Classical and Beyond: The Year's Best CDs

by John Schaefer, WNYC Radio

Few radio personalities openly embrace as much music as WNYC's John Schaefer, longtime host of New Sounds — a program that, Schaefer says, "provides a place for your left and right brain to unwind at the end of the day." Hit "shuffle" on Schaefer's iPod, and you could hear Silesian chants, concertos, punk, rap and nearly everything in between.

His choices for the best music of 2007 range from a potty-mouthed 20-year-old South Londoner named Jamie T to experimental guitarist James Blackshaw. But Schaefer's pick for classical record of the year is Oceana, music by Osvaldo Golijov performed by the Atlanta Symphony.

Broadcast Dates

• Morning Edition, December 26, 2007