Country
Stephen Carradini
I discovered Jon Hardy and the Public via their 2007 tune “Cassius Clay,” which would have been my 2010 song of the year, had it come out then. Hardy’s sturdy yet emotive vocals against the vaguely twangy guitar-pop structures created an immersive mood. The sleigh bells help, of course.

Indie
Stephen Carradini
Some musicians want to make you dance. Some musicians want to make you rock. Some musicians want your money. Some musicians want to make you think.

Rock
Stephen Carradini
The unrepentantly arty genre of shoegaze (so much so that they hate their own genre name, of course) died around 1993, when grunge reached its own zenith.

Indie
Stephen Carradini
The chillwave bubble has not yet burst. No matter how many dudes appear playing dreamy, reverb-heavy ambient pop, there are people ready to snap it up.

Indie
Rod Lott
Chimes vocalist Samantha Constant on the third track of "10th of Always," the sophomore album from Candi & the Strangers, "I am a radio."

Country
Stephen Carradini
Jack Rowdy’s self-titled album features a diverse array of subgenres within modern country.

Hip Hop/Rap
Stephen Carradini
Although the album is a pretty chill affair, Jabee puts on a show vocally. In the standout track “Jewels,” he raps quickly but evenly over old-school soul/R&B horns sample. “Coretta Scott” showcases his lyrical abilities, with a solid set of rhymes that boasts a reason for existence (alas, songs with “a point” are missing in much modern rap).

Indie
Stephen Carradini
I hadn’t even heard the “Woodsporn” EP before I was impressed with Oklahoma City band Purple Church, because anything that comes handnumbered, hand-printed and sporting a mini-zine (complete with fold-out mini-poster!) as liner notes is pretty impressive.

Pop
Stephen Carradini

Pop
Eric Webb

With a title like “The First Album Was Better,” Henry Dillard, Texas-based singer/songwriter/guitarist and sole member of acoustic rock act Without a Face, dares listeners to make the comparison to his 2009 debut, “Worst Debut Album Ever.”

Indie
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Rock
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Hip Hop/Rap
None

Folk
None

Pop
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