See all the TCCT '08 ballots

Jon Bream, Star Tribune music critic:

1. Muja Messiah, "Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy"

2. Mike Mictlan +Lazerbeak, "Hand Over Fist"

3. Atmosphere, "When Life Gives You Lemons"

4. Becky Schlegel, "For All the World"

5. Charlie Parr, "Roustabout"

6 Gary Louris, "Vagabonds"

7. Haley Bonar, "Big Star"

8 Ben Weaver, "Ax in the Oak"

9 Irv Williams, "Finality"

10. New Standards, "Rock and Roll"

Tim Campbell, Star Tribune senior A&E editor:

1. Atmosphere, "When Life Gives You Lemons"

2. Haley Bonar, "Big Star"

3. Dillinger Four, "CIVIL WAR"

4. Doomtree, s/t

5. Heiruspecs, s/t

6. Gary Louris, "Vagabonds"

7. Jeremy Messersmith, "The Silver City"

8. Roma di Luna, "Casting the Bones"

9. Vampire Hands, "Me & You and Cherry Red"

10. Ben Weaver, "The Ax in the Oak"

David de Young, HowWasTheShow.com:

1. Solid Gold, "Bodies of Water"

2. Ben Weaver, "The Ax in the Oak"

3. Jeremy Messersmith, "The Silver City"

4. Haley Bonar, "Big Star"

5. Cloud Cult, "Feel Good Ghosts"

6. Chris Koza, "The Dark, Delirious Morning"

7. Gary Louris, "Vagabonds"

8. Lucy Michelle & The Velvet Lapelles, "Orange and Rattlesnakes"

9. Heiruspecs, "Heiruspecs"

10. Aviette, "The Way We Met"

Songs: 1. "Get Over It," Solid Gold; 2."Androgynous," the New Standards; 3. "Dark, Delirious Morning," Chris Koza; 4. "Chicks on Bikes," City on the Make; 5. "Everyone Here is a Cloud," Cloud Cult

Live acts: 1. The New Standards; 2. Lucy Michelle & The Velvet Lapelles; 3. The Haves Have It; 4. Solid Gold; 5. The Tisdales

David Hansen, freelancer:

1. Vampire Hands, "Me and You Cherry Red"

2. Knife World, "Knife World"

3. Skoal Kodiak, "Three People Are Keep Having Grape Emergencys"

4. Kitten Forever, "Born Ready"

5. Doomtree, "Doomtree"

Tom Horgen, Star Tribune nightlife reporter:

1. Mike Mictlan + Lazerbeak, "Hand Over Fist"

2. Heiruspecs, "Heiruspecs"

3. Doomtree, "Doomtree"

4. Atmosphere, "When Life Gives you Lemons..."

5. Haley Boner, "Big Star"

6. Muja Messiah, "Thee Adventures of a B-boy D-boy"

7. Brass Kings, "Washboard Rope Guitar"

8. Vampire Hands, "Me and You Cherry Red"

9. Dillinger Four, "Civil War"

10. Irv Williams, "Finality"

Songs: 1. Mictlan, "Prizefight"; 2. Brother Ali, "Mr. President (You're the Man);" 3. Doomtree (P.O.S. and Dessa), "Dots & Dashes"; 4. Muja Messiah and M.anifest, "Paper Planes;" 5. Haley Bonar, "Bag"

Live Acts: 1. Mictlan; 2. Atmosphere; 3. Brother Ali

Steve Marsh, Mpls.-St.Paul magazine:

1. Tapes N' Tapes, "Walk It Off

2. Doomtree, "Doomtree"

3. First Communion Afterparty, "Sorry for all the Mondays and for those Who Can't Sing"

4. Vampire Hands, "Me and You Cherry Red"

5. Atmosphere, "When Life Gives You Lemons"

6. Faux Jean, "Mongolian Invasion"

7. Plastic Constellations, "We Appreciate You"

8. Baby Guts, "Gasoline"

9. Heiruspecs, "Heiruspecs"

10. Mike Mictlan & Lazerbeak, "Hand Over Fist"

Songs: 1. "The Dirty Dirty," Tapes N Tapes; 2. "Sadie Hawkins," Doomtree; 3. "2cb," First Communion Afterparty; 4. "You," Atmosphere; 5. "No Fun," Vampire Hands

Live act: 1. Doomtree; 2. Vampire Hands; 3. Atmosphere; 4. First Communion Afterparty; 5. Baby Guts

Kyle Matteson, MoreCowbell.net and ReveilleMag.com:

1. "Crescent Moon Is In Big Trouble"

2. The Absent Arch, "Keep Calm And Carry On"

3. Solid Gold, "Bodies of Water"

4. Doomtree, "Doomtree"

5. Vampire Hands, "Me & You Cherry Red"

6. Kid Dakota, "A Winner's Shadow"

7. Haley Bonar, "Big Star"

8. Dillinger Four, "C I V I L W A R"

9. Heiruspecs, "Heiruspecs"

10. Jeremy Messersmith, "The Silver City"

Songs: 1. Solid Gold, "Get Over It;" 2. Kid Dakota, "Stars;" 3. Crescent Moon Is In Big Trouble, "Hunting Season; 4. Doomtree, "Game Over;" 5. Haley Bonar, "Queen of Everything"

Live acts: 1. Evening Rig; 2. Solid Gold; 3. Vampire Hands; 4. Crescent Moon Is In Big Trouble; 5. The Plastic Constellations

No. 1 sign the local music scene was alive and well in 2008: The big gigs. While we don't quite have a festival on par with Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, etc., i think we're not far off from having something closer to the level of Pitchfork, Monolith, Sasquatch, etc. in the near future. Considering how huge of a success Soundset was, which was a total local endeavor filled with more local than national acts. Second, the big return of Rock The Garden with one local (Cloud Cult), one pretty-much local (Bon Iver), and one with local band members and ties (Andrew Bird). Not to mention all of the RNC week shows (Take Back Labor Day, Substance, Provention, Spark 24, RATM, etc.), and lastly River Rocks with a great mix of local & national acts. I'm expecting only bigger things like this in 2009.

Steve McPherson, ReveilleMag.com and freelancer:

1. Vampire Hands, "Me and You Cherry Red"

2. Cecil Otter, "Rebel Yellow"

3. Atmosphere, "When Life Gives You Lemons"

4. Lookbook, "I Fear You, My Darkness"

5. Kid Dakota, "A Winner's Shadow"

6. Solid Gold, "Bodies of Water"

7. Dosh, "Wolves and Wishes"

8. Now, Now Every Children, "Cars"

9. Muja Messiah, "Thee Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy"

10. Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps, "Backyard Tent Set"

Songs: 1. "Yesterday's Company," Lookbook; 2. "Dots & Dashes," Doomtree (Dessa and P.O.S.) 3. "Headlights," Now, Now Every Children; 4. "Should Known," Atmosphere; 5. "The Pushback," Heiruspecs

Live acts: 1. Doomtree; 2. Kid Dakota; 3. Gospel Gossip; 4. Lookbook; 5. Total F**king Blood

Jason Nagel, "Minnesota Music" host, Cities 97:

1. Jeremy Messersmith, "The Silver City"

2. Atmosphere, "When Life Gives You Lemons..."

3. Dillinger Four, "C I V I L W A A"

4. Cecil Otter, "Rebel Yellow"

5. Haley Bonar, "Big Star"

6. Chris Koza, "Dark Delirious Morning"

7. Doomtree, "Doomtree"

8. Ruby Isle, "Night Shot"

9. Jeff Hanson, "Madam Owl"

10. The Wars of 1812, "Status Quo Ante Bellum"

Songs: 1. Atmosphere, "You;" 2. Dillinger Four, "Clown Cars on Concrete Blocks;" 3. Jeremy Messersmith, "Light Rail;" 4. Ruby Isle, "Hey Hey Hey;" 5. The Melismatics, "Digging Deep"

Live acts: 1. The Evening Rig; 2. Atmosphere; 3. The Belfast Cowboys; 4. Heiruspecs; 5. Dillinger Four

Pat O'Brien, freelancer:

1. Solid Gold, "Bodies Of Water"

2. City On The Make, "$1,000,000" (EP)

3. Yer Cronies, "When I Grow Up"

4. Bill Mike Band, "Truce"

5. Aviette, "The Way We Met"

6. Jeremy Messersmith, "The Silver City"

7. Western Fifth, "Stand Like A Thief"

8. Maps of Norway, "Die Off Songbird"

9. Dallas Orbiter, "Motorcycle Diagrams"

10. Maudlin, "Maudlin And The Second Law Of Thermodynamics"

Songs: 1. "Get Over It"-Solid Gold; 2. "Chicks On Bikes"-City On The Make; 3. "Hope"-Maudlin; 4. "The Run Out"-Maps Of Norway; 5. "Ampbuzz Is For Lovers"-Dallas Orbiter

Live acts: 1. City On The Make; 2. Dallas Orbiter; 3. Solid Gold; 4. Mercurial Rage; 5. Aviette

Jen Paulson, Freelancer & Editor at tigerbeatpoet.com:

1. Jeremy Messersmith - The Silver City

2. Solid Gold - Bodies of Water

3. Dillinger Four,"Civil War"

4. Muja Messiah, "Thee Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy"

5. Paul Westerberg, "49:00

6. The Tisdales, "Bakers Dozen"

7. The Deaths - Centralia

8. Yer Cronies, "When I Grow Up"

9. Vampire Hands, "You and Me and Cherry Red"

10. Jeff Hanson, "Madam Owl"

Songs: 1. Peter Duncan, "The Deaths" 2. Fences - Heiruspecs w/ Maria Isa; 3. Who You Gonna Run To - Solid Gold; 4. Love You To Pieces - Jeremy Messersmith; 5. Big Star - Haley Bonar

Live Acts: Gospel Gossip; Doomtree; Muja Messiah; Solid Gold

Ross Raihala, Pioneer Press music critic:

1. Tapes 'n Tapes, "Walk it Off"

2. Gary Louris, "Vagabond"

3. Atmosphere, "When Life Hands You Lemons..."

4. Ruby Isle, "Night Shot"

5. First Communion Afterparty, "Sorry for All the Mondays..."

6. The Deaths, "Centralia"

7. Haley Bonar, "Big Star"

8. Dallas Orbiter, "Motorcycle Diagrams"

9. Cloud Cult, "Feel Good Ghosts"

10. Alison Scott, "Hiding Under the Covers"

Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune music critic:

1. Ben Weaver, "The Ax in the Oak"

2. Haley Bonar, "Big Star"

3. Atmosphere, "When Life Gives You Lemons"

4. Jeremy Messersmith, "The Silver City"

5. Private Dancer, "Trouble Eyes"

6. Heiruspecs, "Heiruspecs"

7. Tapes 'n Tapes, "Walk It Off"

8. Muja Messiah, "Thee Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy"

9. Gary Louris, "Vagabonds"

10. Kid Dakota, "A Winner's Shadow"

Songs: 1. "Chicks on Bikes," City on the Make; 2. "Big Star," Haley Bonar; 3. "Clown Cars on Concrete Blocks," Dillinger Four; 4. "Growing Pains," Muja Messiah; 5. "Headshock," Tapes 'N Tapes

Live acts: 1. Vampire Hands; 2. City on the Make; 3. Gay Witch Abortion; 4. Gospel Gossip; 5. Atmosphere

Chris Roberts, "The Local Show," the Current (89.3 FM):

1) Patches & Gretchen, "Music from Little Big Pink"

2) Private Dancer, "Trouble Eyes"

3) Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles, "Orange Peels and Rattlesnakes"

4) Jeremy Messersmith, "The Silver City"

5) Unicorn Dream Attack, "Love Bits"

6) Rank Strangers, "Tucke des Objects"

7) City on the Make, "$1,000,000"

8) Tapes n' Tapes, "Walk It Off"

9) Yer Cronies, "When I Grow Up"

10) Army Defense, "Stratocaster Upon Avon"

Live acts: 1. Gay Witch Abortion 2. Tapes 'n Tapes; 3. Doomtree; 4. Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles; 5. Private Dancer

Max Ross, freelancer (unranked lists):

The Absent Arch, "Keep Calm and Carry On"

Mason Jennings, "In The Ever"

Muja Messiah, "Thee Adventures of a B-boy D-boy"

Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles, "Rattlesnakes and Orange Peels"

Escape Mechanism, "Emphasis Added"

Songs: "Ladies Know" by Big Quarters; "Sadie Hawkins" Doomtree (Dessa); "Your New Man," Mason Jennings; "Continue," the Invincible Kids; "Yesterday" Atmosphere

Live: Black Blondie, The Wars of 1812, Roe Family Singers, Atmosphere and Foxy Tann and the Whambamthankyouma'ams (if they count).

Amber Schadewald, freelancer:

1. Atmosphere, "When Life Gives You Lemons"

2. Solid Gold, "Bodies of Water"

3. Jeremy Messersmith, "The Silver City"

4. Vampire Hands, "Me and You Cherry Red"

5. Mystery Palace, "Flags Forward"

6. Mictlan, "Hand Over Fist"

Songs: 1. Solid Gold, "Get Over It;" 2. Atmosphere, "The Waitress;" 3. Atmosphere, "Guarantees;" 4. Jeremy Messersmith, "Franklin Avenue;" 5. Kanser, "Legacy"

Live acts: 1. Strut and Shock; 2. Ghost in the Water; 3. Solid Gold; 4. Black Blondie; 5. Doomtree, most notably, Dessa

Peter Scholtes, freelancer:

1. Atmosphere, "When Life Gives You Lemons"

2. Various artists, "Highstylekyle and Tru Ruts Presents: Lightening and Thunder Vol 1"

3. Mint Condition, "E-Life"

4. Big Jess, "High Rule"

5. Kanser, "Future Retro Legacy"

6. Aby Wolf, "Sweet Prudence"

7. Crescent Moon, "Crescent Moon Is in Big Trouble"

8. Tyka Nelson, "A Brand New Me"

9. El Guante, "Harry Potter b/w Esta Tarde"

10. Little Man, "Of Mind and Matter"

Songs: 1. Muja Messiah, "Growing Pains;" 2. Trama, "Southside Pride" (feat. Freez); 3. Set the Smith, "My Struggle;" 4. Chuck Wooley, "Circles;" 5. Mike Mictlan & Lazerbeak, "Hand Over Fist"

Live act: 1. Muja Messiah; 2. Atmosphere; 3. Truthmaze; 4. Aby Wolf; 5. Tyka Nelson and the Word

Andrea Swensson, City Pages music editor (unranked lists):

Solid Gold, "Bodies of Water"

Haley Bonar, "Big Star"

City on the Make, "1,000,000"

Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles, "Orange Peels and Rattlesnakes"

Kristoff Krane, "This Will Work For Now"

Heiruspecs, "Heiruspecs"

The Wars of 1812, "Status Quo Antebellum"

Adam Svec, "Enemy Swimmer"

Jeremy Messersmith, "The Silver City"

The Absent Arch, "Keep Calm and Carry On"

Songs: "Stars," Kid Dakota; "Game Over," Doomtree; "River," Haley Bonar (Joni Mitchell); "Chicks on Bikes," City on the Make; "Somewhere Under the Rainbow," Adam Svec

Live acts: Dosh; Little Man; Solid Gold; Kitten Forever; City on the Make

Rob van Alstyne, local music journalist:

1. Paul Westerberg "49 Minutes"

2. Haley Bonar "Big Star"

3. Jeremy Messersmith "The Silver City"

4. These Modern Socks "Picking a Lock at the Speed of Light"

5. Chris Koza "The Dark, Delirious Morning"

6. Doomtree "Doomtree"

7. One for the Team "Build it Up"

8. Kid Dakota "A Winner's Shadow"

9. Solid Gold "Bodies of Water"

10. Yer Cronies "When I Grow Up"

Songs: 1. "You" Atmosphere; 2. "Straight to Video" Chris Koza; 3. "Miracles" Jeremy Messersmith; 4. "So Many Friends" Plastic Constellations; 5. "Get Over It" Solid Gold

Live acts: 1. Wishbook; 2. Vicious Vicious; 3. The Alarmists; 4. Mel Gibson and the Pants; 5. Story of the Sea

Jim Walsh, MinnPost.com and freelancer (unranked list):

Chris Koza, "The Dark, Delirious Morning"

John Swardson, "Silver Dust"

Atmosphere, "When Life Gives You Lemons ..."

Haley Bonar, "Big Star"

Doomtree (self-titled)

Little Man, "Of Mind and Matter"

Patches & Gretchen, "Music From Little Big Pink"

St. Dominic's Trio, "Switch"

Ben Weaver, "The Ax in the Oak"

Paul Westerberg, "49:00"