Swedish hardcore outfit Refused threw down a gauntlet with their third LP. with their enormously successful, vicious parody of pub singalongs, “Tubthumping.” But its loud electro-dance groove was far from their Crass -inspired origins. The closest thing to punk on that list? Former anarcho-punks-turned-anarcho-poppers Chumbawamba from the U.K. Read it: You can’t even find a note of Green Day.

Oh, and a 16-year-old future juggernaut called Britney Spears emerged from Louisiana with her first hit, “.Baby One More Time.” Then there’s the rise of British sensations Spice Girls, offering a sort of riot grrrl -lite philosophy couched in modern dance pop, and the ascension of the prefab boy band - Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC. Neo- country artists Shania Twain, Faith Hill and LeAnn Rimes also featured, as well as such stars as Celine Dion and the eternal Madonna. A quick perusal of Billboard ’s Hot 100 singles of the year sees domination by several R&B ( Destiny’s Child, Janet Jackson, Usher, Mariah Carey ) or hip-hop ( Puff Daddy, Master P, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott ) acts. Top 15 punk albums of 1998? You’d be forgiven for thinking that there weren’t any in the year the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal dominated the news.

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