So far, 2011 has been a great year for rock ‘n’ roll.

Already, new albums have been released by Radiohead, Cake, Gregg Almann, Sonic Youth and Jeff Beck.

R.E.M. was the latest to hop on the band wagon with the release of “Collapse Into Now.”

Keep an eye to the new releases for material from The Strokes, Ray Davies, Paul Simon and TV On The Radio.

“Collapse Into Now”

by R.E.M. 4 or 5

R.E.M. has called “Collapse Into Now” its best album in 20 years. They just may be right.

Years of lackluster albums left R.E.M. on the sidelines, but the band storms back with its 15th studio album.

While “Collapse Into Now” may not feature a hit like “Man on the Moon,” the songs flow together and are best experienced as a full album.

Rocker Patti Smith makes a guest appearance on “Blue,” the album’s closing track and one of its gems. This ties a pleasant bow on the album when it closes with a throwback to the album’s opening track “Discover.”

“21”

by Adele 3.7 of 5

Adele’s newest album “21” starts with a bang.

The album opens with a driving soul rhythm on “Rolling in the Deep” with Adele’s soulful voice sounding strained and ready to break free for the rest of the album.

The pace continues with “Rumor Has It” — one of the album’s first singles and one of the albums best tracks, as it features a crisp snare and bass to back Adele’s vocals.

Despite a strong opening, the album soon plateaus as Adele turns to a more country-inspired style.

Adele has said she was motivated by the music a bus driver played on a recent tour.

While Adele’s voice is the focal instrument of the album, it’s too often the only force. Her voice can fill any track almost effortlessly, but “21” is at its best when the backing musicians let loose, like on tracks like “I’ll Be Waiting.” When that happens, it makes Adele’s voice better.

“Going Out In Style”

by the Dropkick Murphy’s 3 of 5

The Dropkick Murphy’s can still rock.

The band’s latest album “Going Out In Style” growls to a start with the words, “We waited together for the cowards to come.”

After almost a decade and a half, the Irish-Punk band can still jam as hard as any band. At the same time, the band’s Celtic roots weave a softer sound through the snarling punk with bagpipes, whistles, accordions and banjos.

Each song sounds like a party. Most of the songs explode in chanting anthems that sound like listeners should raise a beer and sing along.

It’s business as usual for the Dropkick Murphys — the album offers few surprises. However, one surprise was Bruce Springsteen’s cameo to lend vocals to “Peg O’ My Heart.

“Ghost With Chains”

by Daughters of the Sun 4 of 5

No band sounds quite like Daughters of the Sun.

Minnesota’s psychedelic trio continues to develop its unique sound on “Ghosts With Chains,” released earlier this year.

The album is like the soundtrack to a dream or a dance around a fire. Daughters of the Sun’s albums exude a fullness with vocals echoing over understated guitars and extended drones.

The guitars shine on “Hexegram,” a track that hearkens back to the band’s album “Visions of the Ocean Head.” But on “Bell of the Barrier,” the guitars blend in and let the drums carry distant vocals.

The drumming has shaped the band’s sound.

It abandons traditional rock beats for tom-driven beats infused with tambourines, rim shots and the occasional cymbal crash.

Keep an eye out for Daughters of the Sun. The band is currently taking their music out of the state to places like Chicago, Austin, Texas, and Kansas City, Mo.