Ten records only; I just haven't been buying new records the way I used to. It's interesting, though, that records I put in my '97 list showed up as domestic issues in '99 (cf the Air singles comp). In fact, that Hood record came out in '94 -- I love Hood, so I used the CD reissue to fill out the round number.
GYBEmperor: believe the hype. See http://www.brainwashed.com/godspeed/
Pedro: bought it for the sleeve -- pleasant surprise of the year. Odd, moody electropop. Apparently a side project by the guitarist for a hipper band (Dakota Oka Trio) I am not cool enough to know anything about. A fine record.
Clinic: who are these folks? Great, great singles comp.
Brinkmann: incredibly consistent electronic/vinyl experimenter.
EISound: postrock, but a really nice record.
Beta Band: not as immediate as their '97 debut, but the LP grows on you.
WOHarry: fine, wish-I-were-Syd stuff by ex-Weather Prophet.
Tindersticks: not perhaps their best ever, but good, and -- whew -- upbeat!
Waits: a pal plays drums on a few tracks. Plus, it's good.
Hood: longtime fanboy must-own.
Cheers,
-mb