Time once again for our "Best of the Year" show, where Michael and I include our favorite tracks that we've collected over the past 12 months. As I reflect back on 2011, there are two musical themes that come to mind: bizarre yet cool super groups and retro soul. In a year that saw Mick Jagger teaming up with Joss Stone, Dave Stewart, Damian Marley and A. R. Rahman (SuperHeavy) and Gorillaz mixing with the Red Hot Chili Peppers to create Rocketjuice (Damon Albarn, Flea), it should come as less of a surprise to see Tired Pony (above left)- made up of Gary Lightbody (lead singer of Snow Patrol), Peter Buck (R.E.M. guitarist), Richard Colburn (Belle and Sebastian drummer) and a motley collection of other musicians. We'll play them, plus other returning favorites like Death Cab for Cutie (above right). In a year when Amy Winehouse tragically passed and Adele became a superstar in her own right, it's newcomer Lana Del Rey that impresses me the most and we'll also include her and other lovely ladies, like Florence Welch and Priscilla Ahn. Tune in from 8 to 9 Friday night to hear A Reasonable Alternative's Best of 2011 Show! 

A Reasonable Alternative is pleased to have two of the Honkanen sisters on tonight's show, now known as Carissa Price (above left) and Nena Botto (above right). Another one of Fairfield's creative forces to be reckoned with, Nena last week screened her new web series that she wrote, directed and acted in, Blue Fiddles, at the Central Park Furniture Store. Her sister, Carissa, played on the soundtrack.Blue Fiddles is the story of three women searching for meaning amongst the day to day grind living in Nena's current hometown of Portland, Oregon. The theme is a mix of comedy and drama that has aims to be glamorous through honesty -women who have scars from life experiences not from numerous Botox sessions.

A Reasonable Alternative celebrates the birthdays of two rock n' roll icons this week in Michael Stipe, who turns 51 on the 4th, and David Bowie, who turns 64 on the 8th. Aside from being born under the sign of Capricorn, these two have a lot in common: both have had long careers characterized by continual reinvention and innovation, defying convention and avoiding categorization, influencing newer generations of artists. In addition, both were known for surreal and poetic lyrics. Later in their careers, they became more involved in film, with Bowie acting in movies like "Labyrinth" and "The Prestige" and Stipe producing "Man on the Moon" and "Saved." Tune in Friday night from 8 to 9 as we discuss some fun Bowie/R.E.M. facts, and play some of our favorite tracks and covers on KRUU 100.1 FM.

On the final evening of 2010, A Reasonable Alternative is counting down the top tunes we've played for you this year in no particular order. These include songs from artists that have recently emerged such as Beach House, or veterans like the Gorillaz who celebrate continued success with their third album, Plastic Beach. And no, we're not doing a beach theme- although its tempting in the middle of a cold, snowy Iowa winter. So before you pop the champagne, tune your dial to 100.1 FM and reflect back with Michael and I on another excellent year in music, as we play "The Best of 2010" on Friday, 8-9 PM.

We've been wanting to have A Reasonable Alternative dance show for a long time, as hinted by our discreetly tossing in a few uptempo tracks to almost every broadcast. When Michael and I discovered tonight's Art Walk theme, we knew it was the right moment.

So when you tune in to tonight's show from 8-9 PM, don't worry that may have forgotten to move your clock forward a few weeks ago, you;re not listening to Stevie Mix.

It's A Reasonable Alternative dance show and it's going to have non-stop booty shakin beats!

As we, Matthew O'Mullen and "Mac" Halley, are a couple of Irish gents, we are celebrating St. Patrick's day by devoting this week's show to musicians from the Emerald Isle. Tune in Friday, from 8-9 PM to hear songs by Cherish The Ladies' Heidi Talbot (left), Damien Rice (right), Snow Patrol, The Script and more!

Join A Reasonable Alternative as we venture back in time to an era of leg warmers, parachute pants, cold wars, 1,000 points of light, MTV (when they actual played music videos), new wave, big hair and more as we celebrate the 1980s. Tune in to hear some of your favorite 80s music from artists like Duran Duran (above left), the Go Gos (middle) and Squeeze (right). Plus my co-host Michael Halley will explain the meaning of the lyric "I smell like I sound" and discuss how his ancestors discovered a certain famous comet. This Friday from 8 to 9 PM on KRUU!

This Halloween Eve the tricks and treats are all rolled into one on A Reasonable Alternative. We are featuring bands with scary names like Vampire Weekend (above left) and Monsters of Folk (above right). Not to mention tunes about Skeletons, Phantom Limbs and other frightful topics. But don't be fooled, the music isn't scary at all- just the usual low-key modern alternative rock you are used to hearing on our show. So be sure to tune in from 8-9 Friday, Oct. 30.

A Reasonable Alternative will be sending out good vibrations this Friday, September 4th on KRUU. In preparation for the upcoming Labor Day concert, I'll be spinning some of my favorite Beach Boys tunes, plus some covers by alternative artists like Sonic Youth (above), Jonatha Brooke and Gym Class Heroes. You'll also hear bands like Grizzly Bear, The Shins and Fleet Foxes, showing the Beach Boys profound influence on today's popular music. If that sound's like your idea of Fun, Fun, Fun, then tune in from 8 to 9 PM.