We Say...
Mary J. Blige:  This one is a no-brainer. Mary J. is at the top of her game, and while the other artists here had fine years, there is no other album on this list that matched the artistry and fire of Blige. Take a bow, girl.

We Say...
Tom Petty:  We're going out on a limb here, but we have our reasons. The Mayer Trio tried but couldn't live up to its ambition. A similar problem beset Young's antiwar screed, which sounded like placards set to feedback. The Raconteurs' disc is a totally enjoyable lark, a feat that could actually work against them, while the Peppers have already been earmarked to take the main prize. So, this seems the perfect place for a vet like Petty, who turned in a remarkably good album that was low on fanfare but hugely entertaining. It's a bit of a long shot, but we're willing to take it.