The combined December/January issue of CHART features Canada's Music Magazine's picks for the year's best. What rocked us, what shocked us, and what made us get up off our butts and dance this past year. Econoline Crush, The Tea Party, Bif Naked, and Sloan are all featured for the fantastic year they've had, and the contributions they've each made to Canada's ever growing music scene. But there can be only one Artist of the Year, and for 1998, CHART has chosen Vancouver's Matthew Good Band.

1998 has been a phenomenal year for the Matthew Good Band, with the massive success of their second LP, the near Platinum-selling "Underdogs," their four chart-topping singles, a MuchMusic Video Award for "Apparitions," two 1998 Juno nominations, and of course the great reception they received across the country on this year's EDGEfest tour. When told of how well the band fared in this year's CHART Reader's Poll, Good had this to say: "The kids have spoken. It either means a lot, or it means the kids are on drugs."

Speaking of the Reader's Poll, all the results can also be found in the Jan/Dec issue. What scored well? What prompted our readers' wrath? All of the results (including Best/Worst Album, Best/Worst Video, Next to Conquer America, Best/Worst Image and Sexiest Canadian) are all packed inside.

Besides the year-end wrap up, the usual good stuff you always find in CHART is still here in abundance, inluding a hiliarious Tête-a-Tête with the pride of eastern Canada — Ashley MacIssac. Ashley has lots of good stories to tell as we all await his first new album in three years "I like America." he says "I'm not allowed there anymore. I'm an illegal alien at the moment...I got busted for admitting to being a pot smoker."

Rounding out this great issue are stories on Placebo, R.E.M., Meat Beat Manifesto, the Afghan Whigs and The Offspring, as well as the inevitable meeting of two of Vancouver's finest: Nardwuar and Loverboy's Mike Reno.

The passing of another year is a perfect time to reflect, grab a deep cup of egg-nog, put your feet up by a warm fire, and enjoy CHART — Canada's Music Magazine.

To order this issue of CHART, just send a cheque or money order for $5 (+GST= $5.35), along with a note requesting this issue to: 200-41 Chart Communications Inc., Toronto, ON M5A 1R7.

Also: Check out CHART's special subscription offer. Subscribe now and receive CHART's exclusive Big Wheelz '98 Compilation CD featuring tracks from the hottest Canadian bands around today. Click here for more info or to subscribe.