Thee Oh Sees–Carrion Crawler/The Dream: With this, Thee Oh Sees second LP of 2011, we find the local heroes and figureheads of the whole garage-y international underground rock scene delivering their most powerful LP yet. This disc is like a promise fulfilled by San Francisco’s best band. Like their incredible live sets, this record hits hard immediately and sustains an intensified drive that burns a groove in your consciousness and could leave you with your chest heaving, sweaty and a big grin on your face. I love this band and i love the expansive production qualities and the expanded line-up (a second drummer , Lars from The Intelligence, was added, and dual drums are always exciting). Carrion Crawler/ The Dream marks a huge step forward for a band that’s in constant motion already. If you dont like this record you must be dead. great cover art too. 
Ty Segal–Goodbye Bread: Yet another local artist who releases so many records it’s hard to keep up, but with Goodbye Bread he really hit home. I think its his best release to date. Bookended by his other big release this year Singles 2007-2010 which debuted on CMJ chart at number one, it’s been a banner year for this prolific singer/songwriter who is finally getting the attention he so rightfully deserves.
Hollie Cook–Hollie Cook: There are few records that quite simply made me so happy to hear and play besides this debut disc by a young artist whose father just happens to be Steve Cook of The Sex Pistols. Holly was an honorary member of the reformed version of The Slits who toured briefly before Ari Up’s untimely demise of cancer. Holly quit school to become a Slit and that is so cool! With this disc she employs a very roots-y traditional ska/reggae/dub sound peppered by some true all-stars of the genre(Prince Fatty, Horseman) in production as well as players in the band. Her cover of “Walking in The Sand” is lovely (listen below)
Great video too. This record is an under-noticed gem that deserves your attention.
Grace Jones– Hurricane Dub: Originally released in 2008, Hurricane saw its domestic release in 2011 as a double disc, including a dub version of the original disc that takes you right back to the dub glory of the famous Compass Point Sessions. The second disc is immaculate bass-heavy effects-laden stoner dub brilliance and a perfect reminder that her entire musical body of work needs no justification. She’s an original and a genius, hands down.
Moon Duo–Mazes: Another amazing local act, two former members of Wooden Shjips, who actually moved to colorado recently so i guess they aren’t local anymore, have released a ton of records as Moon Duo. They create long delicious psychedelic jams with basically organ and guitar and their songs never fail to get a rise out of the crowd when I DJ. They have numerous releases out and none of them have disappointed. Listen below
Le Butcherettes–Sin Sin Sin: On the basis of mainly the incredible star-power of band figurehead Terri Gender-Bender and her live performance opening for The Stooges in December, this record is in like flynn for my best of list. Angst, anger, feminist theory, Tolstoi, wearing cute dresses with bloody aprons on stage, being an edgy, even frightening performer, trading off guitar and keyboards, incredible vocals, astonishing beauty and fearlessness. This act has it all in spades. She is one of those “I’ve seen the future of Rock and Roll…” Dave Marsh moments for me this year.
Disappears–Guider: This band has a powerful grinding chemistry, a grand sum of all its parts that reflects a huge sonic creation full of depth nuance and monument. They just fucking rock. Even the 15 minute long final song never muddles or gets boring. It’s like a feast that never ends, a huge rock and roll dynamic that now features Sonic Youths drummer.
Pow Wows–Nightmare Soda: I heard this Canadian band’s LP rather late in the year but its been figuring in to my list of favorites with out question as their incredible songs grab me by the balls in a way that true rock and roll should. They’ve got a real unhinged and natural lust for the dirty fun we crave, us followers of the devils music.
Wax Idols–No Future: Another local group in a year with locals figuring prominently in my list. Thats gotta be a good thing. This disc really took my by surprise with its adeptness and the ability to hit on a number of different styles dead on. It has pop sensibility, punk rock angst, garage rock aplomb, post punk archness, no-wave minimalism, all-female line-up, and a Wire cover! Then I learned they were from Oakland!
Ty Segal–singles 2007-2010: This great collection is perfect testament that something big has been going on here for a few years now. 
The Kills–Blood Pressures: This one is not as good as their last one but there’s a few undeniably great moments on this disc like the cuts “DNA” and “Nail in My Coffin”.
fantastic list-we overlapped in 3 places, i loved 3 others & the the last 4 am gonna give a good listen to. thanks for compiling!
good one Don!