CHRIS SMITHER (4 STARS) Chris Smither is a singer, songwriter and an incredible guitarist in the folk-blues tradition. I saw him 10/17 at Eddie's Attic in Atlanta -- great performance!

THEM CROOKED VULTURES Supergroup power trio with Josh Homme (Kyuss/QOTSA), Dave Grohl (Nirvana/Foo Fighters) and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin). (6.2 from Pitchfork's patented absurdly precise reviewer ratings)

DINOSAUR JR. New record from the original line-up reunited. Great cover art with Ents striding across an urban wasteland! (8.5 from Pitchfork's patented absurdly precise reviewer ratings)

JESU (JUSTIN BROADRICK) (7.0 from Pitchfork's patented absurdly precise reviewer ratings)

GOV'T MULE New from Warren & the Mule!

THE FLATLANDERS Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock are back with their third Flatlanders album since reuniting in 2002. Hurrah! I'm sorry I had to miss their 11/10/09 Atlanta gig.

OS MUTANTES Incredibly, this is not a reissue but a reunited Os Mutantes with their first album in 35 years. With some songs by Tom Ze, the Brazilian counterculture legends return! (7.0 from Pitchfork's patented absurdly precise reviewer ratings)

MEAT PUPPETS This is the second record from the reunited Curt and Kris Kirkwood. I saw them 10/24 at the Masquerade in Atlanta for the first time since 1995 in Tucson. (6.1 from Pitchfork's patented absurdly precise reviewer rankings)

WILCO Wilco live with Nels Cline on guitar in 2008

THE BOTTLE ROCKETS Brian and the Rockets are back with another set -- hurrah! (Bloodshot)

BLACK CROWES

ERIC CLAPTON/STEVE WINWOOD Among other things, a Blind Faith reunion, following the recent successful Cream reunion. Eric and Steve sound great, and play a number of Traffic and Derek & the Dominoes songs among others.

BUILT TO SPILL The proverbial come-back according to Pitchfork. (7.9 from their patented absurdly precise reviewer ratings)

ANIMAL COLLECTIVE This set of blissed-out psychedelic pop is Pitchfork's favorite so far -- they give it 9.6 in their patented absurdly precise reviewer ratings.

OYSTERBAND (5 STARS -- SEE MY REVIEW) This was the best album of the year 2007, but has only now appeared on Amazon, so I'm adding it to the 2009 list as well. MEET YOU THERE is one of the best records of this or any other year!

JOE HENRY The latest set from one of our best songwriters.

LEONARD COHEN 2-disc live set from Cohen's first tour in many years, after spending 5 years in a Zen Buddhist monastery. (Cohen's "Hallelujah" is used in the WATCHMEN soundtrack for the sex scene.)

U2 The Irish stadium rockers haven't put out a good album since ACHTUNG BABY, in my opinion, but "Beautiful Day" is a great song, so we can't write them off. They sounded good on Letterman playing "Breathe"... (4.2 from Pitchfork's patented absurdly precise reviewer ratings)

BRUCE COCKBURN Here's a 2-disc solo acoustic live record from Bruce, featuring his great guitar playing and songs from his entire career until now. Bruce's conscience and artistry are needed now more than ever!

JEFFERSON AIRPLANE (live at Woodstock, 1969) The complete legendary JA performance (Grace: "...now you're gonna hear morning maniac music ... good morning, people!"), packaged with VOLUNTEERS, their current album at the time.