1. We Stitch These Wounds [2010] by Black Veil Brides: "We are young and we are strong / Through strength in self we become / Something more than they can be / I raise my heart and sing!" –Sweet Blasphemy. Never give up, never surrender.

2. Of Mice And Men [2010] by Of Mice And Men: Can't help but sing along to every song, no matter where I am.

3. Stand Up And Scream [2009] by Asking Alexandria: The name of the album describes it perfectly.

4. Witness [2009] by Blessthefall: I witnessed the power of music when I first listened to this.

5. For Lack Of A Better Name [2009] by Deadmau5: . . Lost in the beat . . .

6. Rock N' Rave [2008] by Benny Benassi: Gotta love those Italians.

7. We Are Pilots [2006] by Shiny Toy Guns: Can't get that spider/scorpion lady out of my head. *Shivers*

8. Pedal To The Metal [2008] by Blessed By A Broken Heart: Who cares if they're bringing back the 80s hair bands. It's still good metal.

9. The Fame [2008] by Lady Gaga: Do I even have to say anything, it's Lady Gaga, people!

10. Survival Story [2010] by Flobots, from Denver: You can change the world.

Honorable mention

Want [2008] by 3OH!3, from Boulder

Epic [2010] by Blood On The Dance Floor

8Bit Heart [2009] by Simon Curtis: The small print at the bottom of the Simon Curtis website (where you can download his album) tells us: "Recorded, mixed, and mastered in a tiny basement in the hills of West Virginia ¶ 8Bit Heart was written and produced by Simon Curtis & Jeff (Jadion) Wells."

To Plant A Seed [2009] by We Came As Romans

Must to avoid

Beauty In The Eyes Of The Beholder [2008] by A Bullet For Pretty Boy: I just didn't like it as much as I thought I would.

3D's list of the best CDs at our house in 2010, in alphabetical order by artist

1. In 0 To ∞ [2010] by Acid Mothers Temple: Japanese psychedelia with feeling.

2. El Ultimo Trago [2009] by Buika: Latin jazz with a flamenco twist.

3. Vagarosa [2009] by Céu: Bebel Gilberto's dirty sweet younger sister.

4. Harvesting Semblances And Affinities [2010] by Steve Coleman and Five Elements: Coleman is sometimes perceived as an unassailably astringent artist who's suitable for aesthetes only, but the music here turns out to be so warm, you'll find yourself on your best listening behavior, especially when vocalist Jen Shyu lends her generous chops to the mix.

5. Frank Fairfield [2009] by Frank Fairfield: He sings 100-year-old country standards and their progeny. You can read my review here.

6. The Moldy Peaches [2001] by The Moldy Peaches: Never doubt DIY rules.

7. Tijuana Sessions, Vol. 3 [2005] by Nortec Collective: Mexican electronica with the hooks to make a gringo human.

8. Two Moods [1981] by G.S. Sachdev, with Zakir Hussain on tabla: It's astonishing to hear the communicative nuances Sachdev draws out of his bansuri bamboo flute. He seems to have infinite control over the instrument, and yet the music sounds effortless. Download the album from A Closet of Curiosities.

9. City Of Straw [2010] by Sightings: A full-body immersion in post-industrial guitar and electronic noise.

10. The Best Of [1992] by The Spencer Davis Group: There's no doubt Steve Winwood's the man in this unusually well-paced collection of hits.

Honorable mention

This Brings Us To, Volume 1 [2009] by Henry Threadgill Zooid: Probably not as compelling as some reviews make it out to be. Its rewards come after you accept its invitation to fill in the blanks. It's music you want to hear other people interpret.

Old friend rediscovered

Last Of The Blue Devils [1977] by Jay McShann: Authentic Kansas City piano blues.

Biggest disappointment

Chamber Music Society [2010] by Esperanza Spalding

Must to avoid

All Is Falling [2010] by James Blackshaw: The inevitable result of confusing "minimalist" with "play a little figure repeatedly but change it up."

Hootie's Jumpin' Blues [1997] by Jay McShann: Why haven't the people who did this to Jay McShann been consigned to a South Carolina brig?

Pop music ― Father and daughter reviews: Read 'em all