We’ve each already had our say, individually. Said our piece. Then came time to meet over the remnants of the egg nog and hammer out a consensus — before we go over the disc-al cliff into 2013.

The Dinosaurs of Rock roamed the Earth again in 2012, racing up the charts past bands half their age and chewing through expectations. Expectations, you say? I had many. Most of them dead wrong.

Part 2, Mainstream and Modern Jazz >>> For the sixth straight year, it’s time to look back on the year in music to recollect which albums I really, really liked this year and make a list.

This new two-disc set of rarities and unreleased tracks, built around a double-sided benefit single from Ian Gillan and Tony Iommi, traces a series of intriguing side trips traveled by Deep Purple and Black Sabbath.

A couple of years ago when bassist/composer/bandleader Marcus Miller revisited Miles Davis’ Tutu, a late-period Miles album that was essentially a Marcus Miller album with Miles as the primary lead voice, Miller was revisiting himself, too.

After two goes at an annual Official™ Something Else! Top 10 list, we’ve decided to introduce a mid-year edition — for those who simply can’t wait for the Christmas sales

Since 2007, I’ve had year-end lists for the albums I thought stood out over the rest, within and without jazz. If the Mayans are to be believed, there won’t be time for year-end lists for 2012

Dobro ace Jerry Douglas might have been expected to do some picking and grinning on the forthcoming Traveler. Happily, in keeping with the name, the album moves far afield of such easy assumptions.

Taking stock last night, as the sun dove below the trees on the year’s longest day, it occurred to me that 2012 has already provided a harvest of good-rocking blessings.

Another Monday, another teetering stack of new music goodness — just waiting to be tipped over, then rifled through.