is between "good" and "utter crap".

None of these hold a candle to Deserter's Songs or that Portishead live album though.

I was 11 then. I think I was still pretty much in my only listen to the Beatles and a few other classic rock bands like ELO and Herman's Hermits phase. I like that Tricky Album pretty well, but it's one of his weaker ones I think. I like the Manic Street Preachers this is my truth, now tell me yours. I'd say my favorite from this year is Neutral Milk Hotel's in the Aeroplane over the sea. I also love Hole's Celebrity Skin, but doubt that many other Obner's would like it.

Strong hell yes on this one that slipped my memory. Scary fucking music. Johnny is either an extremely imaginative songwriter, or a severely deranged animal that shouldn't be loose in the general population.

Wrong thread?

Oops.
Yes. Wrong thread. Sorry.

I was going to post Vee Vee in here but I was way off on the release year. I was all over this when it came out but it never had much staying power and I'll reach for Vee Vee or Icky Mettle before it. Still, you're right. There is some good stuff on there. I think I'll pull this out later and revisit.

I also stole White Trash Heroes for my intramural Wiffle Ball team name.

Listened to this for the first time last night and really like it.

I'd suggest working your way backwards and checking out Upgrade and Afterlife next. The opening track to that is pretty amazing.

I thought that this one came out later, but AllMusic lists it as a 1998 release:

Caetano Veloso - Livro

I won't pretend to be the Veloso expert that Billy G is, but, for my money, this is one of his best albums. The insanely brilliant Brazillian percussion group Timbalada is used extensively on here and to great effect. A high-energy record that pretty much always makes me smile and gets me moving.
Several used copies at Amazon for less than a buck.

Front porch hootenanny. These guys are more like 'The Band' than anyone else I've heard. There are two other bands out now passing themselves off as the real thing that should really pay attention on how it's done. Great live act!


Super group of Jeff Tweedy, Gary Louris and Co. provide their best effort here with a record full of great songs and plentiful hooks. Until You Came Along - Jennifer Save Me - Lost Love - Looking Forward To Seeing You. Classic songs.


Her sophomore effort chock full of good story telling, melancholy and woe. Add Dave Rawlings to the mix. This is some good shee.