The only thing that competes with Karima Walker’s stunning song construction is her heart-stirring voice. Walker unveiled Hands in Our Names, recorded at Five Thirteen Recording, back in...
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Most Anticipated Album: PAO! by Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra
The Arizona supergroup known as Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra has been packing venues on the regular for several years now, but it was only this past November...
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Best Psychedelic Album: Snake River Blues by decker.
The Sedona act decker. is known for continually pushing their sound in new directions with each and every release they put out. The year 2015 brought us Patsy,...
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Best Genre-Bender: Bear Ghost
The feisty Phoenix four-piece known as Bear Ghost creates a veritable smorgasbord of sound on their 2016 release, Blasterpiece. Delivering a high-energy funk, Bear Ghost offers fluidly...
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Best New Band: Phantom Party
Phantom Party formed back in the Spring of 2015 and the three-piece quickly got to work hashing out their debut EP, but it was only over...
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Best Americana Release: Shasta City, Bad News Ricky by Huckleberry
The title to Huckleberry’s 2016 EP might be a little clunky, but the four songs it represents are fluid and fabulous. Shasta City, Bad News Ricky came out...
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Dreamiest Album: Impossible Animals by RØÅR
Impossible Animals by RØÅR is the best dream you never had. Clouds of orchestral pop carry the listener away for a journey of imaginative sights and sounds....
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Best Punk Album: BIO/FEEBACK by Red Tank!
The ruckus energy of Red Tank! really comes through in their 2016 release, BIO/FEEDBACK, which came out last August. The album contains ten tracks of rowdy noise...
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End of the Year Knockout: YOKE by Saddles
Ask any music writer and they’ll probably tell you that December is the worst month of the year to release an album. This is the time...
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Soundtrack to the Resistance: Light It Up by The Haymarket Squares
Arizona’s favorite punkgrass band released their fourth LP, Light it Up, this year just in time for one of the most horrifying election seasons in American history. Coincidence?...
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Favorite Sonoran Sound: Empty / Every Mountain by Ohioan
I don’t even know what to say about the 2016 release from Tucson-based band, Ohioan, except that it is a beautiful and breathtaking album that every...
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Best Breakup Album: Breaking Up EP by Couples Fight
Allow me to be the first to say it’s a little bit ridiculous to give “Best Breakup Album” to a release titled, Breaking Up EP, but whatever. We...
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