Categories: Best of the Year Best Texas Recordings Best Performing Bands Best Austin Musicians Other Things TX Music Hall of Fame Winners

At first glance, the 1998-99 poll results seemed unspectacular. There were no major gender trends as there were last year, and few upsets or unseatings, though nearly half the winners are new. Storyville swept awards again as they have for three years, taking home an astonishing eight awards between them. If their wins seem predictable, just compare them to newcomer Terri Hendrix, who, in her first appearance in the poll, walked away with wins in three categories. No surprise either that Fastball were huge winners in performing categories, and if Bob Schneider (Ugly Americans, the Scabs, Lonelyland) were to form any more side projects, we would need a new poll just for that. But here's something interesting to watch: For several years now, trends and changes in certain categories in the Chronicle's music poll one year are often reflected in the next year or two in the Grammys. Last year's influx of Girl Power in AMA categories which are traditionally male-dominated can be directly linked to this year's burst of estrogen at the Grammys. That's not surprising, as the most potent musical trends are those that emerge from the streets and local club scenes, and not those manufactured by publicity departments and company hype machines. When the smoke is cleared and the lights fade, there are still over 50 categories honored within, and the sum of their works and accomplishments is nothing short of staggering. It might be a bit unctuous to focus on them analytically, but these 50+ categories represent more than what we hear today; they represent what we will hear tomorrow. And so for all the hundreds of names honored here -- not just the Number One winners -- congratulations. You are the best. -- Margaret Moser