It’s so easy to fall in love with Pete Kilpatrick. And really, it’s just too hard not to. Portland’s John Mayer and his supergroup are just the right mix of young and sweet to melt hearts with their sassy lost-without-love songs. The sound is so innocently boy-next-door sexy, it’s provocative; so sadly sappy, it’s courageous; and so passionately genuine, it’s heartbreaking. It’s also very well done.

Kilpatrick’s voice is always somehow soothing, even when it goes higher than it ought to. But, the faux-voice is so cutely Peter Brady it seems okay. He makes everything sound so dreamy and song-worthy with simple, sensitive lyrics while the band keeps tight around him, creating smooth, pretty pop music that’s quintessentially singalongable. Even the lyrics "My car is a shitbox/ It lives in the garden" make you want to sing along on the group’s recent sophomore release, Yesterday Love. The 11-track effort released in March puts the band in the limelight and under the title of Portland’s Best Jam Act.

They made fun of that distinction just a bit when they came up to accept it — saying they forgot their hacky sack — but they were clearly happy to be back up on stage after taking Best New Act in 2003. Next year look for them to compete for Best Act and Best Album nominations.

Runners up: Percy Hill, Sidecar Radio