Best Rock Albums in 2009, so far

"Them Crooked Vultures". Fascinating cross-currents of Cream, Zep, Foo, & QOTSA. Homme's tendency toward head-banging is kept in check and surprising flights of lyricism abound. Excellent uncompressed vinyl from Bernie Grundman Mastering.

Here are my fave albums:

Sonic Youth The Eternal
Rancid Let the Dominos Fall
Pearl Jam Backspacer
Helado Negro Awe Owe
Dave Alvin Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women
Elvis Costello Secret, Profane & Sugarcane
Neko Case Middle Cyclone
Wilco Wilco
The Vines Melodia
Bat for Lashes Two Suns
Coldplay LeftRightLeft
Rural Alberta Advantage Hometowns
Phoenix Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Jack Johnson En concert
Chasing Kings The current state of our future
Kate Havnevik Unlike Me
Grizzly Bear Vackatimest
Yeah Yeah Yeahs It's Blitz!

Dgarretson, I second that album, Them Crooked Vultures is something Special!

I didnt think anything would surpass Keep it Hid but this might be the one. Ive heard the album three times but cant yet cast my final vote.

That Auerbach is tasty and earns a place next to old Savoy Brown.

Still need to find that Sonic Youth. A great review in NYTimes last week of The Eternal in concert.

Department of Eagles "In Ear Park". The alter ego of Grizzly Bear has grown on me after learning that the band toured with Radiohead. Though operating on a smaller scale than Radiohead, Grizzly/DOE and RH have same ability to turn linear structures into psychedelic taffy.