My Top 10 for 2010 Nate Watts, Music Editor
  It was a tough year to whittle the top choices down to only ten, but  after much contemplation and many repeat listens, here, for the newsletter edition of my Top 10 list, are my top three:
  3. Band of Horses- Infinite Arms
  I called this disc one of my favorites of the year back in May, and I  still hold to that, as each progressive listen has deepened my respect  for this band. This may have pushed them a little more mainstream, but  the transition sounded so good. More polished vocals and a fuller sound  expanded their listening base, and should prove to be an excellent move  toward growing musically with each new disc.  Try This Track: "Infinite Arms" 
 
  2. Lecrae- Rehab  With incredible beats and gospel truth in every verse, this legit  rapper has become a favorite of mine and a source of strength through  listening to his lyrics. The man behind the 116 Crew has started a huge  movement, and with accountability and the talent to back it up, he still  gives everything up to God and knows where he stands in the grand  scheme of things.  Try This Track: "Divine Intervention"
 
 
  1. Linkin Park- A Thousand Suns  I would never have guessed these guys were able to put out a record  like this, back when they first started. With rap-metal a thing of the  past, LP continued to evolve into an incredible powerhouse that kept  pushing the boundaries of what they were able to release. After Minutes to Midnight expanded their sound tenfold, the creativity and diverse influences of the thematic Thousand Suns made for an excellent disc from start to finish.  Try This Track: "Waiting for the End" 
 Click through for the whole list... 
 
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Featured Review  Click Through for More Details at HJ Live!
  
 My Chemical Romance
  
 Far From The Black Parade 
  
Four years since The Black Parade, Gerard Way and his posse  return for a fantasy-inflected battle royale against The Man,  representative of commercialism and public perception, apparently. 
  With Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys,  My Chemical Romance gets all apocalyptic and returns to belting out  anthemic rock music. It's not so emo anymore, but more defiant and  aggressive... just as Way reportedly warned that it would be.
 
 If you're into the Romance, then you probably won't care, but if  you're casually checking it out... Well, it's like a mashup of the crazy  themes that MCR has thrown out there in the past plus Jet meets Green  Day. 
  
 
 Way's lyrics note some irritation with those who would tell them  (or anyone) what to do, and it's that punk mentality that made them  attractive to me in the first place. It's probably why I like "Sing"  more than much of the other stuff that's on here, but there's enough  defiance to go around here...  Click through for the full review...
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 Also Reviewed Click Through For More Details At HJ Live
  
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 Planning for Next Christmas Click Through For More Details At HJ Live
  We reviewed a LOT of Christmas discs this year... and it would be a shame not to put all that work to future use! Browse through this list for some great ideas on stocking up for next year's musical celebration...
  
 
Bethlehem Skyline, Vol. 2 
 A few bright spots on the horizon 
  
Bethlehem Skyline didn't pull in  quite as a big of a hitmaker parade to it, and the CD doesn't shine  quite as bright. Not saying you need serious star-power to sell a legit  Christmas album, but a few of the artists brought the overall album down  a few pegs in my opinion. 
 O Come All Ye Faithful: A Christmas Album Sincere holiday collection from CCM hitmakers 
Released in late September, O Come All Ye Faithful hopefully won't slip through the cracks, because it is actually a  stellar CD, full of CCM's top artists doing renditions of their  favorites. 
  Future of Forestry
 We wish you an indie Christmas... 
After an interesting three-year career that  followed a big debut album and three Travel EP's, Future's newest disc  is the bookend to their first Christmas EP, which breathes new life to  the original songs, but also stays true to them as well. 
  Various Artists
 Rockin' Christmas 4 Your Listen Ears 
Relient K headlines a Gotee album that will have you singing Christmas carols in a whole new, rocking way. 
  
 Various Artists Third Day, Jars of Clay, Michael W. Smith, and more... 
Christmas carols get done up  Provident-style, with a host of artists headlined by Third Day, Michael  W. Smith, and Casting Crowns. 
  
 Dustin Kensrue Early contender for favorite Christmas album of the year 
After proving his folk sensibilities, in 2008, Kensrue originally released This Good Night is Everywhere in only digital format. This year, the album has been rereleased in  limited edition red vinyl format, and added to bonus tracks to boot. 
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