While such older acts as the Rolling Stones and Madonna raked in millions of dollars touring in 2006, younger-skewing musicians such as Gnarls Barkley, Beck and the Raconteurs were cranking out stunning studio work. In genres ranging from hip-hop to rock to country to folk, there were fresh sounds worth adding to any collection. Here are the year's 10 best albums:

-- BOXAD TABLE --> Broken Boy Soldiers, the Raconteurs - Jack White takes a break from the White Stripes but refuses to call it a side project. He joins pop-rock songsmith Brendan Benson to record modern rock that is rough around the edges, with plenty of passion and hummable hooks. The debut single, Steady As She Goes, melds stark indie instrumentation with pop.

The Information, Beck - The Quirky One hits his second consecutive project out of the park. He has cleverly combined genres over 12 years, and this multidirectional album is par for the course. Too-cool rapping (Elevator Music), brisk rock (Think I'm in Love) and atmospheric ballads (Strange Apparition) are all here.

St. Elsewhere, Gnarls Barkley - Despite lyrics touching on paranoia, schizophrenia and suicide, this collaboration between Atlanta rap veteran Cee-Lo Green and LA studio magician Danger Mouse ends up being one of the year's more upbeat CDs. Credit Cee-Lo's twisted humor and Danger Mouse's ability to stimulate the ear at every turn.

The breakout single Crazy was one of 2006's best songs. Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, Neko Case - This singer-songwriter has challenged listeners for nearly a decade by putting her wistful spin on country, pop and torch styles. This time, she confidently mines bits of her past to create an otherworldly sound that is all hers.

Backed by members of Calexico, the Sadies and Garth Hudson of the Band, Case weaves tales of darkness, religion and ambivalent love with a new depth. We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, Bruce Springsteen - Springsteen succeeds in making songs popularized decades ago by folk icon Pete Seeger appealing to a new generation. He shows respect for such classics as John Henry, Erie Canal and Shenandoah but amps up the beat in places and even brings in (gasp!

) horns. The result is simple, well-crafted fun. Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, Arctic Monkeys - This quartet's debut is a lusty package of punk, melodic rock and humor delivered with cocky British inflection by singer-jester Alex Turner.

It's a fast-paced account of club-crawling, skirt-chasing and dealing with the occasional jerk. While growing up, this young band must have listened to everything from the Clash to the Kinks to the Beatles because this disc holds hints of them all. Orphans, Tom Waits - The 54 songs here include 30 new recordings along with rare songs resulting from collaborations in film, literature and music.

On the first two discs, Waits growls accounts of criminals, barflies and crooked politicians to roadhouse rock, country and spiritual sounds. The third CD finds him tackling poetry and storytelling as only he can do. FutureSex/LoveSounds, Justin Timberlake - On his second CD, Timberlake continues to distance himself from his 'N Sync past and evolve as one of R B's most creative artists.

He expands his collaboration with hip-hop's Timbaland, who co-writes and produces most of the tracks. Timberlake strips things back, employing drum machines, electronica and processed vocals. The debut single, Sexy Back, with its high-octane profanity, sets the edgy tone.

Timberlake also knows his way around sweet soul and club-friendly ballads. The Crane Wife, the Decemberists - This indie folk-rock band raised eyebrows when it joined corporate giant Capitol Records for its fourth CD, but the move only sharpened its already stellar songwriting. This collection, bound by singer Colin Meloy's razor-sharp storytelling, flows as seamlessly as any 2006 recording.

Two song cycles, including the title track, based on a Japanese folk tale, exceed 10 minutes, but the well-executed music and literary imagery make the time fly. Game Theory, the Roots - Long respected for performing with live instruments and for moments of studio brilliance, the Roots have assembled their most consistent album, along with some of their most in-your-face beats, starting with the anti-war rant False Media. Black Thought's unrelenting rap atop ?

uestlove's crazed drums and sci-fi synthesizer on Here I Come is something to behold. Honorable mention - 3121, Prince; Continuum, John Mayer; Post-War, M. Ward; Black Cadillac, Rosanne Cash; and Songbird, Willie Nelson with Ryan Adams.

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