Top 5 Chicago Albums Aram Shelton’s Arrive, “There Was…” (Clean Feed) CAVE, “Neverendless” (Drag City) Disappears, “LUX” (Kranky) Bongripper, “Sex Tape” b/w “Snuff Film” (Great Barrier Records) The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, “Kryptonite” (My Publishing Group) —Dave Cantor
Top 5 Recordings Bill Orcutt, “How the Thing Sings” (Editions Mego) Puffy Areolas, “Gentleman’s Grip” (HoZac) Ras G “Down 2 Earth” (Ramp Recordings) Shlohmo, “Bad Vibes” (Friends of Friends) Void, “Sessions 1981-83” (Dischord) —Dave Cantor
Top 5 Holiday Albums Carole King, “A Christmas Carole” “A Christmas Story: The Musical” Original Cast Album Paul Hillier, Theatre of Voices, Ars Nova Copenhagen, “A Christmas Story” Marcus Roberts Trio, “Celebrating Christmas” Chicago XXXIII, “O Christmas Tree” —Dennis Polkow
Top 5 Classical Concerts Riccardo Muti & Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Mahler Farewell Concert Pacifica Quartet, Shostakovich Complete String Quartets Lucy Crowe, Harry Bicket/Baroque Band, All-Handel program Jaap van Zweden & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Mahler First Symphony John Nelson & the Chicago Bach Project, St. Matthew Passion —Dennis Polkow
Top 5 Chicago Band Reunions Braid HUM Slapstick Material Issue Smashing Pumpkins —John Wawrzaszek
Top 5 Street Festivals with Bangin’ Lineups Hideout Block Party Green Music Fest Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival West Fest Taste of Chicago —John Wawrzaszek
Top 5 Karaoke Spots Lincoln Karaoke Punk Rock Karaoke Rory Lake’s Karaoke Dreams Thursday night Karaoke at Diversey Rock and Bowl Hidden Cove Karaoke —John Wawrzaszek
