http://cptv.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ypmwebcontent/Commodore%20Skahill/Colin%20McEnroe%20Show%2012-19-2011.mp3
We're bringing our music experts in today to give you their picks, especially those of you who have to buy stuff for other people during the holiday giving season. I decided to get out of their way and not bring in any picks of my own, but I'll use this little unencumbered moment to mention a few things.
First, Meklit Hadero performed here in studio this summer, and her CD "On a Day Like This," blending soul, jazz, folk and Ethiopian music has given me a lot of pleasure this year. You almost couldn't go wrong giving it to someone.
Another in-studio performer was Mike Doughty, whose "Yes And Also Yes" came out this year and blends pop, sharp-edged, funny lyrics and the art rock of his old Soul Coughing group.
On our "Song of the Summer" episode I brought up "Foster the People," whose "Pumped up Kicks" might have been the song of the summer had it crested earlier. Their CD "Torch" hangs together pretty well as out-of-the-ordinary alt-pop.
Lastly, there's the soundtrack to "Book of Mormon." You COULD go wrong giving this to somebody. Really wrong. Profane is almost not an adequate word to describe it. But it's brilliant. And it'll be ages before you can get tickets to the show.
What were your favorite songs from 2011? Leave your comments below, e-mail colin@wnpr.org or Tweet us @wnprcolin.
A listing of the music on today's show:
Joan Holliday:
Rubblebucket - “Came Out of a Lady”
Fitz and the Tantrums - “Moneygrabber”
Iron and Wine - "Tree By The River”
Decemberists - "June Hymn”
Eric Danton:
The Antlers - "I Don't Want Love"
Tom Waits - "Satisfied"
Wild Flag - "Boom"
Lydia Loveless - "Learn to Say No"
Wally Lamb:
Blackie & the Rodeo Kings (featuring Serena Ryder) - "Black Sheep"
Wilco - "Capitol City"
Steve Cropper, Dylan Leblanc and Sharon Jones - "Come On and Save Me"
Paul Simon - "Rewrite"