The most telling thing about this city's thriving music scene - or, perhaps more accurately, scenes - is not necessarily everything you get to see and hear in a given year. It's also what slips under the radar or falls between the proverbial cracks. That's just what happens when you've got something this vibrant and vital. A roundup of the year's most notable local albums and artists (and we use the term "local" loosely) is also a reminder of how perennially eclectic and inspired the Boston area's rock and pop landscape is. Here's some of the best of what we heard in 2008 (in alphabetical order), and what keeps us looking forward to the year ahead.

— Jonathan Perry