Picked to Click 1991-2011: Looking back at 20 years of best-new-band honorees

By Andrea Swensson Wed., Oct. 19 2011 at 2:35 PM

Though this year is actually the 21st time City Pages has polled Twin Cities music experts to ask them about their favorite new bands, it also marks the 20th anniversary of the very first poll, which was published on May 8, 1991, and compiled by then-music editor Jim Walsh.

With so many polls now under our belt, we thought it would be a fine time to revisit the winners of past polls and dig through the archives to see how the presentation of Picked to Click has evolved over the past two decades. As you'll see below, the Picked to Click poll wasn't always prominently featured on the cover, and in those instances we've also included images of the inside of the issue (special thanks to Gimme Noise intern Laura Holt for her hard work compiling these images from our archives), as well as links to all the issues that exist online.

Let's start from the beginning...

Picked to Click I: May 8, 1991

Walt Mink (31)
The Loose Rails (24)
God's Favorite Band (19)
The Willie Wisely Trio (16), the Mighty Mofos (tie)
Draghounds (14)
Monster Zero (13), Rifle Sport (13)
Snapperhead (12)
T.V.B.C. (11)
Arcwelder (10), Cows (tie)
Mother's Day (9)
Jonestown, Pseudonymphs, the Mings, Dylan Hicks & Three Pesos, Dutch Oven, Superball '63, Vertigo (8)

Picked to Click II: May 6, 1992

Hammerhead (38)
The Carpetbaggers (37)
Muskellunge (34)
Gneissmaker (18)
Mickey Finn (17)
Salbando, Cows (13)
The Pidgeonholes, Superball '63, the Loose Rails, Jonestown (12)
Walt Mink, Skeleton Ed (11)
Mint Condition, the Sycamores (10)

Picked to Click III: July 14, 1993

Guzzard (27)
Rex Daisy (24)
The Spectors (21)
Balloon Guy, John's Black Dirt (16)
Saucer (15)
Hovercraft (13)
Dogfight (12)
Tim O'Reagan and Jim/Dave Boquist, Somethin' Smooth, Ten Cent Fun, Andromeda Strain (9)

Picked to Click IV: July 6, 1994

Lily Liver (41.5)
Low (26)
Smattering (19.5)
John Casey and the Old Pussums, Lefty Lucy (19)
Pleasure, Small Engine City (17)
Balloon Guy (16)
Bean Girl (14)
Hot Date (12.5)
Karen Therese and Jai Cafe (12)
Fauna (11.5)
Delilahs, Grows Like Topsy, the Sea, Venison, Vibro Champs (10)

Picked to Click V: July 12, 1995

Tribe of Millions (36)
Polara (31.5)
Phull Surkle and Casino Royale (22)
February (19)
Honeydogs, National Dynamite (16.5)
Strawdogs (14)
Rhea Valentine, Push on Junior (13)
John Ewing (12)
Vena Cava (11)
T.H.R.U.S.H. (10)
Dust Bunnies, Run Westy Run, Speedway, Interstate Judy (9)
Flipp (8.5)
Freddie Fresh [a.k.a. Freddy Fresh], G.I.V.E., Beangirl [a.k.a. Bean Girl], The Blue Up? (8)
Better off Airport (7.5)
[Other low-ranking 1995 notables: Deformo (7) and Abstract Pack (7)]

Tags:

City Pages, Picked to Click

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Brianwisconsin

Christ. Look at '92. Minneapolis use to ROCK. What the hell happened?

Mpls Music .com

I understand the frustration out there about these polls, but such negativity in these comments isn't exactly necessary - If you take a factual and logical look at this poll, especially this year, like we have, you should at least appreciate the openness that CP has by publishing the full ballots and full bands list.

Our reaction to Picked winners - taking a closer look at how this poll is devised

>> http://mplsmusic.com/news/pick...

Angie

It's not only frustrating as an "outsider" who is no way involved in the music industry other than being a listener but I have personally seen these people out and about at other shows mocking other bands and just being assholes. It's not cool. It's not ok. Get off of your ego and have some f'ing respect.

Mpls Music .com

While some of the comments here have some truth to them, the negativity is not really necessary, the poll isn't as devious some might think. -- quite the opposite, CP has openly revealed every ballot and every band that made the list, so if you're keen to look at the correlations then go for it. If you want to be a part of the poll you can ask Andrea to put you on the list so you can have your say. -- I'll admit it is curious that these bands are usually re-hashed from other local bands, and that may be a big reason why they're voted in, but there's not any huge conspiracy going on here.

Take a look at our reaction to this years Picked winners - we take a closer look at how the poll is devised --

>> http://mplsmusic.com/news/pick...

Angie

Lucy Michelle is a terrible singer and songwriter (comparable to Andrea's "journalism") but she is in the Circle of Jerks. Christy Hunt thinks she is God's gift to music because the Von Bondies had one "hit". Nothing but a band hopping snob. Get over yourselves.

Angie

Exactly what the Dude says.

dude

it's all about the cliques in this list.. not clicks. understand that. make friends with these people (CP, first ave, djs on the current, EF.. it's a scary venn diagram) and you will place on this list. cause you are their friends of their friends of their friends

Hottentot

Wow, I am struck by how wrong City Pages tends to be. Seems like Jayhawks, Low and Mint Condition were the only bands on this list that went on to gain any kind of national reputation. Perhaps this should make the city pages look a little harder at their music editorial policies and hire some better music critics!

Bored Eric

I might be wrong, but I believe these are voted on by the readers. If this is the case, I would have to argue that city pages needs to find better readers!

Kors

Astronaut Wife put out a really good album but faded fast. The Current never plays their music except for the weekend where they play only local music when they played them a lot.

Also Lifter Puller was in there somewhere in the 90s, but clearly if you're a band you don't want to win this thing.

guest

You guys are rockin' a pretty shitty percentage!

Guest 2

Ha! I was thinking the same thing...And how about not ever seeing Lifter Puller, Legendary Jim Ruiz Group, or Dillinger Four in the lists? The minute my band ever makes this list I'm going to assume we're going nowhere.