50. ST. VINCENT

If Texas’ mythic blues-andcowboy past sometimes feels smothering, Annie Clark — aka St. Vincent — is one of those making sure the future will still be adventurous and not just a handmaiden to history. The singer-songwriter and (amazing) guitarist was part of Dallas’ Polyphonic Spree but quickly left that behind to forge her own experimental pop path and unique visual sense with albums like last year’s critically adored “Masseduction.”

Most Texas musical moment: Her Texas Monthly quote, “Texas freaks are freakier than your average freak.”