And the nominees are...
Our critics weigh in on the top Boston Music Awards categories
ACT OF THE YEAR (NATIONAL)
Boys Like Girls
Dropkick Murphys
Ray LaMontagne
Lori McKenna
New Kids on the Block
Amanda Palmer
Josh Ritter
Termanology
James Reed: Palmer knocked me out at the Boston Pops and the Paradise earlier this year, but Ray LaMontagne's new album really tugged at my heartstrings. Never mind that he's from Maine.
Sarah Rodman: All have something to love, but in this apples, oranges, and kiwis contest I'm choosing the act that built consensus, the lovably gruff and totally-Boston Dropkick Murphys (singer Al Barr, above).
ACT OF THE YEAR (LOCAL)
Akrobatik
Bang Camaro
Girls Guns and Glory
Eli "Paperboy" Reed and the True Loves
Wild Light
Thalia Zedek
Reed: Where's Drug Rug? Mr. Sister? Akrobatik (above) gets my vote mostly for his timely and clever "Sports Rap-Up" broadcasts on JAM'N 94.5's morning show.
Rodman: Simply put, Girls Guns and Glory has won over my heart, not to mention my hips and my head.
BEST NEW ACT OF THE YEAR
Bodega Girls
Chester French
The Fatal Flaw
The Low
Reed: Chester French and Bodega Girls are a good time, but I'm going with underdogs the Low Anthem (above), whose spirited Americana recalls Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen.
Rodman: Another tough call, but with its delightfully spacey, clever, and emotional pop delivering a Zombies-for-the-21st-century vibe, Chester French gets my vote. 