This will again be lengthy. Samples will link to youtube mostly.
Key:
Green=Good --> Black=Average -->
Red=Not Good2011 Albums part 2:311 - Universal Pulse (
Sample via Youtube)
This just doesn't really work on so many levels.
1. 8 songs = ~29 minutes
2. 40 year olds writing songs in the vein of frat rock anthems.
3. ???
4. Profit? No.
Battles - Gloss Drop (
Sample via Youtube)
Very different from their previous albums, as one of the members dropped out of the band after the first albums. So there's that. It's less math-rock oriented and more out in left-field rock/experimental, but at the same time somewhere between the two. I find there's not much that makes me want to listen again though.
Beats Antique - Elektraphone (
Sample via Youtube)
Very standard Beats here. Nothing pops out, but there's nothing to annoy you either.
The Black Keys - El Camino (
Sample via Youtube)
On first listen, I actually didn't like the album very much. I felt they played it way too safe. Listening again though there are some songs that really rock. I did enjoy the album after the first time, but it is played too safe, and there's nothing too exciting after the first half.
Buckethead - Empty Space (
Sample via Youtube)
Buckethead puts out like 8 albums per year now. Hard to say that there's going to be much different between the albums during the year, but he's does a good job recently of keeping them themed and fitting the songs together on the albums.
Buckethead - It's Alive (
Sample via Youtube)
See above. Buckethead seems more intent on allowing his bass parts to show through this year as well.
Crystal Antlers - Two Way Mirror (
Sample via Youtube)
Not as good as their previous efforts. Needs more direction and focus, but not bad.
DJ Shadow - The Less You Know, the Better (
Sample via Youtube)
Not as good as I hoped, but still rather good. There are many enjoyable songs, and the rest are average. This seems more like a getting back in the groove album than his strongest efforts, but it's eclectic and does its job.
Enter the Haggis - Whitelake (
Sample via Youtube)
I was disappointed by this, but there's nothing really wrong with it. My expectations were just higher than the mark this hit. It's very straightforward light pop. There's a lack of the "Irish" instruments that I liked from the previous albums and not much low end.
MC Frontalot - Solved (
Sample via Youtube)
It's a rather well put together album. He's still got witty lyrics, but the downside to the album is that it's more geared toward the standardised hip hop chorus style. It's still got plenty of funny, and he's rapping better than ever, but there's slightly less content in some of the songs. It is a rather listenable album though.
Grouper - AIA (
Sample via Youtube)
I never quite know what to expect from Grouper, other than ambient. This was ambient, and a two parter at that. Soothing music, whispered vocals and all well combined make this rather good.
Hecq - Avenger (
Sample via Youtube)
Very much in the vein of Skrillex dubstep, but more well done. I'd really prefer more melodic music from Hecq, as he's done well with combining the two in the past, this is very rhythmic.
Kraddy - Anthems of the Hero (
Sample via Youtube)
This one caught me by surprise. Kraddy is a member of The Glitch Mob, and his earlier stuff is decent. Here he's crafted well placed beats and melodies into primarily anthemic songs. There are times when dialog from the recording sessions is left in, which actually usually adds to the songs. There are a couple of songs that interestingly remind me a bit at points of The Mars Volta. It's also interesting to see what individuals of a group can accomplish on their own, and here, it seems he could do fairly well just solo. That's not to say The Glitch Mob should disband or anything as they work well as a group too.
Psychic Ills - Hazed Dream (
Sample via Youtube)
Very mellow lazy day neopsychedelia. Wish it was a bit more interesting and varied.
Primus - Green Naugahyde (
Sample via Youtube)
Primus album. Yes! Well it's well done. My main problems are the production, (too clean, no grit as in previous albums) and the lyrics are not very clever (Obama's pecker.)
Rodrigo y Gabriela - Live in France (
Sample via Youtube)
Fairly straightforward live recordings that are a good listen. As a plus there are songs that have not been released yet as well.
Russian Circles - Empros (
Sample via Youtube)
A solid effort from Russian Circles. My main complaint with it though is that the dynamics aren't crafted as well as previous albums, and it's rather straightforward.
Six Organs of Admittance - Asleep on the Flood Plain (
Sample via Youtube)
Unlike their other efforts, this is a very relaxed and light album, that still features wonderful acoustic guitar work. Vocals are softly spoken and soothing.
Slidecamp - Slidecamp (
Sample via Youtube)
A rather good album that is the side project of one of the members of The Glitch Mob (Boreta.) It feels like a mix of electronica and post-rock, but never really feels wholly like either.
Sublime with Rome - Yours Truly (
Sample via Youtube)
A good effort, but way too laden with effects, though well used. It never really reaches the full groove of the original sublime, but there are some decent songs.
U.S. Christmas - The Valley Path (
Sample via Youtube)
Stumbled onto this and it keeps drawing me back in. A driving rock psychedelia journey that lasts 39 minutes.
Wooden Shjips - West (
Sample via Youtube.)
Fairly standard neopsych.
E.P.s and such:Bassnectar - Color Storm Remixtape (
Sample via Youtube)
A 35 min long mix tape by Bassnectar. Would be nicer if it had been split into tracks.
The Black Angels - Phosgene Nightmare (
Sample via Youtube, I was at that show, which I got tossed around in a mosh pit 10 feet from the stage most of the night.

)
Feels like bonus material from
Phosphene Dream. Not bad, but nothing too exciting.
Black Moth Super Rainbow / Holy fork / Shugo Tokumaru - Vicious Circles, Vol. 1 (
Sample via Youtube)
These three take turns remixing the other two's songs. I really like the concept, and it's well done. There should have been more though.
Broken Bells - Meyrin Fields (
Sample via Youtube)
Pretty good broken bells tracks that seem like they would only really work on the EP.
Cheapshot - zOMG!! (
Sample via Youtube)
Dubstep meets chiptune. Yes.
The Glitch Mob - More Voltage (
Sample via Official Website)
A one hour mixtape by The Glitch Mob.
The Glitch Mob - We Can Make the World Stop (
Sample via Youtube)
Pretty decent tracks. Nothing important other than the title track.
Moby - iTunes Festival: London 2011(
Sample via Youtube)
Moby bootleg via iTunes. Pretty good live Moby.
Mogwai - Earth Division (
Sample via Youtube)
Excellent use of an EP. A slightly more organic and different side of Mogwai.
Mogwai - iTunes Festival: London 2011 (
Sample via Youtube)
Bootleg tracks via iTunes. Stick to the live albums. As well as these tracks are performed, the mixing is better on the "real" live albums.
Phantogram - Nightlife (
Sample via Youtube)
Good tracks that remind me of why I like Phantogram.