1988. It was a year of fallen preachers and fallen airplanes; a rise of Republicans and a rise in sexual awareness, and the music of 1988 reflected the musings of a generation of activists, hypocrites and hopefuls.

CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVE

Though 1988 didn't have as many surprises as 1987, some college and alternative bands left us with memorable contributions.

Best Album by an Icelandic Act Who Almost Couldn't Tour -- Life's Too Good -- the Sugarcubes. Bjork, the group's lead vocalist, has a voice that is unmatched by anyone, and the accented mumblings by bandmembers Thor and Einar helped to contribute to an album that is among the year's best.

The album's highlights include the almost pop-like "Cold Sweat," the hoppy "Motorcrash" and Bjork's fine job of squelching out "Birthday." Not to be forgotten is one of their best tracks, "Delicious Demon."

Best Album by Two Guys Named John -- Lincoln -- They Might Be Giants. This Top 10 college-charter includes more of the same zaniness brought to us by the duo who sang "Don't Let's Start" and "Youth Culture Killed My Dog." The twosome appeared at last year's "Movin' On" concert, and have since released the LP which includes "Ana Ng."

Best Post-Mortem Album -- Rank --the Smiths. This live album eulogizes the raw power of the Smiths, one of the most influential bands of the decade. Frontman Morrissey, who released his own effort this year, purges his anger, hurt and emotions on each track, and guitarist Johnny Marr provides his classic rhythm. Songs like "Is It Really So Strange" and "London" have live qualities that adequately represent the career of this English mind-band.

Morrisey's album Viva Hate was produced by the Smiths' own Stephen Street, and sounds much like the Smiths, but it does contain some new twists. It features the standouts "Suedehead," "Every Day is Like Sunday," and "Alsatian Cousins."

Album Most Likely to Annoy Neighbors -- Barbed Wire Kisses -- the Jesus and Mary Chain. The tongue-in-cheek playfulness of this big-hair twosome shines in this B-side collection, which wanders between dancy, fuzzy and loud.

Tracks like "Kill Surf City" and the revamped "Surfin' USA" are nothing short of fantastic in their raw form. The album also includes "Sidewalking," a college hit, and an acoustic version of "A Taste of Cindy." Darklands' "On the Wall" is also remixed with a heavier hand. All in all, this LP is a great overview of the band's potential.

The Group That Won't Die -- Substance -- Joy Division. The suicide of Joy Division's lead singer, Ian Curtis, deeply affected many fans. Although this collection of remixes and dance hits won't bring him back, some people believe it is a fitting tribute to the tragic character. It includes their biggest hit "Love Will Tear Us Apart," which was remade this year by the Swans. It also includes "Transmission," and "She's Lost Control."

This "best of" collection of carries the namesake of New Order's "best of" (how ironic. . .) album. New Order's new album is due out today, and although it was formed from the ashes of Joy Division, the group retains little of Curtis' lyrics of doom. The bands are best seen as two completely separate entities.

The Album That Won't Die -- In My Tribe -- 10,000 Maniacs. This album was one of 1987's best and it still grabbed onto the charts for most of 1988. Natalie Merchant's rich, full voice led the group to heightened popularity with "Like the Weather" and a song about child abuse titled "What's the Matter Here."

Best Albums From Groups That Haven't Oversaturated the Market --tie: Daydream Nation -- Sonic Youth; Blue Bell Knoll -- Cocteau Twins. These two bands don't believe in overkill. Their subtle talents speak for themselves.

Best Album Out of Hoboken, New Jersey -- Only Life -- the feelies. The band appeared in Jonathan Demme's film Something Wild to perform a bizarre cover of David Bowie's "Fame." Although this album is one of the year's best, the feelies shine better on their first LP The Good Earth.

This new LP features their hit "Away," the video for which was directed by Demme.

Best Transition From Disco-synth-pop to Industrial Rock -- Land of Rape and Honey -- Ministry. It's been a long road since "Revenge" for this band from Chicago, but it only takes a minute to listen to "Stigmata" and you'll know that Al Jourgensen can grind out a teeth-knashing industrial zowie.

Worst 'Best of' Album -- All of This and Nothing -- the Psychedelic Furs. Who picked these songs anyway? The new song "All that Money Wants" is boring. The group has very little of its original power. Don't bother with any of this.

Even worst-er 'Best of' Album -- Eponymous -- R.E.M. Is this the IRS' attempt to wring every dollar out of the former college-favorite band? According to rumor, the band members knew very little about this album and they're lucky. "Gardening at Night" is the only worthwhile selection. Everything else is so similar to the album versions that it just isn't worth it.

Worst Follow-up Album -- Green --R.E.M. Speaking of the Athens quartet. . .did Peter Buck marry a mandolin or what? Though lead singer-think tank Michael Stipe's lyrics are powerful, especially on "World Leader Pretend" and "You are the Everything," the album is a big, BIG disappointment. However, "Orange Crush," Stipe's anthem to Agent Orange, is catchy and popular, as will be their second single, "Stand."

But the rest is boring and uneventful. Nothing exists to catch the ear. The record is a commercial success, but a general artistic flop.

Most Political Band Fronted by a Bald Lawyer -- Midnight Oil. Diesel and Dust is another of last year's heavyweights, and lead singer Peter Garrett carried his messages onto the Top 40 chart. Garrett is a full-fledged attorney who enjoys surfing in his native Australia, but the man can't escape comparisons to "Night Court's" Bull.

Ugliest Haircut -- tie -- Michele Shocked, Shona Lang and Sinead O'Connor. Lang's album includes the 1987 hit that tells the world she's glad she's not a Kennedy, and Shocked gained attention and radio airplay with "Anchorage." But girls, who DOES your hair?

O'Connor's first solo effort The Lion and the Cobra was heralded by most critics. But her haircut wasn't. She simply has no hair.

Best Album Cover -- Nothing's Shocking -- Jane's Addiction. Two nude mannequins on fire. What could be more shocking? Perhaps the hot tunes inside. The album is one of the year's best.

Best Makeup Job -- Siouxsie Sioux. The frontwoman of Siouxsie and the Banshees has a mod look that is only overshadowed by another of the year's hottest albums Peep Show. Its voyeuristic overtone hops through songs that talk about the abuse of the woman and the perils of war. It's worth taking a look at.

Best Compilation Album -- Just Say Yo -- Sire. Sire did a wonderful job of slapping together the best dance music of 1988. It includes Ofra Haza's Yemmenite wail, Morrissey's hopeful whine, Throwing Muses' whinney and the Mighty Lemon Drops live whooping. Though you can only get this on CD, you can't get a better idea for a party tape anywhere.

Best Collections -- tie: Ramonesmania -- the Ramones; The Story of the Clash -- the Clash. These are two good anthologies of two of punk's greatest pioneers. The Ramones include their 1988 version of "I Wanna Be Sedated," and the Clash includes just about everything.

Most Predictable Marriage -- Robert Smith of the Cure finally married Mary, his childhood sweetheart, according to MTV, anyway. Another girl, another name? Not for Bob anymore.

TOP OF THE POPS

Group That Died the Most Times -- in a plane crash, in a boating accident, from an overdose. . . -- Guns and Roses. The group is rumored to have been killed more often than Elvis is rumored to be alive. The band managed to get Appetite for Destruction on the year-end tops list in many journals. Lead singer Axl Rose and guitarist Slash have set hairstyle trends for the year.

Their big hits included "Sweet Child O' Mine," "Welcome to the Jungle," and the quickly-climbing "Paradise City."

Group Most Likely to Save the Whales -- U2. The Dublin-based band appeared in every major commercial medium. Their album Rattle and Hum leaped up the charts as their movie of the same name drew the faithful to the theater. The double album contained rhythm and blues as well as rock and roll that saluted everyone from Billie Holiday to John Coltrane. They still maintained a high public profile as a band that believes in bettering our society. Their album The Joshua Tree swept the Grammy Awards and also dominated the MTV Video Awards.

Best Dance Album from a White Group From Minneapolis -- Information Society -- Information Society. Most notable mentions are 1986's "Running" and the current chart climber "Walking Away." The group put emphasis on lead singer Kurt Valaquen and his hair, as well as many digital samples of Star Trek.

The band hit big this year with "Tell Me What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)." Try a sample.

Groups Most Often Mistaken for Each Other -- tie -- White Lion, Bon Jovi, Europe, Stryper, Britny Fox, Winger and Poison. Poison and Bon Jovi both topped the charts, but. . . no comment. You can see and hear them all on Dial MTV when the little girls call up and request them. Squeal.

Comedian Sam Kinison even jumped into the rock scene with his cover of "Wild Thing." It features metal gods like C. C Deville from Poison, Ritchie Sambora from Bon Jovi and various other spiked kings. Have spandex -- will travel.

Most Worthwhile Top 40 Album -- Tracy Chapman -- Tracy Chapman. With quiet reservation, Chapman speaks out against what she feels is wrong in our society. Her classy vocal quality makes songs like "Talking About a Revolution" and "Fast Car" the best of the commercial scene.

Most Rock Legends in One Room -- The Traveling Wilburys. What can you say about a group that includes Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, George Harrison, and the late Roy Orbison. Orbison has been a major rock influence with songs like "Oh, Pretty Woman" and "Cryin.' "

Whitest Teeth Award -- George Michael. Michael's versatility put his Faith LP into the spotlight for most of the year. "Faith," "Father Figure," "One More Try," and "Kissing a Fool," made George a ton of bucks.

The Man Who Wouldn't Go Away --Michael Jackson. He still breakdances, still makes 20-minute videos, and still tops the charts. Now you can read the book and see the movie.

Groups That Made Geraldo Rivera's Episode on Devil Worship -- Slayer, Metallica, Megadeath and Iron Maiden. Though these groups are some of the top-grossing thrash/metal bands, "experts" blame them for everything from teenage suicide to butchered cats. Skate punks or devil worshippers? You be the judge.

Best Reggae -- Conscious Party -- Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. Though this was the most commercial reggae available, it was also the most accessible to the general public. And though UB40 released a new album, the public demanded to hear their cover of Neil Diamond's "Red, Red Wine," from their album Labour of Love.

Best Rap -- It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back -- Public Enemy. These rappers told us not to believe the hype. Chart action also oozed from Bobby Brown's "Don't Be Cruel," and "My Prerogative." Former rap kings RUN -- D.M.C. released Tougher than Leather and a movie of the same name.

Best Dance Duo Who Used to Be Alternative -- Erasure. Andrew Bell and Vincent Clarke, with roots in Yaz and Depeche Mode, had big dance hits with "Chains of Love" and "A Little Respect" from their LP The Innocents.

WHAT'S COMING

Be on the lookout for new albums by Debbie Gibson, New Order, the Violent Femmes, the Smithereens, Ian McCullouch, 10,000 Maniacs, George Michael and possibly Robert Smith.

This year should be successful for the recently released albums by Lou Reed, Tiffany, Vixen, Joan Jett, Voice of the Beehive, Pursuit of Happiness, Julian Cope, the Bangles, Pink Floyd, Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers and possibly other local artists such as Queen Bee and the Blue Hornet Band.