Top 12 Albums of 2010

2010 was an interesting year for music. Many high profile artist releases fell by the way side as new independent artists found themselves at the top of the charts.

2010 was the year of pop with Lady Gaga leading the way but rock music also saw a rise as many promising new bands like American Bang and Holy Grail brought something new to the table while older bands like Alice In Chains and Stone Temple Pilots breathed new life into their music with their latest releases.

Unfortunately, 2010 saw hip hop music on a downward slide with good albums few and far between and it became harder and harder to find any "true" country music material.

The following is just a few of the albums that caught my attention this year and wouldn't let go from the first track to the final track. They are in no particular order.

1. Finger Eleven's Life Turns Electric-The band's fifth studio album finds a way to bridge the heavy rock sound of their early material with the radio friendly catchiness of their 2007 hit single "Paralyzer". From front to back the album has a definite flow to it despite the fact that each song has it's own unique style. Check out: The albums final track "Love's What You Left Me With" which slows things down a bit and brings in a bit of a country feel to the album.

2. Reba's All The Women I Am-On country music queen Reba McEntire's thirty-fourth studio album she once again proves why she is one of the few bright spots left in the country music genre. From the contemporary upbeat sound of her hit single "Turn On The Radio" to her reworking of the Beyonce track "If I Were A Boy" from a sassy pop track to a layered country ballad, Reba shows that she can try something new without compromising the country sound that she loves so much. Check out: The album's title track which showcases the female ability to move from one role to another in a blink of an eye and the need to have a male presence that can keep up with her.

3. Cyndi Lauper's Memphis Blues-Surely when anyone thinks of a blues album the first name to come to mind probably would not be that of pop icon Cyndi Lauper. However, her latest album Memphis Blues is a delightful mix of some of her favorite blues classics and surprisingly, Lauper's voice serves her well as she tackles songs written from the male point of view with her usual ballsy manner. To back her up, Lauper brought in a number of classic male blues singers from B.B. King to Jonny Lang and she more than holds her own. Check out: The album's opener "Just Your Fool" with Charlie Musselwhite and closer "Crossroads" with Lang. Both tracks allow Lauper to come at her counterparts firing on all cylinders.

4. Critical Bill's Underground Kingdom-Detroit hip hop group Critical Bill's latest album Underground Kingdom showcases the band's unique and broad musical style which mixes in hip hop, electronic and rock sounds. The band's innovativeness allows them to move from genre to genre with ease and speaks to their diverse fanbase. The album opens with a bang with the heavy track "The End" and never lets go hitting the listener with new sounds at every turn. Check out: The quiet melodic track Better which gives vocalist Powerdise a chance to show off his wide vocal range.

5. Katy Perry's Teenage Dream-For her sophomore album Katy Perry stuck to what made her debut album successful: fun poppy music with a sexual edge and catchy choruses. The songs from the playful "California Gurls" with Snoop Dogg to the flirtatious title track find her walking the edge of saying too much and putting forth just the right amount of sexual innuendo. Perry's songs may not be the most dynamic lyrically but each and every song comes from her heart and in the end it makes the album one that you just can't quite stop listening to. Check out: The song "Firework" which starts out as another simple dance track but turns into a powerful self-esteem anthem.

6. Thriving Ivory's Through Yourself and Back Again-Rock group Thriving Ivory's debut album continues the band's trend of epic pop rock music. As the band itself has said, they like making rock music that people can sing along to and Through Yourself and Back Again is the perfect album for that. All of the albums tracks make up one big dramatic energetic story. Check out: The acoustic stripped down "Moonlight" which allows the band to explore a different sound.

7. Taddy Porter's Taddy Porter-Oklahoma rock band Taddy Porter's southern rock debut album is one of the strongest albums of the year filled with gritty tracks that form a energetic album that is hard to put down. The album's ballads and rockers complement each other and frontman Andy Brewer's voice moves flawlessly from a arena rock quality to impassioned balladry. Check out: The bluesy "Whatever Haunts You" and the piano-driven "Long Slow Drag".

8. HIM's Screamworks: Love In Theory and Practice-HIM's seventh album is a gem that sadly many of their long time fans dismissed because of it's poppier direction. The overlooked album once again features their brooding "love metal" material but the band does it by experimenting in new ways bringing in a electronic sound while rocking harder than they ever have. Check out: The beautiful ballad "Disarm Me (With Your Loneliness) and the hard rocking "Katherine Wheel".

9. Dommin's Love Is Gone-Goth metal band Dommin were one of the biggest surprises of the year bursting onto the scene with their debut album Love Is Gone and gaining fans with their powerful live shows. The album is a showcase for the band's diverse influences ranging from frontman Kristofer Dommin's love of forties music to Depeche Mode and Type O' Negative. Kristofer's compelling heartfelt lyrics make for a conceptual album about the pain of heartbreak. Check out: "Dark Holiday" is a cabaret-esque upbeat track that provides a break from the melancholy feel of the rest of the album.

10. Apocalyptica's 7th Symphony-On Apocalyptica's latest album they find a perfect balance for their mix of heavy metal and classical music. The cellists orchestral tracks complement their vocal driven rock tracks perfectly. Once again the band turns to popular guest singers beginning with Bush singer Gavin Rossdale on the album's first track "End of Me". Check out: Apocalyptica's track with Shinedown vocalist Brent Smith "Not Strong Enough". The song is a intense one that steadily builds to a climax as it moves along and is complemented perfectly by Smith's powerful vocals.

11. My Chemical Romance's Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys-My Chemical Romance spent three years working on their latest album but the wait was worth it as they have released another unique conceptual album that details the lives of comic-book like heroes the Killjoys. This time out MCR takes another step further from their early emo sound and bring in a lively punk sound that works well with the energetic sound that the album is pumping out. Check out: "Bulletproof Heart" which features killer shredding from Ray Toro and a power ballad chorus that vocalist Gerard Way shines on.

12. ABK's Medicine Bag-Native American Detroit rapper ABK has always stood out for his heritage and unique lisp but his latest album Medicine Bag proves that he is also one of the best rappers in the game today. The album is easily the best hip hop album of the year taking the listener on a trip through ABK's beliefs and the spiritual heritage that has influenced him. The album is a upbeat throwback to old school hip hop and is a fun listen from start to finish. Check out: "That Sh*t U On" with Blaze. The track has a eighties sounding party vibe to it and is guaranteed to make you want to get up and move.