ARKANSAS MUSIC It was a banner year for Arkansas music, as a number of these entries will hopefully demonstrate. But as far as a broad celebration of the culture, nothing matched the Oxford American’s Arkansas-focused Southern Music Issue and double CD. In the debut of its new state series, the Conway-based OA skipped past the heavyweights — names you know, like Johnny Cash, Al Green, Levon Helm and Louis Jordan — in favor of a standout collection of unjustly forgotten or ignored acts. Should-be stars like Bobby Brown & the Curios, Kenni Huskey and Little Beaver. Could-be stars like the American Princes, Jim Mize and Suga City. Plus, all sorts of oddballs and compelling footnotes. Lots of local folks contributed articles, too (including, in full disclosure, me). Make sure you read Times contributors Sam Eifling’s article on Little Beaver. It’s one of my favorite pieces of music journalism of the year.

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