Best Rock Albums in 2009, so far

The Wilco album heads in a less experimental direction than where they were a few years ago, but the songs are good, the playing tight, and increasing contributions from guitarist Nels Cline give it a subtle jazzy subtext, reminiscent of Steely Dan in some spots.
To paraphrase Jeff Tweedy, "We thought everyone is ready to laugh with us more. These are just some songs we want everyone to enjoy". In the context of a lighter mood, this is a great summer album! Cheers,
Spencer

The new Sonic Youth is their best in a coon's age, ranking among their very finest records, IMO. Also really like TV On The Radio's new one, which came out earlier in the year.

Bit obsessed with The Airborn Toxic Event, personally.

Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown

Ditto Wilco & nice to know Sonic Youth is in good form. Other good recent releases available on vinyl include Grizzly Bear Veckatimest, Elvis Costello Secret, Profane & Sugarcane, and Eels Hombre Lobo(though on Eels albums he makes the unfortunate choice for audiophiles of treating voice with distortion. BTW this is one of the best LP album jackets in recent memory.) Costello has returned to form, and Grizzly Bear like Deerhunter is one of the better alt/folk/psychedelic inheritors of Neil Young sound.