The Year End Review - 1998                 Dec.27, 1998

The last week of the year is upon us and everyone seems to be in a reflective mood. People look back on the past months of their lives and make a mental note of where they've been and where they are going. I know, because each year, I do the same thing. Lately, my years seem to be a mixture of incredible highs and lows. Just as I reach one milestone, I seem to take a wrong turn and  have to start all over again. They say life is a journey, with a beginning, a middle and an end. Right now, I hope I'm in the middle.  

Since music is so important to me, I often remember certain times of my life by what music I'm listening to at the time. In the early part of 1998, I was living out in the country, surrounded by horses, cows and goats. I even had a goat of my own. I named him Todd, because I was listening to a lot of Todd Sniders' music during that time. He had just released his third album, "Viva Satellite," and his music was a big part of my life during this time. I remember listening to that album over and over, particularly one song, "I Can't Complain."  It was like he wrote my life story in four minutes. "All I wanted was one chance to let freedom ring, they said I had to get a permit, tags and everything. I never made it through the red tape, I got this paper
hat. I got a job working week days, you want fries with that?" 

As winter turned to spring, I listened to some really good country albums that were being released. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Sammy Kershaw's "Labor Of Love." I did a phone interview with Sammy right before the album was released and became an even bigger fan than before. He answered my questions with candor and honesty rarely found in todays music. Honorable mention goes to the Wade Hayes album, "When The Wrong One Loves You Right." This young performer can easily carry the torch left smoldering by Haggard and Jones. Should I mention the Shania Twain album, "Come On Over?" OK, I admit, I enjoy looking at her belly button as much as everyone else. Someone on the Internet asked her if it was a "insy" or an "outy" but I can't remember her answer.  

Rock music had some promising new releases in the spring of '98.  As a huge fan of Megadeth, I enjoyed most of their CD "Cryptic Writings." Same with "Re-Load" by Metallica. Us old fans got a kick out the Led Zeppelin double live CD, "The BBC Sessions." We got an even bigger rush when Jimmy Page and Robert Plant decided to tour and perform Zeppelin songs again. Classic rock was represented in a healthy way on new albums by Ozzy Osbourne and Aerosmith. Guitarist Eric Clapton released the ever boring "Pilgrim" album, but made up for it by touring and playing classics like "Layla" and "Wonderful Tonight."  Of course, Celine Dion and the "Titanic" soundtrack rode the charts for what seemed like eternity.   As the weather got warmer, so did the music. Controversy followed freak singer Marilyn Manson at every tour stop, often bringing out thousands of protesters picketing his shows. On tour promoting his CD, "Mechanical Animals," Manson drew the outrage of the public all across America. My advice is that we just ignore these nuts and they'll eventually just disappear. Van Halen released a new album with another new singer. The tour and album bombed, just as we predicted. Time to hang it up guys, or better yet, give David Lee Roth a call. I hear he's still looking for a job. Prince released a four CD set of old material and new acoustic songs titled "Crystal Ball."  Many fans wished he would have gazed into the ball a little longer before releasing this worthless dud. 

Since the warmer weather was coming, several stars got short haircuts. People like Jonny Lang, Lenny Kravitz and Michael Bolton.  Kravitz and Lang simply swept their hair into the trash. Bolton saved his so he could sell it to sobbing woman on his next tour. I suggest he call it the "Bald Is Beautiful" tour and wear that John Deere tractor ball cap I sent him. Bob Dylan toured with pals Van Morrison and Joni Mitchell and sold-out nearly every show. Not only was Bob in great health after a heart attack scare, some fans reported you could actually understand his singing this time.  

Billy Corgan, of the Smashing Pumpkins, was called in to help write some songs for the new album by the group Hole, lead by Courtney Love. After Corgan bragged that he masterminded the album, Courtney denied it, saying she and her band did most of the work. Things got as ugly as Madonna without makeup and both performers took shots at each other in various magazines. After listening to the album in question, I think they should both be fighting to get their names omitted from the credits rather than added. An abbreviated version of the Grateful Dead re-formed in the summer of '98 for a few jams. Guitarist Bob Weir was quoted as saying, "We feel like we're growing new arms and legs." Yes Bob, and I bet you inhaled back in the '60s didn't you? Ex-Beach Boy leader Brian Wilson also reappeared in the summer. Said to be under the care of a new doctor and on some new medication, he played his first solo concert in Chicago. Fans gave him a standing ovation and yelled, "Dude! Surfs up!" I guess the saddest news of all was that the Spice Girls lost Ginger Spice. Though unavailable for comment, they think they accidentally left her at a Dairy Queen in Minnesota. It seems she demanded they stop so she could get a DQ Dude and has never been seen since. 

Singer George Michael was arrested for performing a lewd act in a restroom in Beverly Hills. Officers that arrested Michaels reported that in addition to the lewd act, he was also singing a horrible version of the hit, "Everybody Wang Chung Tonight." Rocker Lou Reed was invited to perform at the White House, he accepted. So did Monica Lewinsky.  Sheryl Crow released here follow up album, titled "The Globe Sessions."   Easily as good as her first CD, Sheryl proved she's no fluke. Another female singer did good this year. Lucinda Williams released her brilliant "Car Wheels On A Gravel Road" to rave reviews. It took six years for her to finish the album so lets hope she won't make us wait that long next time.

It was the year that Mick Jagger turned 55, Ted Nugent hit 50 and Zachary Hanson turned 12. As the saying goes, you're never to old to rock and roll. And rock we did. Classic rock stations across America continued to grow in popularity. Record companies started digging through their vaults and releasing compilations of classic rock hits.   Even Stone Cold Steve Austin, Edna's most famous former resident, released a CD of his favorite classic rock hits. A small record company in North Carolina, CMC International, started signing older '70s and '80s bands as fast as you could say spandex. Older acts like Nazareth, Slaughter, Vixen, Pat Benatar, ELO and Deep Purple got a second chance at stardom by this young label.

On the country charts, the year belonged to a select few. Garth Brooks made news by announcing his goal to be the top selling artist in the history of recorded music. His "Double Live" CD should help him achieve that goal. Easily the hottest group of the year were the Dixie Chicks. Once they added Natalie Maines from Austin on lead vocals, things started happening for these small town girls. Bandera boy Robert Earl Keen issued a fantastic album, "Walking Distance," and is still on tour promoting it. Pat Green released his incredible live album, taped partially at Gruene Hall. He'll be performing there on New Years Eve in
case you'd like to see an unbelievable show. Chris Wall and Reckless Kelly teamed up for a cool album and a few sold-out live shows.

The great flood of October rained out the Boctoberfest in Shiner and devastated hundreds of homes in the process. That was the bad news.  The good news was Willie Nelson played a benefit show at Gruene Hall that raised $25,000 for flood victims. As 1998 comes to an end and we look forward to 1999, there will be some exciting times in our future.  Look for new albums by Gary Moore, Ricochet, Hank Williams Jr., Stanley Jordan, Wynton Marsalis, Black Crowes, Bill Wyman, Ani DiFranco, Gene Loves Jezebel, Sugar Ray, Blondie and Bob Seger. Upcoming concerts heading our way include Black Sabbath, Statler Brothers, Buddy Miles, Milton Berle, Luciano Pavarotti, Joan Baez, Wynton Marsalis, David Kersh, Jonny Lang, Neil Sedaka, Edgar Winter, Johnny Mathis, Celine Dion, Larry Gatlin, Bo Diddley, Deniece Williams, Merle Haggard and of course Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band.

Next year should be another fantastic year for music fans. And, if you believe all the rumors that the world will end in the year 2000, then next year you should live it up. Go see all those bands you've been wanting to see but just made the time to do so. Who knows, this might be your last chance.