TCCT 2011: All the ballots

Albums:

1. Night Moves, "Colored Emotions"

2. Sleeping in the Aviary, "You and Me, Ghost"

3. Pink Mink, "Pink Mink"

4. Book of Right On, "All These Songs About Music"

5. Doomtree, "No Kings"

6. Howler, "This One's Different" (EP)

8. Sims, "Bad Time Zoo"

9. No Bird Sing, "Theft of the Commons"

10. Peter Wolf Crier, "Garden of Arms

Albums:

1. Davina & the Vagabonds, "Black Cloud"

3. Sims, "Bad Time Zoo"

4. Keri Noble, "More Than Santa"

5. Doomtree, "No Kings"

6. Molly Maher & Her Disbelievers, "Merry Come Up"

7 (tie). Original 7ven, "Condensate"

9. Mason Jennings, "Minnesota"

10 (tie) Poverty Hash, "Ma Halls Toot n Come Inn"

Mint Condition, "7"

Live acts

1. Davina & the Vagabonds

3. Molly Maher & Her Disbelievers

4. New Standards

5. Poverty Hash

Albums (not ranked):

Haley Bonar, "Golder"

Brian Just Band, "If You Like to Be Alone or If You Need to Be With Someone"

Little Man, "Orbital Amusement" (EP)

M.anifest, "Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America"

Buffalo Moon, "Selva Surreal"

The Bombay Sweets, "The Bombay Sweets" (EP)

Night Moves, "Colored Emotions"

Sleeping in the Aviary, "You and Me, Ghost"

Songs (not ranked):

Haley Bonar, "Candy Machine Gun"

Baby Boys , "All My Friends"

BadNraD, "Bad Girl"

Matt Latterell, "Hostage"

Live Acts (not ranked):

Poliça

Haley Bonar

Peter Wolf Crier

Spyder Baybie Raw Dawg & 2% Muck

No. 1 sign the music scene was alive and well in 2011:

Even with 2 hours of time each week to cover our beloved scene, it has become impossible to fit in everything that deserves coverage on "The Local Show." The new releases, the forthcoming week's best shows, the freaky one-off collaborations, and all the notable news have become more substantial then our allotted time allows. At one point we worried that we might not have enough to fill two hours with high quality content. We couldn't have been more wrong.

Albums

2. Peter Wolf Crier, "Garden of Arms"

3. Pink Mink, "Pink Mink"

4. Dave King Trucking Co. "Good Old Light"

5. M.anifest, "Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America"

6. Davina & the Vagabonds, "Black Cloud"

9. Mason Jennings, "Minnesota"

10. Various artists, "Minnesota Remembers Vic Chesnutt"

Songs

1. Doomtree, "No Way"

2. Sims, "Burn It Down"

4. Pink Mink, "Earthquake on the Loose"

5. Cloak Ox, "Vacuum Cleaner"

Live acts

1. Doomtree

2. The 4onthefloor

4. Pink Mink

5. Dave King Trucking Co.

No. 1 sign the music scene was alive and well in 2011:

Only a few years ago, maybe a couple local acts could pack First Ave. Now I could probably name a dozen. So listen up, anybody who's terminally nostalgic for the good old days of the "Minneapolis scene" -- the heyday is right now.

Albums (not ranked)

Brute Heart, "Lonely Hunter"

The Knotwells, "The Highway Won't Hide You"

The Blind Shake, "Seriousness"

The Cactus Blossoms, "The Cactus Blossoms"

The Sex Rays, "The Sex Rays"

SIMS, "Bad Time Zoo"

Cloak Ox, "Prisen"

Fort Wilson Riot/Phantom Tails split vinyl

Best songs (ranked):

1. blood&stuff, "A Fire Out At Sea"

3. Mark Mallman, "Minneapolis"

4. Poverty Hash, "Drink the Ocean"

5. Pink Mink, "Black Door"

Live bands (not ranked):

blood&stuff

The Japhies

Doomtree

Tie: Fortified Five, the Knotwells, the Sex Rays, Poverty Hash

No. 1 sign the music scene was alive and well in 2011:

The rapid formation of so many more new bands in several genres, many of which are really good, on a very frequent basis (every other week it seems) -- e.g. The Bad Spots, The NPCs, Darla, Usonia, The Rope, Poliça, Machine 22 and countless more -- indicates the scene is stronger, and more creative than ever. Also more shows by venerable artists such as the Magnolias, Valet, Mammy Nuns and Grant Hart indicates our scene is vibrant as ever, all leading to wider national recognition.

Atlantis Quartet, "Lines in the Sand"

John Devine, "A Little o' That"

Doug Haining Quintet, "Last Man Swinging"

Prudence Johnson, "A Girl Named Vincent"

Kip Jones, "Hallazgo"

Mary Louise Knutson, "In the Bubble"

Dean Magraw's Red Planet, "Space Dust"

Bryan Nichols Quintet, "Bright Places"

Jerry O'Hagan Featuring Charmin Michelle, "Dance Time Volume 1"

No. 1 sign the music scene was alive and well in 2011:

Albums

1. Astronautalis, "This is Our Science"

2. Dessa, "Castor, the Twin"

3. Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps, "Little Wind"

4. Claps, "Wreck"

6. Sims, "Bad Time Zoo"

7. Ruby Isle, "Appetite for Destruction"

8. Elite Gymnastics, "Ruin"

9. A Loud Heart, "A Loud Heart"

10. Koo Koo Kanga Roo, "Midnight Slushie"

1. Sims, "Burn It Down"

2. Tapes 'N Tapes, "Freak Out"

3. Astronautalis, "Measure the Globe"

4. Ruby Isle, "Welcome to the Jungle"

5. Original 7ven, "Hey Yo"

1. Marijuana Deathsquads

2. Astronautalis

3. BadNraD

4. Hastings 3000

5. Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps

When Pitchfork asked James Brooks of Elite Gymnastics what the Minneapolis music scene was like and Brooks replied, "There isn't a scene." The statement was evidence that artists can break nationally from Minneapolis without kissing any local rings, while also being so manifestly untrue that no one even bothered to get too worked up about it.

Albums:

1. Sims, "Bad Time Zoo"

2. Pink Mink, "Pink Mink"

3. Hildur Victoria, "Hildur Victoria"

5. Peter Wolf Crier, "Garden of Arms"

6. M.anifest, "Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America"

7. Haley Bonar, "Golder"

8. The Blind Shake, "Seriousness"

9. No Bird Sing, "Theft of the Commons"

Songs

1. "Wandering Star" by Poliça

2. "Hidden Beach" by Pink Mink

3. "Headlights" by Night Moves

4. "Burn It Down" by Sims

Live Acts

1. "Marijuana Deathsquads

2. "The Blind Shake

3. "Poliça

4. "Pink Mink

No. 1 sign the music scene was alive and well in 2011:

I can't seem to think of a single snarky thing to say here! Must be a good sign.

Albums

1. Doomtree, "No Kings"

2. Sims, "Bad Time Zoo"

4. M.anifest, "Immigrant Chronicles"

5. The Tribe and Big Cat!, "Make Good"

6. Astronautilus, "This is Our Science"

7. Haley Bonar, "Golder"

8. Villa Rosa, "Blue Diamond Island"

10. Greg Grease, "The Giving Tree"

Songs

1. Doomtree, "Bangarang"

2. M.anifest, "Suffer"

3. Sims, "Burn it Down"

5. Big Quarters, "C'mon"

Live acts

1. Doomtree

2. M.anifest

No. 1 sign the music scene was alive and well in 2011

Albums:

1. Doomtree, "No Kings"

2. Sims, "Bad Time Zoo"

3. Low, "C'Mon"

4. No Bird Sing, "Theft of the Commons"

6. Haley Bonar, "Golder"

7. The Cloak Ox, "Prisen EP"

8. Peter Wolf Crier, "Garden of Arms"

9. Howler, "This One's Different EP"

10. Gramma's Boyfriend, "The Human Eye"

1. Doomtree, "Punch Out"

2. No Bird Sing, "Basquiat Loves Company"

3. Gramma's Boyfriend, "I Have This Feeling"

4. Low, "Witches"

5. Sims, "Jordan 5's"

1. Doomtree
2. The Cloak Ox
3. Astronautalis
4. Sims
5. Poliça

No. 1 sign the music scene was alive and well in 2011:

From making up a huge chunk of SoundTown's inaugural lineup to the 7 nights of the Doomtree Blowout, local music is blurring the line between local and national music, and thankfully just being considered "great" music.

Albums

1. Sleeping in the Aviary, "You and Me, Ghost"

3. Pink Mink, "Pink Mink"

4. Doomtree, "No Kings"

5. Low, "C'mon"

6. Buffalo Moon, "Selva Surreal"

7. The F*** Knights, "Let It Bleed"

9. Rifflord, "26 Mean and Heavy"

10. Wize Guyz, "85"

Songs

1. "Karen, You're an Angel" by Sleeping in the Aviary

2. "Told You Once" by Howler

4. "Olde Fashion Black Magik" by Rifflord

5. "Became" by Atmosphere

Live acts

1. Night Moves

2. Sleeping in the Aviary

4. Rifflord

5. Pink Mink

Albums

1. The 4onthefloor, "4x4"

2. Sims, "Bad Time Zoo"

4. Haley Bonar, "Golder"

5. Farewell Milwaukee, "When it Sinks in"

6. Dessa, "Castor, The Twin"

7. Pink Mink, "Pink Mink"

8. Low, "C'mon"

10. Mason Jennings, "Minnesota"

Songs (ranked)

1. Sims, "Burn it Down"

2. Pennyroyal, "Monday/Tuesday"

3. The 4onthefloor, "Junkie"

5. Black Church Service, "I Know a Girl"

Albums (unranked)

Brute Heart, "Lonely Hunter"

Patches and Gretchen: (2/3rds of) "I Steal Carrots" and (1/4th of) "Blue Skin"

Mayda, (99% of) "Tusks in Furs"

Kaivama, "Kaivama"

Gini Dodds and the Dahlias, "Jangle Twangle"

Malamanya, "Malamanya" (EP)

Villa Rosa, "Blue Diamond Island"

The Cactus Blossoms, "The Cactus Blossoms"

Songs

Julia Douglass, "Scared to Have Kids"/"Poor People on TV"

Slim Dunlap, "Family Tradition"

Gini Dodds, "Future is Now (Again)"

Halo Sparkle, "One More Year"

There has never been a better time to be an aging hipster stuck in south suburbia (trust me). Rocking Horse performance loft in downtown Northfield is like a house of worship. Ten miles east, Brent Sigmeth's LittleBig Studios (Haley Bonar, Cactus Blossoms) and whispers of the mighty Pachyderm's rebirth could make Cannon Falls the next ... Eau Claire?

Albums:

1. The Cloak Ox, "Prisen" EP

2. Peter Wolf Crier, "Garden Of Arms"

3. Doomtree, "No Kings"

5. Astronautalis, "This Is Our Science"

6. Sims, "Bad Time Zoo"

7. Haley Bonar, "Golder"

8. Blue Sky Blackout, "John Hughes" EP

9. Gramma's Boyfriend, "The Human Eye"

Songs:

1. The Cloak Ox, "Prison"

2. Astronautalis, "Dimitri Mendeleev"

3. Blue Sky Blackout, "The Universe Is Expanding"

4. Peter Wolf Crier, "Settling It Off"

Live acts:

1. The Book of Right On

2. Doomtree

3. Peter Wolf Crier

4. Baby Boys

No. 1 sign the music scene was alive and well in 2011:

At Jagerfest at Club Jager in October, The Book of Right On played a scorching, foul-mouthed set that held everyone there in rapt attention. The real coup, though was the band playing several songs that were, by their own admission, unfinished. Those songs had sporadic lyrics and a few clunky passages but not one person in attendance could have cared less.

Albums (ranked):

1. Dessa, "Castor, The Twin"

2. Low, "C'mon"

4. Communist Daughter, "Something Wicked This Way Comes" EP

5. Little Man, "Orbital Amusement" EP

6. Adam Svec, "Weaks in the Waves"

7. Matt Latterell, "Life On Land"

8. Patches & Gretchen, "I Steal Carrots"

10. Satellite Voices, "Scarlet Rays of Future Echoes"

Songs:

1. The Cactus Blossoms, "Stoplight Kisses"

2. Adam Svec, "Only a Spirit"

3. Pink Mink, "Seeking Scott Seekins"

5. Halloween, Alaska, "Dance By Accident"

Live acts:

1. Doomtree

2. Zoo Animal

3. Pink Mink

5. And my favorite live band/ensemble that still hasn't put out a recording -- Black Audience.

No. 1 sign the music scene was alive and well in 2011:

I am really enjoying the increasingly creative use of the oft-ridiculed ukulele. Who woulda thunk? The uke is cool again. Thanks to artists intent on shedding its image as an instrument played purely for ironic pursuits, the ukulele is staking its turf far beyond the likes of novelty acts (Hello, Tiny Tim!). Musicians of all genres are embracing their appreciation for the ukulele's versatility, portability, affordability -- and "jam-ability."

Albums (ranked)

1. "No Kings," Doomtree

3. "Colored Emotions," Night Moves

4. "Bad Time Zoo," Sims

5. "This Is Our Science," Astronautalis

6. "13 Chambers," Wugazi

7. "Crazy Master," Marijuana Deathsquads

9. "Pink Mink," Pink Mink

10. "The Rope" (EP), The Rope

Songs (ranked)

1. "Quantum Leap," John Maus

2. "Wandering Star," Poliça

4. "Horses," Night Moves

5. "Minneapolis," Mark Mallman

Live acts

1. Poliça

2. Doomtree

4. Gayngs

5. Pink Mink

No. 1 sign the music scene was alive and well in 2011:

The Gayngs "Affiliyated" showcase and SXSW sendoff in March featured some of the best acts in local hip hop (Doomtree), electronic (Slapping Purses), experimental (Marijuana Deathsquads, Albert), psych-rock (Moonstone Continuum, Leisure Birds), dance pop (Har Mar Superstar), electro pop (Solid Gold), and soft rock (Gayngs), spanning First Avenue's three rooms. It was a righteous display of just how diverse and genre-spanning the Minneapolis music scene has truly become in 2011.

Albums:

2. Communist Daughter, "Something Wicked This Way Comes"

3. Pink Mink, "Pink Mink"

4. Tapes 'n Tapes, "Outside"

5. Low, "C'mon"

6. Halloween, Alaska, "All Night Long the Calls Came In"

8. Dead Man Winter, "Bright Lights"

9. Atmosphere, "The Family Sign"

10. Dearling Physique, "Deadeye Dealer"

Albums:

1. Doomtree, "No Kings"

3. Mason Jennings, "Minnesota"

4. Pink Mink, "Pink Mink"

5. Rogue Valley, "False Floors"

6. M.anifest, "Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America"

7. The Blind Shake, "Seriousness"

9. Astronautalis, "This Is Our Science"

10. Davina & the Vagabonds, "Black Cloud"

Songs

1. Pink Mink, "Hidden Beach"

2. M.anifest, "Suffer"

4. Mason Jennings, "Clutch"

5. Doomtree, "No Way"

Live acts

1. Doomtree

2. The 4onthefloor

4. Gay Witch Abortion

5. The Jayhawks

No. 1 sign the music scene was alive and well in 2011

As impressive as Doomtree's seven-night run, Rogue Valley completed its own marathon in April with "False Floors," its fourth album in a year. Even with the time crunch, Chris Koza's band did not take the easy road (read: do it all on a Mac) and crafted carefully refined, thematic, classic-sounding studio albums, an art form clearly not lost on this scene.

Albums (not ranked)

Claps, "Wreck"

Condominium, "Warm Home"

Doomtree, "No Kings"

Haley Bonar, "Golder"

Howler, "This One's Different" EP

Sleeping in the Aviary, "You and Me, Ghost"

Tapes 'n Tapes, "Outside"

4onthefloor, "4x4"

Songs (not ranked)

Claps, "Book of Love"

Pink Mink, "Ginger Wolf"

Poliça, "Wandering Star"

Teenage Moods, "Tulip Tattoo"

Live acts (no ranked)

Brain Tumors

Marijuana Deathsquads

Poliça

The 4onthefloor

Albums:

1. Low, "C'Mon"

3. Prof, "King Gampo"

4. Atmosphere, "The Family Sign"

5. Mint Condition, "7"

6. Pink Mink, "Pink Mink"

7. Big Zach, "New Crayons"

9. American Scarecrows, "Keep Your Devils Around"

10. The Magnolias, "Pop the Lock"

Songs:

1. Unknown Prophets, "Nowhere"

2. The Original 7ven, "#Trendin"

4. Tony Bones featuring Big Wiz and I Self Devine, "Rise Again"

5. Prof, "Gampo"

Live acts:

The Cactus Blossoms

Pink Mink

Nice Purse

Natalie Lovejoy

No. 1 sign the music scene was alive and well in 2011:

The three best exercises in local-music nostalgia -- the Original 7ven's '80s-esque "#Trendin," Unknown Prophets' scene reminiscence "Nowhere," and Zach Combs's rap memoir "Headspin, Headshots & History: Growing Up in Twin Cities Hip Hop" -- come from artists still making great music.

Albums (not ranked)

2. Sims, "Bad Time Zoo"

3. Big Quarters, "Party Like a Young Commie"

4. The Tribe and Big Cats!, "Make Good"

5. Villa Rosa, "Blue Diamond Island"

6. 925ve, "The Big Payback"

8. Marijuana Deathsquads, "Crazy Master"

9. Doomtree, "No Kings"

10. Wize Guyz, "'85"

Songs

1. Sims, "Burn It Down"

3. 925ve featuring Rich Garvey, "Respect"

4. The Tribe and Big Cats! featuring BJ the Chicago Kid and Greg Grease, "One Call Away"

5. Big Quarters, "Pure"

Live acts

1. Marijuana Deathsquads

3. Art School Girls

4. The Tribe and Big Cats!

5. Ill Chemistry

No. 1 sign the music scene was alive and well in 2011

Mike Mictlan's curated 7th Street Entry show for Blowout 7 was an inspired and impressive lineup of artists that pushed the boundaries of what a small club show could be. Representing everyone from the young up-and-comers to certified local legends, the whole night was a sign of the rap scene's unity and immense talent. Doomtree truly pushed their "No Kings" mantra forward with the Blowout this year, which allowed them to share their astounding 7 day sold-out extravaganza with friends and like minds.

Pink Mink, "Pink Mink"

Doomtree, "No Kings"

Haley Bonar, "Golder"

Astronautalis, "This Is Our Science"

The Jayhawks, "Mockingbird Time"

No Bird Sing, "Theft of the Commons"

Kid Dakota, "Listen to the Crows as They Take Flight"

Buffalo Moon, "Selva Surreal"

Communist Daughter, "Something Wicked This Way Comes" EP

Songs (not ranked)

"I Told You Once," Howler

"A Long, Cold Night in Minneapolis," Dead Man Winter

"Fuck Your Stuff," P.O.S.

"Headlights," Night Moves

Live acts (not ranked)

Holly Newsom (Zoo Animal)

The Japhies

Sexcat

Coloring Time

No. 1 sign the music scene was alive and well in 2011

Albums

1. Low, "C'mon'

2. Peter Wolf Crier, "Garden of Arms'

3. The Cloak Ox, "Prisen" EP

4. Haley Bonar, "Golder'

6. Brute Heart, "Lonely Hunter'

7. The Blind Shake, "Seriousness'

8. Pink Mink, "Pink Mink'

9. CLAPS, "Wreck'

10. Caroline Smith & the Goodnight Sleeps, "Little Wind'

1. Communist Daughter, "Ghosts"

2. Low, "Nothing But Heart"

3. Haley Bonar, "Kid October"

4. Poliça, "Dark Star"

5. Peter Wolf Crier, "Setting It Off"

1. Poliça

2. The 4ontheFloor

3. Doomtree

4. Low

5. Solid Gold

Consistently sold-out shows for local bands. Whether it was the string of seven consecutive sold-out nights for the Doomtree crew, Caroline Smith selling out First Ave. for her record release show, or Poliça selling out the Turf Club based on word of mouth alone, local music fans are showing major support for Twin Cities bands, helping our scene and our bands reach a national audience.

Albums:

1. Wishbook, "Happy Garden"

2. Kid Dakota, "Listen to the Crows as They Take Flight"

3. Haley Bonar, "Golder"

5. Mason Jennings, "Minnesota"

6. Usonia, "Usonia"

7. Halloween, Alaska, "All Night Long the Calls Came In"

8. Ghost in the Water, "Shooting Stars and Battle Scars"

9. Rogue Valley, "False Floors"

Albums (not ranked)

Joe Fahey, "Bushnell's Turtle"

Mason Jennings, "Minnesota"

Molly Maher & Her Disbelievers, "Merry Come Up"

Doomtree, "No Kings"

Jon Rodine, "Last Star"

Dead Man Winter, "Wolves EP"

Patches & Gretchen, "I Steal Carrots"

Malamanya, "Live"

Haley Bonar, "Golder"

"Lions," Mayda

"Nicotine," Dead Man Winter

"Hearts Stop Beating," Mason Jennings

"Lovelight," The Shiny Lights

"February Wind," Ashleigh Still

Birthday Suits

Malamanya

Erik Koskinen/Molly Maher

Belfast Cowboys/St. Dominic's Trio

Doomtree

The Current's "Local Current" stream.

We asked voters to choose their top 10 local albums, then weighted those picks through a system that allocates 110 points per list. Voters could rank their choices (from 20 points for No. 1 to 2 points for No. 10), or leave them unranked for 11 points apiece. Best songs and live-act categories are from top 5 lists ranked 10 to 2, or 5 apiece.