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The Year in Rock
In music, 1997 was the year of first-rate copycats versus second-rate copycats. [2]
Matt Ashare

Top Ten '97
Tucson Weekly's regularly contributing music writers pick their top 10 CDs for '97. [3]
Various Authorities

Between the Cracks
Michael McCall says country's stars didn't shine too brightly this year. [4]
Michael McCall

Music in '97: A Community Spirit
Trumpeters Leroy Jones and Wynton Marsalis talk it over during the "cutting session of the year" at Vaughn's. [5]
Geraldine Wyckoff

Top-Heavy
The year in country music. [6]
Michael McCall

Bashing Nashville
Panning for country gold outside the mainstream. [7]
Bill Friskics-Warren

Now What?
If you go gaga over the sultry smoothness of a symphonic glissando, just wait till you experience our transitions to cool and useful music links on the Web. [12]

Talk Back
If anything in this section offends, annoys or perturbs your senses, here's your place to scream like an angry punk rocker.

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• The Year In Rock focuses not so much on the best albums of the year, but the most notable trends. Which makes for a more interesting retrospective in my book.

• The Tucson Weekly's Top Ten article lists favorites from five different reviewers. That means oodles of "perspective." Find the reviewers whose tastes most closely match yours, and you'll know exactly what's worth checking out.

• Between the Cracks has a great concept: It highlights the best albums in non-categories. No rock or country or so-called alternative music here. Just....unclassifiable stuff.

• Top-Heavy examines the year in country music. Not my cup of bear whiz, but a fine summary for those who prefer their music twangy.

• A Community Spirit is a look back at the hot live happenin's in New Orleans. For jazz junkies only.

• Bashing Nashville is a look back at the hot live (and cold dead) happenin's in Nashville. For country junkies only.

I regret to inform you's that the Music section is especially anemic and anorexic this week. That's because music journalists tend to get boozed up beyond recognition during the holiday season. Right now most of them lie passed-out in various gutters and rec rooms across America. Expect more bona fide music articles in a week or so, after they recover.

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Record Reviews
Christmas albums by the Geezinslaws, Dwight Yoakam, the Louvin Brothers, and more. [8]

Tiny Tunes
Lettin' lose with some funky juice, slappin' down the platters that matter and writing brief reviews of current musical releases for your edification. [9]
Michael Henningsen

Boston Phoenix CD Reviews
The Best of Sting and the Police; The Cure; Elvis Costello; Celia Cruz; Joan Jett; Midnight Oil; John Mellencamp; and The Dead Milkmen. [10]

Rhythm & Views
X, The Rubaklil Orquestra, The Subjazz Proxy Featuring Gerald Wiggins. [11]