Each writer's Top 10 list--along with his or her thoughts about the year--follows.

Rob Evans, LiveDaily Editor

1. Los Lobos, "The Town and the City" (Hollywood)
2. Beck [ tickets ], "The Information" (Geffen)
3. TV on the Radio [ tickets ], "Return to Cookie Mountain (Interscope)
4. The Roots, "Game Theory" (Def Jam)
5. Cat Power [ tickets ], "The Greatest" (Matador)
6. Sonic Youth, "Rather Ripped" (Geffen)
7. The Beatles, "Love" (Capitol)
8. Golden Smog, "Another Fine Day" (Lost Highway)
9. Cracker, "Greenland" (Cooking Vinyl)
10. Jackie Greene, "American Myth" (Verve Forecast)

Cynics say that most rock artists use up all of their good ideas midway through their second album; fantastic new sets from veteran artists Los Lobos, Beck, Sonic Youth and Cracker provided plenty of ammunition to fight that theory. TV on the Radio's first major-label release takes a few listens to set in, but then it's impossible to forget. Most hip-hop bands have a problem translating their recorded sound to the stage; The Roots had the opposite problem--until now. The songwriting chops of Sacramento's Jackie Greene continue to far outstrip his years, while Cat Power's finally found her perfect backing band.

Jon Zahlaway, LiveDaily Senior Writer

One of the many things I didn't expect the year 2006 to bring was the arrival of John Mayer's "Continuum" at the top of my year-end list. On his latest set, Mayer proves, once and for all, that he is the real deal: a positively brilliant lyricist, singer, songwriter and guitarist--all four of which he does equally well. The Chili Peppers are right on his heels. Not only did they put out a double album that isn't 50-percent filler; they laid down some of their best work ever. Praise the day John Frusciante kicked smack and returned to the band, because his guitar playing and vocal harmonies have become, for my money, the best part of the group's already impressive sound--which, on this album, is mixed to perfection. Based on past experience, my Top 10 of 2006 will look different if you ask me for it six months from now, but this is how it fell at the end of the year.

1. John Mayer, "Continuum" (Aware/Columbia)
2. Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Stadium Arcadium" (Warner Bros.)
3. Tool, "10,000 Days" (Volcano)
4. Beck, "The Information" (Interscope)
5. Army of Anyone, "Army of Anyone" (Firm Music)
6. Audioslave, "Revelations" (Sony)
7. The Raconteurs [ tickets ], "Broken Boy Soldiers" (V2/Third Man)
8. Pearl Jam, "Pearl Jam" (Sony)
9. Danko Jones, "Sleep is the Enemy" (Razor & Tie)
10. Peeping Tom, "Peeping Tom" (Ipecac)

Donnell Alexander, LiveDaily Contributor

1. The Roots, "Game Theory" (Def Jam)
2. Jay-Z, "Kingdom Come" (Def Jam)
3. Lyrics Born, "Live!" (Quannum)
4. Fat Joe, "Me, Myself & I" (Caroline)
5. The Alkaholiks, "Firewater" (Koch)
6. Oddisee, "Foot in the Door" (Halftooth Records)
7. Ghostface Killah, "Fishscale" (Def Jam)
8. Pigeon John, "and the Summertime Pool Party" (Quannum)
9. Ying Yang Twins, "Chemically Imbalanced" (TVT)
10. Busta Rhymes, "The Big Bang" (Aftermath)

Random Thoughts and a few good wrekkits from 2006: Gangsta rap is over. Really. This time it's done. But in case it's not, Fat Joe's got somethin' for that ass. … "Game Theory" was the best rap album of the year, from the back-cover art of dawgs playing poker and set aflame on through to its nonpareil tribute to the late j-dilla. And Lil Wayne is right: Jay-Z's not the greatest rapper alive. Wayne's not the one though; The Roots' Black Thought might be. ... The Alkaholiks put out another really solid release, making life's bad times suck just a little less.

John Dugan, LiveDaily Contributor

1. Goldfrapp, "Supernature" (Mute)
2. Lindstrøm, "It's a Feedelity Affair" (Smalltown Supersound)
3. LCD Soundsystem, "45:33: Nike + Original Run" (Nike)
4. The Ark, "State of the Ark" (Rebel Group)
5. Scritti Politti, "White Bread, Black Beer" (Nonesuch)
6. The Rapture, "Pieces of the People We Love" (Universal/Motown)
7. Love is All, "Nine Times the Same Song" (What's Your Rupture?)
8. Vitalic, "OK Cowboy" (Uncivilized World)
9. CSS, "Cansei Der Sexy" (Sub Pop)
10. Spank Rock, "Yoyoyoyoyo" (Big Dada)

It was a good year to mix rock with some dance beats. The quality of international indie was also good, and provided a stimulating alternative to a congealing American indie scene. A bit of glam rock surfaced in both Goldfrapp's electro masterpiece and The Ark's slightly schizo bubblegum. Youthful verve and basic electronic beats worked wonders on Brazilian outfit CSS's "Cansei Der Sexy" and Baltimore/Philly group Spank Rock's lascivious debut. Dance and rock met on many other releases, with the home-recorded return of Scritti Politti achieving greatness for its way with words rather than its danceability.

Christina Fuoco, LiveDaily Contributor

1. My Chemical Romance, "The Black Parade" (Reprise/WEA)
2. Nelly Furtado, "Loose" (Geffen)
3. The Wreckers, "Stand Still, Look Pretty" (Maverick)
4. Barenaked Ladies, "Barenaked Ladies Are Me" (Desperation)
5. Justin Timberlake, "FutureSex/LoveSounds" (Jive)
6. Gym Class Heroes, "As Cruel as School Children" (Fueled by Ramen)
7. Cobra Starship, "While The City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets" (Fueled by Ramen)
8. Incubus, "Light Grenades," (Epic)
9. Orson, "Bright Idea" (Mercury import)
10. The Raconteurs, "Broken Boy Soldiers" (V2)

If there were two things omnipresent in the 2006 music scene, it was uber-producer/beat-master Timbaland and bands on the record label Fueled by Ramen/Decaydance Records. Timbaland seemingly showed up in every hip album and music video, including those by Nelly Furtado ("Promiscuous"), Justin Timberlake ("SexyBack," "My Love") and The Pussycat Dolls ("Wait a Minute"). Every time a cool song came on the radio, it was inevitably part of the Fueled by Ramen/Decaydance family. (For those keeping score, Decaydance Records is run by Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz.) Gym Class Heroes' "Cupid's Chokehold," with its Supertramp sample, is so hum-able, it'll take up real estate in the listener's head. Cobra Starship toured with labelmates Panic! At the Disco, who were also big hitmakers of 2006, and proved its rap-pop fusion is something ready to be heard by the masses.

Justin Gage, LiveDaily Contributor

1. Robert Pollard, "From a Compound Eye" (Merge)
2. Centro-matic, "Fort Recovery" (Misra)
3. TV on the Radio, "Return to Cookie Mountain (Interscope)
4. Howe Gelb, "'Sno Angel Like You (Thrill Jockey)
5. Drive-By Truckers, "A Blessing and a Curse (New West)
6. The Hold Steady, "Boys and Girls in America" (Vagrant)
7. Bob Dylan [ tickets ], "Modern Times" (Columbia)
8. Bonnie "Prince" Billy, "The Letting Go" (Drag City)
9. Sonic Youth, "Rather Ripped" (Geffen)
10. Cat Power, "The Greatest" (Matador)

The list above comprises my favorite 10 albums released in 2006. Take note that this list is in flux, and could be very different a month from now. For example, last year, I declared Sufjan Stevens' "Illinois" as my top album of '05, but, in retrospect, that title, without a doubt, goes to The National's "Alligator." Such is the nature of time spent with music and our appreciation of it.

Paul Gargano, LiveDaily Contributor

1. Tool, "10,000 Days" (Volcano)
2. Paul Oakenfold, "A Lively Mind" (Maverick)
3. Stone Sour, "Come What(ever) May" (Roadrunner)
4. John Mayer, "Continuum" (Sony)
5. My Chemical Romance, "The Black Parade" (Reprise)
6. The Chelsea Smiles, "36 Hours Later" (Acetate)
7. Yusuf, "An Other Cup" (Atlantic)
8. The Beatles, "Love" (Capitol)
9. Iron Maiden, "A Matter of Life and Death" (Sanctuary)
10. Queensryche, "Operation: Mindcrime II" (Rhino)

In typical hypocritical fashion, I have a confession to make: I hate "best of" lists. Sure, I still play the game, but they never fail to make me feel like I was left off the invite list for the meeting that decided what records every critic across America would be mandated to hail. I'm not much for protocol anyway, so I'd still be hard-pressed to include the obligatory Beck, Dylan, and of-the-moment emo-core band. They may be great albums, but they're not my thing. So, what is my thing? I'm a metal-head at heart, but I love songs, regardless of genre, form or label. If a song has a hook and moves me, I'm sold, whether it's the math-rock mutations of Tool, the folk-rock flavor of Yusuf (formerly Cat Stevens), or the four-on-the-floor, rock-and-roll fury of The Chelsea Smiles. Oh yeah, and it doesn't hurt to have smart lyrics ...

Eric Grossman, LiveDaily Contributor

1. Band of Horses, "Everything All the Time" (Sub Pop)
2. Arctic Monkeys, "Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not" (Domino)
3. TV on the Radio, "Return to Cookie Moutain" (Interscope)
4. Cat Power, "The Greatest" (Matador)
5. The Raconteurs, "Broken Boy Soldiers" (V2)
6. Tapes 'n Tapes, "The Loon" (XL)
7. Built to Spill, "You in Reverse" (WB)
8. Thom Yorke, "The Eraser" (XL)
9. Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins, "Rabbit Fur Coat" (Team Love)
10. The Hold Steady, "Boys And Girls In America" (Vagrant)

How about 2006? Whereas I sat here a year ago struggling to come up with 10 CDs that I truly enjoyed and/or felt some emotional obligation to include in such a list, I'm now faced with an abundance of worthy choices. And to boot, the top half of my list is made up of titles that, to me, are among the finest examples of their respective genres to have been released this decade. There's cerebral, atmospheric art-rock that demands dozens of listens (TV on the Radio) and pure retro-rock that undoubtedly swings (The Raconteurs). Cat Power finally got her act together and, with a huge assist from The Memphis Rhythm Band, released a disc that can only be described as a deeply personal triumph. But to me, the year belonged to a pair of debuts that emerged from opposite corners of the globe: Band of Horses' shimmering take on alt-country, and Arctic Monkeys' lyrically brilliant, of-the-moment, Britpop masterpiece.

Tara Hall, LiveDaily Contributor

1. deadboy & the Elephantmen, "We Are the Night Sky" (Fat Possum)
2. Bob Dylan, "Modern Times" (Sony)
3. Beck, "The Information" (Interscope)
4. People in Planes, "As Far As the Eye Can See" (Wind Up)
5. The Decemberists, "The Crane Wife" (Capitol)
6. Damien Rice, "9" (Warner Bros.)
7. The Flaming Lips, "At War With the Mystics" (Warner Bros.)
8. Morningwood, "Morningwood" (Capitol)
9. Gomez, "How We Operate" (ATO)
10. Mutemath, "Mutemath" (Teleprompt/Warner Bros.)

The cream of this year's musical crop is a hodgepodge of relative newbies and seasoned veterans, with stellar records their main commonality. Bob Dylan, Beck and The Flaming Lips released well-regarded albums in 2006: Dylan's bluesy--albeit upbeat--"Modern Times" proves that getting older doesn't have to slow you down, Beck remains on the radar screen with another tight release, and the eclectic Flaming Lips provide a kitschy, fun record showcasing their ever-present musical skills. But the real fun is finding the undiscovered gems, like deadboy & the Elephantmen. This powerful duo deserves much more national attention for its contagious energy and raw talent, particularly after this wildly addictive release. Both People in Planes and Morningwood gave jaw-dropping performances at this year's South by Southwest, preceded by impressive albums that capture their respective skills. Damien Rice, Mutemath, Gomez and The Decemberists round out the list of the year's most worthwhile albums, all with mesmerizing, well-produced material.

Jim Harrington, LiveDaily Contributor

1. Johnny Cash, "American V: A Hundred Highways" (American/Lost Highway)
2. Bruce Springsteen, "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions" (Columbia)
3. Josh Turner, "Your Man" (MCA Nashville)
4. Eric Lindell, "Change in the Weather" (Alligator)
5. The Decemberists, "The Crane's Wife" (Capitol)
6. Bob Dylan, "Modern Times" (Columbia)
7. Cheap Trick, "Rockford" (Big3)
8. Trey Anastasio, "Bar 17" (Rubber Jungle)
9. E-40, "My Ghetto Report Card" (Warner Bros.)
10. The Raconteurs, "Broken Boy Soldiers" (V2)

When is the Next Big Thing going to take place? This was a year that really needed a crop of young, fresh talent to magically appear in the music world--and, no, "American Idol" contestants don't qualify. Unfortunately, it never happened. Beyond individual acts, it seems like we need a new "sound." That's especially the case given that hip-hop seems increasingly played out. In retrospect, it wasn't new acts that provided the most exciting music of 2007; it was old friends like Bruce Springsteen, Trey Anastasio, Bob Dylan and, surprisingly, Cheap Trick. The best offering from the lot came courtesy of Johnny Cash. The country legend's "American V: A Hundred Highways," which was recorded in the months prior to his September 2003 death, turned out to be one of the strongest recordings of his amazing career. The set was produced by Rick Rubin, who has said that there is enough material left from these sessions to warrant an "American VI." That gives us something to look forward to, hopefully, in 2007.

Tjames Madison, LiveDaily Contributor

1. TV on the Radio, "Return to Cookie Mountain" (Interscope)
2. Joanna Newsom, "Ys" (Drag City)
3. Sonic Youth, "Rather Ripped" (Geffen)
4. Liars, "Drum's Not Dead" (Mute)
5. Cat Power, "The Greatest" (Matador)
6. The Decemberists, "The Crane Wife" (Capitol)
7. Boris, "Pink" (Southern Lord)
8. Band of Horses, "Everything All the Time" (Sub Pop)
9. Beck, "The Information" (Geffen)
10. Califone, "Roots & Crowns" (Thrill Jockey)

Digital music continued to steamroll the music industry in 2006, as most of the year's big-ticket releases were subdued affairs compared to past years. New material seemed to appear here, there and everywhere, without the bright red bow of industry approval behind it; The Red Hot Chili Peppers released a new album that felt more like a slapped together K-TEL collection than a collection of brand new songs. Album art continued to get crappier. iTunes continued to make Apple richer. Sonic Youth returned to 1993 and rediscovered their melodic side. TV on the Radio released a mesmerizing, blindingly complex set of music that no one will be able to figure out or even fully appreciate for a decade. Cat Power's Chan Marshall finally overcame her demons, and did it with a horn section. Beck was still Beck. All in all, it was a 2006 sort of year.

GF Sheffer, LiveDaily Contributor

1. Beck, "The Information" (Geffen)
2. Pearl Jam, "Pearl Jam" (J Records)
3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Show Your Bones" (Interscope)
4. Zero 7, "The Garden" (Atlantic)
5. Bob Dylan, "Modern Times" (Columbia)
6. Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Stadium Arcadium" (Warner Bros,)
7. Jerry Lee Lewis, "Last Man Standing" (Shangri-La Entertainment)
8. Neko Case, "Fox Confessor Brings the Flood" (Anti)
9. Method Man, "4:21: The Day After" (Def Jam)
10. Cursive "Happy Hollow" (Saddle Creek)

In 2006, Beck, Pearl Jam, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Method Man all returned to form. Meanwhile, Bob Dylan continued to chug along, giving us not his best album, but one of my favorites of the year. And that's my lesson from 2006: This year proved that finding quality music takes work. Pop music gave me nothing--except for Gnarls Barkley. Few other quality artists made an impression. So, my Top 10 isn't a "Best of." It's a "Favorites of." None of the good stuff gets through anymore. (Note to self: check out latest from Midlake, Razorlight and Tom Waits.) How did music break through in 2006? Television, movies and the ubiquitous ring tone. This year, pop music continued to disappoint, while standouts like Zero 7's "The Garden" sold on old-school word of mouth. Here's hoping the Best of 2007 actually gets heard by more than just the die-hards.