It was surprising to see the Indigo Girls unseated in this category last year by the relatively un-folky Sarah McLachlan. But with a new live album under their belt, Emily Saliers and Amy Ray return to Boston fans' good graces and once again share the crown. There's always something powerful about an Indigo Girls performance: whether they're on stage with a five-piece backing band or simply their voices and two guitars, Saliers and Ray can enrapture an audience. Their genuine nature and humorous storytelling only add to the effect.

Few artists these days can release a double live album and expect anyone but their most passionate fans to respond. But with last year's 1200 Curfews (on Epic, named for the number of shows they've played over their decade-long career), the Indigo Girls offered up reason after reason why they win polls such as this one: each song is fresh, and we retain its poetry and musicality long after we first hear it.

-- Andrew Strickman