Years · 1998
Greatest Albums of 1998
The best albums of 1998 — Lauryn Hill's Miseducation, Massive Attack's Mezzanine, PJ Harvey, Garbage, Outkast's Aquemini, and Pulp.
No intros, just vibes.
Mezzanine — Massive Attack
I got a little scared that I’d left this album off my 1997 list - turns out it was released in 1998! - but it might be my favorite “new to me” discovery of the past few years.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill — Ms. Lauryn Hill
I don’t know how much more I can add to the discourse about one of the greatest albums ever made.
Is This Desire? — PJ Harvey
PJ Harvey’s 4th studio album is, as seems to be her way, a pretty wild departure from her previous work.
This Is Hardcore — Pulp
This album plays like a version of britpop that’s been left on the counter just a bit too long and it’s starting to grow some mildew, going a little green around the edges.
Version 2.0 — Garbage
Fascinating fact - part of the analog drum tracks, including some on “I Think I’m Paranoid,” my personal favorite track on the album, were recorded in an abandoned candy factory.
Aquemini — Outkast
Aquemini is known as one of the best southern hip-hop albums ever for a reason.
Car Wheels On A Gravel Road — Lucinda Williams
I went back and forth about including this album. I’ve written about it before; about a year ago I found it to be one of the, uhhh, least good-sounding examples of country singer-songwriting I’d ever heard.