Best of Boston

A joint venture with Rykodisc, indie label Slow River was started in 1995 out of head honcho George Howard’s Providence apartment. Now headquartered in Salem, Slow River releases some of the most impressive sounds around, from the bluesy growl of Chuck E. Weiss (the album was produced by Weiss’ buddy Tom Waits) to the emotional ballads of the Willard Grant Conspiracy, which is popular in Europe. (Really.) Keep your ears open for up-and-comers such as Josh Rouse and Richard Buckner—they’re sure to be making the radio rotations soon.