Best Albums Halfway Mark

Halfway through the year and I can honestly say that the artists below are all strong contenders to end up on my year end list of best albums of 2009:

Rhett Miller, Findlay Brown, Lily Allen, Animal Collective, Franz Ferdinand, Neko Case, Buddy & Julie Miller, Amadou & Mariam, Glasvegas, Chris Isaak, Ida Marie, Susan Tedeschi, Justin Townes Earle, Steve Earle, Doves, Lonely Island, Dailey & Vincent, K'naan, Heartless Bastards, Antony & The Johnsons, Flatlanders, Derek Trucks Band, Otis Gibbs