My own choices. Please agree, disagree, comment or slate where necessary.

1965: The Beatles - Rubber Soul
1966: The Beatles - Revolver
1967: The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
1968: The Beatles - The Beatles
1969: The Beatles - Abbey Road
1970: John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band
1971: David Bowie - Hunky Dory
1972: David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
1973: David Bowie - Aladdin Sane
1974: David Bowie - Diamond Dogs
1975: Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
1976: Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life
1977: Meatloaf - Bat out of Hell
1978: Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town
1979: Michael Jackson - Off the Wall
1980: Bruce Springsteen - The River
1981: Queen - Greatest Hits
1982: Michael Jackson - Thriller
1983: ZZ Top - Eliminator
1984: Prince and the Revolution - Purple Rain
1985: Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
1986: Paul Simon - Graceland
1987: Prince - Sign O' the Times
1988: Prince - Lovesexy
1989: David Bowie - Sound + Vision
1990: David Bowie - ChangesBowie
1991: James Brown - Star Time
1992: Madonna - Erotica
1993: Prince - The Hits/The B-Sides
1994: Christy Moore - Live at the Point
1995: - The Gold Experience
1996: - Chaos and Disorder
1997: Michael Jackson - Blood on the Dance Floor
1998: - Crystal Ball
1999: Bruce Springsteen - 18 Tracks
2000: Eminem - The Marshal Mathers LP
2001: Prince - The Rainbow Children
2002: Bruce Springsteen - The Rising
2003: OutKast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
2004: Michael Jackson - The Ultimate Collection
2005: Micheal Jackson - The Essential Michael Jackson
2006: Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
2007: Bruce Springsteen - Magic
2008: Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords
2009: Bruce Springsteen - Working on a Dream
[Edited 11/29/09 13:46pm]

1965 ) Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited
1966 ) Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde
1967 ) Love - Forever Changes
1968 ) The Kinks - Village Green Preservation Society
1969 ) Scott Walker - 4
1970 ) Soft Machine - Third
1971 ) Can - Tago Mago
1972 ) The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street
1973 ) Can - Future Days
1974 ) Robert Wyatt - Rock Bottom
1975 ) Neu - Neu 75
1976 ) Bob Dylan - Desire
1977 ) Wire - Pink Flag
1978 ) Pere Ubu - The Modern Dance
1979 ) Wire - 154
1980 ) The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms
1981 ) The Fall - Slates
1982 ) The Fall - Hex Enduction Hour
1983 ) The Fall - Perverted by Language
1984 ) Go-Betweens - Spring Hill Fair
1985 ) The Mekons - Fear & Whiskey
1986 ) The Triffids - Born Sandy Devotional
1987 ) Opal - Happy Nightmare Baby
1988 ) Lyle Lovett - Pontiac
1989 ) Spacemen 3 - Playing With Fire
1990 ) the Sundays - Reading, Writing and Arithmetic
1991 ) Julian Cope - Peggy Suicide
1992 ) Lyle Lovett - Joshua Judges Ruth
1993 ) Gavin Bryars - Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet
1994 ) Grant McLennan - Horsebreaker Star
1995 ) Scott Walker - Tilt
1996 ) Scud Mountain Boys - Massachusetts
1997 ) Smog - Red Apple Falls
1998 ) Smog - The Doctor Came at Dawn
1999 ) Smog - Knock Knock
2000 ) The Delgados - Great Eastern
2001 ) The Pernice Brothers - The World Won't End
2002 ) The Delgados - Hate
2003 ) The Fall - The Real New Fall LP
2004 ) Mountain Goats - We Shall All Be Healed
2005 ) Smog - A River Ain't Too Much to Love
2006 ) Scott Walker - The Drift
2007 ) Robert Wyatt - Comicopera
2008 ) Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series Volume 8 - Tell Tale Signs

He's a one hit wonder now, shame.

I'd say Blackout or Good Girl Gone Bad for 2007.

Definitely agree with 2003.

I'd put Mimi for 2004.

Futuresex/Lovesounds for 2006.
[Edited 11/29/09 4:36am]

purplesweat said:

wasn't Mimi 2005

purplesweat said:

Yeah, of course theres always Bruce Springsteen's Magic in 2007 which although not as great as his other two recent albums is still a fine album.

Am considering swapping Busta for Prince's Crystal Ball in 1998, not too sure about Monkey Business in 2005 and even considering replacing John Lennon with the Jacksons Christmas Album in 1970 which is great fun altogether.

interesting lists

jesus how much time did that take?

Black Eyed Peas is on one list? hmmmmm.....

I pretty much disagree with all after the Beatles.

omnithanos said:

hate seeing shit like that being called the best album of a respective year

Cinnie said:

Agreed.

better

1965: The Beatles - Rubber Soul
1966: The Beatles - Revolver
1967: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced?
1968: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland
1969: Sly & The Family Stone - Stand!
1970: Curtis Mayfield - Curtis
1971: Marvin Gaye - What's Going On / Funkadelic - Maggot Brain / Blue - joni Mitchell / Sly & The Family Stone - There's A Riot Going on ( is this the best year ever or what?
1972: Stevie Wonder - Talking Book
1973: Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
1974: Stevie Wonder - Fullfillness' First Finale
1975: Parliament - Mothership Connection
1976: Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life
1977: Bob Marley & The Wailers - Exodus
1978: Funkadelic - One nation Under A Groove
1979: Michael Jackson - Off The Wall
1980: Stevie Wonder - Hotter Than July
1981: The Jacksons - Triumph
1982: Michael Jackson - Thriller
1983: George Clinton - Computer Games
1984: Prince - Purple Rain
1985: Prince - Around The World In A Day
1986: Prince - Parade
1987: Prince - Sign O' the Times
1988: Terence Trent D'Arby - Introducing The Hardline
1989: N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton
1990: Public Enemy - Fear Of a Black Planet
1991: Ice Cube - Death Certificate
1992: Dr. Dre - The Chronic
1993: Snoop Doggy Dogg - Doggystyle
1994: NaS - Illmatic
1995: 2Pac - Me Against The World
1996: - Emancipation
1997: The Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death
1998: Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill
1999: D'Angelo - Voodoo
2000: Eminem - The Marshal Mathers LP
2001: Prince - The Rainbow Children
2002: Warren G - Return Of The Regulator
2003: Jay-Z - The Black Album
2004: Prince - Musicology
2005: Stevie Wonder - A Time 2 Love
2006: Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
2007: Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
2008: Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Pt. 1
2009: Prince - Lotusflow3r
[Edited 11/30/09 9:41am]

1968 ) jimi hendrix : electric lady land
1969 ) sly and the family stone : stand
1970 ) miles davis : bitches brew
1971 ) MARVIN GAYE : WHATS GOING ON
1972 ) stevie wonder : talking book
1973 ) herbie hancock : head hunters
1974 ) stevie wonder : fullfillingess first finale
1975 ) the parliaments : mothership connection
1976 ) stevie wonder : songs in the key of life
1978 ) the jacksons : destiny
1979 ) michael jackson : off the wall
1980 ) The jacksons :triumph
1982 ) michael jackson : thriller
1987 ) michael jackson : bad
1991 ) michael jackson dangerous
1993 ) jamiroquai : emergency on planet earth

Cinnie said:

Was having a look at what elce was released those years and I'd be hard pressed to find alternatives for a few of then other than replacement Prince albums.

Queen's Greatest Hits and ChangesBowie made a big impression on me at the time they came out.
If I were to change them I'd probabally go for Controversy (1981), Graffiti Bridge (1990), Diamonds and Pearls (1991), Duran Duran (1993) and Plant Life - The Return of Jack Splash (2004)

However I think I'll do the opposite and further compound the insult by replacing the Black Eyed Peas with The Essential Michael Jackson for 2005 instead.

Thibaut said:

I see you've already been editting your ass off, but:
1980
1988
2000

SUPRMAN said:

I'm with you two.

AlexdeParis said:

On the other hand, that is one of the critical standards that completely cripple me from creating neat lists like this

1965: The Beatles - Rubber Soul
1966: The Beatles - Revolver
1967: The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
1968: Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison
1969: The Beatles - Abbey Road
1970: Elton John - Tumbleweed Connection
1971: The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
1972: David Bowie - The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
1973: Stevie Wonder - Innervisions (just barely beats out Aladdin Sane)
1974: David Bowie - Diamond Dogs
1975: Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run
1976: David Bowie - Station To Station (just barely beats out Songs In The Key Of Life)
1977: David Bowie - Low
1978: The Rolling Stones - Some Girls
1979: The Muppet Movie Soundtrack (yeah, sorry about that Joy Division and MJ)
1980: Prince - Dirty Mind
1981: Prince - Controversy (only by default, because there isn't much from that year I'm crazy about)
1982: Michael Jackson - Thriller
1983: Madonna - Madonna
1984: Prince - Purple Rain
1985: Kate Bush - Hounds Of Love
1986: Prince - Parade
1987: Prince - Sign O' The Times
1988: k.d. lang - Shadowland
1989: Madonna - Like A Prayer
1990: George Michael - Listen Without Prejudice (just barely beating Violator)
1991: Paul Abdul - Spellbound (shut up. or for less sentimental reasons, Achtung Baby)
1992: Madonna - Erotica
1993: Janet Jackson - janet.
1994: Prince - Come
1995: Prince - The Gold Experience
1996: George Michael - Older
1997: Bjork - Homogenic
1998: Mercury Rev - Deserter's Songs
1999: Me'shell Ndegeocello - Bitter
2000: U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind
2001: Bjork - Vespertine
2002: David Bowie - Heathen
2003: Madonna - American Life
2004: U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
2005: Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
2006: Alice Smith - For The Lover, The Dreamers & Me
2007: Me'shell Ndegeocello - The World Has Made Me The Man Of My Dreams
2008: Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
2009: we'll see.

errant said:

I'm glad someone else love's American Life, & How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb!- people seem to bash these alot idk why i think there two of the greatest albums of this decade!

Not to mention American Life is Madonnas second best album in my opinion right after Ray Of Light

As for How to i'd put it as my 5th favorite U2 Album right after The Unforgettable Fire

Gunsnhalen said:

yeah, I love them. they aren't my favorites by those people, but they are my favorites for those years.

Cinnie said:

Album traditionalist and/or control people would be my first guesses.

There are experts out there that can help one navigate better. Just because a compilation can never speak to every personal truth, doesn't make it worthless. Maybe that personal truth needs to be expanded?

I see threads on here all the time asking for assistance on Bob Dylan or Miles Davis or Stevie Wonder (or hundreds of others). And inevitably these threads turn into a passionate plea for "just getting it all". Half of these people are probably grounded before their joy can even fully get off the ground. And I'm pretty sure that even a novice can do this all by themselves.

That James Brown boxed set is legendary. Is it all anyone ever needs? Of course not. But if it's all anyone every has the time, money or attention span to pick up, it probably beats the hell out of any other single repository.

And that Prince disc is an incredible place to start exploring. Then you can really be blown away when you come to your own realization that these three discs are merely the tip of the iceberg.

Or maybe someone doesn't have the time or patience to listen to albums and compilations have become their lazy escape. If true, that's too bad. But at least if they ended up with a great compilation (also rare) they have something worth digging and digging into, even if it rarely leads to a larger truth.

But I would partially agree with the sentiment here.

It's pretty hard for a compilation to be the best album of the year. It doesn't really even qualify.

But then again, there really is no "best album of the year". I just don't think art is that exacting, that definable. But these lists can be fun as hell and even a learning experience seeing what has stood the test of time for so many different people.

Cinnie said:

I agree

Brendan said:

That's what I'm saying (and I'd guess the others agree with me). Compilations certainly have a purpose and there have been years where a compilation has been my favorite release, but, like you said, I don't think they fit in with an "album of the year" list.

AlexdeParis said:

And I probably read way too much into what I was reading given the context of dozens of other threads that are still dancing in my head.

AlexdeParis said:

errant i like your list the best

the others are either all white or all black (mostly)....and kinda sad

All-time rank in parentheses:

1965: Otis Redding- Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings the Blues (111)
1966: N/A
1967: The Velvet Underground- The Velvet Underground & Nico (48)
1968: The Velvet Underground- White Light/White Heat (123)
1969: Can- Monster Movie (70)
1970: The Stooges- Fun House (175)
1971: The Doors- L.A. Woman (57)
1972: David Bowie- The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (49)
1973: Roxy Music- For Your Pleasure (31)
1974: Sparks- Kimono My House (151)
1975: Patti Smith- Horses (73)
1976: Stevie Wonder- Songs in the Key of Life (23)
1977: David Bowie- Low (46)
1978: Magazine- Real Life (60)
1979: Blondie- Eat to the Beat (32)
1980: The Cure- Seventeen Seconds (17)
1981: Prince- Controversy (28)
1982: Prince- 1999 (1)
1983: Eurythmics- Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (6)
1984: Eurythmics- 1984: For the Love of Big Brother (11)
1985: The Cure- The Head on the Door (50)
1986: Prince- Parade (33)
1987: Prince- Sign o' the Times (5)
1988: Prince- Lovesexy (2)
1989: Janet Jackson- Rhythm Nation 1814 (3)
1990: Depeche Mode- Violator (24)
1991: Michael Jackson- Dangerous (160)
1992: Prince- (19)
1993: Björk- Debut (75)
1994: Madonna- Bedtime Stories (166)
1995: Prince- The Gold Experience (10)
1996: Aaliyah- One in a Million (78)
1997: Björk- Homogenic (21)
1998: Madonna- Ray of Light (9)
1999: Eurythmics- Peace (34)
2000: The Cure- BloodFlowers (13)
2001: Björk- Vespertine (8)
2002: N.E.R.D.- In Search of... (79)
2003: Kylie Minogue- Body Language (27)
2004: Annie- Anniemal (12)
2005: Gorillaz- Demon Days (43)
2006: Prince- 3121 (88)
2007: LCD Soundsystem- Sound of Silver (22)
2008: Duffy- Rockferry (145)
2009: Annie- Don't Stop (54)
[Edited 11/29/09 19:04pm]

japanrocks said:

thanks

I wanna do a top 5 of each year.

Moonbeam said:

you would

errant said:

And for the 80s-00s, like a top 20 per year.

i seriously can't understand why people would list madonna