Which artist has had the biggest impact on you? Ryan: Mike Patton. Enoc: Gustavo Cerati. Erik: Billy Corgan.

Which album has had the biggest impact on you? Ryan: "To Venus and Back" — Tori Amos. Enoc: "100th window" — Massive Attack. Erik: "Siamese Dream" — The Smashing Pumpkins.

File-sharing: Godsend or the death of music? Ryan: Gotta get your name out their somehow. Sharing music generally compels fans to come back for more. Enoc: Music is about sharing, right? just don't give the whole album away. Erik: Necessary evil.

Who's on your iPod right now? Ryan: I don't have an ipod. Can't support a product that demands $100 to change the battery out when it fails. But the bands I'm loving right now are The Inner Banks, Lansing-Dreiden, The Daysleepers, Magnet & Hammock. Enoc: Lucybell, Gustavo Cerati, Easy All-Stars. Erik: Innaway, Modest Mouse, Silversun Pickups.

Parting shot: Ryan: Shots usually give me headaches in the morning so I avoid them unless they are really tasty and fun. Like really, really fun. For serious. Enoc: Tequila.

THE SKIVIES
NOMINATED IN ART ROCK/AVANTE-GARDE
3 P.M., TWO AM

Website: www.myspace.com/theskivies

Personnel: DJ Von Feldt (gadgets, vocals); Zahari (guitar); Steven (bass); Xian (drums).

Native or transplant? Zahari is a transplant from Bulgaria, Steven is a transplant from New Jersey, Xian is a transplant from Chicago, and DJ is a native.

Releases/discography: Between Appliance and Apparel (2007); Writhing With Magnets EP (2005).

What three adjectives best describe your music? Ambipolar, cromulent, flatigious.

Favorite place to play a show: Old Curtis St. Bar, the Cricket, the D-Note.

Favorite place to hang out/drink: Gabor's and Dazzle.

Best artist/band to come out of Denver (that's not yours/you): Outerdrive (w/ Scott Hill, Jason Vernier, etc.), not to be confused with the Chicago-based show band of the same name.

Best song to come out of Denver (that you didn't write): "Absence" - New Ancient Astronauts.

If you were a street in Denver, which street would it be and why? Park Avenue, heading north from Colfax all the way until it becomes 38th. In a relatively short drive, myriad distinct aspects of the city are woven together in a seamless, evolving, non-jarring but occasionally unsettling conceptual chain, which serves as a lovely (if not a tad self-congratulatory) metaphor for our music.

If you had to choose one act to represent Denver, who would it be and why? Gosh, we don't know. Just do a Yahoo search on "best band in Denver" and go with whatever pops out.

Which artist has had the biggest impact on you? Sleepytime Gorilla Museum.

Which album has had the biggest impact on you? Post - Björk.

File-sharing: Godsend or the death of music? Neither. If computers weren't networked, people would burn MP3s to CD-ROM and trade them with their friends. If there were no computers, people would trade tapes — just like they've been doing for the last thirty years. Technology doesn't change what humans do, it just helps them do it faster.

Who's on your iPod right now? "Shield for Your Eyes" - Melt-Banana.

Parting shot: Nothing says "I love you" like a funnel cake.

SLIM CESSNA'S AUTO CLUB
NOMINATED IN ROOTS/AMERICANA

Website: www.slimcessnasautoclub.com

Personnel: Slim Cessna (vocals, guitar); Munly Munly (vocals, guitar, banjo); Lord Dwight Pentacost (dobro, banjo, guitar); John Rumley (banjo, pedal steel, keyboard); Shane Trost (upright bass, electric bass, trumpet); Ordy Garrison (drums).

Native or transplant? Native.

Releases/Discography: Jesus Let Me Down (live at the Gothic, 2005); Bloody Tenent Truth Peace (2004); Always Say Please & Thank You (2000); American Country Music Saved Her Life (live at the Bluebird 1998); Slim Cessna's Auto Club (1996).

What three adjectives best describe your music? American, Colorado, Denver.

Favorite place to play a show: Denver.

Favorite place to hang out/drink: Denver.

Best artist/band to come out of Denver (that's not yours/you): Munly & the Lee Lewis Harlots.

Best song to come out of Denver (that you didn't write): Broncos Fight Song.

If you were a street in Denver, which street would it be and why? Bruce Randolph — Mile High Stadium.

If you had to choose one act to represent Denver, who would it be and why? Magic Cyclops; his entertainment is something the world is not quite ready for yet, obviously.

Which artist has had the biggest impact on you? Glenn Miller.

Which album has had the biggest impact on you? SuperHits of the 70's - K-Tel.

File-sharing: Godsend or the death of music? Its good to share.