The Quest For Perfect Pop…..Part Two
The Billboard singles chart position is indicated in square brackets after the text,where applicable [tracks not released as commercial singles in North America are identified]. I’ve also indulged in quoting some of the lyrics of the songs (with apologies for any gaffes).
21. SHIMMER
Fuel
550 Music
CD: Sunburn
“All that shimmers is sure to fade…..”
Perhaps not the most optomistic song of the year, but one Fuel-ed by a dynamic, sincere performance, which got it to the Top 10 of the Modern Rock chart. Another band whose second CD will be worth waiting for. [BB: #42]
22. ARE YOU THAT SOMEBODY
Aaliyah
Blackground-Atlantic
CD: “Dr. Dolittle” movie soundtrack
It’s kind of hard to look past Timbaland’s contributions – he’s everywhere lately. But Lady Aaliyah is the winner here with a sultry performance which makes mincemeat out of a rather straight-forward lyric. [BB: #21]
23. INTERGALACTIC
Beastie Boys
Grand Royal-Capitol
CD: Hello Nasty
The boys are back and better than ever with this incredibly clever, rockin’ rap. Throw in the kitschy robot and some great rhymes, and you have an instant classic. It took a while to grow on me – I thought it sounded so odd on the radio – but then I realized that was the whole point! Records like this need to exist just to make you remember that rock music does not need to be literal. [BB: #28]
24. IRIS
Goo Goo Dolls
Warner Sunset
CDs: “City Of Angels” movie soundtrack and Dizzy Up The Girl
The most popular gorgeous ballad of the year – yeah, those three guys from Buffalo, NY who gave you the equally lovely “Name” in 1995 did it again – is also one of the best, destined to be in recurrent play on radio for the next five years. And do you know anyone who’ll mind? [CD track – BB: #9]
25. ARE YOU JIMMY RAY
Jimmy Ray
Epic
CD: Jimmy Ray
Think back – back – back – to the beginning of the year……. that guy with the pompadour – no, not Brian Setzer, you’re only in the summer – yeah that guy who wrote the song about himself! Well it was fun while it lasted, even if it didn’t become as popular as the classic “Duke Of Earl”. Next only to The Beastie Boys in ’98 for a bizarre, if infectious, set of rhymes, placed adjacent to an early 60’s set of sensibilities. [BB: #13]
26. NICE AND SLOW
Usher
LaFace-Arista
CD: My Way
This second single from Usher’s debut CD showed what a sophisticated ballad a 19 year old can make these days with the help of a producer like Babyface. The amazing thing, though, is that Usher has a great voice and conquered the younger female quotient thing tout de suite – he’s set for a half dozen CD’s, to start. Not surprisingly, “Nice and Slow” went straight to #1 on Billboard’s Singles chart – something that somehow eluded the even-better first single from late ’97, “You Make Me Wanna…”. [BB: #1]
27. NOBODY’S SUPPOSED TO BE HERE
Deborah Cox
Arista
CD: One Wish
Like its model – Toni Braxton’s “Un-break My Heart”, my #10 song of 1996 – “Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here” was designed to be both a ballad and a dance track. It works splendidly in both versions – the latter in particular is jubulant, positively exciting in its sincerity. Another Grammy contender, Canada’s Cox is a talent who will be around for a long time. [BB: #2 at time of writing]
28. SPACEMAN
Bif Naked
Aquarius (Canada)
CD: I Bificus
This hard-edged rock record found its popularity Canada-wide when it was released as a CD single with both original and dance mixes included. This success bodes well for Vancouverite Bif, who certainly knows how to write a hook when she decides to veer away from the truly abrasive stuff in her CD. The rock version is a standout, a grandchild of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” for sure. [CD single – Canada only]
29. BRIMFUL OF ASHA
Cornershop
Luaka Bop-Warner
CD: When I Was Born For The Seventh Time
“Brimful Of Asha” was one of the most spry singles of the early part of ’98, rejoicing in something those of us outside of Indian culture don’t know about: The 45’s of the title singer. So translate it into tossing your old vinyl on the turntable and revelling in the music you love. Very simple, and effective, a number one UK hit for this British band. [did not chart]
30. THE DOWN TOWN (remix)
Days Of The New
Outpost-Geffen
CD: Days Of The New
One of the most powerful new voices of the year comes from the lead singer of Days Of The New, 18 year old Travis Meeks. The urgency in his voice puts across the dirty-sounding intrigue which “The Down Town” conveys, especially in the remixed version which was played on modern rock radio. The Kentucky-based group received a tremendous reception from album rock and modern rock radio, and has also acquired quite a following. If “The Down Town” is an example of what’s to come, the next CD by Days Of The New will be a Top 10 item. [CD track]
31. FOUND A CURE
Ultra Naté
Strictly Rhythm
CD: Situation Critical
“Found a cure to get me through another day….”
So popular were “Found A Cure” and last year’s primo club anthem “Free” that a full CD of songs from American dance diva Ultra Naté was finally released. This is a happy marriage of production, voice, and lyric, all set to an irresistible beat. Right now Ultra Naté is what dance music is all about. And it’s no wonder that her contribution to the Stars On 54 cover of Gordon Lightfoot’s “If You Could Read My Mind” helped it become a huge hit, particularly in Canada. [did not chart]
32. TOUCH IT
Monifah
Uptown
CD: Mo’hagany
Simply put: “Touch It” is the sauciest record of the year. Just while you’re groovin’ to the sound of Monifah’s voice against the revolving sample from Laid Back’s 1984 one-hit “White Horse”, you realize that she’s – she’s singing about THAT?!? [BB: #9]
33. PLEASE
Chris Isaak
Reprise
CD: Speak Of The Devil
Chris released his first record of truly new songs since ’95, and teased us a bit with the advance promotion of “Please” before Speak Of The Devil hit the stores. And “Please” is requisite Chris Isaak, all forlorn, tender, with imagery shot through a shaded lens. No slouch this guy – but get a hold of the CD for 40 minutes more of the same, and then some. [CD track]
34. LOVE LIKE THIS
Faith Evans
Bad Boy-Arista
CD: Keep The Faith
Faith came back in ’98 and did good by kicking off her second CD Keep The Faith with the seductive, mid-tempo “Love Like This”. Now this record revolves around a sample from a Chic record – but I don’t know which one! It is a trademark Bernard Edwards-Nile Rodgers riff. And it’s capped nicely by a vocal from someone who is from the Puff Daddy stable but is only now starting to receive due credit on her own. [BB: #7 at time of writing]
35. IT’S LIKE THAT
Run-DMC vs. Jason Nevins
Sm:)le
CD: Ultimate Dance Party 1999 (among others)
This no nonsense reworking of an early Run-DMC record (circa 1982) hung tight right from its release in mid-1997 through all of 1998. It was a number one record throughout Europe and Britain, a Top 10 hit in Canada (on import sales alone) and in the U.S., well, it “bubbled under”. Jason Nevins’ recreation also succeeded on one other level – it’s simply impossible to resist cranking it on your car stereo. [did not chart]
36. FORESTFIRE
David Usher
EMI (Canada)
CD: Little Songs
Moist’s lead singer released Little Songs early in ’98 to immediate fanfare, because it hardly sounded like the intensity-driven Moist songs of the past three years. In fact, “Forestfire”, with all of its subtlety and slight edges, seems like a chain of random thoughts all put together to form sequences of striking imagery. Moist fans loved the album, and “Forestfire” was a substantial modern rock hit. Little Songs wasn’t released in the U.S., but maybe when Moist makes its mark there with its next CD we’ll see new fans demand it. [CD track – Canada only]
37. THE SKY IS A LANDFILL
38. NIGHTMARES BY THE SEA
Jeff Buckley
Columbia
CD: Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk
More songs from the departed Jeff’s posthumous CD, both of which show different sides of this multi-faceted talent. “Sky”, like “Mojo Pin” from his Grace CD, is heavily Led Zeppelin influenced, and a wonder to hear high notes struck so purely. “Nightmares” initially is creepy, almost sounding like a foretelling of Jeff’s own death. Taken separately from that, it’s heavily influenced by producer Tom Verlaine. All you have to do is hear Verlaine’s early 80’s CD’s like Dreamtime or Words From The Front, and you’ll hear how much Jeff sings like a shadow within his own song. In any case, these are two highlights from the Sketches CD, which is a must own. [CD tracks]
39. HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE
Dru Hill featuring Redman
Def Jam/Island
CD: “Rush Hour” movie soundtrack
After the enormous U.S. success in ’96 with Dru Hill’s ballads like “In Your Bed”, the group came back with an interesting angle. This song from the Jackie Chan movie “Rush Hour” emphasizes a freaky Latin rhythm with a flowing rap from Redman. While this song did wear out its welcome with me, there’s no denying its striking initial impact when heard on the radio. And that’s what makes people buy records. [BB: #3]
40. TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY
Savage Garden
Columbia
CD: Savage Garden
Though my heart is still with the underrated “To The Moon And Back”, old and young alike found favour with this contemporary classic, which almost didn’t make the Australian duo’s CD. Darren and Daniel proved to be a surprise to critics who watched their concert, which was a dazzling, exuberant crowd-pleaser. It’s impossible not to feel warm and fuzzy next to the one you love when you play this one. [BB: #1]
– December 18, 1998
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