Local independent radio station 97.7 WEXT, always looking for listener input, has put a call out there to all those with a radio and/or internet access to compile the best music of 2010, including the best music this area code has to offer.

In order to help the opinion-challenged or those that couldn't remember all the great local acts, WEXT has released their "Staff Picks," listed below:

Rich Ortiz
Charlie Watts Riots
Sean Rowe
Super 400
Kitty Little
The Figgs
Holly and Evan
Ashley Pond Band
Sgt Dunbar
Chris Carey
Phantogram

It's a solid list, representing a wide variety of tastes, from the acoustic bluegrass of Holly and Evan to the ethereal electro-indie of local-gone-national Phantogram.

Some of the Local 518 favorites also made other best of 2010 categories, such as The Figgs with their track "...And Here's Some More," chosen as one of the best songs by Chris Wienk, and their album getting a nod as well. Local artists Rob Skane, Scientific Maps and Charlie Watts Riots were also listed as favorites in some categories.

Although they're not local, I was glad to see These United States, Patty Griffin and Delta Spirit also get some recognition.

Do you agree with their picks? Who do you think is missing? Sound off in the comments below, and then submit your own favorites at WEXT's website.

December 1 -

The B3nson Recording Company, which over the past few years has amassed a cast of talented and facial-haired characters too numerous to list here, hosted it’s 3rd Annual Family Funsgiving in November. Not only did they give a considerable amount of canned goods to a local food pantry, but the Funsgiving keeps on giving in the form of free music with the 3rd Annual Family Funsgiving Compilation.

The compilation, featuring 16 tracks from B3nson bands, friends and hypothetical bands, is available for download on their BandCamp. You can download individual tracks or the entire album for the low price of an e-mail address.

There’s a nice combination of genres, all with the quirky B3nson twinge. In particular, I enjoyed tracks from Scientific Maps, Wesley Rose, Pinguinos, Slender Shoulders and the release-an-album-already supergroup Que Caro.

B3nson’s website appears to be down, so for now check them out on Facebook, and grab the album at BandCamp.