The 25 best albums of 1998

25 January 2023, 17:18 | Updated: 20 July 2023, 18:45

Let's look back at memories of the year of Sexy Boy, Intergalactic, Teardrop and Praise You.

1. Air - Moon Safari: released 16th January 1998

   The French duo of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel released their debut album, which featured Sexy Boy and All I Need.

   

2. Catatonia - International Velvet: released 2nd February 1998

   The Welsh band released their second, most successful, album in 1998 that featured the singles Mulder And Scully and Road Rage.

   

3. Madonna – Ray Of Light: released 22nd February 1998

   Madge worked with dance producer on her eighth studio album, which included the pulsating title track, The Power Of Goodbye, Drowned World and the No 1 Frozen.

   

4. Pulp - This Is Hardcore: released 30th March 1998

   Jarvis and co released their sixth album featuring the title track, Help The Aged and Party Hard.

   

5. Gomez - Bring It On: released 13th April 1998

   Southport's finest released their debut, Mercury Music Prize-winning album which featured 78 Stone Wobble and Whippin' Piccadilly.

   

6. Massive Attack - Mezzanine: released 20th April 1998

   The band's third album was released, featured the big tune Teardrop.

   

7. Garbage - Version 2.0: released 11th May 1998

   Shirley Manson and co released their second album featuring the hits I Think I'm Paranoid, When I Grow Up and Push It.

   

8. Smashing Pumpkins - Adore: released 2nd June 1998

   Billy Corgan's band - now a trio, minus drummer Jimmy Chamberlin - released their fourth album, featuring the single Ava Adore.

   

9. Embrace - The Good Will Out: released 8th June 1998

   Danny McNamara's band released their debut album, featuring the singles All You Good Good People and Come Back To What You Know.

   

10. Beastie Boys - Hello Nasty: released 14th July 1998

    The NY hip hop trio released their fifth album, featuring the massive hits Intergalactic and Body Movin'.

    

11. UNKLE – Psyence Fiction: released 24th August 1998

    James Lavelle and DJ Shadow's collaboration released its debut studio album, which included the tracks Rabbit In Your Headlights and Be There.

    

12. Elliott Smith - XO: released 25th August 1998

    The late singer songwriter released his fourth album this year.

    

13. Belle And Sebastian - The Boy With The Arab Strap: released 7th September 1998

    The Scottish band made their breakthrough with their third studio album. The title track was later used on the TV show Teachers.

    

14. Mansun – Six: released 7th September 1998

    The follow-up to the hugely successful debut Attack Of The Grey Lantern included the singles Legacy, Being A Girl and Negative.

    

15. Hole - Celebrity Skin: released 8th September 1998

    Courtney Love's band released their third studio album, including the title track and Malibu.

    

16. Manic Street Preachers - This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours: released 14th September 1998

    The band's fifth album was their first No 1 and spawned the single If You Tolerate This, Your Children Will Be Next, also a chart topper. The song is in the Guinness World Records as the number one single with the longest title without brackets.

    

17. PJ Harvey - Is This Desire?: released 28th September 1998

    Peej released her fourth album, featuring the single A Perfect Day Elise.

    

18. Mercury Rev - Deserter's Songs: released 29th September 1998

    The Buffalo, New York band released their third album, which included the memorable track Goddess On A Hiway.

    

19. Ash - Nu-Clear Sounds: released 5th October 1998

    The band released their second album and welcomed aboard their second guitarist Charlotte Hatherley.

    

20. Placebo - Without You I'm Nothing: released 12th October 1998

    Brian Molko's power pop trio released their second album, which featured Pure Morning and Every You Every Me.

    

21. Fatboy Slim - You've Come A Long Way, Baby: released 19th October 1998

    Norman Cook released his second album under the Fatboy Slim moniker, featuring the singles Praise You, Rockerfeller Skank and Right Here Right Now.

    

22. The Cardigans - Gram Turismo: released 19th October 1998

    The fourth album from the Swedish band featured the hits My Favourite Game and Erase/Rewind.

    

23. Idlewild - Hope Is Important: released 26th October 1998

    The Edinburgh punk band released their first full-length album. The LP featured When I Argue I See Shapes and A Film For The Future.

    

24. R.E.M. - Up: released 26th October 1998

    The Athens, GA legends released their 11th album, featuring At My Most Beautiful and Daysleeper.

    

25. Beck - Mutations: released 3rd November 1998

    The musician's sixth studio album included Cold Brains, Tropicalia and Nobody's Fault But My Own.