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You nominated. We raised our eyebrows, our fists and the cap on how long you could send e-mails. Some categories exploded with interest (who wants to be the Best Denton rock band ... anyone?) and some didn't make it (R.I.P. Best Denton Newcomer.) We had a unanimous winner in the Best of Denton Dance department.

Lessons are learned in the first year of life. The Beatsheet baby may have tried to gum too much broccoli a little too early. And maybe posting on Dentonrockcity.com's Message Bored isn't the only way to help get the word out about something like this (you'd think...)

But the finalists "Beat readers" (some of you apparently live in Abilene) chose are a peculiar mix of the old and the new, the legendary and the least-known. Here's a guide to what's what, who's who, and how to be an educated Beatsheet voter. You have until Dec. 2 to go see the bands and get your hands on the records. Give everyone an equal chance -- you might just learn something new. We know we already have.

-L.K.

Best Denton Album

Bamnan and Slivercork was recorded in the living room of Midlake's house on Oak Street and mixed at London's Abbey Road studios after the band signed with the Denton-obsessed British label Bella Union, owned by former Cocteau Twins Simon Raymonde and Robin Guthrie. The album has gained fans the world over including actor Jason Lee who camped out in Denton for a week to direct the video for recent single "Balloon Maker." The album is a compelling mix of fuzzy, quirky psych- pop songs that toe the line between melodic sweetness, rainy day melancholy and lilting campfire Americana in the tradition of Granddaddy's seminal Sophtware Slump. You can find Bamnan and Slivercork at Seasick Records or order online at www.midlake.net or www.bellaunion.com.

The Angelus will probably never be played on the radio. It's not likely to get teenage girls screaming for the video on TRL or to be introduced by an incoherently wasted Anna Nicole Smith at the American Music Awards. These songs are not made for mass consumption, and God bless them for it. This long-awaited debut e.p. is brimming with the same ethereal beauty and cinematic epics that make the band's live shows such mesmerizing, near religious experiences. Imagine Jeff Buckley fronting Godspeed You Black Emperor in an ancient Roman cathedral at midnight just before the end of the world. You can pick up The Angelus at Seasick Records or order online at www.pyramid-scheme.com

Best of Denton Rock

The Alexander is a young band, with the oldest member barely scraping 20, but you'd never guess it from the sound of the music. Tightly structured and densely layered, the guitar lines are intricate and mathematically precise and vocalist Chris Sims sings every emotionally charged syllable like he absolutely means it. (Aaron Teel, NT Daily, Sep. 24. 2004.) The Alexander got a last-minute call to open up for the Blood Brothers at Gypsy Ballroom on November 4th, and no doubt gained some more fans from the exposure. For more information on upcoming shows, go to www.thealexander.com.

We've got to be honest here, we had never heard of Andrew Tinker and The GoodNights' greatness until we were inundated with a super-high number of nominations from people who think these guys are the best thing going ("The Goodnights are the greatest band in the world!" one eager e-mailer wrote.) They've yet to record anything, and there's no audio up for preview on the site. But the guys are known bring thick crowds to Andy's to watch Andrew Tinker croon lyrics like these to balladeering piano rock: "Too hot in Hoboken, too hot in New Jersey/I think about pier seventeen/ and I wasn't cryin' in front of Paul Simon/I loved him in spite of his shades, anyway."

-A.T., L.K

Look for Best of Denton Jazz and Denton Pioneer finalists tommorow in Beat. Voting begins today for all categories. How to vote:

Go to ntdaily.com. You can find the Rock poll on the main page, the Album poll on the Briefs page, the Jazz poll on the News page, and the Pioneer poll on the Beat page. Yeah, you have to click around- but it beats reading those away messages.

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