1. Roma di Luna – Casting the Bones

With their 3^rd release, husband and wife duo Alexei Casselle and Channy Moon Casselle complicated things. They added James Everest on bass, Michael Rossetto on Banjo (Spaghetti Western String Co.), Ben Durrant on Electric Guitar, and a slew of other local musicians on sax, trumpet and backing vocals. All the extra "noise" does not take away from Roma di Luna's well crafted neo-folk songs. Channy's haunting vocals are magnified with James's funky bass lines and Ben's electric guitar compliments Alexei's acoustic. Alexei's background in hip-hop is clear with songs about relevant social issues that tell a story and create a certain mood. Roma di Luna make folk records for the modern day listener with a deep appreciation for their predecessors, i.e. the Carter Family. For fans of the Anthology of American Folk Music.

2. Crescent Moon w/Big Trouble – Crescent Moon is in Big Trouble

Heiruspecs' Sean McPherson had a plan. With his brother, Steve, the two set out to form a band that revisits the sprawling instrumental covers of yesteryear. The result, Big Trouble, covers classics and modern day favorites and promises to "blow your mind softly." Big Trouble has toured the Twin Cities, bringing grooves to the stage in their own right, as well as backing for artists like Joanna James, P.O.S., and Crescent Moon (Odd Jobs, Kill the Vultures, Roma di Luna). Their collaboration with the latter went so well, they decided to record an album together: Crescent Moon is in Big Trouble. Chris Riemenschneider of the Star Tribune says, "the six-track disc finds Crescent spewing out dark and weary-sounding tunes over gritty, smoky, bluesy and raw rock 'n' roll." So go out and get in big trouble!

3. Chris Koza – Dark, Delirious Morning

In 2005, after the release of his debut album, Exit Pesce, Rob van Alstyne of the Pulse reviewed Chris Koza as, "an under-the-radar-music-stunner-phenomenon." Shortly after, he won BEST NEW ARTIST (both by the jury and the critics' choice) from the Minnesota Music Awards committee. His follow-up album, Patterns, garnered even more press – including a nod in the Star Tribune, which compared the widespread appeal of his music to the widespread appeal of pornography. His latest, Dark, Delirious Morning, is a beautifully crafted logical next step for Koza, who creates worlds in his mind and paints vivid pictures with lyrics and melodies. His attention to detail is evident in the disc's refined sound. City Pages contributor Bob Longmore describes the album's appeal. "At the heart of each song is a simple melody, but like a latter-day Elliot Smith, Koza layers on instruments and sounds, creating mood and intensity." Longmore also comments on Koza's magnificent story telling. "Each story is filled with imagery so strong you can feel the accordion game tickets in your pocket or smell the bourbon and dirt at the track." Chris Koza's journey is one worth embarking on. Pick up Dark, Delirious Morning and groove towards a bright, lucid afternoon.

4. Doomtree – False Hopes

Doomtree is a sensational local hip-hop collective, oozing with talent and love. It's members share an unwavering penchant for teamwork, support, and artistic expression. Their latest, False Hopes, is not to be confused the respective False Hopes EP's from members Dessa and Cecil Otter. This False Hopes is a collaboration among all members, and contains the rarities and b-sides that didn't make the cut on their much anticipated upcoming album. From the group's website: "So, friend, consider this sack-full of songs not as a true album, but rather a collection of "specials" that didn't quite fit in with the family. They are all beautiful in their own right, but a few unfortunate idiosyncrasies […] have prevented them from meeting the Doomtree Family Gold Standard and making the proverbial A-team." Each member of Doomtree is multi-talented and brings something special to the table. They are: Cecil Otter (emcee/producer), Dessa (emcee/vocalist), Mike Mictlan (emcee), Sims (emcee), P.O.S. (emcee/producer), Paper Tiger (producer/DJ/graphic designer), Marshall Larada (producer/DJ/visual artist), Lazerbeak (producer/musician), Turbo Nemesis (DJ/Engineer), Emily Bloodmobile (producer), and Tom Servo (producer/DJ). Their combined force is undeniable. Pick up Doomtree's False Hopes and rejoice in love and hip-hop.

5. A Night in the Box – Write A Letter

Imagine yourself at a Southern Baptist church in 1940, except the choir is a group of white kids from Minneapolis who don't necessarily sing about Jesus. For some reason, you feel the need to jump up and flail about. Whether it's Jesus or the Devil that possesses you, who really cares? With unavoidably toe-tapping, hand-clapping, hook-laden bluegrass, A Night in the Box captivates both local rock fans and seasoned lovers of a down-home southern sound. Original members Travis Hetman, Alex Dalton, and Clayton Hagen were joined by violinist Kailyn Spencer to round out the quartet and their eclectic mix of instrumentation (including banjo, fiddle, guitar, and drums). Write A Letter, the band's sophomore full-length album, was recorded in three days and "[adds] a mixture of accessible pop hooks with their quintessential gritty sound," according to their label's (Afternoon Records) website. Pick it up and stomp your feet!

6. Roma di Luna – Face of My Friends

First, there was local hip-hop icons Odd Jobs. Then, Oddjobs became Kill the Vultures. Kill the Vultures' MC, Crescent Moon (Alexei Casselle), has emerged with his own solo project, Roma Di Luna, which deviates from Oddjobs and KTV's hip-hop roots. On Face of My Friends, Alexei explores a more folk-inspired sound with acoustic guitar and is complimented beautifully by violin and lilting vocals from wife Channy Moon. Each of the seven songs on Face of My Friends is both powerful and haunting, illuminated by Moon's stunning singing voice.

7. Jeremy Messersmith – Alcatraz Kid

Jeremy Messersmith has been pegged by multiple local journalists as the best under-30 singer-songwriter in the Twin Cities. His story begins in Washington State, where he grew up in a Pentecostal home and was only exposed to traditional religious music. When he was able to listen to the radio, it was primarily oldies, which contributed to his knowledge of melody. He moved to Minneapolis in 1999 to attend North Central University and has since made a name for himself in the local music scene as a beautifully melodic lyricist. Messersmith's latest and first full-length release, Alcatraz Kid, has made many critics' year-end top ten lists for 2006. His acclaimed single "Novocain" has garnered radio airplay and his sound has been compared to that of Elliott Smith and Neutral Milk Hotel.

8. Solid Gold – Who You Gonna Run To?

Solid Gold is the latest psychedelic techno/hip-hop hybrid to take the world by storm. The trio utilizes an artillery of instrumentation to create their unique, infectious sound. Contrasting synthesizers, banjo, opera singing, violin, organs, and more – the music of Solid Gold concocts a mood and atmosphere all its own. The band's debut EP, Who You Gonna Run To?, is six songs of introspective fun. The disc includes several tracks from the band's upcoming full-length, Bodies of Water, as well as b-sides and remixes. With a rapidly growing fanbase in the Twin Cities, Solid Gold is perhaps better known internationally. Most notably, the band played a Vice Magazine concert in London, England and headlined at the Iceland Airwaves Festival in Reykjavik, Iceland where crowds went wild. Check out their myspace page for bonus songs, including a loveable gem: "Sound Asleep" featuring local rapper P.O.S. With unavoidably dancey live-performances and rock solid compositions, school yourself in Solid Gold.

9. Trampled By Turtles – Live at Lucé

Predominantly bluegrass, slightly sardonic, and definitely youthful – Trampled By Turtles has carved a niche for themselves among the talented and the innovative in the local music scene. The Duluth foursome always manages to captivate concert-goers with their energetic live performances and truly unique stage presence. Live at Lucé was recorded live at Duluth's Pizza Lucé location and includes tracks from TBT's first two studio albums: Blue Sky & The Devil and Songs From A Ghost Town. It's a toe-stompin' good time!

10. Willie Murphy – Devil in the White House

Willie Murphy is a legendary fixture in the Minneapolis music scene. From his Myspace page, "Willie Murphy, guitar/piano blues man, is one of three charter members of the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame along with Bob Dylan and Prince." Murphy began playing the piano at age four and started writing songs in High School. After graduation, he teamed up with "Spider" John Koerner, with whom he recorded a critically acclaimed album for Elektra Records and toured internationally before the two split to embark on their own creative endeavors. Since then, Murphy founded celebrated 70's funk group Willie & The Bees, as well as his own record label (Atomic Theory). He has recorded numerous solo albums, including his latest, Devil in the White House, at his own Cockroach Park Studios. As the title suggests, listeners are in for a topical dose of Murphy's candid brand of blues. Pick one up, just in time to a elect a new devil in the white house!