Since most of us reading a website are living in modernity, this is the most general category. Music that's certain surf, but influenced, even if not overtly by modern music. As a result, it tends to be the biggest category, and with 8 honorable mentions and one winner this year, that seems to be the case.

SurfGuitar101 is back and, to embrace cliche, bigger than ever. This year organizer Jeff "BigTikiDude" Hanson partnered with a few other organizers, dropped the moniker of Convention, and moved to the 3-day weekender model, held at the Golden Sails hotel, where I failed to get a room before it filled up.

Just as the tradition of surf rock continues today, so does the very similar tradition of Rautalanka continue in Finland. What especially impresses me is that despite how thin and glassy a lot of the 60's rautalanka can be, modern groups seem to all be very slick and prettty. Based on the samples I've heard, you can say the same here. There's a few preview tracks when you hit Read More.