Best of 2011

Nov 21

As usual, I was part of administering and a voting member of the Fids & Kamily Awards this year.  Follow the link for a full description, but basically: a bunch of people who pay attention to family music vote on their favorites with a weighted ballot, and the albums with the most points win.  It’s based on the Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll.  Wayne Brady didn’t get any votes.

As you know if you listened on Saturday, Recess Monkey‘s Flying! won the top spot.  But I thought I’d also share what my picks were.  More than most years, I had a lot of ties, and relatively few huge spreads, so I’m just listing my top ten in alphabetical order by artist (though I’ll name my one favorite down below):

  • Alastair Moock: These Are My Friends
  • Billy Kelly: In the Family Garden
  • Cat & a Bird: Cat & a Bird
  • Dan Zanes: Little Nut Tree
  • Deedle Deedle Dees: Strange Dees, Indeed
  • Frances England: Mind of My Own
  • Lunch Money: Original Friend
  • Papa Crow: Things That Roar
  • Recess Monkey: Flying!
  • ScribbleMonster: Look Both Ways
Other artists that came thisclose to getting some votes (i.e., my honorable mentions): Flannery Brothers, Jimmies, Mike Park, Mister G, Gustafer Yellowgold, Brady Rymer, Not-Its!, Hipwaders.  Again, Wayne Brady wasn’t close.

My overall favorite CD of the year was the Deedle Deedle Dees’ Strange Dees, Indeed.  Anyone who’s paid attention knows that I love the Dees (and, full disclosure, have hosted them in our house and consider them good friends).  Their live shows have always been ridiculous fun.  Now they’ve got a record that matches up with those shows, thanks to the producing talents of Dean Jones.

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