On That Note: Gr8ts From The 8s: 1998

[CycloneRulzzz]

Welcome back to On That Note, a weekly music exploration co-hosted by @MeanDean and @cyclones500.


This is the final piece of our "Gr8ts From the 8s series," and examines our favorite albums released in 1998.

I struggled to find options and in the end will only be posting 4 that I feel strongly enough about. Lots of stuff I enjoyed was either in 97 or 99. The 90's were quite a change as the grunge movement of the early 90's led to a big surge in alternative and rock music. Most of my choices are artists that don't find their way into OTN very often.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

My first album to talk about is Offspring's Americana. Loved Offspring's earlier work Smash and this one I feel produces just as many hits although probably not quite to the caliber of Smash.

There easily 5 or 6 songs from this album I could do clips of. These are 3 I chose

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

My second is Rob Zombie's Hellbilly Deluxe.

Dragula is one of hits from the album. I enjoy everything about the song but I love the instrumental parts of the song.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

My 3rd choice was Godsmack's self titled debut album

 

[cyclones500]

No official ranking for my list, but I’ll begin with LPs that made the cut with little hesitation.

I’ll post a few albums now, thenl reveal the others during daylight hours.

Beck, “Mutations” (Nov. 3, 1998, DGC)
Quick nod to @CycloneRulzzz for reminding me this was a 1998 release.

In his first decade as a performer, Beck became known for shifting gears and bucking expectations, sometimes radically, sometimes with more subtlety. This was the first curveball he threw.

After the breakthrough of “Loser” (from “Mellow Gold”), his challenge was to prove he was no one-hit wonder. After “Odelay,” the next step was showing he wasn’t a one-trick pony (or one-trick Jack-Ass, if you prefer).

That’s when we got “Mutations,” anchored by acoustic guitar, some strings and keyboards, some bluesy-folk forays and ballads, almost devoid of sampling (a major element in his previous work).

He continued a zig-zag with follow-ups “Midnite Vultures” (closer in style to Odelay, but with disco-funk and more noise) and “Sea Change” (an emotional, stylistic left-turn). Those are stories for another day.

Here we go.

 

[cyclones500]

My first album to talk about is Offspring's Americana. Loved Offspring's earlier work Smash and this one I feel produces just as many hits although probably not quite to the caliber of Smash.

There easily 5 or 6 songs from this album I could do clips of. These are 3 I chose

I didn't realize all 3 of those came from the same album. That's a good trifecta.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

4th is Kid Rock's Devil without a Cause. This version of Kid Rock I could enjoy. Before things like duet ballads with Sheryl Crow and abominations like All Summer Long he did put out some music I enjoyed.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

I didn't realize all 3 of those came from the same album. That's a good trifecta.

That's not even taking in account the biggest hit from the album which opens with the same beginning as Def Leopard's Rock of Ages.

 

[cyclones500]

That's not even taking in account the biggest hit from the album which open with the same beginning as Def Leopard's Rock of Ages.

That song was on there, too? My goodness.

 

[cyclones500]

Comings and Goings, 1998
(Note: Some groups that disbanded may have reformed or reunited)

Bands that formed: Big & Rich, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Okkervil River, Reliant K, Rilo Kiley, The Strokes.

Groups that disbanded: 2 Live Crew, Archers of Loaf, Dead Can Dance, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Faith No More, Genesis, Kris Kross, Milli Vanilli, Neutral Milk Hotel (some sources say ’99), Porno for Pyros, Presidents of the United States of America, The Refreshments, Toad the Wet Sprocket.

 

[cyclones500]

Garbage, “Version 2.0” (May 11, 1998, Almo-Mushroom)

I admit, I don’t listen to this on a frequent basis, but man, it is loaded. I was non-committal about the Garbage debut in 1995, although I admired its production value (no-brainer, i suppose considering Butch Vig is, y’know, In The Band).

Let’s get to a few highlights, shall we?





Probably my favorite Garbage song




I think this one had a LOT of influence on pop music sound in the 00's and beyond.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

1998 is sports

Baseball

Milwaukee moves to national League. MLB adds two new team Arizona and Tampa Bay.

Home Run chase between McGwire and Sosa dominates the headlines although we now know it was because of steroid use.

Yankees sweep the Padres 4-0 to win world series.

It was a banner year for Team Rulzzz as

Denver Broncos finally wins their first Super Bowl

Chicago Bulls beat the Jazz to win their 6 title and second three-peat

 

[cyclones500]

4th is Kid Rock's Devil without a Cause. This version of Kid Rock I could enjoy. Before things like duet ballads with Sheryl Crow and abominations like All Summer Long he did put out some music I enjoyed.

Kid Rock a few fresh-rhymes on that album.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

Also in sports in 1998 this happened

 

[Gunnerclone]

I can see why i was pretty deep in the rap game in ‘98. 1998 in rap was pretty epic:

DMX-it’s dark and hell is hot
Jay Z-Volume 2
Beastie Boys-hello nasty
Juvenile-400 degreez
OutKast-aquemini

Favorite non rap album was Korn-Follow the Leader.

 

[arobb]

The Celebrity Skin album by Hole was probably Courtney Love's finest hour.

 

[3GenClone]

This album helped legitimize Trey Parker & Matt Stone’s Comedy Central series as one of the most popular shows on TV, but also served as the gateway to expand their reach in Pop-Culture and become household names. Nothing really groundbreaking about the album itself, but does feature artists like Joe Strummer, Elton John, Isaac Hayes, Meatloaf, Rick James, and Wyclef Jean. My favorite track on the album was “Brad Logan” by Rancid.

 

[jcyclonee]

Although her album wasn't released until 1999. This song was released in 1998 and launched the career of one of the world's worst musical talents.

 

[cyclones500]

My 3rd offering.

Billy Bragg and Wilco, “Mermaid Avenue” (June 23, 1998, Elektra)

Brief background on this: Woody Guthrie’s daughter Nora approached British singer/songwriter Billy Bragg with lyrics Guthrie had written from the late ‘40s until his death in ’67, but were never put to music or recorded. Bragg soon contacted Jeff Tweedy of Wilco to collaborate. Eventually they were joined by other musicians (including Tweedy's bandmate Jay Bennett and singer/songwriter Natalie Merchant).

"Mermaid Avenue" wasn’t an attempt to sound like Guthrie. It was a creative interpretation of Guthrie’s words and stories.

 

[jcyclonee]

Ugh. So much bad music. Boy band music everywhere (apologies to @CycloneRulzzz and his love of NKOTB). 'N Sync, 98 Degrees, Backstreet Boyz, Hanson! I guess there was at least a lot of pretty good hip hop.