 | Fully Completely by The Tragically Hip
Buy used from: $4.54 No one does rock better than The Hip. . .great chemistry, monster grooves, deep passion.
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 | Main Offender by Keith Richards
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $0.70 Rock is about the groove, and the key is not to play it too fast, allow for space, and have two guitarists who gel. I learned that from Keith Richards and this album.
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 | Breakout by Miley Cyrus
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $2.00 What comes through, loud and clear, is Miley Cyrus' sincere, passionate, powerful vocal performance and clever songwriting. She's one of the strongest rock vocalists I've ever heard, and she just keeps getting better.
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 | Right Between the Promises by Freedy Johnston
Buy new: $13.96 / Used from: $0.64 The best vocalist in rock, with apologies to Robert Palmer and Paul Rogers. And 100 times the better songwriter. This album is so good that it made me go back and listen again to his previous album, Blue Days Black Nights with a new perspective.
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 | Robbie Robertson by Robbie Robertson
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $1.57 "American Roulette." As loud as possible.
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 | Nashville by Josh Rouse
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $3.47 Josh Rouse sounds laid-back when he sings, but this creates an intimacy and fragility that is compelling. Moreover, Rouse has a sense of groove that one-ups the easy-listening stuff that inspired him.
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 | Stronger by Carlene Carter
Buy new: $15.99 / Used from: $5.97 Breathtaking collection of tracks, with deep emotional undercurrents and smoldering, understated vocal delivery. Tennessee tough and tender, Carlene delivers one of the best albums of 2008.
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 | Headjoy by Sun 60
Buy used from: $0.01 A wild, tense, passionate disc of terrific songs and performances.
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 | Into the Music by Van Morrison
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $3.95 The ONLY perfect album.
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 | Cosmic Thing by The B-52's
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $0.01 A near-perfect, joyous album.
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 | Sleeps With Angels by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $0.01 Haunting. Contrary to Neil Young's biography, they didn't "lose the spook" when they made this album.
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 | Seduced By Money
Buy used from: $0.54 The right combination of song, vocal, guitar and rhythm for rock.
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 | Buddy & Julie Miller by Buddy & Julie Miller
Buy new: $17.98 / Used from: $4.99 Something about this album keeps me coming back. When I first heard it, I said Buddy had the worst solo in the greatest song I'd heard in years. Now I hear that solo and how it fits, and the haunting tone and feel of his guitar playing throughout, and I say "Damn. . .that's just right."
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 | Rock of Ages by The Band
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $9.28 The bottom of the bin is full of slick, overproduced, pitch-corrected garbage that makes everyone and everything sound the same. When you've had enough, and you can't take it anymore, put on Rock of Ages and enjoy something real, something that just keeps getting better with time.
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 | Present Reality by Michael Card
Buy used from: $3.54 An early direct-to-digital Christian recording, this masterpiece cries out for a remix and re-release to add muscle and volume. That's all that's missing, because Michael Card's songwriting and performing are especially passionate and engaging. If you really want to feel and know what it means to be a Christian, skip the newspapers and TV and listen to this album.
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 | Guilty Pleasure by Ashley Tisdale
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $4.94 Guilty as charged, this album has everything that typically wears me out after one listen: Huge production and HEAVY use of digital harmony. Thing is: I love this album. Ranging from playful and sweet to smoldering hot, only Ashley could pull this off and make it work. Check out "Hot Mess" to hear one of the best tracks of 2009.
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 | The Best of Marshall Crenshaw: This Is Easy by Marshall Crenshaw
Buy new: $13.96 / Used from: $4.99 Along with the B52's Cosmic Thing, this album is a joy to listen to, repeatedly. Irresistible guitar hooks, killer harmonies, and great songs.
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 | That Thing You Do!: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Buy new: $7.98 / Used from: $1.91 Bottom-line: The songs done by The Oneders (not the Oh-nee-ders) and most of the other artists are terrific. Beyond conveying the feel of the early 60's songs and groups, they really are great songs, well performed and produced. However, I curse Tom Hanks for writing "Lovin You Lots and Lots," because I can't get that silly thing out of my head.
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 | Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus by Hannah Montana
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $0.99 You know what? Disc 1 has good songs, great production, and Miley Cyrus' mid-range power punch that is just great for rock. The songwriting on Disc 2 is weak by comparison, but Disc 1 sure holds up well through repeated listenings. And that's what the Staying Power list is all about.
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 | The American Mall by Original Soundtrack
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $0.07 By far the best soundtrack of the genre, this one has great songs top to bottom, up-tempo tracks to crank, and a great, natural production that doesn't wear out its welcome. Of particular note is Keely Hawkes vocals supporting Nina Dobrev as Ally. Hawkes' voice and expressiveness is reminicent of Julie Miller, but with a high-end range that is as sweet as it gets.
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