108 BEST OF DALLAS® 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS & RECREATION | FOOD & DRINK | SHOPPING & SERVICES | READERS’ CHOICE | CONTENTS praise he’s gotten in the last year. In addition to completing his 365-day freestyle verse challenge and releasing a new EP, he also helped launch Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett’s 2026 Senate campaign. McCloud took his voice nationwide as he and the rest of Cure for Paranoia won the NPR Tiny Desk contest and secured a slot on the Austin City Limits lineup. Thanks to his hustle, it feels like McCloud has finally been deservedly recognized as a trailblazer for this era of the Dallas music scene. BEST NEW COUNTRY ARTIST Thomas Csorba thomascsorba.com Thomas Csorba makes country music for people who still believe quiet can hit harder than noise. The Dallas-rooted sing- er-songwriter’s 2026 album “Tender Coun- try” feels lived-in, not dressed up, full of family, home and the kinds of details that outlast trends. He’s not chasing hollow Nashville bombast or algorithm bait; he’s building something steadier, warmer and more durable. In a city that rewards rein- vention, Csorba stands out by sounding deeply sure of himself. That confidence, paired with graceful songwriting and old- soul restraint, makes him feel less like a newcomer and more like the next artist Dallas should claim proudly. BEST DEBUT ALBUM “Everywhere Isn’t Texas” by August Ponthier augustponthier.com For years, we’ve had August Ponthier’s EPs on repeat (add “Breaking The Fourth Wall” to your queue right now), so you can imag- ine our jubilance when they dropped their debut record, “Everywhere Isn’t Texas” in February. Across 10 tracks, the Allen native warmly fuses country and pop music in a way that feels expressly North Texan. “I’m Crying, Are You?” is an aching yet breezy earworm, while another standout, “Blood- line” rests as a soft meditation on genera- tional trauma. It’s the gorgeous heartbreak on the title track, though, that gleams among the best in Ponthier’s entire catalog to date. “My biggest and most complicated relationship is with myself and with the place that I grew up, so the album is a lot about holding two things at once: loving something, but also criticizing it…” they told us when we caught up with them earlier this year. We, however, are only holding the love for this record. BEST EP “Work of A.R.T.” by Cure for Paranoia Cure for Paranoia’s “Work of A.R.T” — re- leased at the tail-end of 2025 — will always be remembered for propelling the trajectory of Dallas hip-hop to new heights. When the frantic, punchy third track titled “No Brainer” led Cure for Paranoia to winning NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest this year, it felt like a victory lap not only for the band, but for the city at large. Still, an EP now cemented in Dallas music lore deserves flowers for all of its occasions: a lyrically audacious an- them in “The Artshow,” the crisp, Tye Har- ris-assisted “Origin Story” and the fierce ‘90s backbeat pump of the closing track, “& Pose.” This EP flaunts frontman Cameron McCloud at his most assured, and it arrived at impeccable timing with the universe, just as the well-deserved national spotlight fi- nally caught up to him. BEST SURPRISE ALBUM “Clovis” by Charley Crockett Charley Crockett caused quite a stir with the surprise release of his 17th album, “Clo- vis,” less than a month after the release of his 16th album, “Age of the Ram.” It was pulled from circulation shortly thereafter due to a legal dispute before finally dropping July 3. Certifiably free from any Satanic in- fluence, “Clovis” more than justifies its cha- otic release, showcasing Crockett at his best with strong storytelling, playful melodies, and his smooth, hypnotic vocals on full dis- play. In addition to the titular instrumental track, Crockett’s funky cover of Johnny Cash’s “Don’t Take Your Guns to Town,” is a highlight. BEST MUSIC VIDEO FILMED IN NORTH TEXAS “Choosin’ Texas” by Ella Langley Your boyfriend loves her, and admit it, you love her too. To say that Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” was the song of the sum- mer would be an understatement. The Photo by Alex Csorba Thomas Csorba F or the fifth time, Dallas photogra- pher Kathy Tran led the photogra- phy effort for our Best of Dallas issue. She’s been behind the lens for many other Observer covers and used the connections and relationships she has created across the city to dial in this year’s look. In fact, Tran says nearly every portrait you see in this year’s Best of Dallas issue began with an existing connection. Tran first met Cure for Paranoia in college and went on to film their last three Tiny Desk submissions, including their 2026 NPR Tiny Desk Contest-winning entry. She first photo- graphed Raven Ross years ago, before the pandemic, then met Alexa Lemieux later while photographing one of Raven’s Pilates pop-ups. She formed her connection with Colleen Reed during a recent commercial shoot; befriended Nancy Rodriguez after a chance meeting at a Dallas pop-up; and Mu- lan Alexander was already a close friend when it was time to take some shots. The shooting locations came together the same way: through leveraging years of as- signments, events, clients, friends and cre- ative collaborations. Even the issue’s colorful design focuses on connection, with glowing lines in each portrait featuring this year’s models. Theses striking images and the story they collectively tell is but a small glimpse into Tran’s Dallas reality. M E E T T H E P H O T O G R A P H E R : K AT H Y T R A N Photo by Kathy Tran