Asylum Records/Wikimedia Commons

Joni Mitchell: One of history's most underrated guitarists.

While traveling a few weeks ago, I could not stop listening to Mutiny on the Bay, the searing collection of '80s Dead Kennedys performances released in 2001; East Bay Ray, it occurred to me, is one of the most underrated guitarists in the history of rock.

To me, being underrated doesn't mean that a musician has missed out on accolades and commercial success. It means that, for whatever reason, millions of music lovers probably haven't been exposed to a certain musician's talents and thus haven't had the chance to enjoy him or her. So here -- up for potential enjoyment and probably heated discussion -- are ten guitarists I believe are history's most underrated.

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Flickr/samgolanski.com

Not actual Picked to Click voters.

The results of this year's Picked to Click -- our 24th annual poll of local music devotees -- are a true Minnesota fiesta. On Wednesday, the top 10 (well, 11) vote-getters were revealed here, and in the print edition of City Pages. But there is oh so much more to pore over between the doldrums of waking and sleeping at the Picked to Click website.

With 282 artists -- from Allan Kingdom all the way down to "LCD SOUND SYSTEM OF A DOWN SYNDROME" and "Paul Westerburg's suit" --  spread over 136 ballots, this is an uncensored space where absolutely nothing/everything is sacred.

See also:
The Best New Minnesota Musicians of 2014

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This is one of a couple fake 'staches Chris Koza wears in this video.

Local Frames is a weekly column spotlighting the best new music videos featuring musicians and directors with Minnesota ties.

Chris Koza's new video for "Electric Tide" is a highlight of this week's videos. We've also got new clips from Rabbit Holes, Catbath, Nallo, Skittish, Magic Castles, and a short promo clip for the just announced new edition of Drone Not Drones. We're also featuring live performance videos from Beasthead, Total Fucking Blood, and this year's Picked to Click winner, Allan Kingdom. Enjoy!

See Also: Top 10 Must-See Minnesota Music Videos This Week (Caroline Smith, Sun Gods To Gamma Rays, MaLLy, Kitten Forever, and more)

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Serene Supreme

BLVCK SPVCE

BLVCK SPVCE | Kitty Cat Klub | Saturday, November 15
The opening synthesizer notes on the BLVCK SPVCE track "HEVDBVNDS," deep and ominous, are reminiscent of the more barren yet threatening style of an East Coast rap soundscape. Once the verses hit, their flow is confident and cascades easily over the heavily trap-influenced beats, which serve to blur the lines between hip-hop and psychedelia. The group is determined to "change shit up in Minneapolis," says member 1990, and from what they've posted on the BLVCK SPVCE Soundcloud so far, this goal may not be as lofty as it sounds.

BLVCK SPVCE is composed of RP HOOKS, CONNYE, 1990, goodkarmaniles, and Dj Snuggles -- all successful local solo artists in their own right. The group members are currently working fervently on completing their debut full-length, and this Saturday they will perform with Chicago MC Alex Wiley at the Kitty Cat Klub (after Friday evening's show in St. Cloud). Gimme Noise met with BLVCK SPVCE to talk about Minneapolis hip-hop and the concepts behind their self-described brand of "cloud rap."

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Photo by Reed Fischer

Allan Kingdom's cover shoot with photographer Colin Michael Simmons and City Pages art director Emily Utne

The now-ubiquitous cover shot of our Picked to Click 2014 winner Allan Kingdom is the work of now-local photographer Colin Michael Simmons. The well-traveled shooter spent time working in New York, both capturing the flair and fashion of the streets, and putting in some long days working on the imagery of Saturday Night Live.

As he sets up shots, he's talking steadily and creating an atmosphere of collaborative thought. It's deceptively casual, but the finished results show he's taking in every detail. Gimme Noise spoke to him a bit about working on our cover, and the process he brings to his creations.

See also:
The Best New Minnesota Musicians of 2014

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Photo by Andrew Ranallo

Nallo | Hexagon Bar | Friday, November 4
Minneapolis psychedelic garage rock band Nallo have just released their latest album, Breather. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Hollow Boys frontman Ali Jafaar at his Ecstattic Studio, the record expands the band's sonic capabilities. It feels just as great as it sounds.

In the style of an anonymous Dateline interview -- no one knows why they did it -- the band answered some of our pressing questions before their album release show at the Hexagon on Friday night.
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Photo by Colin Michael Simmons

Allan Kingdom is our 2014 winner!

For the third year running, a Twin Cities rap act tops the poll of critics, promoters, fans, and general scene know-it-alls we call Picked to Click.

This field features budding stars from both sides of the Mississippi, an age range of nearly half a century, genres that haven't even been invented yet, and a few gratuitous crotch shots. In all, our voters depict a current local music climate that's fertile with change and possibility.

To quote our winner, "There's a lot of people with their necks kinda breaking right now."

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Polkadot Mayhem

Eye of the Tigre

Minneapolis artist Bae Tigre paired up with rapper Botzy and Wesley Opus to create an album that showcases her lovely voice with a creative backdrop of synths and beats. Memoir of a Happy Drifting Chemical is an ambient pleasure that ebbs and flows as it should.

The self-described introvert and board-certified music therapist answered Gimme Noise's questions on how someone who is so guarded performs in public.

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Crushkill Recordings

DJ Abilities and Eyedea

Twin Cities music legend Michael "Eyedea" Larson's gifts as a performer will be missed. Fortunately, several of his concerts were recorded, and some of the footage makes up the recently released Then and Now DVD.

Compiled by Eyedea's mother, Kathy Averill, and released on Eyedea's label, Crushkill Recordings, Then and Now boasts two discs. Then features four complete Eyedea performances, each from a different stage of his career, and Now contains performances from each Eyedea birthday memorial taking place in the years following his death.

Gimme Noise spoke to Averill about putting the DVDs together, and she revealed some previously never-before-heard Eyedea tidbits.

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Photo by Erik Hess

BNLX's Ed Ackerson going for it.

Between a heavy workload manning the boards at Flowers Studio, Ed Ackerson steers the punk and alt-rock group BNLX. The band has just put up its ninth EP, Flextime, and is geared for a live collaboration with Transmission DJ Jake Rudh later this month.

Streaming below, Flextime features a 20-minute drone song, a PJ Harvey cover, and two BNLX originals. Gimme Noise caught up with Ackerson to check on the status of BNLX Fest III, and learn about his run-in with Harvey many years ago. Stay tuned for a cute dog pic too.

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