1998

In 1998 I started Grade 8 and have a lot of good memories from this year hanging out with my friends in the Jazz combo at school and playing Pokemon on an emulator on the computer at home.




Albums

Rank Album Artist Title Label Impression
1 Less Than Jake Hello Rockview Capitol

So many good songs on this album that I wore out my CD copy. Not just a top ten for this year, but a top ten for any year.

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2 Catch 22 Keasbey Nights Victory Records

It's also impressive how many good songs are on this album. It's so good they had to redo it as Streetlight Manifesto.

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3 Spring Heeled Jack Songs From Suburbia Ignition Records

Jolene we know that you'll never let us go.

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4 Alkaline Trio Goddamnit Asian Man Records

I learned where the Clavicle was from this album.

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5 The Vandals Hitler Bad, Vandals Good Nitro Records

The humor doesn't always hold up today, but I've Got An Ape Drape is still fun.

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6 Reel Big Fish Why Do They Rock So Hard? Mojo

This one has the best guitar riffs of the Reel Big Fish albums, even if the lyrical content is still questionable.

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7 The Slackers The Question Hellcat Records

Wow 1998 really was the peak of third wave ska even if I didn't fall in love with the genre until a few years later.

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8 Dillinger Four Midwestern Songs of the Americas Hopeless Records

Put this record on and Mosh for Jesus.

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9 Rancid Life Won't Wait Epitaph

One of the weirder Rancid albums that overstays its welcome, but the first half is still great.

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10 Lagwagon Let's Talk About Feelings Fat Wreck Chords

I'm not sure what happened on May 16th, but that song is awesome.

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Books


Rank Book Title Author Impression
1 The Poisonwood Bible Barbara Kingsolver

i remember going into the anarchist bookstore in Montreal and asking for a book with a good story and getting recommended this book. The book is told through the perspective of different daughters of a missionary in Africa.

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2 Holes Louis Sachar

Newberry award winning young adult novel.

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3 Endymion Dan Simmons

The third book in the Hyperion Cantos.

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Movies

Rank Movie Title Impression
1 Dark City

I remember reading about this wen it was listed as one of Roger Ebert's favorite films of 1998 in the newspaper and getting really intrgued by it. It definitely lived up to the hype and has some great plot twists.

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2 Rushmore

My second favorite Wes Anderson film.

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3 Pi

This movie was a big warning to me about the dangers of getting too obsessed with mathematics.

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4 American History X

Back when this film came out, I thought neo nazis were really scary and evil. I still think that, but now they're are more open about it.

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5 Out of Sight

J-Lo and George Clooney, a sassy action film that's perfect 90's.

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Video Games

Rank Game Title Developer Impression
1 Grim Fandango LucasArts

Nobody knows what’s gonna happen at the end of the line, so you might as well enjoy the trip. - Manny Calavera

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2 Pokemon Red / Blue Game Freak

The games that would set off a phenomenom. The series has progressed a lot mechanically over the years, but it's hard to avoid feeling nostalgia for the beginning.

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3 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Nintendo

The Zelda series makes the jump to 3D with a beloved entry.

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4 Sanitarium DreamForge Intertainment

A surreal horror adventure game that takes place in an asylum.

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5 Tex Murphy: Overseer Access Software

Not the greatest Tex game, but it still has that classic 90's FMV cheese and dad jokes.

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