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USA TODAY February 15, 1989, Wednesday BYLINE   U2 is No. 1 with 'Stone' readers By Edna Gundersen Those lucky Irish. For the second consecutive year, U2 sweeps the Rolling Stone Readers Poll, topping 10 categories. A record 24,289 voters named the Irish band artist of the year and best in nine slots: band, LP (Rattle and Hum), single and video, (Desire), male singer, songwriter (Bono), album cover, drummer, bassist. The only mention for Bruce Springsteen, artist of the year four years straight before U2's ascension in 1987, was a fifth place for worst male singer. Other reader bests: - Guns N' Roses, new U.S. band and heavy metal band. The Escape Club, new British band. - Terence Trent D'Arby, new male singer. Randy Travis, country artist. Robert Cray, R & B. Kenny G, jazz. - Amnesty International, tour. Cheap Trick, comeback. - Eddie Van Halen, guitarist. Elton John, keyboardist. - George Michael and Lita Ford, sexiest rockers. - Robert Palmer and Whitney Houston, best-dressed. Readers gave thumbs down to Poison, Michael Jackson, Tiffany, Bon Jovi's New Jersey album and Bobby McFerrin's Don't Worry, Be Happy. Michael Jackson and Cyndi Lauper are worst-dressed. As usual, critics differed sharply from readers. Tracy Chapman (artist of the year, female singer, new female singer and single, Fast Car) and Midnight Oil (band and album) scored highest with 33 pop music critics. Critical worsts: Monsters of Rock, tour; Poison and Kingdom Come, band; Rick Astley and Kylie Minogue, singers; and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, unwelcome comeback. Poll results are in the March 9 issue, out Feb. 21. The picks of critics Critics' favorites: - John Hiatt, male singer and songwriter. - Living Colour, new U.S. band, best guitarist. - Prince, best tour. - Neil Young's This Note's for You, video. - Guns N' Roses, heavy metal; Was (Not Was), R & B; Lyle Lovett, country; Ornette Coleman, jazz; Public Enemy, rap. - Brian Wilson, comeback of the year.