Let's jump right back into our 1998 special with our top 3 albums of 1998, plus an announcement of what may be our final hiatus episodes.

0:00-50:10 Reflections on the 1998 Iraq disarmament crisis. 50:11-1:00:59 Discussion of the year in alternative rock.

In this episode, we dive into the song "Never There" by the band Cake, exploring its catchy blend of alternative rock, dry wit, and introspective lyrics. We discuss the song’s themes of emotional distance and disillusionment, along with its unique mix of trumpet, guitar, and minimalist production. We also reflect on how "Never There" became a standout track in Cake's discography, capturing the band's signature sound while resonating with listeners on a personal level. Tune in for a deep dive into the song's meaning and its place in the broader context of 90s alternative music.

Somehow we go 90 minutes - one minute for every song on Lenny Kravitz’ interminable 5th album 5.  We do a deep dive on the Kravitz discography, Quillen does a dramatic lyric reading, and then it's scarves, Lars Ulrich, and a review of a certain Stall that may or may not be relevant to this week's song.

The Flood Rats return to talk Dizzy Up The Girl, Robby v. Jonny, and how the nostalgia cycle is catching up with the late 90s.  Chart talk includes Lauryn Hill, Oasis, and Soul Coughing.

It's not an episode about James L. Brooks, but this is just about As Good As It Gets for alternative rock in 1998. The boys talk about the hits and misses of Hole's third album, and then they move on to the misses and misses of the modern rock chart.

Suffer suffer, it don't get no rougher; we're talking Steven Rock, Ed Rap, and Steve Tyler today. Note: In this episode, we incorrectly refer to the Barenaked Ladies live album as Rock Spectacular. It is in fact called Rock Spectacle.

This is not the open road song, this is the heart in a blender song! Joining the boys this week is special guest and #1 Eve 6 fan of all time, Nick Bertsos! On the charts this week, it may not be the holiday season, but we'll check in with neoclassical new age juggernaut Mainsteam Reimholer. 

The Goo Goo Boys are back! This time, with leather and telescopes! Travel with us to the City of Angels where a literal city of angels gather together to sing in unison to this classic hit.

Some great bands made it through the 90s without a single Modern Rock #1, including Thoughts On Pod favorite Stone Temple Pilots. In this epic special, the sour boys devour STP's entire 90s catalog and spit out the Core.  This is a rerun of an episode from August 2020.

Don't put that cloak of elvenkind away just yet, there's a round of DND to be had with Semisonic. Explore the boys' strange, fine feelings about these sophisticated industry plants, then stick around to find out how many Nicolas Cage movies there are!

New listener contest: Tell us if there's anything to say about "The Way" by Fastball! Please! Anyway, if you wanna skip to the charts, we understand; the podcast vaunteth not itself.

1998, baybee!  The boys start the year with a Cloak Encounter of the Elvenkind.  Join St. Joe on the bus and ride to the Marcy Playground, where there are bogbeans for all.

This week on the pod, it's Beck II: Revenge of the Beckmen! Grab a hot dog and pop a NoDoz as the boys look back on a wildly silly album. Then, stick around for a rare and extended look beyond the usual purview of the pod and into the forbidden world of Spring 2000 featuring an unforgettable tale of romance and some tasty nu metal.

The three Beckmen take on their first of two Beck albums. Is this bong load his Kid A or his Amnesiac? Godrich only knows.

We Know What You Watched on the CW Last Summer, so join us on a Canadian carnival ride with lots of drum talk, kazoo breakdowns, and distant Chicago transit noise.

The boys do two full hours on the Final Fantasy VII soundtrack First a 1997 fantasy draft results in the creation of fine bands such as Bullet with Buffalo Wings. Then we talk annual podcast stats and our top 5 albums of the year. It's real long, so if you wanna cheat: :00 Fantasy album game, 28:40 Memories of 97, 33:17 97 season statistics, 45:23 Top 5 album lists, and finally 1:55:50 announcement of hiatus episodes

(Duh duh duh duh duh duh) Yeah! The boys close out 1997 with ear candy, drum fills, and confessional lyrics from Art Alexakis & co. Chart talk gets very spirited with Ben Folds, The Cure, G Love, and more OK Computer talk.

This episode is a rerun, but you probably forgot all about it anyway!   The boys humbly request that you sanction their buffoonery as they discuss this unique, non-album U2 single. Download the episode, listen to it, kiss it, kill it.

This week on Tub Me All Your Thumps on Pod, we check out the 1997 hit from Chumbawumba, “Tubthumping” from the album Tubthumper. On the charts, we head back to middle earth where Al narrates an orc-estration of his own bittersweet symphony.