Looking back, 1998 was a pretty great year for singles that came to define their makers' careers. Placebo, Catatonia -- though these Britpop coattail shakers had their share of high points, "Pure Morning" and "Road Rage" rate right up there. Of course, this installment in Virgin's long-running Best Album in the World...Ever! series doesn't quit at 1998. There's the saccharine guilty pleasure of Deep Blue Something, as well as Run-D.M.C.'s crossover nugget "Walk This Way." Still, there's no talk about 1998 without talking about big beat, and to that end there's Norman Cook. As Fatboy Slim, he contributes "Gangster Tripping"; as Cornershop remixer there's "Brimful of Asha." The second disc of Best Anthems...Ever! is strong too, kicking off with Radiohead's "High and Dry." There's perhaps no better signifier of the sun-baked '90s modern rock slacker ethic than Bran Van 3000's "Drinking in L.A.," just as Sheryl Crow's "Everyday Is a Winding Road" and the Meredith Brooks' one-off "Bitch" represent the Lilth Fair. Other highlights of this fun two-disc set come from Ash ("Jesus Says"), Blur ("Beetlebum"), and the Stone Roses (all eight minutes of "I Am the Resurrection"). ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide