And then there were 10.

We received nearly 500 entries for our inaugural Song Search contest. Our in-house team exhaustively listened to all submissions, sending a first cut on to our illustrious and influential panel of blogger judges. The sharp music minds behind Brooklyn Vegan, Blissblog, ultragrrrl, Largehearted Boy, Music for Robots and Tofu Hut have now decided on the 10 finalists. Our first two songs go head-to-head today. But from this point on, all the real decisions are left to you, our at-home voters.

To review, Song Search is looking for the best song you've never heard. Here's how it works: For the next five weeks, we'll be posting two new songs each Monday. Readers will have a week to vote for their favorite, and the winner will automatically move on to the second round to compete for the top prize of $5,000 (or two $1,000 second-place prizes). The second round, in early December, will be a weeklong runoff between the winners of the first five weeks. May the best song win!

Voting on these first two songs is open until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday -- but don't forget to check back on Friday, when celebrity judge Rob Thomas weighs in with his expert opinion. Forget that stuff in the news, this is the vote that matters.

Week One: Colorforms vs. the Caterpillars

(Click song titles to listen or download)

"Green and White Stripes," Colorforms

Colorforms is a Los Angeles-area band featuring the ethereal voice of Alex Lilly. Tofu Hut says the song is as "ripe and promising as a first date's end-of-night kiss. In a crowded field of sometimes-electronic chanteuse/auteurs (see also Bjork, Feist, Cibelle, Colleen, Psapp, etc), Lilly's subversive songwriting, patient composition and impressive production announce an artist to be reckoned with." Simon Reynolds from Blissblog chimes in, "I thought this was the best song as song, with the most interesting melody, and she has a really lovely voice."

"Motorbike," the Caterpillars

The Caterpillars, hailing from somewhere in the woods outside of New York City, are a duo made up of Melanie Rock and Greg Talenfeld, who produced albums by the John Spencer Blues Explosion, Pavement and the French Kicks. Reynolds said, "I liked the sweetly wistful quality of the song and the vocal... a twilight, fading-of-the-day feel that really sets in towards the end of the track. It reminded me a tiny bit of the Young Marble Giants -- self-contained, delicate, subtle, a gentle sadness."

Use the ballot below:

And while your vote is key, we also want to hear your voice. Use the comments link below and let us know what you think of the songs -- good, bad, indifferent, inspiring?