1998: A year full of versatile vibrations!
Here’s my selection – 10 remarkable ones!
1/ ‘Deserter’s Songs’ by MERCURY REV
Jonathan Donahue (lead singer/songwriter) said about their masterpiece: “It had the feeling of rebirth, of going down to the grave for quite a while and lying down there in the darkness and the quiet, and then someone pulls you up and shakes the dirt off you and
says ‘no, you thought you were dead, but you’re not.'”
Released: 29 September 1998 – their fourth album
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2/ ‘This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours’ by MANIC STREET PREACHERS
Pitchfork: “The Manic Street Preachers are one of the few groups capable of integrating orchestral instruments in a way that still produces great rock music. Meanwhile, they
manage to infuse some quite dour lyrics with some of the most haunting melodies.”
Released: 14 September 1998 – fifth LP
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3/ ‘Good Morning Spider’ by SPARKLEHORSE
Pitchfork: “The album shines an old light on impossible things. He found the purity of
pop music and then lacerated it with the quirks and imperfections he cherished.”
Released: 20 July 1998 – second album
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4/ ‘Celebrity Skin’ by HOLE
Rolling Stone: “Sprung, flung and fun, high-impact, rock-fueled pop and the album teems with sonic knockouts that make you see all sorts of stars and is accessible, fiery and intimate – often at the same time.”
Released: 8 September 1998 – third full length
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5/ ‘How to Operate With A Blown Mind‘ by LO FIDELITY ALL STARS
All Music: “With an effortless grace unmatched by even their Skint labelmates, ‘Lo-Fidelity Allstars’ segue between acid house, hip-hop, punk, soul, and disco on their debut album. Previous high-energy singles like ‘Vision Incision’ and ‘Kool Roc Bass’ are included, along with new tracks like the surprising Hi-NRG/electro-fusion on ‘Lazer Sheep Dip Funk’ and early-’80s funk reminiscent of ‘Prince’ or ‘Jamiroquai’ on ‘Battle Flag’ (with Pigeonhed).”
Released: 25 May 1998 – debut longplayer
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6/ ‘This Is Hardcore’ by PULP
All Music: “The ambitious follow-up to their breakthrough LP ‘Different Class’ is haunted by disappointments and fear. By the realization that what you dreamed of may not be what you really wanted. The shift in direction shouldn’t come as a surprise, Pulp was always an arty band, but even the catchiest numbers are shrouded in darkness. An artistic triumph.”
Released: 30 March 1998 – sixth album
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7/ ‘Hello Nasty’ by THE BEASTIE BOYS
The Guardian: “It fills a gap created by the current profusion of serious rock bands like Radiohead, elbowing its way up front, and letting rip with adolescent vigour. The perfect
party soundtrack by the perfect party band.”
Released: 14 July 1998 – their fifth longplayer
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8/ ‘Mezzanine’ by MASSIVE ATTACK
All Music: “Increasingly ignored amidst the exploding trip-hop scene, Massive Attack returned in 1998 with a record immediately announcing not only that the group was back, but that they’d recorded a set of songs just as singular and revelatory as on their debut.”
Released: 20 April 1998 – third full length
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9/ ‘The Good Will Out’ by EMBRACE
All Mmusic: “One listen to ‘The Good Will Out’ illustrates why the group ingeniously combines the anthemic hooks and monolithic roar of ‘Oasis’ with the sweeping aural majesty of ‘The Verve.’ The record illustrates enough promise and panache to make it a first-rate debut.”
Released: 8 June 1998 – debut LP
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10/ ’65’ by THE AFGHAN WHIGS
All Music: “With 1965, the band finally made the gritty soul record just always out of their reach seamlessly integrating the R&B aspirations which have textured the band’s sound since the beginning, the music simmers with raw energy, its deep, dark grooves not so much white-boy as simply white-hot.”
Released: 27 October 1998 – sixth album
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