The winner's gallery

10 Years of Music History

If you follow the first 10 years of the Phoenix/WFNX Best Music Poll in our Winners' Gallery, you can see not only the music changing but also the way we've all been listening to it. Three years ago we decided that we needed a new category called "DJ/Dance Music Producer" to deal with the breakthrough of techno. Since then we've decided that "Electronica/DJ" best describes the aggregate of big beat, techno, turntablism, and their many hybrids. We found that ska bands tended to dominate the "World Music" category, so we broke ska out into its own rubric. This year, you'll find that ska, swing, and rockabilly have all been grouped together to represent a particular scene rather than a tightly defined genre. At the height of grunge, although plenty of people were still playing some version of it, "Heavy Metal" began to seem irrelevant as a genre distinction. (Likewise, bands who won the category for years told us they were "not metal.") Now we've created a "Loud Music" category to cover metal and related genres. In the years to come, the Music Poll will continue changing to reflect what you, our listeners and readers, are telling us about the music. We look forward to seeing what our ballots reveal in the year 2000.

LOCAL FEMALE VOCALIST

Kay Hanley (1998)
Tracy Bonham (1995-'97)
Kay Hanley (1994)
Juliana Hatfield (1993)
Laurie Sargent (1992)
Janet LaValley (1989-'91)

NATIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST

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

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-'98)
Eddie Vedder (1994-'96)
Bono (1992-'93)
Sting (1991)
Michael Stipe (1990)
Lou Reed (1989)

LOCAL ACT

Letters to Cleo (1998, new category)

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 ROCK ACT

Machinery Hall (1996)
Cliffs of Dooneen (1994-'95)
Buffalo Tom (1993)
Tribe (1992)
Pixies (1991)
Tribe (1989-'90)

NATIONAL ACT

Radiohead (1998, new catagory)

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 ROCK ACT

Red Hot Chili Peppers (1996)
Pearl Jam (1993-'95)
U2 (1992)
R.E.M. (1990-'91)
U2 (1989)

LOCAL NEW ARTIST

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

Third Eye Blind (1998)
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

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-'98)
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

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

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

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

Wu-Tang Clan (1998)
Fugees (1997)
Beastie Boys (1996)
Beastie Boys (1995)
Us3 (1994)
Arrested Development (1993)
Public Enemy (1989-'92)

LOCAL BLUES

Roomful of Blues (1997-'98)

NATIONAL BLUES

B.B. King (1997-'98)

LOCAL SKA

Bim Skala Bim (1998, new category)

LOCAL WORLD MUSIC

Babaloo (1998)
Inca Son (1997)
Bim Skala Bim (1989-'96)

NATIONAL SKA

Mighty Mighty Bosstones (1998, new category)

NATIONAL WORLD MUSIC

Chieftains (1997-'98)
Enya (1996)
Chieftains (1995)
Mighty Mighty Bosstones (1994)
Arrested Development (1993)
UB40 (1991-'92)
Ziggy Marley (1989-'90)

LOCAL FOLK

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-'98)
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

Prodigy (1998)
Chemical Brothers (1997, new category)

NATIONAL DJ/DANCE-MUSIC PRODUCER

Moby (1996, new category)

LOCAL ELECTRONIC MUSIC

Future Bible Heroes (1998)
Land of the Loops (1997, new category)

LOCAL DJ/DANCE-MUSIC PRODUCER

Richie Rich (1996, new category)

LOCAL LIVE SHOW

Morphine (1998)
Mighty Mighty Bosstones (1997, new category)

NATIONAL LIVE SHOW

Nine Inch Nails (1997, new category)

NATIONAL TOUR

Lilith Fair (1998, new category)

LOCAL DEVIANT ACT

Women of Sodom (1997, new category)

NATIONAL DEVIANT ACT

Marilyn Manson (1997, new category)

LOCAL ALBUM

Letters to Cleo, Go! (Revolution, 1998)
Sebadoh, Harmacy (Sub Pop, 1997)
Powerman 5000, Blood Splat Rating System (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

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

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

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)