After we assembled Phoenix and WFNX staffers to establish our “Breakthrough Act” nominees, we collectively assumed that Lady Gaga would trounce the field. And we would’ve been fine with that: she’s good at what she does — catchy over-the-top dance pop — and there’s a big audience for it (us, for starters). But we were delighted to see indie-folkie Bon Iver — a/k/a Justin Vernon — pull off this upset. You responded to the tender, wintry ballads delivered by Vernon in an aching, earnest falsetto on For Emma, Forever Ago (Jagjaguwar). And the well-worn story of For Emma’s creation (he secluded himself in a cabin in the Wisconsin wilderness) and his rugged good looks probably didn’t hurt either. One more note: we’d love to acknowledge write-in runners-up “Brew,” but we have no idea what those voters are talking about. It could be the “Masschusetts-based quartet” the Brew, as identified by a MySpace page. Or beer.
Runners-up
1_Lady Gaga
2_Fleet Foxes
3_Brew
