1998 Top Ten Albums

Ceili Rain “Say-Kay-Lee”

If there were a choice for best new artist, these guys would win. Musically they're sort of Van Morrison meets Jethro Tull meets middle of the road 70’s Pop/Rock band. However, their three chord pop/rock (with some spiritual overtones) is served with a heavy undercurrent of dissonance courtesy of a tin whistle, an Irish fiddle and an occasional bagpipe (both Scottish and Irish). Stand out songs include Do It Anyway, Call Home and You Then Me Then You Then Me (reminiscent of “Minstrel In The Gallery” era Jethro Tull)

Emmylou Harris “Spyboy”

A live retrospective of Emmylou’s career. Recorded over the past two years in small clubs from Nashville to Finland, this album makes a nice introduction to Emmylou Harris. From her backing vocals on Bob Dylan’s “Desire” to her 1996 “Wrecking Ball”, I’ve been a big fan of Emmylou’s, this album has only added to my appreciation. Album title taken from the name of her backing band, Spyboy, which is the Mardis Gras term for the person who goes ahead of the parade; a street entertainer, jester, troublemaker, scout

Nick Lowe “Dig My Mood”

Have you ever been driving and thinking and after 10 miles pass you realize that you can’t remember having driven those 10 miles? That’s what happened to me whilst listening to this album--before I knew it the CD player was on track 8. This album is typical Nick Lowe...no surprises here. Carl Perkins’ and Buddy Holly’s memory live on...

Brian May “Another World”

Buy “Back to the Light” instead. Ian Hunter joins in on remake of Mott classic All The Way From Memphis. For Queen aficionados only

Marc Ribot “Y Los Cubanos Postizos”

This is a tribute album to the late Cuban composer, guitarist and band leader Arsenio Rodriquez by Marc Ribot (guitar side kick of Tom Waits and, of late, Elvis Costello). Had this album had only two songs (the first two, to which you could easily envision Chris Isaak crooning) this album might have been ranked in the top three. Rodriquez was a contemporary of Desi Arnez which may, in part, explain Arnez’s emigration to the US. I don’t know if the songs are that bad or that Ribot’s interpretations are lacking. Some of the tunes sound like they may have been recorded on Rodriquez’s original equipment (he died in 1972)

Brian Setzer Orchestra “The Dirty Boogie”

Decent version of “Since I Don’t Have You” Concept has been tried before,this one has too much guitar. Frankly, the album would have been betterwithout Brian Setzer! Try Squirrel Nut Zippers

	1	Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach “Painted From Memory” Confluence of melancholy and melody...Monkey- Boy said it best (see Pix Page 7)
Ceili Rain “Say-Kay-Lee” If there were a choice for best new artist, these guys would win. Musically they're sort of Van Morrison meets Jethro Tull meets middle of the road 70’s Pop/Rock band. However, their three chord pop/rock (with some spiritual overtones) is served with a heavy undercurrent of dissonance courtesy of a tin whistle, an Irish fiddle and an occasional bagpipe (both Scottish and Irish). Stand out songs include Do It Anyway, Call Home and You Then Me Then You Then Me (reminiscent of “Minstrel In The Gallery” era Jethro Tull)	2
	3	Chris Isaak “Speak of the Devil” You can always count on Chris Isaak to give you a good album with at least 10 good (or at least mediocre) songs. Chris gives you what you expect. In this increasingly complex and unpredictable world in which we live, it’s nice to know that you can count on something. Chris Isaak is one of those something's
Emmylou Harris “Spyboy” A live retrospective of Emmylou’s career. Recorded over the past two years in small clubs from Nashville to Finland, this album makes a nice introduction to Emmylou Harris. From her backing vocals on Bob Dylan’s “Desire” to her 1996 “Wrecking Ball”, I’ve been a big fan of Emmylou’s, this album has only added to my appreciation. Album title taken from the name of her backing band, Spyboy, which is the Mardis Gras term for the person who goes ahead of the parade; a street entertainer, jester, troublemaker, scout	4
	5	Natalie Imbruglia “Left of the Middle” Would have ranked higher if I could have pronounced her name. I’m a sucker for a good pop song--Torn is one such song. This album is somewhat shallow, the songs have nearly all been done before, and no new ground broken here, yet I like it. I guess this review says more about me than it does about the album. Give it a listen
Nick Lowe “Dig My Mood” Have you ever been driving and thinking and after 10 miles pass you realize that you can’t remember having driven those 10 miles? That’s what happened to me whilst listening to this album--before I knew it the CD player was on track 8. This album is typical Nick Lowe...no surprises here. Carl Perkins’ and Buddy Holly’s memory live on...	6
	7	Neil Finn “Try Whistling This” Album title conclusive evidence that Neil Finn has a hidden microphone installed in the Oval Office. Neil (and his brother Tim) Finn were the driving force behind Australian bands Split Enz and Crowded House. Lyrically, the album seems somewhat contrived while there was a definite void where the close Beatlesque harmonies would have been had this been a CrowdedHouse album. This album would’ve been ranked lower had I had higher expectations
Brian May “Another World” Buy “Back to the Light” instead. Ian Hunter joins in on remake of Mott classic All The Way From Memphis. For Queen aficionados only	8
	9	Natalie Merchant “Ophelia” Album title derived from Shakespeare’s Hamlet character. This is the only thing that this album has in common with prose. Album was a bitterdisappointment given the heightened expectations resulting from the lovely “Tigerlily” The single Kind and Generous, is good but not in the league with her previous efforts
Marc Ribot “Y Los Cubanos Postizos” This is a tribute album to the late Cuban composer, guitarist and band leader Arsenio Rodriquez by Marc Ribot (guitar side kick of Tom Waits and, of late, Elvis Costello). Had this album had only two songs (the first two, to which you could easily envision Chris Isaak crooning) this album might have been ranked in the top three. Rodriquez was a contemporary of Desi Arnez which may, in part, explain Arnez’s emigration to the US. I don’t know if the songs are that bad or that Ribot’s interpretations are lacking. Some of the tunes sound like they may have been recorded on Rodriquez’s original equipment (he died in 1972)	10

	Ian Dury & The Blockheads “Mr. Love Pants” Album title alone is what drove consideration of inclusion in TopTen!
Brian Setzer Orchestra “The Dirty Boogie” Decent version of “Since I Don’t Have You” Concept has been tried before,this one has too much guitar. Frankly, the album would have been betterwithout Brian Setzer! Try Squirrel Nut Zippers
	R.E.M. “Up” Drummer quit; no one noticed. Would have been in Top 10 had they not stolen Peter Gabriel’s album title