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1998
![[The Worcester Phoenix]](/supplements/bmp/98/image/BMP_468x80.gif)
Plus a report from our awards party.
| Local | National |
| Best Solo Act | |
|
Patrick Murphy Runners up: Bob Jordan Bret Hart Lee Totten Mike Ladd |
Fiona Apple Runners up: Jewel Bob Dylan Björk Paula Cole |
| Best new artist | |
|
Special 79 Runners up: Little Big Wheel Thinner J.B. and the Activators/Halobox (tie) |
Matchbox 20 Runners up: Limp Bizkit Smash Mouth Our Lady Peace Days of the New |
| Best Pop/Rock Act | |
|
The Deal Runners up: Clutch Grabwell Huck Free Radicals Curtain Society |
Foo Fighters Runners up: Radiohead Sugar Ray Ben Folds Five Chumbawamba |
| Best Punk/Ska Act | |
|
Thinner Runners up: Gas Food Lodging 7-10 Split Westies SBGB |
Mighty Mighty Bosstones Runners up: Green Day Amazing Royal Crowns Reel Big Fish Less Than Jake |
| Best Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Act | |
|
Gangsta Bitch Barbie Runners up: Downchild Rawhead Rex War Horse Tremble |
Metallica Runners up: Tool Rage Against the Machine Deftones Sevendust |
| Best Groove/Jam Act | |
|
Slipknot Runners up: Jiggle the Handle Arthur Dent Foundation Another Planet High Water Moon |
Phish Runners up: God Street Wine Rat Dog Moonboot Lover Cheese Incident |
| Best Jazz Act | |
|
Toni Ballard Runners up: Sonic Explorers Workingman's Jazz Band Solar Jazz Rich Falco |
Maynard Ferguson and Big Bop Nouveau Runners up: Cassandra Wilson Cyrus Chestnut Trio Kenny Garrett Joe Lovano |
| Best Blues Act | |
|
Charley Dee Runners up: Willie T-Bone Smith and the T-Bone Blues Band Jason James and the Bay State Houserockers Fatwall Jack Shakey Steve and the Blue Cats |
B.B. King Runners up: Buddy Guy Jonny Lang Junior Wells Charlie Musselwhite |
| Best Rap/Hip-Hop Hardcore Act | |
|
Chillum Runners up: Allstonians Skavoovie and the Epitones Big D and the Kids Table |
LL Cool J Runners up: Puff Daddy and the Family Wu-Tang Clan Busta Rhymes Wyclef Jean. |
| Best Folk Act | |
|
Salamander Crossing Runners up: Valerie and Walter Crockett Southern Rail Jack and Present Co. Pamela Means |
Bob Dylan Runners up: Ani DiFranco Indigo Girls Patty Larkin Vance Gilbert |
| Best Country Act | |
|
Trigger Runners up: Cactus Goldrush Dave Pike and Home Cookin' Bobby Hogan and Sugar Creek |
Junior Brown Runners up: Steve Earle BR5-49 Dead Reckoners Derailers |
| Best Recording | |
|
Ninetyseven - Chillum Runners up: Home - Little Big Wheel Thinner - Thinner Honeywagon - Huck I'm Your Pal - Toni Ballard |
OK Computer - Radiohead Runners up: The Color and the Shape - Foo Fighters Yourself or Someone Like You - Matchbox 20, Time Out of Mind - Bob Dylan Portishead - Portishead |
| Best Avant-Prog Act | Best Electronica Act |
|
Cream Team Runners up: Stricken for Catherine Industrial Sonic Echo Head of the Maja Dr. Chris Van Kleeck |
Prodigy Runners up: Chemical Brothers Crystal Method Tricky DJ Shadow |
| Best Cover Act | Best Comeback Act |
|
Uncle Wally Runners up: Mud Soup Group Therapy Probable Cause Rock Ave |
Fleetwood Mac Runners up: Mötley Crüe Journey Bow Wow Wow ? and the Mysterians. |
| Best Spoken Word | |
|
Rich Boucher Runners up: Duncan Wilder Dave Nader Captain P.J. Joe Fusco Jr. |
|
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