Bright Lights – Gary Clark Jr. – Sure, "Don't Owe You A Thang" is as great as the electric blues can get in 2011, handclaps, steely bass, great riff, and cool as shit, "we ain't getting married, I ain't buying you no diamond ring" he snarls and he means it. But neither the title track nor the 8 minute live "When My Train Pulls In" which chugs and chugs and chugs, have next best thing anywhere close to his name. Grade: B
Blood Pressure/Odd Soul – Mute Math – A bluesy alt vibe. Grade: B
Snack Time – Barenaked Ladies -A comedy troop rock band who have been doing it forever and who are about as funny as the first song on this album "7 8 9" on this 2007 kids album recently rereleased. Grade: C+
Watch The Throne – Jay-Z And Kanye West – Not a disaster but not very good, the Dark Fantasy plus G.O.O.D. Friday's West album from last year was vastly better. Having said that, Frank Ocean is great on "No Church In The World", and "New Day" and "The Joy" are both so good. Grade: B
Revelations – Gyptian – Sure, I could do without the Jahing and one worlding, but I'll take it for this gorgeous lover's rock modern reggae. If you are not heavy into reggae it can get a little samey but for the first four songs straight, it is a beautiful and powerful sound. Grade: B+
Follow Me Home – Jay Rock – Superior gangsta rock, especially a Chris Brown joint, though the Will I Am is a touch disappointing. Jay has a spittle ball of a rap and Tech N9ne are always welcome, but for all it's violence and horror, it doesn't add up to enough. Grade: B
Psycho Jukebox – Jon Fratelli – The UK leader of the self-destructive band that shared his last name first shot at solo stardom,. We used to have a word for this when I was growing up: pub rock. This is a mediumish mix of blues, rock, vaudeville, clever songs but not clever enough. Incidentally, I wasn't that keen on the Fratelli's either. Grade: B-
Skying – The Horrors – The follow up to Primary Colors is even better than their epic last album. This is a Goth update of the Cure, and, like Robert Smith, they remembered to bring the songs with them. This is epic stuff which catching the ears with soaring voices and drum machines. Grade: A-
A State Of Trance – Armin Von Buuren – Lives up to its name and then some, the only reason to hear this is if you have mixed lude, red wine and ecstasy and wanna move your hips.