1. Spoon, A Series of Sneaks (Elektra)

2. Bad Livers, Industry and Thrift (Sugar Hill)

3. Gourds, Stadium Blitzer (Munich)

4. Los Super Seven (BMG)

5. Dale Watson, The Truckin’ Sessions (Koch)

6. Michael Fracasso, World in a Drop of Water (Bohemia Beat)

7. Prescott Curlywolf, Funanimal World (Freedom)

8. Fastball, All the Pain Money Can Buy (Hollywood)

9. Monroe Mustang, Plain Sweeping Themes for the Unprepared (Trance Syndicate)

Honorable Mentions: Enduro, Half Rack of Sugar; Dav�d Garza, This Euphoria; The Golden Arm Trio; Terri Hendrix, Wilory Farm; Sixteen Deluxe, Emits Showers of Sparks.


RAOUL HERNANDEZ’S NATIONAL TOP NINE
1. Chucho Vald�s, Bele Bele en la Habana (Blue Note)

2. Lucinda Williams, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (Mercury)

3. Dwight Yoakam, A Long Way Home (Reprise)

4. Billy Bragg & Wilco, Mermaid Avenue (Elektra)

5. Elliott Smith, XO (Dreamworks)

6. Madonna, Ray of Light (Maverick/Warner Bros.)

7. Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (Ruff House)

8. Compay Segundo, Lo Mejor de la Vida (Nonesuch)

9. Monster Magnet, Powertrip (A&M)

Honorable Mentions: AIR, Moon Safari; Lambchop, What Another Man Spills; Leon Parker, Awakening; Marc Ribot y los Cubanos Postizos; Virginia Rodrigues, Sol Negro.


AUSTIN NINE YOU DIDN’T HEAR
1. Ingrid Karklins, Red Hand

2. Manuels Womens Festival 2

3. Tina Marsh & C02, Worldwide

4. Edwin Livingston Group

5. Joe Ely, Twistin’ in the Wind

6. Bukka Allen, Sweet Valentine

7. The Horton Brothers, Roll Back the Rug

8. Sangre de Toro, Hold Yer Breath

9. Tranfixr, Tincture

This article appears in 1998.

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San Francisco native Raoul Hernandez crossed the border into Texas on July 2, 1992, and began writing about music for the Chronicle that fall, debuting with an album review of Keith Richards’ Main Offender. By virtue of local show previews – first “Recommendeds,” now calendar picks – his writing’s appeared in almost every issue since 1993.