Our listeners are often inspired to support the artists they hear on 88.1 KDHX by going to their shows and by purchasing their albums. Here's some evidence, based on data from 2011 from two record stores in St. Louis.

The year 2011 was a great one for music. My #1 was an album that I heard at the beginning of the year, but it was able to stay in my top spot, a rare occurrence for me.

KDHX hosted over 200 in-studio sessions this year, and our volunteer photographers kept up with all the action.

The year 2011 doesn't end with one giant stand-out album, but a pool of admirable work. A list of 20 favorites would have been so much easier. This list was dictated by my mood during one week in December. Ask me in a month, and it could be different.

Here's my list of top 10 favorite albums and favorite songs of 2011. Enjoy and happy new year!

Listed below are 15 of my favorite compilations and/or reissues from 2011. So much to choose from. I believe any of the following will provide hours of rewarding listening.

The year 2011 was an active one as many major tours made stops in St. Louis. There were plenty of big-name gigs going on from the enormity of the U2 360 tour's stop at Busch Stadium, the second annual LouFest at Forest Park and the visit from Arcade Fire at the Scottrade Center.

Here's my roundup of favorite country sounds of 2011. Enjoy!

Here are my picks for 10 best national, local and reissued releases of 2011. Enjoy.

Derided in countless jokes, often by the very people that play it, the banjo just might be poised to show us why it really is the greatest instrument ever. Or, at the very least, to make a good case as to why it isn't the worst.