Almost all the members of Pablo Picasso (who placed 95th in our Best of NYC Emerging Artists poll 2010) have their own visual art portfolio website. Why this came as a surprise to me, since they are named after a famous cubist painter, is perhaps more puzzling than one of Picasso’s works, but it says what needs to be said. Artists in a band – it’s almost its own genre. Musically, Pablo Picasso offers a relaxed if slightly morose atmosphere with smooth backing vocals contrasting heavily with the lead singer’s gritty, heartbroken howls, often reminiscent of post-Swordfishtrombone’s Tom Waits. – allison levin