Best of 2018
Best Guitars
Thunderpussy – This Seattle 4-piece wowed up earlier in the year with the riffs of Whitney Petty. They released their self-titled album this year.
Runners Up:
Bones
Best Bluegrass
Sierra Hull – Hull continues to dominate as a young Grammy-nominated mandolin player.
Runners Up:
Best Country
Edan Archer – We discovered this country artist at Canadian Music Week. Her song, “Bad Imitation of Something Good” immediately caught our attention.
Runners Up:
Best Jazz
Nicole Mitchell – This jazz flutist working in a drumless quartet presents the bold album Maroon Cloud.
Runners Up:
Best Indie
The Beths – This quirky 4 piece wormed their way into our hearts with the song “Future Me Hates Me.” Their subsequent singles only reinforced our opinion.
Runners Up:
Best Punk
Taco Mouth – This Nashville band had us roiled in anger and laughing in hysterics at the video for “Fighting For Today.”
Runners Up:
Best Rock
Marissa Nadler – Nadler had already been a strong favorite with us because of Strangers. Her new album For My Crimes continued to amaze us.
Runners Up: Uni
Jo Passed
Best Pop
Jade Bird – This UK artist released her EP in 2017 and is preparing to release a full-length in 2019. It wasn’t until we saw her live that we could say the hype was true. She is sometimes marketed as a country artist. Make no mistake, Jade Bird is the next Jenny Lewis in the making. She can play a variety of styles and has a smile that disarms the world.
Runners Up:
Best Heavy Metal
Hide – This Industrial duo caught our attention early in the year with “Wildfire.” They are a face-melting extreme act that will only get bigger.
Runners Up:
Best EDM
Sigrid – This synthpop artist exploded early this year and we expect more of the same for 2019.
Best Foreign Artist
Million Miles – Sophie Baudry released her latest EP Good Luck, Honey. She has a soulful voice that is hypnotic in every single.
Runner Up:
Best Unexpected Surprise
Marchfourth – A 12-piece marching band with contortionists and jugglers and a two-hour set of the best party music.
Runners Up:
Nicolle Rochelle – Ginkgoa
Best Return
Alison Sudol – Sudol is both an actress and singer-songwriter known for the band A Fine Frenzy. She has returned with the Moon EP.
Runners Up:
Belly
Best Local Artist
Rowan Kerrick – It has been our pleasure to watch Rowan evolve. After time in NY for school she is back and breaking into the Denver scene.
Heavy Diamond Ring
Best New Artist
King Princess – She has been selling out shows all summer. This NY artist will shatter records soon enough. Her EP Make My Bed includes the single “1950.”
Runners Up:
Anna Burch
Brynn Elliott
Artist of the Year
Boygenius – Arriving late in the year is the superband of the year which features Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus & Phoebe Bridgers.
Runners up:
Label of the Year
Mom & Pop Records – On their 10-year anniversary Mom + Pop is going strong with artists including Alice Merton, Courtney Barnett, Hinds, Sleigh Bells & Tash Sultana
Runners Up:
Milk! Records