This year was an awesome year for music. Country music groups became more popular, hitmakers continued to shine and many newcomers hit the stage and radio with songs that became stuck in our heads. Auto-Tune was the big crutch that most artists used, but sometimes to artists' benefits. Unfortunately, artists whom we had seen and heard before didn't seem to change much, but they still managed to give us chart-topping songs. Here are my top 10 albums of 2010:

1. Doo-Wops and Hooligans-Bruno Mars

This year was the year for breakout musician Bruno Mars. We first see Mars in B.o.B.'s "Nothing on You," an ode to beautiful girls. He then followed up with Travie McCoy in the summer hit, "Billionaire." After releasing his single "Just The Way You Are," Mars received what most male artists look for when beginning a career: women's hearts. Mars followed up with the hit "Grenade" at the end of the year, which is still dominating the charts today. Doo-Wops and Hooligans is a short album with just 10 songs, but it is effortlessly tuneful. The songs often sound as if they have been written on the spot, a quality that is endearing. The album flows well and is great to listen to when you want to chill.

Favorite song: "The Lazy Song"- Mars sings about not doing anything, and it's the college student's dream.

2. Teenage Dream-Katy Perry

This year, no one could get away from Katy Perry. From her catchy "California Gurls" single, which was played over and over on the radio, to the chart-climbing "Firework," Perry was a pop goddess force to be reckoned with. Despite the songs we all know and love, Perry has something fun to offer in this album. It is a risqué album that pushes the envelope with its sexual innuendos and connotations that can only be described as scandalous and typical for Perry.

Favorite Song: "Not Like the Movies"-A great way to end the album. Perry doesn't necessarily show us her best vocals, but the song has lots of heart as Perry sings about true love.

3. Thank Me Later-Drake

Many of you may know Drake as the cute, wheelchair-bound Jimmy on Degrassi. But on his album, Thank Me Later, we see that he is so much more. Drake began to dominate the airwaves with his hit "Over." Who can forget "Last name: Ever; first name: greatest," one of the best rap lines ever said? Drake is not, inherently, a bad rapper. The album's guest stars interact with these sometimes lackluster beats in different ways, turning an all-star team of support into a motley crew of mixed-bag backups. One issue I have with Drake is that he sometimes sounds lethargic and lazy when he raps. He luckily has synthesizers and other hot beats to bring it back.

Favorite Song: "Find Your Love"-A rap ballad for the ages. Drake has great lyrics and a very catchy hook in this song.

4. Animal-Ke$ha

At first, I didn't find anything on the album particularly noteworthy. It's neither new nor cutting edge, but it is fun. After a few minutes, I was enjoying some of the songs and was already humming them to myself. Ke$ha also knows that the main thing that pop music needs is a catchy tune, and, as expected, this album is stuffed with them. Whether she's singing about getting really drunk at some dude's house or about her one true love, the beats accompanying the songs will always be infectious or simply very fitting to the song's theme. It doesn't take long to realize that this album has one message: party hard and live life to the max.

Favorite Song: "Animal"-The title track for this album is not a typical party song. It is something that can be easily enjoyed while sitting down and relaxing.

5. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy-Kanye West

I generally am not fond of Kanye West. But, ego aside, West actually manages to put out a good album with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. So what makes West's new music so 'Dark' and 'Twisted?' His outrageously hedonistic lyrics. In short, the album is brilliant. The rhymes are clever, the music is rich, the emotions are raw, and the themes are dark.

Favorite Song: "Power"-West admits that he is the epitome of arrogance: "I embody every characteristic of the egotistic, he knows he's so gifted."

6. B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray-B.o.B.

This album is a very good debut album because it introduces the listeners to B.o.B as an artist. The album is good creatively, but there is no real balance to it. It feels like he is experimenting a bit too much, because every single track is different (some might consider that to be a good quality), but for me, it is hard to stay focused on who B.o.B. really is. The Adventures of Bobby Ray will be well received by consumers who have an open mind and ear in the case of hip hop, but those looking for pure hip hop will likely skip B.o.B. As evidenced by such tracks as "Magic" with Rivers Cuomo, B.o.B. can fit in with mainstream pop music as well as dip into the realm of mainstream clean-cut rap.

Favorite Song: "Airplanes"- There is something very endearing about wishing for a simpler time when you're an up-and-coming millionaire hip-hop star.

7. Rokstarr-Taio Cruz

Rokstarr lives up to its name. It guiltily caters to the general public in a broadened, generic sense while still maintaining a sloppy sense of self-indulgence. Rokstarr is one of those albums that you will either love or hate, but if you're already a fan of Taio Cruz, then you are going to love this album. Tracks such as "Dirty Picture," "Higher" and "Dynamite" are all excellent songs that will get you to dance and celebrate. I recommend this album to those who are always looking for the next party.

Favorite Song: "Dynamite"-The second chart-topping single from Cruz. "Dynamite" is an anthem to looking good and feeling good anytime you want.

8. Pink Friday-Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj is one of the most creative female rappers of all time. Her will to rocket her way to the top of the music industry is apparent in her artistic lyrics and over-the-top music videos. If you like the singles "Right Thru Me," "Check it Out" and "Your Love," then you will love Pink Friday. Pink Friday has some songs aimed directly at the Top 40.

Favorite Song: "Last Chance"- Featuring vocals by Natasha Bedingfield (shocker!) the song is a great flow of Minaj's rap and Bedingfield's soulful vocals.

9. Recovery-Eminem

For years, Eminem has only had his pain and anger from the problems with his mother and ex-wife to rap about, and it got tiring and annoying after a while. Now that Eminem has gone through the hardships of rehab and survived a suicide attempt, he gets a little raw and begins to rap about real things.

Favorite Song: "Talkin' 2 Myself" ft. Kobe-This song is very engrossing and draws you into singing the chorus along with Kobe. I never heard of this guy before, but the track was very effective and enjoyable.

10. Crazy Love-Michael Bublé

Michael Bublé is the anomaly in this top-10 list. He's not a typical pop star, but he has had some success on the mainstream radio with "Haven't Met You Yet." This is Bublé's first album in 2 1/2 years, and it features two original songs along with his always-original take on 11 standards from various eras. It's a great compilation of soulful and poetic works that our generation has forgotten.

Favorite Song: "Georgia on My Mind"- A classic song that is soulfully recreated by Bublé; this is a great de-stresser.