Indie, indie... what an exquisite word! These days so many bands call themselves "indie rock" even if they sound nothing like indie rock (before we ranked this category we had to filter out all the songwriters and straight rock bands who tried to re-brand themselves as "indie" - WE CAUGHT YOU!). Of course, the word originates from "independent" - not "Indian" like your clueless friends often assume - but it's been used since the 80's to describe "non-mainstream" rock music (and record labels). Think tense and/or dark and/or experimental-ish mostly guitar based rock. Needless to say, in the late aughts Indie became huge, and many NYC bands (paradoxically signed to majors) like Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Interpol had a crucial role in bringing this genre to the masses.

Total submissions in this category: 45

Artists Qualified to the Poll's Next Stage (starting around 01.10):

1. Conveyor - 7.83 (out of 10)
2. ARMS - 7.66 
2. Modern Rivals - 7.66 

Honorable Mentions (above 7 out of 10):

Stone Cold Fox, These Animals, Wild International, Ballroom Jacks, No Shoes, Dear Comrade, ILLUMNTR, Their Planes Will Block Out The Sun

Jurors: Gracie Gutman (Deli SF), Jason Behrends (Deli Chicago), Lucy Sherman (Deli Seattle)

The Deli's Staff

Have you looked behind yourself recently? You never know... someone could be watching you. Sorry to worry you, but if the new LP from Jersey group Their Planes Will Block Out the Sun is any indication, we may have a lot to bre concerned about. From the voices in my head found at the end of new single 'The Hunter' (streaming below) to mysterious 'Tumors' found in one of my fave groove-based math rock tracks from the album 'Brasil,' listening to these guys music reveals a band in a very thoughtful and rather bleak mood. Compared with previous records, the band's latest delivers a focused bang on the head, caught between Interpol-like paranoia, and jazz-inflected grooves The Dismemberment Plan would have been proud. You can see the band live on 12.05 (tomorrow) at Pianos with other NYC acts Chamber Band, Julien Funk and We Run; in the meantime... check out their record on their Bandcamp - and make sure no one's following you until then. - Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Sometimes clouds provide a sense of calm and ease, other times they portend impending thunderstorms.

With The new E.P. by Their Planes Will Block Out The Sun, it's hard to tell which direction the weather is going. While the band's name sounds ominous enough, the music frequently brings you to the edge of the storm before backing off instead, and providing some relief in its whirling guitars and washed out vocals.

Like Radiohead, the band is at their finest with equal parts paranoia and bliss. Opener 'their planes' lies at the brink of splitting in two before coming back to earth near the end of its epic turns.  'Brasil' keeps the ground shifting under you before a maddening march of pounding drums explodes all over the track's calamitous end, while closing track "Cut and Run" (streaming below) slowly builds and develops on an intricate web of guitars, vocals and gently drum hits.

The E.P. is full of these surprises, and rewards with a constant upwards lift toward the heavens. No need to be nervous after all. Sometimes it sounds good to be a little paranoid. - Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)