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

​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)]