Music Matchmaker

Say what you will about our humble Hub, but Boston is pretty consistently on the cutting edge of music. Still, unless you’re a fixture on the live scene, it can be hard to discover interesting new artists. Boston is no stranger to the stranglehold of corporate radio stations, and it’s tough to find great new tunes when you’re constantly subjected to overplayed Top 40. (Alas, we remain immune to Bieber Fever.) So we’ve brought you a roundup of some of the boldest, brightest local acts to emerge in recent years — and in case you’re nervous about diving headfirst into uncharted waters, we’ve correlated them to more-familiar radio stars with similar sounds. Whether you’re a shoegazing softie for guitar feedback or an aspiring member of RZA’s entourage, there’s something for everyone. So read on, wait till your downstairs neighbors have departed for dinner, and crank that sound system to 11.