2010 was not a plentiful year for great rock albums.  Many of the most celebrated discs of the year were of the pop variety.  Although the crop was meagre, there were a few releases that managed to impress me.  Below is the list of my five favourite rock releases of this past year.

 Slash – Slash

The former Guns N’ Roses axeman and current Velvet Revolver leader released his best solo project yet in 2010.  Slash took a page from the Santana playbook and invited guest vocalists to be a part of the project.  Ian Astbury, Ozzy Osbourne and Myles Kennedy were a few of the notables who contibuted.  My favourite tracks include “Ghost”, “Back From Cali” and “Saint Is A Sinner Too”.

Come Around Sundown – Kings Of Leon

These guys are one of my favourite bands.  I own everthing they’ve ever put out, so it’s not a surprise that this was one of my favourites of 2010.  Caleb Followill could probably sing the phone book and I would buy it.  This album was not as good as 2008′s “Only By The Night”, but it was still a very strong effort.  Key tracks for me include “Radioactive”, “Pickup Truck” and “The Face”.

Contra – Vampire Weekend

These guys were on my radar with the release of their first album, but Vampire Weekend really caught my ear with album number two.  There is really nothing that sounds quite like it out there right now.  The band is clearly influenced by world music and I hear a little bit of The Police in there somewhere too.  The best tracks include “Cousins”, “Holiday” and “Giving Up The Gun”.

Below The Belt – Danko Jones

If you want party rock, Danko is the stuff!  The guys delivered their best album since 1999′s “Love Is Bold” this year.  The riffs are catchy and the lyrics are saucy; just what we’ve come to expect from one of Canada’s finest live bands.  Key tracks include “Active Volcanoes”, “Full Of Regret” and “(I Can’t Handle) Moderation”.

Exile On Main Street Reissue – The Rolling Stones

It is rare that I would put a reissue on my year end “Best Of” List, but this one definitely deserves to be here.  Not only did the Stones unearth some musical gems, but we also got the brilliant documentary “Stones In Exile” this year.  I suggest you check them both out.  The best of the previously unreleased stuff includes “Plundered My Soul”, “Following The River” and “I’m Not Signifying”.  As for the originals from the 1972 release, the best of the bunch include “Loving Cup”, “All Down The Line” and “Rocks Off”.

Honorable mentions go out to some other great albums from 2010 – Neil Young’s “Le Noise”, “The Suburbs” by Arcade Fire and “American Slang” from The Gaslight Anthem.