Here are my picks for best 2012 CDs by area artists:

Best World CD/Album of the Year: “Introducing Positively Africa,” by Positively Africa (positivelyafrica.com). Husband-and-wife founders Julius Sanna (vocals, guitar) and Julia Sanna (vocals, percussion) crafted a great-sounding debut collage of African and pop sounds on this CD’s standout originals like “Tanga,” “Pendo” and “Leo.” Yet most of this cultural Lake Worth act’s club bookings are with their offshoot Sanna Groove Band (which includes Positively Africa bassist Cleveland Frederick and drummer Rod Parker) or Julius playing solo.

See Julius Sanna from 4-8 p.m. on Saturdays and 7-11 p.m. on Mondays at B.B. King’s, 550 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach (561-420-8600).

Best Pop CD: “Sal Paradise” by Ric Pattison (ricpattison.com). An understated acoustic gem, Pattison’s latest CD features the one-man band (on vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards and programmed drums) on standout tracks “I Don’t Want To Know,” “Time Goes By”and “Seeing Eye Dog,” all captured at his Lake Worth home studio The Shed.

Ric Pattison plays from 6-8 p.m. on Fridays at The Living Room, 1709 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach (561-742-4399), 10 p.m.-midnight on Saturday at Kavasutra II, 521 Clematis St., West Palm Beach (561-722-8489), and from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sundays and 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at Darbster, 8020 S. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach (561-586-2622).

Best Roots CD: “Let’s Go To Therapy” (Swamp) by Monty Warren and the Friggin’ Whatevers (montywarren.net). Roots take different forms on this West Palm Beach singer/guitarist’s latest CD — from the speedy, Ramones-like opener “Scraped Off the Floor” to the sing-along title track featuring former Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan. Softer, Neil Young-inspired numbers like “Nashville Sunrise” and “Icalyn” lead to a rocking closing cover of Mott the Hoople’s “Jerkin’ Crocus.”

Best Rock CD: “Dharmata” by Dharmata (dharmataband.com). This rising West Palm Beach band’s metallic image obscures influences from Jeff Buckley to Jimi Hendrix on its self-titled debut through the work of vocalist Jay Slim, guitarists Chris Proano and Matt Sheridan, bassist Kevin Sanchez and drummer JC Lackey. The songs “Do It Again” and “The Awakening” are getting regional radio airplay, which is why the quintet is often putting pedal to metal on tour.

Honorable Mentions:

“Will There be Tomorrow?” (independent) by Avalanche, “Souvenir” (independent) by The City Lines, “Lost in Vacation” (independent) by Jason Colannino, “Over You Now” (independent) by Max DuBose and the Mplants, “Pine Box Blues” (Gorgeous) by Joey George, “Evolution # 9”(independent) by The Kinected, “Livin’ Paycheck To Paycheck,” (independent) by Cecilia Lauren and the Ocoee River Band, “December 21, 2012” (independent) by Sound Proof.