Best CD I've heard so far 2011.........

I should add one caveat on the Pete Thorn recommendation:

On a subtlety/nuance scale of 1 to 10, this rates a zero. Just some "in yer face" guitar fun, old school style.

Marty

J Mascis - "Several Shades of Why" - Dinosaur Jr is my favorite (extremely loud) rock band of the last 20 years. J Mascis puts down his electric guitar (except for a couple of leads), turns the amps down from 11 to 6, and turns in a gem.

The Hampdens - "The Last Party" - Delicate acoustic rock from Australia.

Thurston Moore - "Demolished Thoughts" - No electric guitars, not even any drums, just beautiful songs from the Sonic Youth front man.

Gillian Welch fans should like the new one. Probably not up to the masterpiece Time, and perhaps not quite up to the excellent Revival and Soul Journey, but very fine. The standout may be "The Way it Goes," which exemplifies her trademark understated creepiness.

John

Incubus.

Marcin Wasilewski Trio, "Faithful", on ECM. Wonderful spacious and melodic jazz trio (piano, double-bass, drums). Great talents and musicianship (of course, its on ECM). If you enjoy any of the Keith Jarrett trio work, you'll love this recording (even more perhaps than KJ). I also recommend their 2008 release, "January", on which they do a terrific interpretation of Prince's, "Diamonds and Pearls". Sublime. Superb.