Best Rock Album of 2015

Gregg Allman Live-Back to Macon, GA January 14, 2014. A strong live album accompanied by an eight piece band and some very tasty brass. Excellent SQ on double vinyl.

Enjoying Beach House Depression Cherry and Jorma Kaukonen(in top form) on Ain't in No Hurry. Both on vinyl.

Warner Music did a nice job with the Small Faces/Faces vinyl box set purportedly derived from flat analog masters.

Don Henley's Cass County Deluxe on Ludwig/Grundmand vinyl hits on 12 cylinders. Album of the year with one foot in C&W and the other in Rock.

Honorable mention to David Gilmour's Rattle that Lock. This one argues that Pink wasn't too far from cabaret.

+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."

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.