2011 Index of Winners

You have to know the rules before you can effectively break them, and Qurious seems to operate on a higher level of consciousness than its electro peers. Between Mike Netland's starry-eyed production and Catherine Quesenberry's spellbinding voice, the duo delves deep into the realm of pure atmospherics with a sense of sophistication that eludes the rest. Each song on the group's full-length 2010 debut, Planet Plant, slowly drifts through the ether with a celestial ambiance as massive and mysterious as the universe itself. It's a sound that gives new meaning to the word ambient. qurious.bandcamp.com.

Listen: Qurious "Another Language"

Punk rock is best when it's channeled through one man confronting the things that keep him awake at night. Greg King's nightmares manifest in the murky punk energy, lacerating riffs and warped field recordings of G.G. King. With the arrival of his debut LP, Esoteric Lore (Rob's House/Scavenger of Death), the former Carbonas frontman transcends the buzzsaw blitzkrieg of his previous band. By marrying crisp, driving melodies and demonic incantations with a damaged sound that could shake itself to pieces at any minute, he's created the most compelling avant-garage punk statement this town has ever known. myspace.com/ggkingband.

Listen: G.G. King "Want"

Over the last three years, Lyonnais has methodically explored the grey area between post-punk and proto-industrial drone. Through it all, the group has fostered a mesmerizing art-pop that morphs ever so slightly each time the band steps on stage. Pulling off such versatility is no easy chore. But the impending release of the enigmatic group's debut album, Want For Wish For Nowhere (Hoss Records), proves that keeping experimental music interesting is a task at which this mysterious foursome excels. myspace.com/teamlyonnais.

Listen: Lyonnais "The Fatalist"

Reveling in the mesmerizing aesthetics of drone pop and Krautrock, Red Sea's songs creep along at a hypnotic pace. But a slow and jangling indie rock sensibility propels these four fresh-faced 18- to 21-year-olds from Suwanee over deep, dark valleys of reverb and resonance. Less than 24 hours after self-releasing the Weird Problem EP via Bandcamp, Red Sea was deemed a buzzworthy band by the local blogosphere, and its subsequent live shows only highlighted the band's potential to achieve local clout at an age when most acts are still kicking around in the garage. redsea.bandcamp.com.

Listen: Red Sea "Cruel Future"

An Atlanta guitar slinger with a swooping pompadour, Rod Hamdallah has swiftly risen through the ranks of Atlanta's die-hard blues scene by taking cues from such hometown icons as the late Sean Costello and Donnie McCormick. With a blend of delta blues, electric roots and garage rock girth, Hamdallah has tricked out a sultry sound and presence that's recharging the blues. He's what the old heads who lurk in the shadows at the back of the bar refer to as the real deal, and they ain't lyin'. reverbnation.com/rodhamdallah.

Listen: Rod Hamdallah "Think About It"

We're proud that Perry, Ga.-bred Ernest Greene has chosen our fair city as his new home base, 'cause he's such a fine Southern gentleman, but also because Washed Out is at the vanguard of a new musical age. Greene's dreamy, disengaged music nods to our age of ephemera while subtly reproving it, an ever-shifting island in a miasmic sea of sensation. As for staying power, Greene's newly minted record deal with industry stronghold Sub Pop only affirms what those who have witnessed Washed Out's recent shows already know: This bedroom-pop blog darling has become quite the electro-fied entertainer. myspace.com/thebabeinthewoods.

Listen: Washed Out "Eyes Be Closed"

The devil's weed is always a little sweeter when cosmic metal monsters Wizard Smoke spark up the joint. The menacing five-piece ensemble drives its up-tempo rock 'n' roll dirges with a tongue-in-cheek attitude, while sidestepping the typical woozy-eyed dreariness that so often defines the stoner aesthetic. Wizard Smoke's songs are glacial in size and epic in stature, but there's a sense of humor hiding behind every riff throughout the band's latest LP, The Speed of Smoke. Take another hit and let the perma-grin begin. wizardsmoke.net.

Listen: Wizard Smoke "Weakling"

With the April release of Little Tybee's proper debut, Humorous to Bees (Paper Garden Records), the group proved it's one of the most refined bands in town. It's quite an accomplishment considering the current crop of homegrown pop acts crafting equally glassy and complex sounds. But what sets this sophisticated foursome apart is a subtle seafaring aura that colors the music and sets its strings and swoon adrift. littletybee.muxtape.com.

Listen: Little Tybee "Passion Seekers"

An outsider performance artist with insider appeal, Cousin Dan rocks ridiculous stage-wear and makes simplistic, addictive music videos for his synth-based electro jams. Underneath the leopard-print spandex and diamond-studded codpiece lurks a master craftsman with irresistible pop hooks for appendages. cousindan.tumblr.com.

Listen: Cousin Dan "Already Home"