Vote for the Twin Cities best band, round 3

Doomtree vs. Joey Ryan and the Inks

Doomtree

Listen: “ "Low Light Low Life" ”

The pre-imminent thoughtful hip-hop crew in a town rife with intelligent rhymers, Doomtree’s nine-deep roster of talent features five MCs, four producers, at least one bon a fide breakout star (that would be punk-rock inspired mic crusher P.O.S.), and another on the horizon (lone lady of Doomtree, Dessa). While the Rhymesayers collective may have put Minnesota on the hip-hop map, Doomtree are taking it into the second decade of the 21st century in high style. Check out pics of their annual "Blowout" at First Ave.

Joey Ryan and the Inks

Listen: “ "You are all Friends of Mine" ”

Well, Here We Are Then,” the debut album from fresh-faced quintet Joey Ryan and the Inks, is a slice of breezy West Coast pop dang near on par with the greats of the genre. Like Brian Wilson before him, Ryan understands the power of pairing melancholic ache with exceedingly sunny melodies, while his bandmates toss off tasty power-pop riffs with a razor-sharp accuracy rarely heard outside of early Cars records.

Related items:

• Vote for the Twin Cities best band, round 1
• Vote for the Twin Cities best band, round 2
• Set list: on stage this week
• Music venue