The year in aluminum

>> 25 Montreal recordings that shook 1998

by CHRIS YURKIW

Robert de la Gauthier United Club Foundation 2 (ID&T) Everyone was talking about Everything (Fred) while this jet-set ex-pat dropped his second massive mixed-CD of dope digi-house.

Pot-Pourri de Quality Various (Blow the Fuse) A new label takes garage punk as its domain and pits anglos (Tricky Woo, Sassy Scarlett) vs francos (Secrétaires Volantes, Deche Dans Face) in a cage match of goodwill.

Jazz Pharmacy Jazz Pharmacy (independent) After countless live stints in local lounges, a fine five-shot EP of phreaked acid jazzbosity.

Bran Van 3000 Glee (Audiogram) Last year, BV3K took Canada. This year, the world was their playground with Glee's international bump-up.

Bionic Bionic (Sound King) Indie rawk's not dead. It was just in a gruesome accident, lost some appendages and its hair, and came back to open for Kiss.

Shades of Culture Mindstate (2112) It was a long wait but the premier local crew finally dropped their debut long-player and followed it up with the live local blitz we've come to expect of them.

Local Rabbits Basic Concept (Murderecords) Wherein the best rock band in Montreal became its best pop band. Is anybody listening?!

Martin Tétrault La nuit où j'ai dit non (Audioview)/Callas: La Diva et le vinyle/Ile Bizarre/Dur noyau dur (Ambiances Magnétiques) Four releases (count 'em) from Montreal's most extreme turntablist. 'Nuff said.

David Usher Little Songs (EMI) 'Nuff said.

Basta Radieux-sceptique (Audiogram) Two nice de souche boys drop rock 'n' rap, Italian and franglais on the label that's redefining francophone pop.

Gangster Politics Gangster Politics (Stomp) A landmark Montreal ska album in a city that's made ska one its landmarks. In a furious style.

Dorian Sherwood Dorian Sherwood (Tandem) R&B homegrown in Montreal?! You betcha: slick, smooth and savvy-like.

Rufus Wainwright Rufus Wainwright (DreamWorks) You knew this was gonna be a biggie, but not Spin's Top 20 or Gap-ad big. Big up!

Tricky Woo The Enemy Is Real (Sonic Unyon) The Woo tried to make rock 'n' roll dangerous again. Is that the enemy you're talkin' 'bout?

Jah Cuttah If It Wasn't Jah (2112) Been keepin' reggae "roots" and culture "conscious" for so long that it's come back into style.

Tiga Montreal Mix Sessions 1 (Sona) A mixed-CD that took Hawty techno and made it into gorgeous emo-house. From the city's pillar of rave.

Undercovers Some People (Stomp) The Undercovers are Madness to Gangster Politics' Specials, and the sound of the suburbs rising up.

Adam Cohen Adam Cohen (Columbia) Not sure if this should really be counted as local, but with pop Leonard about to climb a mountain in Tibet we'll take what we can get.

Lindy Lindy (Aquarius) His love of old-school Dylan hits you over the head, but what hits even harder is the rock-solid songs on the debut from this gentle, Nordic giant.

Oliver Jones Just In Time (Justin Time) A double-live set with a fitting title in a tribute to the Montreal label's 15th anniversary.

Michael Jerome Brown Michael Jerome Brown (Bros) The cornerstone guitarist of the Stephen Barry Band came out solo with his own vintage acoustic blues nuggets.

Bodega Bring Yourself Up (Slash) Yeah, another re-release, but it wasn't until this year that folks--especially Montrealers--realized that Andy Rodriguez had blossomed into an art-folk, prog-pop hero.

Ekko Centripetal (Interchill) "Jah ethnofunkadelicfusion." Curious yet?

Jean Leloup Les Fourmis (Audiogram) Extended psyche jams? Greatest trips? A new studio album? All of the above. And more.

Céline Dion Let's Talk About Love/S'il suffisait d'aimer/These Are Special Times (Sony) Céline's been working so hard... she should take a break.