Seeing Cyndi Lauper on several best blues of 2010 lists forced me to do my own (her album is fine, but one of the best? Seriously?). There were some good albums across the huge spectrum of what can be considered blues these days. From incredibly raw to slick and highly produced, there’s plenty of good soulful blues being made. Some looks back to traditional music, but there are blues musicians still creating sounds like nothing we’ve heard before.

This list includes only new music, not reissues or first-time issues of old stuff. Here are my ten favorites (at least until I change my mind in a few minutes):

Reverend KM Williams – When I Rise.  KM Williams had put about a dozen or so records on his own, but I hadn’t heard him until this release on Dialtone. He’s either a modern-day Blind Willie Johnson or a Holiness Church preacher version of R.L. Burnside. Williams plays raw music on a one-string homemade guitar. It sometimes shows his Texas roots, but the rhythms of Mississippi hill country grooves are in there too. Whether Williams is singing about finding redemption in the Lord or troubles with a woman, it comes out with the same forceful delivery.

Otis Taylor – Clovis People Vol. 3 - Taylor reinterprets some of his own material on Clovis People. It shows what a strong songwriter and powerful musician he is as he continues to grow. His dark voice, commentary on social injustice, and hypnotic grooves have never sounded better.

Lucky Peterson – You Can Always Turn Around.  Always (at least since he was six-years old or so) one of the most talented and versatile musicians around, this time he takes on acoustic blues and singer-songwriter type Americana.  It’s no surprise that it’s great. Songs from Blind Willie McTell and Rev. Gary Davis mesh well with those from Lucinda Williams and Ray LaMontagne.  Peterson’s singing is superb throughout.

Buddy Guy – Living Proof - This is Buddy Guy. He’s still got it and this is his strongest guitar work in recent years. It’s always a pleasure to hear a duet between two legends like Buddy and B.B. King.

Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters – Spread the Love. More inspired instrumentals from Earl and another great version of the Broadcasters–his best jazz/blues record since 1996’s Grateful Heart.

Mel Waiters - I Ain’t Gone Do It.  One of the masters of southern soul produced a great tribute to down home people, partying, and getting too old to party.

South Memphis String Band – Home Sweet Home.  Jimbo Mathus, Alvin Youngblood Hart, and Luther Dickinson get together and play some old-time string band, blues, and jug band music. It’s simply great musicians having a lot of fun together playing great songs.

Kent Kimbrough – Super Funky.  Junior Kimbrough’s kid puts together a set of blues and R&B that at times bring his dad to mind but more often sounds like fresh and funky soul.

The Black Keys – Brothers. I thought blues-rock was dead before The Black Keys came along. Thankfully, they rescued that genre from the hordes of Stevie Ray Vaughn imitators with Fender Strats. Brothers is one of their best efforts and the blues remaining as its core.

Kenny Neal – Hooked on Your Love. Kenny Neal was always a talented musician but something about his albums missed me until I heard this one. He’s matured into a soulful master. If we lived in a world where blues-based soul songs could be hits, a song like Bitter with the Sweet might be on your radio a thousand times a day.