A by-product of having a really good local music scene is that you also get a lot of really good local-music coverage, which makes this category particularly challenging. The thing that stands out about KEXP’s blog, however, is its approach, which manages to be cool but not alienating. Like the station itself, it doesn’t have a superior air—it manages to embrace a wide swath of music in addition to local happenings and live-show reviews, which are usually accompanied by great photography. It also has an aesthetically pleasing design and is easy to navigate, which too many sites either neglect or overengineer. And because it’s operated by KEXP, it has the kind of exclusive content most other music sites drool over, like in-station performances and interviews with A-list bands. KEXP: as much fun to read as it is to listen to! DAVE LAKE blog.kexp.org