In 1998 I was one year into my stint at Atlantic Records, living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn which was about to become the hipster capital of the world, and had recently moved in with my wife to be…well several years later.  The pay was so low at an almost entry level record company job that I actually took a hit from waiting tables and didn’t have much in the way of extra spending money- as I was still in my mid 20’s I had to go out as well and the drinks weren’t going to pay for themselves.  What I lacked in extra spending cash was made up for in access to the entire WEA Catalog- every cd in it for $3.15 each.  My reason for telling you all this is that ’98 became a year of looking backwards rather than forwards to me- rediscovering early 80’s New Wave and discovering or/or collecting lots of classic soul music in particular.  So outside of a few big records- Lauryn Hill & Lucinda Williams most of all, new music was not as big for me in ’98 as it had been in every other year of the 90’s.  Therefore it turns out that I pretty severely underrated the music of ’98.  Though not known for it’s big records the year is quite deep and quite great and represents a pretty major shift in R&B, Pop, Techno & Indie Rock.  Other notable indie releases of ’98 were the third and best album by Silver Jews (with help from Steve Malkmus of Pavement) “American Water” and the debut album from the prolific future New Pornographer Dan Bejar “City of Daughters” from his band Destroyer.

Radio at the time was dominated by the horrid sounds of rap metal and nu metal (think Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach, Creed etc…) and the beginning of the dominance of boy bands and Disney pop (Britney Spears, ‘N Sync, Backstreet Boys etc…). But beneath the commercial surface some strange and good things were brewing.  Though future super-producers like Timbaland and the Neptunes had already made their mark over the past two years, each of them solidified their status with the Neptunes “Superthug” by Noreaga and Tim’s great Aaliyah production “Are You That Somebody” as well as Nicole’s “Make It Hot”, also featuring Missy Elliott which she released between her first and second albums on her own label.  Even besides Lauryn Hill’s solo debut “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” which had huge success commercially as well as being an artistic game changer and ’99 Grammy dominator, ’98 was a big year from rap.  The lyricist lounge movement in NYC was replacing the Native Tongues in conscious rap.  Mos Def released the great “Body Rock” single as well as his Black Star collaboration with Talib Kweli.  In Harlem Big Pun released the biggest single of his career “Still Not a Player” along with his most successful album “Capital Punishment” before his untimely death two years later.  DMX released his extremely successful gangsta rap album “It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot” and Brooklyn’s Jay-Z release the 2nd “In My Lifetime” album containing his two biggest hit songs to date- “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” and “Can I Get A…”.  The Beastie Boys released their last great (or near great) album “Hello Nasty”. Down in the dirty south Atlanta’s Outkast released the sprawling “Aquemini”- their best album so far and New Orleans “Juvenile” released his debut album which included the great single “Ha”.

The grunge sound in alternative rock was dying a slow death and the great question in rock music in ’98 is what would replace it.  Commercially it was the aforementioned nu-metal/rap rock which was understandably unsatisfying to many.  Though the Big Beat techno sounds of Fatboy Slim & Chemical Brothers were certainly omnipresent in ’97 and’98 it was becoming quite apparent that they would hold nowhere near the cultural dominance of grunge.  So instead of one big answer to the big rock question there was a whole mish mash of things happening at once that would lead to the rock music of the new century.   Grunge holdovers Hole came out with “Celebrity Skin”, a very good album for sure co-produced by Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, but it was more sheen the the grit of their last album, ’94’s “Live Through This”.  Placebo’s “Without You, I’m Nothing” and Garbage’s second album “Version 2.0” were similar “cleaned up” post-grunge albums.  After the hugely successful “Odelay”, Beck released the more low key but still great “Mutations”, showing that he was on such a streak that even his barely marketed albums were becoming hits.  New York’s Mercury Rev had been kicking around the whole decade and came out with their best album so far with the great “Deserter’s Songs”, setting the tone for other ambitious orchestral albums by the Flaming Lips and Beta Band.  After being nominated for a Grammy for “Miss Misery” from the “Good Will Hunting” soundtrack, Portland singer songwriter Elliott Smith signed to a major label and released the high budget “XO”.  Though the album seemed to use every production fluorish in the book it was just as good if not better than his prior stripped down indie records.  Austin, TX Spoon released their major label debut “Series of Sneaks” which would be a commercial failure and would get them unceremoniously dropped by their label Elektra, but which would also ferment their status as a new rock group to be reckoned with- they would record a series of consistently great records throughout the oughts and indeed would become one of my very favorite bands of the decade.  Pulp recorded their follow-up to the huge (in Britain at least) “Different Class” with “This Is Hardcore”, as fitting end as any to the Brit-Pop movement from one of its biggest bands. Experimental

Another hated sound in commercial rock was ‘Emo’.  Though its commercial ascendency was a few years bands like At the Drive-In and Sunny Day Real Estate (with their 3rd album “How It Feels to Be Something On”) that would prove very influential on the sound recorded good music in ’98.  One of the very best albums of ’98 was “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” by Atlanta band Neutral Milk Hotel.  Though they could hardly be labelled an ‘Emo’ band the album would be a touchstone for many future bands of the genre and of indie rock in general.  The album was released only to critical fanfare in ’98 but has increased in stature each passing year and is now known as one of the very best albums of the whole decade.  It would also be last release (thus far) of the band and its reclusive frontman Jeff Mangum.  The above shows that no matter how crappy a genre, its influeces are usually much better.

Indie music was merging much more with electronic music in the late 90’s.  Though it was their third album, Bristol England’s Massive Attack released their most successful with “Mezzanine” which further refined the Trip Hop sug genre they had all but invented.  France’s Air released their full length debut “Moon Safari” which included the worldwide (x U.S.A.) hit “Sexy Boy” and made the world safe for techno cocktail music (in a good way!).  Elsewhere Boards Of Canada combined Techno, Hip Hop & Trance music with their amazing debut “Music Has the Right to Children”.  I am still getting to know this album better but from this go around I can confidently say that it was one album which certainly should have made my top 100 albums of the 90’s list.  Elsewhere experimental dance music artist released his most above ground album with “Around the House”- he would continue to have traction in the electronic music community up through our present time.  That only scratches the surface of all the great music in the underrated and diverse year of 1998.

 

NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL- IN THE AEROPLANE OVER THE SEA

Buy In the Aeroplane Over the Sea – Neutral Milk Hotel

Buy In the Aeroplane Over the SeaAmazon

FATBOY SLIM- YOU’VE COME A LONG WAY BABY

Buy You’ve Come a Long Way Baby – Fatboy Slim

Buy You’ve Come A Long Way Baby [Explicit]Amazon

LUCINDA WILLIAMS- CARE WHEELS ON A GRAVEL ROAD

Buy Car Wheels On a Gravel Road (Deluxe Edition) – Lucinda Williams

Buy Car Wheels On A Gravel RoadAmazon

SILVER JEWS- AMERICAN WATER

Buy American Water – Silver Jews

Buy American WaterAmazon

AIR- MOON SAFARI

Buy Moon Safari – Air

Buy Moon SafariAmazon

MERCURY REV- DESERTER’S SONGS

Buy Deserter’s Songs (Deluxe Edition) – Mercury Rev

Buy Deserter’s SongsAmazon

SPOON- A SERIES OF SNEAKS

Buy A Series of Sneaks – Spoon

Buy A Series of SneaksAmazon

HERBERT- AROUND THE HOUSE

Buy Around the House – Herbert

Buy Around The HouseAmazon

BLACK STAR- MOS DEF AND TALIB KWELI AND BLACK STAR

Buy Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star – Black Star

Buy Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star [Explicit]Amazon

HOLE- CELEBRITY SKIN

Buy Celebrity Skin – Hole

Buy Celebrity SkinAmazon

BECK- MUTATIONS

Buy Mutations – Beck

Buy MutationsAmazon

THE BEASTIE BOYS- HELLO NASTY

Buy Hello Nasty (Remastered) – Beastie Boys

Buy Hello Nasty (Deluxe Version) [Remastered] [Explicit] [+digital booklet]Amazon

PULP- THIS IS HARDCORE

Buy This Is Hardcore (Deluxe Edition) – Pulp

Buy This Is HardcoreAmazon

REFUSED- THE SHAPE OF PUNK TO COME

Buy The Shape of Punk to Come (Deluxe Version) – Refused

Buy The Shape Of Punk To Come [Deluxe Version]Amazon

BOARDS OF CANADA- MUSIC HAS THE RIGHT TO CHILDREN

Buy Music Has the Right to Children – Boards of Canada

Buy Music Has The Right To ChildrenAmazon

LAURYN HILL- THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL

Buy The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill – Lauryn Hill

Buy The Miseducation of Lauryn HillAmazon

DESTROYER- CITY OF DAUGHTERS

Buy City of Daughters – Destroyer

Buy City of DaughtersAmazon

OUTKAST- AQUEMINI

Buy Aquemini – OutKast

Buy Aquemini [Explicit]Amazon

MASSIVE ATTACK- MEZZANINE

Buy Mezzanine – Massive Attack

Buy MezzanineAmazon

ELLIOTT SMITH- XO

Buy XO – Elliott Smith

Buy XO Amazon

Best of 1998 Volume 1 (3/9/03)

1.  Hole- Celebrity Skin

Buy Celebrity Skin – Celebrity Skin

Buy Celebrity SkinAmazon

2.  Fatboy Slim- Gangster Tripping

Buy Gangster Trippin’ – You’ve Come a Long Way Baby

Buy Gangster Trippin’Amazon

3.  Placebo- Pure Morning

Buy Pure Morning – Without You I’m Nothing

Buy Pure MorningAmazon

4.  Lauryn Hill- Doo Wop (That Thing)

Buy Doo Wop (That Thing) – Pop Music: The Modern Era 1976-1999

Buy Doo Wop (That Thing)Amazon

5.  Black Star- Definition

Buy Definition – Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star

Buy Definition [Explicit]Amazon

6.  At the Drive-In- Alpha Centauri

Buy Alpha Centauri – In/Casino/Out

Buy Alpha CentauriAmazon

7.  Massive Attack- Inertia Creeps

Buy Inertia Creeps – Mezzanine

Buy Inertia CreepsAmazon

8.  Air- Sexy Boy

Buy Sexy Boy – Moon Safari

Buy Sexy BoyAmazon

9.  Beck- Tropicalia

Buy Tropicalia – Mutations

Buy TropicaliaAmazon

10.  Mercury Rev- Holes

Buy Holes – Deserter’s Songs (Remastered)

Buy Holes (Remastered)Amazon

11.  Elliott Smith- Amity

Buy Amity – XO

Buy AmityAmazon

12.  New Radicals- You Get What You Give

Buy You Get What You Give – Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too

Buy You Get What You Give Amazon

13.  The Beastie Boys- Remote Control

Buy Remote Control – Hello Nasty (Remastered)

Buy Remote Control [Explicit]Amazon

14.  Outkast- Rosa Parks

Buy Rosa Parks – Aquemini

Buy Rosa Parks [Explicit]Amazon

15.  Lucinda Williams- Right in Time

Buy Right in Time – Car Wheels on a Gravel Road

Buy Right In TimeAmazon

16.  Billy Bragg & Wilco- California Stars

Buy California Stars – Mermaid Avenue

Buy California Stars (LP Version)Amazon

17.  Rufus Wainwright- April Fools

Buy April Fools – Rufus Wainwright

Buy April FoolsAmazon

18.  Cat Power- American Flag

Buy American Flag – Moon Pix

Buy American FlagAmazon

Best of 1998 Volume 2 (3/11/03)

1.  Pulp- This Is Hardcore

Buy This Is Hardcore – This Is Hardcore

Buy This Is HardcoreAmazon

2.  Garbage- I Think I’m Paranoid

Buy I Think I’m Paranoid – Version 2.0

Buy I Think I’m ParanoidAmazon

3.  Korn- Freak On a Leash

Buy Freak On a Leash – Follow the Leader

Buy Freak On A Leash [Explicit] Amazon

4.  The Beastie Boys- Body Movin’

Buy Body Movin’ – Hello Nasty (Remastered)

Buy Body Movin’ [Explicit]Amazon

5.  Fatboy Slim- Rockafeller Skank

Buy Rockafeller Skank – We Are Skint

Buy The Rockafeller SkankAmazon

6.  Air- Kelly Watch the Stars

Buy Kelly Watch the Stars – Moon Safari

Buy Kelly Watch The StarsAmazon

7.  Mercury Rev- Goddess On a Highway

Buy Goddess On a Hiway (Remastered) – Deserter’s Songs (Deluxe Edition)

Buy Goddess On A Hiway (Remastered)Amazon

8.  Sheryl Crow- My Favorite Mistake

Buy My Favorite Mistake – The Globe Sessions

Buy My Favorite MistakeAmazon

9.  Lucinda Williams- Car Wheels On a Gravel Road

Buy Car Wheels on a Gravel Road – Car Wheels on a Gravel Road

Buy Car Wheels On A Gravel RoadAmazon

10.  U.N.K.L.E (Feat. Thom Yorke)- Rabbit in Your Headlights

Buy Rabbit In Your Headlights – Psyence Fiction

*Track not available via Amazon

11.  Cat Power- Cross Bones Style

Buy Cross Bones Style – Moon Pix

Buy Cross Bones StyleAmazon

12.  Beck- Cold Brains

Buy Cold Brains – Mutations

Buy Cold BrainsAmazon

13.  Outkast- Slump

Buy Slump – Aquemini

Buy Slump [Explicit]Amazon

14.  Lauryn Hill- Lost Ones

Buy Lost Ones – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Buy Lost OnesAmazon

15.  Massive Attack- Teardrop

Buy Teardrop – Mezzanine

Buy TeardropAmazon

16.  Elliott Smith- Waltx #2 (XO)

Buy Waltz, No. 2 (XO) – XO

Buy Waltz #2 (XO)Amazon

17.  PJ Harvey- The Sky Lit Up

BuyThe Sky Lit Up – Is This Desire?

Buy The Sky Lit UpAmazon

Best of 1998 Volume 3 (7/6/05)

1.  Silver Jews- Random Rules

Buy Random Rules – American Water

Buy Random RulesAmazon

2.  Sunny Day Real Estate- Pillars

Buy Pillars – How It Feels to Be Something On

Buy Pillars (Album) Amazon

3.  Massive Attack- Risingson

Buy Risingson – Mezzanine

Buy RisingsonAmazon

4.  Dismemberment Plan- Spider in the Snow (EP Demo)

Buy Spider in the Snow – Emergency & I

*Only 1999 “Emergency and I” version available via iTunes. Track not available via Amazon

5.  Madonna- Ray of Light

Buy Ray of Light – Ray of Light

Buy Ray Of LightAmazon

6.  Fatboy Slim- Praise You

Buy Praise You – You’ve Come a Long Way Baby

Buy Praise YouAmazon

7.  Boards of Canada- Roygbiv

Buy Roygbiv – Music Has the Right to Children

Buy RoygbivAmazon

8.  Beta Band- Dr. Baker

Buy Dr Baker – The Three EP’s

Buy Dr BakerAmazon

9.  Radiohead- Polyethylene

Buy Polyethylene, Pts. 1 & 2 – OK Computer (Collector’s Edition)

Buy Polyethylene (Parts 1 & 2)Amazon

10.  Neutral Milk Hotel- Holland, 1945

Buy Holland, 1945 – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Buy Holland, 1945Amazon

11.  Elliott Smith- Baby Britain

Buy Baby Britain – XO

Buy Baby BritainAmazon

12.  Beck- Nobody’s Fault But My Own

Buy Nobody’s Fault But My Own – Mutations

Buy Nobody’s Fault But My OwnAmazon

13.  Lauryn Hill- Everything is Everything

Buy Everything Is Everything – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Buy Everything Is EverythingAmazon

14.  Outkast (Feat. Raekwon)- Skew It On the Bar-B

Buy Skew It On the Bar-B – Aquemini

Buy Skew It On The Bar-B [Explicit] Amazon

15.  Spoon- Car Radio

Buy Car Radio – A Series of Sneaks

Buy Car RadioAmazon

16.  Super Furry Animals- Ice Hockey Hair

Buy Ice Hockey Hair – Songbook: The Singles, Vol. 1

Buy Ice Hockey HairAmazon

17.  Lucinda Williams- 2 Kool 2 Be Forgotten

Buy 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten – Car Wheels On a Gravel Road (Deluxe Edition)

Buy 2 Kool 2 Be 4-GottenAmazon

18.  Alanis Morissette- That I Would be Good

Buy That I Would Be Good – Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie

Buy That I Would Be GoodAmazon

Best of 1998 Volume 4 (7/10/05)

1.  The Beastie Boys- Intergalactic

Buy Intergalactic – Hello Nasty

Buy Intergalactic (2009 Digital Remaster) Amazon

2.  Outkast (Feat. George Clinton)- Synthesizer

Buy Synthesizer – Aquemini

Buy Synthesizer [Explicit]Amazon

3.  The Propellerheads (Feat. Shirley Bassey)- History Repeating

Buy History Repeating – Decksandrumsandrockandroll

Buy History RepeatingAmazon

4.  Morcheeba- Part of the Process

Buy Part of the Process – Big Calm

Buy Part Of the Process (LP Version)Amazon

5.  Blackstar- Astronomy (8th Light)

Buy Astronomy (8th Light) – Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star

Buy Astronomy (8th Light) [Explicit]Amazon

6. Placebo- Allergic (To Thoughts of Mother Earth)

Buy Allergic (To Thoughts Of Mother Earth) – Without You I’m Nothing

*Track not available via Amazon

7.  Spoon- Execution

Buy Execution – A Series of Sneaks

Buy ExecutionAmazon

8.  Neutral Milk Hotel- In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Buy In the Aeroplane Over the Sea – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Buy In the Aeroplane Over the SeaAmazon

9.  The Clientele- What Goes Up

Buy What Goes Up – Suburban Light

Buy What Goes UpAmazon

10.  Mark Hollis- The Watershed

Buy The Watershed – Mark Hollis

Buy The WatershedAmazon

11.  Mercury Rev- Endlessly

Buy Endlessly – Deserter’s Songs (Remastered)

Buy Endlessly (Remastered)Amazon

12.  Silver Jews- Smith & Jones Forever

Buy Smith & Jones Forever – American Water

Buy Smith & Jones ForeverAmazon

13.  Lucinda Williams- Can’t Let Go

Buy Can’t Let Go – Car Wheels on a Gravel Road

Buy Can’t Let GoAmazon

14.  Beta Band- She’s the One

Buy She’s the One – The Three EP’s

Buy She’s The OneAmazon

15.  PJ Harvey- Angelene

Buy Angelene – Is This Desire?

Buy AngeleneAmazon

16.  Massive Attack- Angel

Buy Angel – Mezzanine

Buy AngelAmazon

17.  Lauryn Hill- Every Ghetto, Every City

Buy Every Ghetto, Every City – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Buy Every Ghetto, Every CityAmazon

18.  Pulp- Help the Aged

Buy Help the Aged – This Is Hardcore

Buy Help The AgedAmazon

Best of 1998 Volume 5 (10/4/08)

1.  Aaliyah- Are You That Somebody?

Buy Are You That Somebody? – Dr. Dolittle (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture)

Buy Are You That Somebody?Amazon

2.  Spoon- No You’re Not

Buy No You’re Not – A Series of Sneaks

Buy No You’re NotAmazon

3.  Neutral Milk Hotel- Two Headed Boy

Buy Two-Headed Boy – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Buy Two-Headed BoyAmazon

4.  12 Rods- Chromatically Declining Me

Buy Chromatically Declining Me – Split Personalities

*Track not available via Amazon

5.  Elliott Smith- Bled White

Buy Bled White – XO

Buy Bled WhiteAmazon

6.  Mercury Rev- Opus 40

Buy Opus 40 – Deserter’s Songs (Remastered)

Buy Opus 40 (Remastered)Amazon

7.  Herbert- So Now…

Buy So Now – Around the House

Buy So Now?Amazon

8.  Boards of Canada- Aquarius

Buy Aquarius – Music Has the Right to Children

Buy AquariusAmazon

9.  Belle & Sebastian- I Know Where the Summer Goes

Buy I Know Where the Summer Goes – Push Barman to Open Old Wounds

Buy I Know Where The Summer GoesAmazon

10.  Hole- Malibu

Buy Malibu – Celebrity Skin Buy MalibuAmazon

11.  U2- The Sweetest Thing (Single Mix)

Buy Sweetest Thing (The Single Mix) – U218 Singles (Deluxe Version)

Buy Sweetest ThingAmazon

12.  Liz Phair- Johnny Feelgood

Buy Johnny Feelgood – Whitechocolatespaceegg

Buy Johnny Feelgood [Explicit]Amazon

13.  Lauryn Hill- Ex Factor

Buy Ex-Factor – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Buy Ex-FactorAmazon

14.  Outkast- Aquemini

Buy Aquemini – Aquemini

Buy Aquemini [Explicit]Amazon

15.  Big L- Ebonics

Buy Ebonics – The Big Picture

Buy Ebonics [Explicit] Amazon

16.  The Beastie Boys- Super Disco Breakin’

Buy Super Disco Breakin’ – Hello Nasty (Remastered)

Buy Super Disco Breakin’ (2009 Digital Remaster) () [Explicit]Amazon

17.  Big Punisher (Feat. Fot Joe)- Still Not a Player

Buy Still Not a Player – Capital Punishment

Buy Still Not A PlayerAmazon

18.  Silver Jews- Honk If You’re Lonely

Buy Honk If You’re Lonely – American Water

Buy Honk If You’re Lonely Amazon

19.  Josh Rouse- Late Night Conversation

Buy Late Night Conversation – Dressed Up Like Nebraska

Buy Late Night ConversationAmazon

Best of 1998 Volume 6 (10/5/08)

1.  Fatboy Slim- Right Here, Right Now

Buy Right Here, Right Now – You’ve Come a Long Way Baby

Buy Right Here, Right Now Amazon

2.  Garbage- Push It

Buy Push It – Version 2.0

Buy Push It Amazon

3.  Hum- Green to Me

Buy Green to Me – Downward Is Heavenward

Buy Green To Me Amazon

4.  12 Rods- Red

Buy Red – Split Personalities

*Track not available via Amazon

5.  Sunny Dal Real Estate- Roses in Water

Buy Roses In Water – How It Feels to Be Something On

Buy Roses In Water (Album) Amazon

6.  Mark Hollis- The Colour of Spring

Buy The Colour of Spring – Mark Hollis

Buy The Colour Of SpringAmazon

7. The Pernice Brothers- Overcome by Happiness

Buy Overcome by Happiness – Overcome by Happiness

Buy Overcome By Happiness (Album)Amazon

8.  Lucinda Williams- I Lost It

Buy I Lost It – Car Wheels on a Gravel Road

Buy I Lost ItAmazon

9.  Mercury Rev- Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp

Buy Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp (Remastered) – Deserter’s Songs (Deluxe Edition)

Buy Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp (Remastered) Amazon

10.  Neutral Milk Hotel- King of Carrot Flowers Part 1

Buy The King of Carrot Flowers, Pt. 1 – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Buy King of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1Amazon

11.  Belle & Sebastian- It Could Have Been a Brilliant Career

Buy It Could Have Been a Brilliant Career – The Boy with the Arab Strap

Buy It Could Have Been A Brilliant Career Amazon

12.  Placebo- You Don’t Care About Us

Buy You Don’t Care About Us – Without You I’m Nothing

*Track not available via Amazon

13.  Idlewild- When I Argue I See Shapes

Buy When I Argue I See Shapes – Scottish Fiction – Best of 1997-2007

Buy When I Argue I See ShapesAmazon

14.  Boredoms- Super Going

Buy Super Going – Super Ae

Buy Super GoingAmazon

15.  The Beastie Boys- The Negotiation Limerick File

Buy The Negotiation Limerick File – Hello Nasty (Remastered)

Buy The Negotiation Limerick File [Explicit]Amazon

16.  Lauryn Hill- The Final Hour

Buy Final Hour – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Buy Final Hour Amazon

17.  Semisonic- Closing Time

Buy Closing Time – 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Semisonic

Buy Closing Time Amazon

Best of 1998 Volume 7 (8/27/11)

1.  Pulp- The Fear

Buy The Fear – This Is Hardcore

Buy The FearAmazon

2.  Beta Band- Needles In My Eyes

Buy Needles In My Eyes – The Three EP’s

Buy Needles In My EyesAmazon

3.  Jay-Z- Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)

Buy Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) – Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life

Buy Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) [Explicit]Amazon

4.  Black Star- Respiration

Buy Respiration – Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star

Buy Respiration [Explicit]Amazon

5.  Tortoise- Swung From the Gutters

Buy Swung from the Gutters – TNT

Buy Swung From The GuttersAmazon

6.  Boards Of Canada- Happy Cycling

Buy Happy Cycling – Music Has the Right to Children

Buy Happy CyclingAmazon

7.  Squarepusher- Don’t Go Plastic

Buy Don’t Go Plastic – Music Is Rotted One Note

Buy Don’t Go PlasticAmazon

8.  Calexico- Minas de Cobre (For Better Metal)

Buy Minas de Cobre (For Better Metal) – The Black Light

Buy Minas de Cobre (For Better Metal)Amazon

9.  Refused- New Noise

Buy New Noise – The Shape of Punk to Come

Buy New NoiseAmazon

10.  Wildchild- Renegade Master (Fatboy Slim Old Skool Remix)

Buy Renegade Master (Fatboy Slim Old Skool Mix) – The Fatboy Slim/Norman Cook Collection

Buy Renegade MasterAmazon

11.  Stardust- Music Sounds Better With You

*Track not available via iTunes or Amazon

12.  Spoon- Advance Cassette

Buy Advance Cassette – A Series of Sneaks

Buy Advance CassetteAmazon

13.  Air- All I Need

Buy All I Need – Moon Safari

Buy All I NeedAmazon

14.  Destroyer- You Were So Cruel

Buy You Were So Cruel – City of Daughters

Buy You Were So CruelAmazon

15.  DMX- Get At Me Dog

Buy Get At Me Dog – It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot

Buy Get At Me Dog [Explicit]Amazon

16.  Outkast- Spottieottiedopalicious

Buy SpottieOttieDopaliscious – Aquemini

Buy SpottieOttieDopaliscious [Explicit]Amazon

1. Best of 1998 Volume 8 (8/27/11)

1.  Lo Fidelity All Stars- Battle Flag

Buy Battleflag – Battleflag

Buy Battleflag (Full Version)Amazon

2.  Spoon- The Minor Tough

Buy The Minor Tough – A Series of Sneaks

Buy The Minor ToughAmazon

3.  Jay-Z- Can I Get A…

Buy Can I Get A… (Soundtrack Version) – Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life

Buy Can I Get A… [Explicit]Amazon

4.  Mos Def (Feat. Q-Tip & Tash)- Body Rock

Buy Body Rock – Lyricist Lounge, Vol. 1

Buy Body Rock [Explicit]Amazon

5.  Amon Tobin- Like Regular Chickens

Buy Like Regular Chickens – Permutation

Buy Like Regular ChickensAmazon

6.  Boards Of Canada- Telephasic Workshop

Buy Telephasic Workshop – Music Has the Right to Children

Buy Telephasic Workshop – Music Has the Right to ChildrenTelephasic WorkshopAmazon

7.  Neutral Milk Hotel- King Of Carrot Flowers Parts 2 & 3

Buy The King of Carrot Flowers, Pts. 2 & 3 – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Buy The King of Carrot Flowers, Pts. 2 & 3 – In the Aeroplane Over the SeaKing of Carrot Flowers Pts. 2 & 3Amazon

8.  Refused- The Shape of Punk to Come

Buy The Shape of Punk to Come – The Shape of Punk to Come

Buy The Shape Of Punk To ComeAmazon

9.  Modest Mouse- Neverending Math Equation

Buy Never Ending Math Equation – Building Nothing Out of Something

Buy Never Ending Math Equation – Building Nothing Out of Something Buy Never Ending Math Equation (Album)Amazon

10.  Destroyer- School, and the Girls Who Go There

Buy School and the Girls Who Go There – City of Daughters

Buy School, and the Girls Who Go ThereAmazon

11.  Isolee- Beau Mot Plage

Buy Beau Mot Plage – Famous When Dead

Buy Beau Mot PlageAmazon

12.  Nate Dogg (Feat. Warren G)- Nobody Does It Better

Buy Nobody Does It Better – G Funk Classics, Vol. 1 & 2

Buy Nobody Does It Better [Explicit]Amazon

13.  Lauryn Hill- Forgive Them Father

Buy Forgive Them Father – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Buy Forgive Them FatherAmazon

14.  Nicole (Feat. Missy Elliott & Mocha)- Make It Hot

Buy Make It Hot (feat. Missy Elliott & Mocha) – Make It Hot

Buy Make It Hot (LP Version)Amazon

15.  Juvenile- Ha

Buy HA – 400 Degreez

Buy Ha (Album Version (Explicit)) [Explicit]Amazon

16.  Outkast- Chonkyfire

Buy Chonkyfire – Aquemini

Buy Chonkyfire [Explicit]Amazon