Best Rock Albums in 2009, so far

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.

black sabbath/ ronnie james Dio

Second the Sonic Youth and Wilco albums. Also love the new live Coldplay "LeftRightLeftRightLeft" and Phoenix album from France.

levon helm, electric dirt...jj cale roll on.....van astral weeks live...i know what you're thinking, well...........yeah

Son Volt American Central Dust. I was never much of an Uncle Tupelo fan, enjoyed Gob Iron, but the band has really matured with the latest Son Volt. This a straight line back to '70s Neil Young ballads with occasional inflections toward the Byrds. Excellent SQ on Rounder LP after a hosing on the RCM.