The Best Rock Videos Of 1998 - Day 1

Picture it: 1998. Allyson is a senior in high school and ready to be done with that stage of life. Still, there were some fun things that happened senior year. Popular music was the literal soundtrack to a lot of it. In many ways, rock music in 1998 was at a crossroads. Glam was not in style. Ska-Swing was having a moment. Some alternative bands ruled the rock world. Then there was a sort of resurgence of classic rock acts, too. Plus some bands I love today were formed in 1998 including Bullet For My Valentine and All That Remains. Rob Zombie officially became a solo artist in 1998 as well.

So while MTV wasn't playing music videos around the clock anymore, the channel still mattered to teens like me. Over the next few days, we'll look at the best rock videos from 1998. I'll also tell you about many of my favorite hip-hop and pop songs that happened to come out in 1998 as well!

Today, our best rock video pick is from KISS with "Psycho Circus" from the album of the same name. This is one of the [best!] songs KISS ever released! The musical interlude is great and so is the guitar solo. The video is goofy in that late 90s way or using all sorts of new production techniques available at the time.

BONUS: favorite pop clip is "Still Not A Player" by Big Pun featuring Joe. Late 90s hip hop videos were always on tilt. Over-the-top expenditures made for some great video clips! Great fashion, too!

Comments

[Him]

The video made me giggle. Amazing how much CGI has improved then. I remember, at the time, that this was (well sorta') the standard. CGI and practical effects age differently, and are viewed differently by listeners/viewers of different ages. But this? Yeah, giggle.

"This is one of the songs KISS ever released!" You actually engaged in a bit of a slip-up there, Allyson. And it works. But if you add the word you forgot--and I am not criticizing you for an error, as I make them all the time (as everyone knows)--my response would be: "Oh. No. No. No." And, just to be fair, I also made an error. I left out several "no" retorts. But that was because my fingers were cramping up!

I'd take something off _Revenge_ (howdy grunge, have you met KISS?). I'd even listen to most (some?) songs from the 80s. But this is not those. Is it okay? Sure. It was a song meant for a cash grab and was dutifully produced and shot out the KISS KANNON. But it is not canon. Then again, KISS is not canon anymore. I'd prefer to listen to a bunch of non-imbibing wags (well, two) play "Cold Gin" than buy the swill they call gin. Would I pay to see Criss or Frehley do the same? Answer: one isn't touring anymore. The other is, and it is financially easy to see. So, if it was close to me, I might wander in and take a gander.

The video is bait-and-switch done very well for the time. But, thank Valentine and Thayer for the sound, and Criss and Frehley for making a visual appearance. Oh, did I leave someone out? Simmons too. Thankfully, he stepped in to show his majesty after Kulick provided the bass. You can read more about the rest of the tracks if you wish. But they follow the same sorta' pattern: sell the originals, while doing all the other stuff to actually make this album happen.

You wanted the best? Well, you got _that_. And now you have _this_ KISS. There's a sucker born . . . sing along!!! Welcome to the show, indeed.

[GNR]

"Within" - Psycho Circus Album. Great Song