Holy hell, 1998 was just a few short years ago, right? So how did it come to be twenty years ago and, more importantly, where did all that time go?
We must have been doing something really fun because I'll bet my bottom dollar that, though these albums are almost old enough to drink legally, some may be completely new to some of us, which is what this is all about. After all, what's 20 years old to some, just might be new to you.
Karate - The Bed Is In The Ocean
If you find yourself reading a list of underrated indie rock bands from the '90s and these Bostonians aren't on said list, then toss whatever publication is behind such garbage in the trash. For the uninitiated, imagine if Chicago's own The Sea And Cake were actually from this planet and fronted by Ben Folds who, in a parallel universe, picked up the guitar instead of the piano.
With a compulsive flair for detail and fluid arrangements that can turn on a dime, Karate's third album lacks some of the punk vigor of 1997's In Place Of Real Insight, which is just fine for those of us who've heard our fair share of noisy Boston punk bands.
What's most appealing about The Bed Is In The Ocean is how it effortlessly the whole sonic tour de force shuns easy categorization, rendering Karate as the ultimate musical outcasts, which appears to have been just fine by them until their untimely demise in 2005.
Air - Moon Safari
Ah, the joy of a band that arrives so fully formed that everything they've done since their debut album leaves you scratching your head. For the uninitiated, Moon Safari is not only the best place to start, but all the Air (supply) one truly ever needs. While the band has released five studio albums, two film scores, and a handful of remix EP's, their ability to string together engagingly cohesive "bangers" was never as high as it was on Moon Safari.
While "Sexy Boy" remains the most recognizable track due to its success as a single at the time of the album's release, other tracks have gained popularity via film and TV usage. "Kelly, Watch The Stars" was used in 1992's "Splendor" and 2010's "Exit Through The Gft Shop.
"La femme d'argent" from numerous appearances in film and commercials. ring familiar due to their use in films and commercials, giving you the feeling that, despite not knowing a lick of French, you already know more about Air than you thought.
Smashing Pumpkins - Adore
While Billy Corgan gets much of the blame for ruining alt. rock, he doesn't get nearly enough credit for taking disparate influences like The Cure, the Pixies, and Cheap Trick and molding into the global alt. rock template.
Granted, said template had run its course by 1998, leaving Billy and the Pumpkins in a precarious position: Do they double-down on the noise in hopes of keeping the audience they have or embrace nuance and subtlety and hoped their audience will come with them into the new century.
Much like U2 had done after War, Corgan opted for nuance over bombast and created an album that is among his absolute best. Perhaps the Uncle Fester bit was a bit much, though, and stopped grunge fans from appreciating an album that is every bit as engaging as The Unforgettable Fire.
Alkaline Trio - Goddamnit
As Matt Skiba's dedication to Sparkle Motion has seemed highly suspect from the time the band signed to Vagrant to working with producer Jerry Finn on Good Mourning and Crimson (2005) to his current status as a member of Blink 182, it's nice to remember a time when the Al Kaline Trio were but a lowly local Chicago punk band booking studio time with Matt Allison and looking for any label willing to issue their wares.
That this otherwise innocuous punk trio came at the otherwise staid punk community with something a little different: love songs.
Granted, these were often grisly love songs weaving stories of deceit, betrayal and revenge that, had Skiba not also been vocal in his appreciation of Satan, may have been perceived as wimpy.
Twenty years has done nothing to diminish the youthful verve and charm of the trio's first stab at greatness. This is the sound of a band that surely had no idea what awaited them.
Of course, for those who love "making of" featurettes and whatnot, "The Original Sin: The Making of Goddamnit" is available on Youtube (part one is posted above) and offers some truly essential insight.
Superdrag - Head Trip In Every Key
There are opportunities missed and then there are opportunities missed that we have felt every day since and when alt. rock chose to go down the Fred Durst fast lane to rape rock, it killed any chance for bands like Superdrag (or Marvelous 3) to exist in the real world because radio would have rather played some hate-filled turd that Durst crapped out than the mind-blowing pop artistry that oozed from every brilliant second of this record.
It is worth mentioning that Jerry Finn also produced this record, but did so in a way that is actually quite transparent and doesn't slather on layers of meter-pegging guitars.
Sadly, all modern rock radio wanted to hear was another "Sucked Out", which this album didn't have, and their Elektra Records days came to an end. This remains their final momentm if not one of the best albums of the year.
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