Best local songs of 2010 1. Dessa, "Dixon's Girl" (19 points)

2. Gayngs, "Faded High" (16)

3. Trampled by Turtles, "Wait So Long" (15)

4. Cloud Cult, "Running With the Wolves" (12)

5. (tie) Communist Daughter, "Not the Kid" (11) Rogue Valley, "Red River of the North" (11)

7. (tie) BNLX, "Where Is the Love?" Hastings 3000, "Modern Man" Muja Messiah, "Leech Lake" National Bird, "In Summer" Phantom Tails, "Real Savage" Storyhill, "Better Angels" (10 apiece)

Dml - Star Tribune, Star Tribune
Retribubution Gospel Choir's tent revival at Taste of Minnesota helped earn them co-honors as TCCT's best live act of 2010.

Best live acts of 2010 1. (tie) The Goondas (28) Retribution Gospel Choir

3. Cloud Cult (20)

4. Pink Mink (17)

5. Peter Wolf Crier (16)

6. Marijuana Deathsquads (14)

7. (tie) Free Energy Gayngs Red Pens (10 apiece)

No. 1 sign that the music scene was alive and well in 2010 Tim Campbell, Star Tribune arts editor: "The Minnesota Beatle Project, Vol. 2." A bias against tribute albums kept this off my top 10 list. But where most such projects are a mixed bag at best -- this means you, "Vol. 1" -- the sophomore effort is an unalloyed delight that showcases the deep bench of Twin Cities players. You name it, you got it, from current all-stars (Mason Jennings, P.O.S.) to cagey veterans (Soul Asylum, New Standards, Polara) to fresh-faced phenoms (Total Babe, Communist Daughter), all contributing strong and/or surprising takes in well-worn territory.

Cyn Collins, freelancer and KFAI host: The Goondas, Hastings 3000, the Sex Rays and a few more live bands are bringing back stage presence and wildly entertaining shows with a lot of creative surprises, chaos and unpredictability, harkening back to Iggy Pop, early Rolling Stones, the NY Dolls, etc.

Kyle Matteson, Morecowbell.net: As a metro area well known for its rock and alt-country acts, the style and depth of local musical acts has branched out quite a bit this year. I'm often discovering newer local acts that I'm surprised come from the Twin Cities.

Chris Riemenschneider: In New Orleans three weeks ago, I ran into a guy wearing a Doomtree T-shirt. On two separate trips to Austin, Texas, I witnessed numerous Twin Cities musicians playing to appreciative crowds (including members of Solid Gold both times). In New York, I saw a poster for Retribution Gospel Choir, read an ad for a Dosh gig and heard a Brother Ali track in a store. Our scene may not be as reputable as in those cities, but we're getting there.

Peter Scholtes, freelancer: The size and diversity of the community mourning Eyedea.

Andrea Swensson, City Pages music editor: First Avenue celebrated its 40th anniversary by adding dozens more local bands to the stars on its iconic exterior and hosting community-fostering, locally oriented events like the Replacements Tribute, Rock for Pussy, the Current's birthday, the Celebration of the Life of Micheal Larsen, etc. The electricity buzzing around on those nights alone was enough to make my hometown pride swell.

Rob Van Alstyne, freelancer: In my 10 years covering the local music scene, I've never seen so many all-local bills packing in significant crowds at sizable venues.

Jim Walsh, Minnpost.com, Southwest Journal: We're fortunate to have so many curious people who regularly dig themselves out of igloos of their own making to imbibe in the soul food that is live local music. After living through a recent docket of especially meaningful shows, the most oft-repeated phrase I've heard from various music lovers/players is, "I'm exhausted." Hell, yes: Bring on the double-hockey sticks decade and a chorus of "These Are the Good Old New Days."

The rest of our voters:

• Jon Bream (Star Tribune)

• Jay Boller (Vita.mn)

• Andrew Flanagan (City Pages, Daily Swarm)

• Jim Meyer (freelancer)

• Jason Nagel (Cities 97's "Minnesota Music")

• Jahna Peloquin (Vita.mn)

• Ross Raihala (Pioneer Press)

• Erik Thompson (City Pages)

SEE BALLOTS

from each of our voters at StarTribune.com/music.

HOW TCCT WORKS We asked voters to choose the top 10 local albums, then weighted those picks through a system that allocates 100 points per list. Voters could rank their choices (from 20 points for No. 1 to 2 points for No. 10), or leave them unranked for 10 points apiece.