Best Rock Album of 2015

+1 Star Wars, but topped by Mercury Rev 'The Light in You.' True to their lyric "psychedelic rock and blue-eyed soul." When they're not too Peter Pan, they hit a long ball into R&R.

"The tone arm moves, the vinyl crackles
And suddenly I'm not alone...

You can't fool old Peter Hook

Facebook butterflies flap their wings and
Suddenly a Brooklyn band is born

For the first time in forever
I lay the needle down in the groove
And for the first time in forever
I hold my breath waiting for side two

Translator, Wire, Dead Can Dance
A needle on a record's a second chance
Talk Talk, Felt, Romeo Void
Give me The Fall, "I'm totally wired"
Splat Cats, Opal, Terry Riley
Kaka de Luxe ad Derek and Clive
I'm so bored four on the floor
Bring me the ear of Thurston Moore

Popul Vah, Agitprop
Elliot Smith, The Dream Syndicate

I'm hearing bands like they're all brand new."

Dgarretson: I wish I could have been there!

As far as ("I'm hearing bands like they're (Is this really a word?) all brand new"... I totally get it!!!

It's a strange band and certainly not for everyone. I group them with The Flaming Lips and The Eels, though better than the others when they're(sic) at their best.

BTW I totally agree with your prior recommendation of Kintsugi. I had lost track of Death Cab since their early albums.

Acman3: Thanks. Saw CB on Austin City Limits last night. Wow! She is the real deal. I love this lp more every time I hear it. That's pretty amazing at this stage in my life.

Robben Ford's Into The Sun is pretty good. It's a rock album with some blues influences and include guest appearances by Sonny Landreth, Keb' Mo, Warren Haynes, Robert Randolph and ZZ Ward. The sound quality is quite good too.