The Shuttles
In This Valley
A decent outing for the Logan-based band, but largely ignored by most for no other reason than their location. (They don’t get down to Salt Lake City much!) Following along folk-rock lines with a twist of harmony, this is a group that—if they were in Provo playing frequently—would have been a top act of 2010.

NSPS
Audio Visual Carnival Fragments
What looks like a standard seven-track CD is in reality a whole A/V experience. Alongside the quirky tunes that deliver a geek-rock vibe, the group added six music videos to complement the music. A far more creative venture than most.

Funk Fu
Long Time Comin’
In a year suffering from a hip-hop drought, Funk Fu not only managed to put out one hell of an album with hooky rhymes, superb scratches and a badass lineup holding down the tunes, they also solidified themselves as exceptional performers.

Riverhead
Riverhead
Riverhead is probably one of the most underappreciated groups in Salt Lake City. Landing somewhere between synth-pop and rock, the album hits dark tones while also having a set of polished, radio-friendly potential hits.

Shark Speed
The Education
Shark Speed is one of those groups who, if they wanted to hop in a van and tour, they’d probably do well across the country. But for now, they remain a secret pop-rock treasure in Utah County. This EP is a great example of Shark Speed at their finest.

The Continentals
Rhino
This album came out of nowhere. We knew of the group from a prior EP, but no one could have predicted the melodic enchantment this release had to offer. It just appeared, and overnight made the seven-piece group a must-see at several venues.

The Lazy Waves
The Lazy Waves
An experiment between three musically inclined friends who perform with several different groups, the album is made to sound like a soulful jazz recording from the ’70s, complete with vinyl scratches to fit the mood. If they ever transformed The Lazy Waves into a fully functional band, they’d probably be a local favorite.

Various Artists
The Rock Salt 2010 Compilation
The Rock Salt is an online forum for Utah musicians, and 17 artists involved with the site produced an album for Record Store Day in an effort to showcase local talent. A decent introduction for unfamiliar fans, and one of the better local compilations in the past few years. 

Raw Xtract
eleven
Showing skill and forethought behind her provocative lyrics and instrumental selections, Ami Hanna transformed this spoken-word album into a must-listen. Tapping into a strong vein of angst and anger, her voice gushes personal truths to the sounds of everything from smooth jazz numbers to background music from Super Mario Bros.

Red Pete
Broken Love Machine
Appearing like an audio cloudburst, the trio of Red Pete dropped this thunderous barrage on us over the summer. It’s just downright unapologetic rock, with pounding drums, thumping bass and growling guitars. Why the song “Killer Bees” isn’t an X96 or KRCL staple is bewildering.