Best Record Store for that Afropop comp: Melody. Every time I think nobody in town is going to have some obscure reissue I’m craving, Melody seems to have it on its shelves. The store just keeps getting better.

Best local blog: This one. It’s out of Towson, Md. Does that count as local?

Best Music Story (long form) by CP: This one.

Best Alan Lomax impersonator: Jack Carneal. You can read a review of his finds here.