The results are in and once again Asheville bands fared well in the annual list of Top Recordings of 2007 as decided by listeners of regional public radio station WNCW (88.7).   WNCW serves a wide listening audience stretching from Boone to Charlotte to Greenville to Asheville and into eastern Tennessee.   Even though Asheville's population pales in comparison to Charlotte and Greenville, Asheville bands are consistently at the top of the lists of regional favorites.  This year, 12 of the top 20 regional releases were from Asheville bands.   Yet again a testimony to the strength of the music community in and around Asheville NC when compared against cities of much larger size and population.

Here is the list of this years favorites CD releases with the local Asheville bands emphasized:

1 Avett Brothers- Emotionalism

2 Everybodyfields- Nothing is Okay

3 David Childers and the Modern Don Juans- Burnin in Hell

4 Yo Momma's Big Fat Booty Band- Now You Know

5 Michael Reno Harrell- The River

6 Malcolm Holcombe- Wager

7 Menage- Tell Me

8 Afromotive- Scare Tactics

9 Gigi Dover and the Big Love- Nouveau

10 Firecracker Jazz Band- Explodes

11 Stephanie's Id- Grus Americanus

12 Tater- Where the Metal Hits the Grass¿Live

13 New Familiars- The Storm

14 Eliza Lynn- The Weary Wake-Up

15 Shannon Whitworth- No Expectations

16 Laura Reed and Deep Pocket- Soul:Music

17 Dave Desmelik- Unheard Of

18 Amy Steinberg- Fall Down to Fly

19 Various- Mooged Out Asheville

20 Pierce Edens and the Dirty Work- Party Dress

In addition to the contest for top Reigonal Releases of 2007, WNCW also compiles a list of listeners top 100 selections of all new 2007 releases included in the on-air mix.   Local Bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers ranked number 7 on this list putting it ahead of releases by Lucinda Williams, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin and other nationally known performers.   The Afromotive placed 24 on the top 100 list, a very respectable showing putting it ahead of Norah Jones, Ani DiFranco, John Prine, and others.  Asheville bluegrass band, Balsam Range, was also in the top 50.

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