Sarah Jarosz performing "My Muse" on YouTube.
Solar-powered KRUU-FM and The Iowa Source announce the First Annual Crispy Awards, honoring musicians whose new releases during 2011 exhibit extraordinary creativity while elevating the biochemistry of the listener’s brain. As part of the research for my weekly Fringe Toast radio show, I passionately seek music tracks that stimulate the experience of bliss. Here are my favorite 20 new releases for 2011 that will make you crispy around the edges.
Best Singer-songwriter Song:
Sarah Jarosz for “My Muse” and “The Tourist”
Gillian Welch for “The Way That It Goes”
Eliza Gilkyson for “Belle of the Ball”
The Civil Wars for “20 Years”
Sweet Talk Radio for “Fly Away”
Amos Lee for “Violin” and “Hello Again”
Best Alternative Song:
Roommate for “Soft Eyes”
Bodies of Water for “Lights Out Forever”
Gotye for “Somebody That I Used to Know”
Bess Rogers for “In the Waves”
The Decemberists for “Dear Avery”
Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks of Tedeshi Trucks Band.
Best Rock Song:
Tedeschi Trucks Band for “These Walls”
Robbie Roberston (with Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood) for “Fear of Falling”
Best Electronic Song:
Younger Brother for “Crystalline”
Noiseshaper for “Dunk”
Best Jazz Song:
Madeleine Peyroux for “Meet Me in Rio”
Best Blues Song:
Keb’ Mo’ for “The Whole Enchilada”
Best Pop Song:
Asa for “Maybe”
Christina Perri for “Tragedy”
Best Song for Soundtracks:
Pete Droge for “A Lot Like You” (film: A Lot Like You)
Nina Simone for “Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair (Jaffa Mix)” (film: Crazy Stupid Love)
Gram Rabbit for “Lost in Place” (film: Crazy Stupid Love)
The 2011 Crispy Award songs will be played on Fringe Toast Music on January 4, 2012, at 100.1 FM in Fairfield and available worldwide at www.kruufm.com at 8pm CT.
Hear Fringe Toast every Wednesday, 8-10 p.m., CST, on KRUU FM 100.1 in Fairfield, Iowa.