The winners' gallery

The first thing that hits us reading the following list of past Best Music Poll winners is memories: the triumphant major-label record-release party of Tribe, who dominated our local ballot at the turn of the past decade, seeming ready to conquer the world with noisy guitar, great songs, and a charismatic lead vocalist -- only to drop off the map entirely; Beck's playing a rambling Best Music Poll show at Axis to much critical derision, then returning as king of the world in later years, including this one; the Beastie Boys' opening a BMP Avalon show with "Slow and Low" to a near-hysterical crowd that had been "warmed up" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

And then, of course, we're reminded of the annual, much-debated shuffling of categories when we try to answer the question "What do we call this stuff?" as genres subdivide and mutate. (The DJ/electronica/techno genre has become so diverse that we could probably fill an entire supplement with its many sub-genres -- but who would vote?) We've had a subversive moment or two ("Best Act That Sells a Lot of Records," "Best Act That Doesn't Sell a Lot of Records"), but mostly we've tried to come up with categories that would invite participation, to get you -- our readers and listeners -- to tell us a few things for a change.

For the most part, it's worked, and even though we might have argued with you here and there, we have no argument with giving B.B. King and Wynton Marsalis the recognition they deserve. So take a look back at "The Year Grunge Broke" (Nirvana -- Best National Heavy Metal Act, 1992), and before and after. You might be as surprised as we are about where the music's been. We look forward to your telling us in 2001 where it's going.

-- Jon Garelick

LOCAL FEMALE VOCALIST

Juliana Hatfield (1999)

Kay Hanley (1998)

Tracy Bonham (1995-'97)

Kay Hanley (1994)

Juliana Hatfield (1993)

Laurie Sargent (1992)

Janet LaValley (1989-'91)

NATIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST

Tori Amos (1999)

Sarah McLachlan (1998)

Tori Amos (1997)

Alanis Morissette (1996)

Kay Hanley (1995)

Juliana Hatfield (1994)

Annie Lennox (1993)

Bonnie Raitt (1992)

Sinéad O'Connor (1990-'91)

Tracy Chapman (1989)

LOCAL MALE VOCALIST

Chris Colbourn (1999)

Mark Sandman (1998)

Dicky Barrett (1997)

Ted Condo (1996)

Eric Sean Murphy (1994-'95)

Dave Herlihy (1992-'93)

Black Francis (1991)

Ray Lemieux (1989-'90)

NATIONAL MALE VOCALIST

Beck (1997-'99)

Eddie Vedder (1994-'96)

Bono (1992-'93)

Sting (1991)

Michael Stipe (1990)

Lou Reed (1989)

LOCAL BAND THAT
SELLS A LOT OF RECORDS

Mighty Mighty Bosstones
(1997, new category)

LOCAL BAND THAT DOESN'T
SELL A LOT OF RECORDS

Gigolo Aunts (1997, new category)

LOCAL ACT

Dropkick Murphys (1999)

Letters to Cleo (1998)

Machinery Hall (1996)

Cliffs of Dooneen (1994-'95)

Buffalo Tom (1993)

Tribe (1992)

Pixies (1991)

Tribe (1989-'90)

NATIONAL BAND THAT
SELLS A LOT OF RECORDS

Smashing Pumpkins
(1997, new category)

NATIONAL BAND THAT DOESN'T SELL A LOT OF RECORDS

Luscious Jackson (1997, new
category)

NATIONAL ACT

Beastie Boys (1999)

Radiohead (1998)

Red Hot Chili Peppers (1996)

Pearl Jam (1993-'95)

U2 (1992)

R.E.M. (1990-'91)

U2 (1989)

LOCAL NEW ARTIST

Mr. Airplane Man (1999)

Dropkick Murphys (1998)

Trona (1996)

Tracy Bonham (1995)

Machinery Hall (1994)

Come (1993)

Cliffs of Dooneen (1992)

Lava Beat (1991)

Buffalo Tom (1990)

The Lemmings (1989)

LOCAL COMEBACK ARTIST

Peter Wolf (1997, new category)

NATIONAL NEW ARTIST

Everlast (1999)

Third Eye Blind (1998)

Alanis Morissette (1996)

Green Day (1995)

Belly (1994)

Pearl Jam (1993)

Nirvana (1992)

Deee-Lite (1991)

Indigo Girls (1990)

Edie Brickell & New Bohemians (1989)

NATIONAL COMEBACK ARTIST

David Bowie (1997, new category)

LOCAL ALTERNATIVE ACT

6L6 (1996, new category)

LOCAL CUTTING-EDGE ACT

Machinery Hall (1995)

Letters to Cleo (1994)

Think Tree (1992-'93)

Pixies (1991)

Think Tree (1990, new category)

NATIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACT

Radiohead (1996, new category)

NATIONAL CUTTING-EDGE ACT

Nine Inch Nails (1995)

Smashing Pumpkins (1994)

Pearl Jam (1993)

Red Hot Chili Peppers (1992)

Jane's Addiction (1991)

The Cure (1990, new category)

LOCAL HEAVY-METAL ACT

Powerman 5000 (1996)

6L6 (1995)

Heretix (1994)

Seka (1993)

Bullet LaVolta (1990-'92)

Extreme (1989)

NATIONAL HEAVY-METAL ACT

Alice in Chains (1996)

Soundgarden (1995)

Aerosmith (1994)

Alice in Chains (1993)

Nirvana (1992)

Guns N' Roses (1991)

Metallica (1990)

Guns N' Roses (1989)

LOCAL JAZZ ACT

Saturnalia (1999)

The Fringe (1998)

Either/Orchestra (1997)

Myanna (1996)

Either/Orchestra (1995)

Myanna (1994)

The Fringe (1993)

Tiger's Baku (1992)

Pat Metheny (1991)

Either/Orchestra (1990)

The Fringe (1989)

NATIONAL JAZZ ACT

Wynton Marsalis (1997-'99)

Harry Connick Jr. (1995-'96)

Wynton Marsalis (1994)

Dizzy Gillespie (1993)

Miles Davis (1991-'92)

Harry Connick Jr. (1990)

Bobby McFerrin (1989)

LOCAL R&B/SOUL

Peter Wolf (1999)

Barrence Whitfield (1998)

Chucklehead (1997)

Matt Woodburn and the Kat in the Hat Band (1996)

G. Love & Special Sauce (1995)

Chucklehead (1993-'94)

Heavy Metal Horns (1992)

Barrence Whitfield and the Savages (1989-'91)

NATIONAL R&B/SOUL

Lauryn Hill (1999)

Erykah Badu (1998)

Toni Braxton (1997)

B.B. King (1996)

Blues Traveler (1995)

Us3 (1994)

En Vogue (1993)

B.B. King (1992)

Stevie Ray Vaughan (1991)

Soul II Soul (1990)

Anita Baker (1989)

LOCAL VIDEO

Papas Fritas, "Afterall" (1996)

Come, "In/Out" (1995)

Big Bad Bollocks, "Whiskey in Me Tea" (1994)

Come, "Car" (1993)

Manufacture, "Many Machines" (1992, new category)

LOCAL RAP/HIP-HOP

Virtuoso (1999)

Down Low Connection (1997-'98)

Powerman 5000 (1996)

Chucklehead (1995)

Powerman 5000 (1994)

Chuck (1993)

Chucklehead (1992)

Bell Biv DeVoe (1991)

MC Spider (1990)

Gangstarr Posse (1989)

NATIONAL RAP/HIP-HOP

Beastie Boys (1999)

Wu-Tang Clan (1998)

Fugees (1997)

Beastie Boys (1995-'96)

Us3 (1994)

Arrested Development (1993)

Public Enemy (1989-'92)

LOCAL BLUES

Susan Tedeschi (1999)

Roomful of Blues (1997-'98)

NATIONAL BLUES

B.B. King (1997-'99)

LOCAL SKA/
SWING/ROCKABILLY

Amazing Crowns
(1999, new category)

LOCAL SKA

Bim Skala Bim
(1998, new category)

NATIONAL SKA/
SWING/ROCKABILLY

Mighty Mighty Bosstones
(1999, new category)

NATIONAL SKA

Mighty Mighty Bosstones
(1998, new category)

LOCAL WORLD MUSIC

Babaloo (1998-'99)

Inca Son (1997)

Bim Skala Bim (1989-'96)

NATIONAL WORLD MUSIC

Chieftains (1997-'99)

Enya (1996)

Chieftains (1995)

Mighty Mighty Bosstones (1994)

Arrested Development (1993)

UB40 (1991-'92)

Ziggy Marley (1989-'90)

LOCAL FOLK

Jonatha Brooke (1999)

Merrie Amsterburg (1998)

Tracie Smart (1997)

Amelia White/Iguana Poets (1996)

Eoin Woods (1994-'95)

The Story (1993)

Bill Morrissey (1992)

Patty Larkin (1990-'91)

Ed's Redeeming Qualities (1989)

NATIONAL FOLK

Ani DiFranco (1997-'99)

Indigo Girls (1996)

Sarah McLachlan (1995)

Indigo Girls (1993-'94)

James Taylor (1992)

Indigo Girls (1990-'91)

Tracy Chapman (1989)

LOCAL COUNTRY

Swinging Steaks (1994-'96)

Blood Oranges (1993)

Swinging Steaks (1992)

Blood Oranges (1991)

Miss Xanna Don't and the Willin' (1990)

Lazy Susan (1989)

NATIONAL COUNTRY ACT

Lyle Lovett (1995-'96)

k.d. lang (1989-'94)

NATIONAL ELECTRONIC MUSIC

Fatboy Slim (1999)

Prodigy (1998)

Chemical Brothers
(1997, new category)

NATIONAL DJ/DANCE-MUSIC PRODUCER

Moby
(1996, new category)

LOCAL ELECTRONIC MUSIC

Lunar Plexus (1999)

Future Bible Heroes (1998)

Land of the Loops (1997, new
category)

LOCAL DJ/
DANCE MUSIC PRODUCER

Richie Rich (1996, new category)

LOCAL LIVE SHOW

The Shods (1999)

Morphine (1998)

Mighty Mighty Bosstones
(1997, new category)

NATIONAL LIVE SHOW

Nine Inch Nails
(1997, new category)

NATIONAL TOUR

Lilith Fair
(1998-'99, new category)

LOCAL LOUD ACT

Godsmack (1999, new category)

NATIONAL LOUD ACT

Korn (1999, new category)

LOCAL DEVIANT ACT

Women of Sodom
(1997, new category)

NATIONAL DEVIANT ACT

Marilyn Manson
(1997, new category)

LOCAL ALBUM

Mary Lou Lord, Got No Shadow (Work Group, 1999)

Letters to Cleo, Go!
(Revolution, 1998)

Sebadoh, Harmacy (Sub Pop, 1997)

Powerman 5000, Blood Splat Rating System (Curve of the Earth, 1996)

Machinery Hall, Machinery Hall
(Permagrin, 1995)

Cliffs of Dooneen, Undertow
(Critique, 1994)

Various, Crush (CherryDisc, 1993)

Tribe, Abort (Slash, 1992)

Pixies, Bossanova (Elektra, 1991)

Pixies, Doolittle (Elektra, 1990)

Mike Viola & Snap, Bang-a-Lang (self-released, 1989)

NATIONAL ALBUM

Garbage, Version 2.0
(Geffen, 1999)

Radiohead, OK Computer
(Capitol, 1998)

Beck, Odelay
(DGC/Geffen, 1997)

Smashing Pumpkins,
Mellon Collie and the Infinite
Sadness (Virgin, 1996)

R.E.M., Monster
(Warner Bros., 1995)

Pearl Jam, Vs. (Virgin, 1994)

Pearl Jam, Ten (Epic, 1993)

U2, Achtung Baby (Island, 1992)

Sinéad O'Connor, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (Chrysalis, 1991)

B-52's, Cosmic Thing
(Reprise, 1990)

R.E.M., Green
(Warner Bros., 1989)

LOCAL SONG

Buffalo Tom, "Rachael" (PGD/
Polydor, 1999)

Letters to Cleo, "Anchor"
(Revolution, 1998)

Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "The
Impression That I Get"
(Mercury, 1997)

Machinery Hall, "Vincent"
(Permagrin, 1996)

Machinery Hall, "It Suits You Now" (Permagrin, 1995)

Letters to Cleo, "I See"
(CherryDisc, 1994)

Buffalo Tom, "Taillights Fade"
(Beggars Banquet, 1993)

Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "Where'd You Go?" (MCA, 1992)

Pixies, "Digging For Fire"
(4AD/Elektra, 1991)

Think Tree, "Hire a Bird"
(self-released, 1990)

The Cavedogs, "Baba Ganooj" (Enigma, 1989)

NATIONAL SONG

Beastie Boys, "Intergalactic"
(Grand Royal/ Capitol, 1999)

Blur, "Song No. 2" (EMI, 1998)

Beck, "Where It's At"
(DGC/Geffen, 1997)

Alanis Morissette, "You Oughta Know" (Maverick, 1996)

Letters to Cleo, "Here & Now"
(CherryDisc, 1995)

Pearl Jam, "Daughter" (Epic, 1994)

Pearl Jam, "Black" (Epic, 1993)

Nirvana, "Smells like Teen Spirit" (DGC, 1992)

Jane's Addiction, "Been Caught Stealing" (Warner Bros., 1991)

B-52's, "Roam," (Reprise, 1990)

Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car"
(Elektra, 1989)

LOCAL PRODUCER

Mike Denneen (1995-'96)

Carl Plaster (1994)

Drew Townson (1993)

Sean Slade (1992)

Think Tree (1991)

Hirsh Gardner (1990)

Joe Harvard (1989)

NATIONAL PRODUCER

Brian Eno (1991-'96)

Daniel Lanois (1990)

Jeff Lynne (1989)