Best of Nashville 2009: Music

Best Latin-Electro-Pop Album:
Manik by Mia Calderon
We're not complaining, but for all of Nashville's musical diversity these days there are a few genres that we feel are lacking here at home. Specifically, we think this town could use more funky, futuristic, bossa nova-influenced pop of the brand that Mia Calderon concocts on her debut Manik. Bearing more of a resemblance to the far-out funk of transnationalist groove hunters like Quantic than to anything you're likely to find in the 615, Manik is a globe-trotting, time-jumping slice of sublimely hummable, hip-shakingly sweet sonic bliss. Imagine Astrud Gilberto and Sade making beats on the edge of a black hole and you've got the idea. SEAN L. MALONEY

Best Curated Move Back Into the Major-Label Fold:
The Features
Plenty of wistful locals recall pride-and-joy Middle Tennesseans The Features' brief flirtation with major-label superstardom. But after the release of Exhibit A and their ensuing and ultimately disenchanting dismissal from Universal Records, the indie-pop four-piece found themselves back on their own. Undaunted, The Features self-released last year's Some Kind of Salvation, a sparkling collection of smart and triumphant rock numbers that caught the ear of old pals and international chart-toppers Kings of Leon. In an admirable display of hometown support, KoL re-released Some Kind of Salvation on their new imprint via publishers Bug Music and 429 Records, and now The Features are playing dates all over the place, including a couple abroad with the Kings. From as unlikely a source as it may be, looks like The Features may have found some kind of salvation after all. D. PATRICK RODGERS

Best Radio Show No Longer on the Radio: The Best of Bread
After their unexpected and controversial dismissal from Vanderbilt's 91.1 WRVU–FM due to an equipment violation ("After four years, Chris and Greg Crofton's WRVU show Best of Bread is toast," Sept. 17), fraternal hosts Chris and Greg Crofton are left without a broadcasting home. It's a shame, too, because the brothers' unique oeuvre on the airwaves had made them something of a local institution over the past four years. But there just might be hope for the Croftons' good-natured buffoonery yet. We posted the (hopefully not) final episode on Nashville Cream, the Scene's very own music blog, and both the positive response and the calls for a resurrective podcast series were resounding. The audience is there, and according to the Croftons, the will is there as well. Keep your fingers crossed. D. PATRICK RODGERS

Best Self-Deprecating Country Star:
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift maintains that she always dreamed of playing country music's hallowed halls and festivals, and those dreams have come true 100 times over. But it was another dream of hers that caught our attention this year: the one where she becomes a thug. Who lives with her parents. And bakes cookies. In a video that played at the CMT Awards, Swift—or rather, T-Swizzle—joined Auto-Tune posterchild T-Pain on a dream-sequence rap number that included such verbal chestnuts as "You been out clubbin' / I just made caramel delights!" Country stars and rappers alike could take a cue from Swift's self-effacing levity: "You don't wanna fight me / In my extra-small white T!" Go, Sweezy. STEVE HARUCH

Best Local Album Only Available as an Import:
Boys by Cortney Tidwell
The world of music and music labels is strange enough these days, but when the latest album from one of our own city's brightest musical exports is only available as an import—well, then we really get to scratching the old noggin. (Sure, it's on esteemed Euro imprint City Slang, but still.) It's both lucky for us and awesome of the folks at Grimey's that they worked things out so we can buy Boys—a rich, rewarding set of haunting pop songs that is one of our favorites of the year—at a reasonable, domestic-feeling price. But c'mon, American labels—get with it. Tidwell's the real deal, and this record needs to find as many stateside turntables, iPods and CD decks as possible—as soon as possible. STEVE HARUCH

Best Place to Find Rap Legends in the Produce Aisle:
Green Hills Kroger
When The Beastie Boys and Nas were in town for Bonnaroo this summer, rumors ran rampant, and unconfirmed Beastie sightings were all over the Intertubes. They're at Centennial Park! They're playing a secret show at The Basement! They're throwing eggs from the roof of the Belle Meade Mansion! But alas, they were in the last place anybody would look for a cadre of rap music legends—the produce aisle at the Green Hills Kroger. Not only is it the place to scope hot dads, but it seems it's also the only place in town where hip-hop heavyweights can casually peruse the bok choy without being recognized. SEAN L. MALONEY

Best Hipster Meat Market:
The 5 Spot's Keep on Movin'
Never heard of The 5 Spot's debaucherous late-night dance parties? If not, then your head is probably fedora-less, and your jeans are likely of a relaxed fit. Each Monday night, the crew of vinyl-spinners known as Electric Western Presents kicks out superlative dance tunes from soul to doo-wop to '50s rock 'n' roll. And, without fail, said tunes and an ample supply of booze get East Nashville's most irony-loving, shitty-day-job-having, beer-swilling, fixed-gear-bike-riding gadflies leering at one another with a modesty level typically reserved for the subjects of televised nature specials. That isn't to say the Keep on Movin' parties aren't a blast, and it certainly isn't to say we never attend. Not that our obliterated brain cells will allow us to recall any of it. Besides, there ain't nothin' wrong, as they say, with a little bump-and-grind. D. PATRICK RODGERS