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[SleeperCylon]

1983:  Violent Femmes - s/t

Such wonderful, unique songcraft.  Combating the age of overproduction with minimalist awesomeness.

1984:  Replacements - Let It Be

From the brief window of time between when the Replacements learned to write songs and when they forgot how to have energy comes one of the greatest albums of all time.

1985:  Tom Waits - Rain Dogs

Beautiful songwriting, raspy voice.

1986:  The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead

The peak of post-Beatles Britpop as far as I'm concerned.  Marginally depressed cleverness.

1987:  Prince - Sign O The Times

Slightly overlong, but full of in my opinion his best work.

1988:  Pixies - Surfer Rosa

Like the Violent Femmes, another minimalist reprieve from the overproduced glossy synth-poppy 80s.  But from more of a 'fun little punk' standpoint.

1989:  The Cure - Disintegration

The best work from an unfairly pigeonholed rock band.

1990:  Jane's Addiction - Ritual De Lo Habitual

Possibly the funnest album of all time

1991:  Nirvana - Nevermind

Iconic.

1992:  REM - Automatic For The People

REM's last great album with some of the most memorable alternative rock songs ever written.

1993:  Liz Phair - Exile In Guyville

A release of pure modern feminine anger.  With all the vocals just enough off key to really get the feeling across.

1994:  Jeff Buckley - Grace

I honestly don't think this guy would have ever released a bad album if he didn't die.

1995:  Pulp - Different Class

GO HOME YOU RICH SPOILED BITCH.

1996:  Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister

Indie songwriters unmatched in their particular style.

1997:  Radiohead - OK Computer

Also iconic.

1998:  Mercury Rev - Deserter's Songs

One of the greatest indie pop albums in my opinion.

1999:  Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrgun

Hey, this is a really....good....  *snore*

2000:  Radiohead - Kid A

I'm only including two Radiohead albums because I honestly think they wrote the best album two decades running.

2001:  Bob Dylan - Love And Theft

Yeah, I'm old.  Yeah, I mumble my lyrics incoherently.  Got a problem?

2002:  Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Another of the best indie pop albums ever, and also with the coolest indie story ever.  "They wouldn't let us release it so we bought the master tapes and put it on our website for free".

2003:  White Stripes - Elephant

Jack White in his pure balls out guitar riff period before he decided it was time to vary stuff up, write songs with Brendan Benson and swear he has a Lennon/McCartney relationship with him.

2004:  Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose

Jack White produced the album, insisting on taking every song in five or six takes, because that makes the song sound fresher.  He was right, and this is perhaps the best country album since douchebags in cowboy hats ruined the genre.

2005:  Sufjan Stevens - Illinois

Beautiful folky songwriting.  A bit overlong.

2006:  The Knife - Silent Shout

Damn you Pitchfork!  Now when I praise Silent Shout I sound like a mindless forkie!  Die!  Yes, it's the best album of the year, but that's why you were supposed to vote for random amplifier noise instead!

2007:  LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver

A great songcrafter striking gold about four or five times on one album.

2008 so far:  Portishead - Third

[A Wet Helmet]

Are you kidding me? The Dark Side of the Moon, Houses of the Holy, and Quadrophenia all came out when I was born.  I have to chose one and keep going?   Too hard, quitting now.

[Christophe]

Fuck, I pretty much only listen to Silkworm now. I don't think I've ever felt so intensely about one band since... well, ever.

[TheFuriousWombat]

1989 - Doolittle by Pixies
Hey and Gouge Away alone pretty much make this album of the year. Arguable their finest album, Pixies album was pretty darn brilliant. At it's best moments, it's rough, raw and cacophonous, brining it like few bands have before or since.

1990 - Goo by Sonic Youth

1991 - Spiderland by Slint

1992 - Selected Ambient Works 85-92 by Aphex Twin
One of the finest ambient albums ever released. It's one of the first pieces of ambient music I heard and was definitely pretty formative in getting me to explore the music I now love the most.

1993 - Ikcy Metal by Archers of Loaf

1994 - Grace by Jeff Buckley
A superb album, heartfelt and tremendous despite its minimalism

1995 - The Bends by Radiohead

1996 - Millions Now Living Will Never Die by Tortoise
A gorgeous, complex album that seriously demands multiple listens. Innovative and original, even today.

1997 - F♯A♯∞ by Godspeed You! Black Emperor
This is almost impossible. Several of my all time favorites came out this year. I was incredibly tempted to pick The Lonesome Crowded West.  I know OK computer and Young Team came out as well. For me, however, this is the most important album of the year. If I had to pick just one, this would be the album that got me interested in all this "post-rock" nonesense that I love so dearly these days. A mesmerizing album from start to finish and while the others are too, they didn't influence me as much as my choice (even if I probably like them a little more at times).

1998 - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel
Just plain brilliant. Superb songwriting. One of my all time favorite albums.

1999 - Agaetis Byrjun by Sigur Ros
Lush, alien, haunting and one-of-a-kind. This was very tough since From Bone to Satellite was also released this year but...I made an executive decision. AB has definitely had more of an impact on my life so it got the nod.

2000 - Kid A by Radiohead
This is a HARD year. The Moon and Antarctica, Melody of a Certain Three, How Strange Innocence, Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven and a hell of a lot of others. Nothing tops the experimental bliss of Kid A, however.

2001 - Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever by Explosions in the Sky
A sweeping, cinematic war story of an album. Powerful, soaring, epic.

2002 - You Forgot it in People by Broken Social Scene
This was almost impossible since Yankee Hotel Foxtrot came out this year too as did ( ). Somehow it felt more right to give the nod to BSS. All three albums are deserving of the top spot, however.

2003 - Happy Songs for Happy People by Mogwai
The first Mogwai album I ever heard, this is the reason why I like them and another of the formative albums that got me into the genre.

2004 - Funeral by Arcade Fire
One of the best "indie-rock" records ever written if you ask me. At turns intimate and deeply personal, the album still had truly bombastic moments and was brimming with wonderful lyrics and a mature angst that was masterfully done. A tough year as We Move Through Weather also came out this year.

2005 - Talk Amongst the Trees by Eluvium
Since The Campfire Headphase, Noumena (one of my all time favorite albums) and Takk... also came out this year. It was a tough choice but Eluvium, one of the best ambient artists out there, delivered something truly special with this ghostly triumph of an album

2006 - Live Edits: Natoma by Tarentel

2007 - And Their Refinement of the Decline by Stars of the Lid
Just plain brilliant. An important album by an important band that pushes sonic boundaries into new places with every (incredibly infrequent) release.

2008 - Not sure yet....

I think this is my list....although I'm not sure I believe all my choices are the best. But it'll have to do as I have homework galore!

[Katherine]

1978 - Greatest Hits (1974-1978) - Steve Miller Band  It is sad how much I adore this album.
1979 - In Through the Out Door - Led Zeppelin   I had no idea that this was actually released in my lifetime.  I have never felt so old as I do right now.
1980 - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables - Dead Kennedys
1981 - BAD RELIGION - Bad Religion
1982 - Bobbie Sue – The Oak Ridge Boys I remember listening to Oak Ridge Boys records on the record player and singing along with my Dad.  MAHHHH HEARRRRRTS ON FIRE, FOR ELVIRA! Boom chicka wow chicka boom chicka bow wow!
1983 - Colour by Numbers - Culture Club
1984 - She's So Unusual - Cyndi Lauper
1985 - Telephone Free Landslide Victory - Camper Van Beethoven
1986 - True Blue - Madonna Oh Lord was I obsessed with Madonna at this age...
1987 - Jane's Addiction - Jane's Addiction Not their best album but my favorite JA song is on this one.
1988 - Lincoln - They Might Be Giants
1989 - Pretty Hate Machine - Nine Inch Nails
1990 - To The Extreme - Vanilla Ice  Yes.  I was one of those people.
1991 - Ten - Pearl Jam I remember seeing the video for Jeremy on MTV at my aunt's house (cause I didn't have cable at home) and I was immediately hooked.  I wore this tape out, two times.  
1992 - It's a Shame about Ray - The Lemonheads This is another album that I just love the hell out of.  I can never get tired of it.
1993 - Bargainville - Moxy Früvous  I didn't actually get into Moxy Früvous until a couple of years after this album came out, but this was the first CD of theirs that I purchased.  I love these guys so much.
1994 - Diary - Sunny Day Real Estate
1995 - Wowee Zowee - Pavement  They used to play Pavement on the independent radio station that I listened to in high school.  I never knew the songs that I was hearing, and loving, were Pavement until years later.
1996 - Ænima - Tool A friend of mine was a huge Tool fan, and sent me all of their stuff on tape when this album came out.  I remember seeing Tool videos a year or two prior to this and being scared.
1997 - I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One - Yo La Tengo  Yet another album that I simply adore.
1998 - In/Casino/Out - At the Drive-In  When this came out, people were telling me to buy it, that I would love it.  I was dirt poor at the time so I ignored them, but once I actually got around to checking these guys out a few years later, I have to say I agreed with those people.  I likes.
1999 - Something To Write Home About - The Get Up Kids
2000 - Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia - The Dandy Warhols At the time, I was working at The Disney Store, and the Dandy Warhols were my manager's favorite band.  I won some contest, and he bought this album for me.  It isn't OH FUCKING SPECTACULAR like some of the others I have chosen, but it represents the time I spent working there.
2001 - Owls - Owls Need I say more?
2002 - Worship and Tribute - Glassjaw  There has to be better stuff that came out this year, but I didn't see anything that struck my fancy on the Wikipedia page for this year...
2003 - Loses Control - Hey Mercedes So much goodness.  I got into these guys mere months after they broke up, and I was devastated to learn that I would never get to see them live.  I spent a buttload of cash to see their reunion show in Chicago for the Threadless Grand Opening Party last Sept.  Worth every cent.
2004 - Good News for People Who Love Bad News - Modest Mouse I don't even know what else came out this year.  I just remember being so very excited for the new Modest Mouse album.  It came out April 6, 2004, two days after I got married.  I had preordered it, and jubilantly greeted the mailman that afternoon. Wheee!
2005 - Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness - Coheed and Cambria I know these guys aren't looked upon too kindly around these parts, but my ex introduced me to their music in early 2005.  I didn't like them at first, as the lead singer sounded like a chick and I don't generally care for female vocalists, but they grew on me very quickly and now they're one of my favorite bands.  If I ignore their latest album.
2006 - III: In the Eyes of Fire - Unearth This is another one of those years where something better must have come out but I didn't see it on Wikipedia and can't remember for the life of me what else came out this year.
2007 - Living With the Living - Ted Leo and the Pharmacists A lot of people don't like this album as much as their previous ones, and I tend to agree for the most part, but Bottle of Buckie is just such a fucking amazing song that I had to pick this for 2007.
2008 - Going to the Bone Church - Make Believe  I am really bad at picking favorite albums.  I can barely remember what came out last week, much less over the last few months.  I just listen to stuff as it comes to mind, or pops up on my iTunes but I do remember liking this album a whole lot.


I tried to stick with albums that I own/owned, although not necessarily in the year that they came out.  I didn't really double check to make sure that these albums came out in the years that I have them listed under - I used Wikipedia for the most part so I hope that they are all correct.  If not, I'm sorry.

Edited for coding mistake.

[theoryC]

1989 - 1991 didn't listen to anything lol
1992 - Pat Metheny - Secret Story
1993 -
1994 - Portishead - Dummy
1995 - Radiohead - The Bends  Hate to put this here knowing there'll be plenty of Radiohead later on my list, but there wasn't much else this year for me.
1996 - Newsboys - Take Me To Your Leader Top notch catchy pop, with a few classics.
1997 - Radiohead - OK Computer  Best album I've heard.
1998 - Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over the Sea  :/
1999 - Sigur Ros - Agætis Byrjun  One of the most memorable albums I've heard, and one of the most gorgeous.
2000 - Radiohead - Kid A  One of the best albums of the decade thus far.
2001 - Bjork - Vespertine  Her best work.
2002 - Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot  Not many other choices.
2003 - Radiohead - Hail to the Theif  A fucking awesome album, and the album that made me a RH fan.  Absolution trails not far behind it.
2004 - The Arcade Fire - Funeral  Can't go wrong with this in an otherwise blah year.
2005 - Mew - And the Glass Handed Kites  This album narrowly beats Frances The Mute, Alligator, Illinois, and Z, which says a hell of a lot.
2006 - Mute Math - Mute Math  If I could define my favorite genre of music, Mute Math would probably come the closest to fitting that definition.  Great pop/rock, with lots of organic electronics, experimentation and glimpses of unexpected influences.
2007 - The National - Boxer  My second favorite album ever, behind OKC.
2008 - Have A Nice Life - Deathconsciousness  I don't listen to this album that much, and it's not perfect, but I still feel it's the most notable album of the year so far.

[valley_parade]

2008: I haven't really bought anything from this year. Apparently because none of it has been by Boris.

?

?

Though you'd need to hit up eBay to find the Statement single.

[gospel]

80's was a bit hard to do since I wasn't exactly conscious. So, i didn't have the ease of nostalgia.

1984: Husker Du - Zen Arcade
1985: Tom Waits - Rain Dogs
1986: The Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill
1987: Big Black - Songs About Fucking
1988: Pixies - Surfer Rosa
1989: The Cure - Disintegration
.
1990: Depeche Mode - Violator
1991: Weezer - Pinkerton
1992: Tom Waits - Bone Machine
1993: Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu-Tang
1994: Jeff Buckley - Grace
1995: The Magnetic Fields - Get Lost
1996: Beck - Odelay
1997: Radiohead - OK Computer
1998: Neutral Milk Hotel - The Aeroplane Over the Sea
1999: Godspeed You Black Emperor - Slow Riot for Zere Kanada
.
2000: Sleater-Kinney - All Hands on the Bad One
2001: Tool - Lateralus
2002: Beck - Sea Changes
2003: Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People
2004: Arcade Fire - Funeral
2005: Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
2006: TV On the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
2007: Battles - Mirrored
2008: ?

[bbqrocks]

Hodges post wins guys.

1993- Cynic- Focus
1994- Merzbow- Venearology
1995- Suffocation- Pierced From Within
1996- Behemoth- Grom Cryptopsy- None So Vile Neurosis- Through Silver In Blood (turns out I love 1996?)
1997- Sleep- Jerusalem
1998- Boris- Amplifier Worship
1999- Sharks Keep Moving- Sharks Keep Moving
2000- Electric Wizard- Dopethrone
2001- Venetian Snares- 7 Sevens Med EP
2002- Venetian Snares- Higgins Ultra Low Track Glue Funk Hits 1997-2006
2003- Boris- Akuma No Uta
2004- Kindzadza- Waves From Outer Space
2005- Agoraphobic Nosebleed- Bestial Machinery
2006- Don Caballero- World Class Listening Problem
2007- Electric Wizard- Witchcult Today
2008- Conor Oberst- Conor Oberst (so far)

A pretty fun list, I think.

[Calaveth]

2008 - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig
2007 - Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity
2006 - The Knife - Silent Shout
2005 - Boris - Pink
2004 - 65daysofstatic - The Fall of Math
Thought of saying Arcade Fire - Funeral like everyone else, but I really like The Fall of Math better.
2003 - Mogwai - Happy Songs For Happy People
2002 - Boris - Heavy Rocks
2001 - The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
2000 - The New Pornographers - Mass Romantic
1999 - Mogwai - Come On Die Young
1998 - Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
1997 - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Boatman's Call
1996 - Dirty Three - Horse Stories
1995 - PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love
1994 - Portishead - Dummy
1993 - Melvins - Houdini
Can we agree that 1993 was a pretty shitty year for popular music? I've gone through my collection and I've gone through everybody elses choices here for this year, and nothing gets me really excited. This was a serviceable album at least.
1992 - Sonic Youth - Dirty
Though PJ Harvey's Rid of Me would have been a fine pick too, which I listened more to back then.
1991 - My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
Absolutely hopeless to pick. Between MBV, Slint, my favorite Melvins album, Mr. Bungle's self titled... just to mention the first to come to mind.
1990 - Sonic Youth - Goo
Not a big fan of this year either.
1989 - Pixies - Dolittle
1988 - Pixies - Surfer Rosa
1987 - Pixies - Come On Pilgrim
I'm a little tired of answering Pixies to these questions...
1986 - Depeche Mode - Black Celebration
1985 - Tom Waits - Rain Dogs
1984 - The Smiths - The Smiths
1983 - Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones
1982 - Die Haut & Nick Cave - Burnin' the Ice
I'm sure there was something better released that year, but it's not in my music collection.
1981 - The Gun Club - Fire of Love
1980 - Joy Division - Closer
1979 - The Clash - London Calling
1978 - The Residents - Duck Stab
1977 - Television - Marquee Moon
1976 - The Runaways - The Runaways
1975 - Patti Smith - Horses
1974 - David Bowie - Diamond Dog
1973 - Gary Higgins - Red Hash
1972 - Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street

[Thrillho]

This guy, I like. Anyone with Dirty in their list is alright with me.

[David_Dovey]

2008: I haven't really bought anything from this year. Apparently because none of it has been by Boris.

=Smile=

=Statement single.=

Was Rainbow this year or last?

[Alex C]

I got my copy summer '07.

[CarrionMan]

1992: Automatic for the People- REM(I'm lazy, kay?
1993: August and Everything After- Counting Crows
1994: Monster- REM
1995: Greatest Hits- Bruce Springsteen
1996: Take Me to Your Leader- Newsboys(only record I listened to as a kid)
1997: Retrospective II- Rush
1998: Step Up to the Microphone- Newsboy(another record that I listened to as a kid)
1999: Running With Scissors- "Weird Al" Yankovic
2000: Myths, Legends, and Other Amazing Adventures- The Aquabats
Rest to be added later

[Calaveth]

More to the point, anyone who has a Depeche Mode album for 1986, the year that Evol was released is smoking rock.

I freely admit that pick isn't very strong. It's just that EVOL isn't in my collection. Time to remedy, perhaps.

[Calaveth]

Rest to be added later

I was just going to ask if you were a nine year old undead. A shame that I saw that last line.

[Lamrock]

Put more thought into it, and added the one album per band condition.

1993: Blur - Modern Life Is Rubbish
1994: Beck - Mellow Gold
1995: Pulp - Different Class
1996: Weezer - Pinkerton
1997: Radiohead - OK Computer
1998: Manic Street Preachers - This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours
1999: Wilco - Summerteeth
2000: Modest Mouse - The Moon & Antarctica
2001: The Strokes - Is This It?
2002: Spoon - Kill The Moonlight
2003: The White Stripes - Elephant
2004: Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
2005: Kanye West - Late Registration
2006: TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain
2007: LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
2008: Los Campesinos! - Hold On There, Youngster...

[johnny5]

i didnt really start exploring music on my own until like...the 90s, so i'm just going to skip the whole 80s part.

my older cousin loved rap and since i was over at his place a lot and you know, it was the 90s, i listened to a lot of rap early on
'90 - ice cube - amerikkka's most wanted
'91 - de la soul - de la soul is dead
'92 - dr dre - the chronic
'93 - smashing pumpkins - siamese dream (started moving away from rap...i was getting kind of tired of it)
'94 - weezer - blue album
'95 - no doubt - tragic kingdom
'96 - jay-z - reasonable doubt (the return of rap in my life, just cos jay-z is the man)
'97 - (i wish here i could have put silkworm's developer here, but truthfully i didnt even hear them until '98s blueblood) radiohead - okay computer (still thankful someone had introduced me to this. probably expanded my musical tastes to where they are today. )
'98 - (i would put blueblood here but in '98 i was hooked on) neutral milk hotel - in the aerplane over the sea
'99 - flaming lips - the soft bulletin
2000 - at the drive in - relationship of command
2001 - the shins - oh, inverted world (i listen to high falsetto voices and never turn back)
2002 - (this is my biggest year for me. i cannot list just one because i discovered) wilco - yankee hotel foxtrot, silkworm - italian platinum, interpol - turn on the bright lights, flaming lips - yoshimi battles the pink robots, libertines - up the bracket, bss - you forgot it in people, decemberists - castaways and cutouts <--seriously wtf was up with 2002? has there been a better year for music since?
2003 - my mind is still recovering from the mindfuck known as 2002. it craves something different and found it with the blood brothers - burn,
piano island, burn
2004- stars - set yourself on fire (arcade fire's funeral was also a strong contender)
2005- kanye west - late registration (sickest song of the year - diamonds from sierra leone, ft jay-z)
2006- m.ward - post-war
2007- bottomless pit - hammer of the gods
2008- islands - arm's way

[CarrionMan]

Rest to be added later

I was just going to ask if you were a nine year old undead. A shame that I saw that last line.

I was actually considering leaving that out to just leave it to your imagination.

[redphoenix11]

My list wound up being more lame than I originally expected

1987: David Sylvian - Secrets of the Beehive
JAMC's Darklands and New Order's Substance close behind, but I've always enjoyed this more as an album

1988: Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
Just started getting into Sonic Youth, and while it gets a little boring towards the end, there's enough perfect moments to make this my favorite for 1988

1989: The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
Few albums can fill me with a warm, fuzzy feeling like this one does.

1990: Depeche Mode - Violator
Ride's Nowhere was a close second, but I love this album's atmosphere, and the singles are incredible. Who cares if it's synthpop. It's damn good synthpop.

1991: U2 - Achtung Baby
U2 hasn't released a decent album since this one, and this one has an energy and creativity that was lacking from their strident 80s output. It also manages to incorporate a little bit of everything that was going in British alternative at the time.

1992: Catherine Wheel - Ferment
A minor shoegaze classic that's worth it for "Black Metallic" and "I Want to Touch You". Lush's Spooky pretty much ties with it.

1993: Suede - Suede
Melodramatic and catchy. Plus "The Drowners" was awesome.

1994: The Future Sound of London - Lifeforms
I was debating between this and Superunknown, but this one I enjoy much more as an album.

1995: Pulp - Different Class
The best thing to come out of Britpop. Jarvis Cocker is my hero.

1996: Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go
Sure, everyone loves The Holy Bible, and I do too, but the more anthemic tunes on this one take it over the top for me

1997: Radiohead - OK Computer
No explanation required

1998: Massive Attack - Mezzanine
Again, I shouldn't have to justify this one

1999: Hybrid - Wide Angle
I don't care how awesome The Soft Bulletin was. "Finished Symphony" beats anything else that came out in 1999

2000: The Avalanches - Since I Left You
Somewhat of a lean year for me, but that doesn't diminish that this is a great album to relax to. It's like summer in album form.

2001: Tool - Lateralus
Not much into prog rock and prog metal anymore, but the sentimental value wins out.

2002: Ozma - Doubble Donkey Disc
Wins by virtue of having nothing else particularly noteworthy for this year in my collection yet.

2003: Killing Joke - Killing Joke [2003]
Killing Joke's return from their longest hiatus resulted in one of the most intense albums of their career.
They had been around for close to 25 years when this came out, and they rocked the fuck out.

2004: Arcade Fire - Funeral
Obvious I know, but I love it

2005: LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem
"Losing My Edge" is still one of my favorite songs

2006: Asobi Seksu - Citrus
Asobi Seksu had a competent first album, and they really stepped up their game here. Proof shoegaze may live again.

2007: Justice - † or Blonde Redhead - 23
Loud electronic dance, or Blonde Redhead going the Asobi Seksu route. Such a tough decision

2008: Portishead - Third, but I still haven't listened to everything that's come out this year that I want to listen to.

[windinthewires]

1992


1993


1994 (can't think of anything better...)


1995


1996
#2

1997


1998
#2

1999


2000


2001


2002
#2

2003


2004
#2 #3

2005
#2 #3

2006


2007

[TheFuriousWombat]

Oh man, 'YS' is a pretty good choice. The more I think about it, the more I think 2000 and 2002 are pretty much impossible years to pick a favorite.

[IronOxide]

1990 - Goo - Sonic Youth
Glad I was barely alive for this year, not too great so I may as well throw Sonic Youth on the list. They've earned it though other releases.

1991 - Love's Secret Domain - Coil
A masterpiece of the industrial genre, my favorite release by Coil, and probably my favorite "experimental" album.

1992 - Smeared - Sloan
Sloan pretend to be Sonic youth. Adorable.

1993 - Where You Been? - Dinosaur Jr.
Another mediocre year to be shared with 1990 and Sonic Youth. I liked "Out There" enough, though. The rest is a pretty good alternative album.

1994 - The Sea and Cake - The Sea and Cake
It's always a shame when a band gets it so right the first time, any evolution of the band can only be a step back. I cannot think of a bad thing to say about this album.

1995 - Post - Bjork
Bjork's best, kind of a mix of rock and electronica, shows what was right with the incorporation of electronic sounds in pop music in the 1990s.

1996 - Tigermilk - Belle and Sebastian
While this was released the same year as the also stellar (and perhaps more important) If You're Feeling Sinister, I think this early release did a better job at capturing what Belle and Sebastian were about in the earlier days.

1997 - I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One - Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo's best work, honorable mention to Daft Punk for Homework

1998 - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel
What more do I have to say? Jeff Magnum's Magnum Opus (no pun intended), perfectly assembled from front to back.

1999 - Ágætis Byrjun - Sigur Rós
I just sort of like this album, nothing really special about it other than I think it is Sigur Ros at their best.

2000 - Mass Romantic - The New Pornographers
The New Pornographers are a good band. This is a great pop album, full of good songs.

2001 - Things We Lost in the Fire - Low
The top of the "Old Low" saga, beautiful sounds.

2002 - Italian Platnum - Silkworm
I should star the albums that I listened to on recommendation from Tommy, as there is nothing to be said about them that he has not. I actually like this SKWM release more than a lot of the other stuff, it feels more honest or whatever. Maybe it's just how "LR72" seems to be written for Mike three years before his death, but it's a good record to which you all should pay a listen.

2003 - Reconstruction Site - The Weakerthans
Well assembled, witty and sad at the same time.

2004 - Together We're Heavy - The Polyphonic Spree
This was the soundtrack to my life for about a year. It is the album that made me feel good to be alive, sort of a celebration of life, Tim DeLaughter at his happiest, which lends itself very well to the group.

2005 - Woman King - Iron and Wine
The first album I ever bought with my own money (on recommendation of the forum). Sort of a personal significance thing largely, but a solid EP containing my favorite Iron and Wine tracks.

2006 - He Poos Clouds - Final Fantasy
Owen Pallett is sort of the anti-Tim DeLaughter. At his best when sad, this album is positively mopetastic.

2007 - This Fool Can Die Now - Scout Niblett
Las year was a hard choice for me, but I think that this is the album that I listen to the most going to today, it balances Scout Niblett's minimal songwriting and fleshes out her style so well. Not to mention that the two tracks that she does with Will Oldham are just spectacular.

2008 - Lie Down in the Light - Bonnie "Prince" Billy (so far)
There's still more to be had this year *crosses fingers for the quality of Heartland*, but I'd call it his best since I See A Darkness.

[godinpants]

1987 - Joe Satriani -  Surfing with the Alien
Only album I own from that year listed on wikipedia.

1988 - Danzig - Danzig
MOTHEEEER

1989 - Bob Dylan/Grateful Dead - Dylan and the Dead
I got this album for $2 in a used cd shop. Was worth it.

1990 - Primus - Frizzle Fry
This one was hard, I was choosing between this, Phish's Lawnboy and "Simpsons sing the blues"

1991 - Primus - Sailing the Sea's of Cheese
Primus were a really huge part of my life, they lead me out of punk.

1992 - Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine
Another album which assisted in my leaving punk. And also the album I used to play along to on bass.

1993 - The Flaming Lips - Transmissions from the Satellite Heart
It was this or more primus

1994 - Blink 182 - Chesire Cat
I don't own this, but I had a friend who only ever played blink.

1995 - Ben Folds Five - Ben Folds Five
These guys were the best.

1996 - Belle and Sebastian  - Tigermilk
I only really got into them last year. But i love them.

1997 - Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever, Amen.
This was such a good year. gy!be, mogwai, phish, primus, all had great albums. But i listen to this one the most.
Also my favourite ben folds album.

1998  Bela Fleck and the Flecktones - Left of Cool
The band and album that convinced me to pick up the banjo(im not very good)

1999 - Mogwai - Come On Die Young
I only own three Mogwai albums. This is one of them. cody is one of my favourite songs.

2000 - gy!be -  lift your skinny fists like antennas to the heaven
This album is great. The first time I heard this band, was in a lecture at uni where the lecturer completely darkened the room and all you could see was this video of silhouettes against some kind of projected background and this intense and moving music over top.
Some contenders for this year: Bomfunk mcs - in stereo,  Flecktones - Outbound,  Phish - Farmhouse

2001 - The Colonel Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade - Live Frogs set 1 & 2
I assume these were recorded on the same night, from both the names, and that at the end of 1 you hear claypool say "we will return, with more pink floyd than any human should withstand" or soemthing like that. This album introduced me to the guitar genius of Eenor.

2002 - Lemon Jelly - Lost Horizons
ALL THE DUCKS ARE SWIMMING IN THE WATER FAL-DO-RAL-DO-RAL-DO FAL-DO-RAL-DO-RAL-DO

2003 - Primus - Animals Should Not Try To Act Like People
Sure it was mostly a dvd, but the cd which had the old drummer back was good. Kind of strange for a Primus album though, it was like they'd discovered delay pedals. Had some great stuff like Rapscallion.

2004 - Sarah Blasko - The Overture and Underscore
It hurts my brain to try comprehend how much I love her.
*at this point i got distracted for about an hour discussing my love of sarah blasko with a friend whilst listening*

2005 - Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
mmm more banjo.

2006 - Sarah Blasko - What the Sea Wants, the Sea will Have
I'm serious, I have written love songs for this woman.

2007 - Whitley - The Submarine
If I was female, i would probably love this guy as much as i love ms blasko.

2008 - Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes.
Enough said.

[DarkAvenger]

1992:"Slanted and Enchanted" by Pavement - Too many people use this one

1993: "Icky Mettle" by Archers of Loaf

1994: "Weezer (the Blue Album)" Weezer

1995: "You'd Prefer An Astronaut" by Hum

1996: "Firewater" by Silkworm - Other choices include both Belle & Sebastian releases, but Silkworm won, easily

1997: "Perfect From Now On" by Built to Spill

1998: "In The Aeroplane Over the Sea" by Neutral Milk Hotel

1999: "Soft Bulletin" by The Flaming Lips

2000: "The Moon and Antarctica" by Modest Mouse

2001: "Discovery" by Daft Punk

2002: "You Forgot it in People" by Broken Social Scene

2003: "Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone" by The Unicorns

2004: "The Funeral" by Arcade Fire

2005: "Apologies to the Queen Mary" by Wolf Parade

2006: "Ashes Against the Grain" by Agalloch

2007: "Hammer of Gods" by Bottomless Pit

2008: "The Stand-Ins" by Okkervil River

[look out! Ninjas!]

1990: Van Morrison - The Best of Van Morrison
1991: Slint - Spiderland
1992: Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power
1993: The Whitlams - Introducing the Whitlams
1994: Green Day - Dookie
1995: Pulp - Different Class
1996: Beck - Odelay
1997: Radiohead - OK Computer
1998: The Living End - The Living End
1999: The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin
2000: Explosions in the Sky - How Strange, Innocence
2001: Owls - Owls
2002: The Vines - Highly Evolved
2003: Beach Boys - Sounds of Summer
2004: Dungen - Ta Det Lugnt
2005: Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better
2006: Triffids - Born Sandy Devotional (it's a re-release, but I'm cheating becasue this really, really deserves to be here)
2007: The Panics - Cruel Guards
2008: Lets just see

[miles in the sky]

First off, this was freakin' impossible. I need at least five albums per year! Oh well. I could have spent more time on this, but here's what I came up with.

[1986] Keith Jarrett Trio - Standards Live

[1987] U2 - Joshua Tree

[1988] R.E.M. - Green

[1989] Beastie Boys - Paul's Botique

[1990] A Tribe Called Quest - People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

[1991] Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik

[1992] Boredoms - Pop Tatari

[1993] PJ Harvey - Rid of Me

[1994] Nirvana - Unplugged in New York

[1995] Elliott Smith - Elliott Smith

[1996] Texas is the Reason - Do You Know Who You Are?

[1997] Elliott Smith - Either/Or

[1998] Braid - Frame and Canvas

[1999] Millencolin - Pennybridge Pioneers

[2000] Kurt Rosenwinkel - The Next Step

[2001] Ted Leo + Pharmacists - The Tyranny of Distance

[2002] Scott Colley - Initial Wisdom

[2003] The Mars Volta - Deloused in the Comatorium

[2004] The Faint - Wet from Birth

[2005] Pat Metheny Group - The Way Up

[2006] David Binney - Cities and Desire

[2007] Kevin Drew - Spirit If...

[2008] Boris - Smile [Japanese version]

[underspecified]

This thread was so awesome I had to create an account and share my picks ^_^
This is a slightly revisionist list -- almost everything before 1990 was added after-the-fact.
1981, 1996, and 2004 were really tough years for me to choose. So many good albums!

1979


1980


1981


1982


1983


1984


1985


1986


1987


1988


1989


1990


1991


1992


1993


1994


1995


1996


1997


1998


1999


2000


2001


2002


2003


2004


2005


2006


2007

[rynne]

1979


1980


1981


1982


1983


1984


1985


1986


1987


1988

Really tough time choosing between this and Daydream Nation.  I went with the album I've had longer.

1989


1990

Yes it's a compilation but it still blows away everything else released in 1990.

1991


1992


1993


1994


1995


1996


1997


1998


1999


2000

I honestly listen to this a hell of a lot more than Kid A, Lift Yr. Skinny Fists..., Stankonia, or any other album that came out this year

2001


2002


2003


2004

I originally had this as my '05 album, but there was a limited vinyl edition a few months before than the CD, making this an '04 release...

2005

...which is good, because I like this record better than what I first chose for '04.

2006


2007

[Danimosity]

Oh dayum. As a first post, this sounds like a good time.
Notice: I am sixteen years old. So, prepare for only sixteen albums listed. But I consider my tastes pretty damn well-played for my age.
And lastly; I have a very wide range of music. It'll be fun. 

1992
Sublime - 40 oz To Freedom
Just a solid album, i've always loved these guys, Date Rape is a really well-made song, and a lot of fun to listen to when you're with some friends.

1993
Tool - Undertow
Always a huge tool fan, Undertow is a really good album. Of course it's got Sober, but Swamp Song, Prison sex.. they're all great to me. Also, this was a close one with Radiohead - Pablo Honey. But, what can ya do.

1994
Alice Cooper - Last Temptation
Do I need a summary? it's alice cooper. I missed his most recent concert; which was IN MY TOWN. Very pissed. But oh well.

1995
Radiohead - The Bends
This album can hit hard; Fake Plastic Trees really, really does it for me. Always a great band, great album, etc.

1996
Modest Mouse - This is a long drive for someone with nothing to think about
I've always been huge on modest mouse, really just a good, different sound pleasing to my brain. Rage against the machine's Evil Empire was close.

1997
Blink 182 - Dude Ranch
My older brother always listened to Blink 182, when I was little; so these guys mean something to me. Travis Barker started my drumming life too; got me interested. They're not the greatest, but always a good memory.

1998
Slightly Stoopid - Slightly Stoopid
Here's the reggae/dub, always great to chill to, great skate music.. and all that.

1999
Rage Against the Machine - The Battle of Los Angeles
I love the song Maria, for reasons unknown to even myself. Rage is always a great thing.

2000
Dropkick Murpyhs - Singles Collection
This is kind of cheating, as it's just a compilation of good songs that happened to be released during this year, but I didn't have much 2000's albums that I hadn't already used the band in this list. Dropkick Murphys are amazing, though. Irish fighting music, yes please.

2001
Electric Light Orchestra - Zoom
A bunch of old guys that keep on keepin' on, with some real smooth sounds. This album is real solid.

2002
Coheed + Cambria - Second Stage Turbine
Sorry, I just fucking love these guys. All their stuff is so solid. I'd put down all their albums, but I don't wanna push my luck here.

2003
Animosity - Shut it Down
Pure god damn METUHLZ

2004
Andy Mckee - Dreamcatcher
This man is -amazing-. I've never seen anyone play such guitar before, and it is so unbelievably delightful to my ears. Please, buy his stuff. I recommend all of his work, it doesn't matter what music you're into.

2005
Jack Johnson - In Between Dreams
I was sittin' waitin' wishin.. Only good radio single I can actually listen to. This whole album is great to relax to, or whatever you think is chill enough for him.

2006
Arsis - United in Regret
I didn't have too many new albums, but this album is amazing if you like metal. Arsis, in a brief summary : A sweet two-man metal band with some of the most solid double-bass drumming I've heard.

2007
Bedouin Soundclash - Street Gosels
THE CLASH! YEAH! Anyone who likes any type of relaxing reggae, or some upbeat tunes with really good bass melodies, this album, and their others, are superb.

2008 - This one was tough! I only have a few 2008 albums!
Jason Mraz - We sing, we dance, we steal things.
Great voice, great guitar. Lucky and I'm Yours never gets tiring. Really good artist all around. Has a lot of artists featured in his songs, so it's hard to get tired of his sound.


FINITO


I'm sorry if some of the years aren't accurate.. but they really should be. I hope!
And i'm hope you guys got some nice ideas for some new music here, maybe not, but it was fun writing. A good 20-30 minutes wasted.

[Broken_Drum]

1992
Selected Ambient Works 85-92- Aphex Twin

1993
Today's Active Lifestyles- Polvo

1994
Gore Motel- Bohren & Der Club Of Gore

1995
Tri Repetae- Autechre

1996
Endtroducing....- DJ Shadow

1997
F♯A♯∞- Godspeed You! Black Emperor

1998
Music Has the Right To Children- Boards Of Canada

1999
The Fragile- Nine Inch Nails

2000
Rated R- Queens Of The Stone Age

2001
October's Larynx- Daniel Menche

2002
Hold Your Horse Is- Hella

2003
Happy Songs for Happy People- Mogwai

2004
You're A Woman, I'm A Machine- Death From Above 1979

2005
Guero- Beck

2006
Altar- Sunn O))) & Boris

2007
The Destruction of Small Ideas- 65daysofstatic

2008
Board Up The House- Genghis Tron

[Thrillho]

1997
Blink 182 - Dude Ranch
My older brother always listened to Blink 182, when I was little; so these guys mean something to me. Travis Barker started my drumming life too; got me interested. They're not the greatest, but always a good memory.

Not that he played on that album...

[valley_parade]

I think he was still an Aquabat at that point.

[Thrillho]

Yup. Scott Raynor played on Dude Ranch and was subsequently sacked by the band due to alcoholism or left to go back to college. I'm relatively certain it was the former, particularly listening to 'Man Overboard.' Travis's first record with them was Enema Of The State which if I remember right was my AOTY for 1999 in this pertikuler thread.

[CScheiner]

Hrm. This is gonna be a pretty big mix of music.

1989: No Control - Bad Religion
Personally I thought this was a great punk rock album, so I must put this in.

1990: Ah Via Musicom - Eric Johnson
By far one of my favorite instrumental albums/artist. I have been listening to this since I was four.

1991: Spiderland - Slint
Such a hard pick, between Nirvana's Nevermind, Primus' Sailing The Seas of Cheese, and RHCP's Blood Sugar Sex Magik, all of which I noticed were mentioned as well. Slint's album though is definitely outstanding though, so by a small margin, it goes to them.

1992: Unplugged - Eric Clapton
Another hard year, seeing as it was contending with Sublime's debut 40oz. to Freedom, Dr. Dre's The Chronic, and Pavement's debut LP Slanted and Enchanted. However, since I was raised on this album and that I have performed many songs from this live, Unplugged is the winner.

1993: August and Everything After - Counting Crows
Props to Danimosity for choosing Tool's Undertow, but I personally found August and Everything After to be a much rounded album.

1994: Whomever I list below.
Very good year. It would have to be between Weezer's Blue Album, Green Day's Dookie, The Blues Traveler's Four, Sunny Day Real Estate's Diary, Built to Spill's There's Nothing Wrong with Love, and blink-182's Cheshire Cat.

1995: (What's the Story) Morning Glory? - Oasis
Enough said. Radiohead's The Bends and Tupac's Me Against The World are close, but Oasis takes it. Also, Smashing Pumpkin's Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness slides in there.

1996: Secaucus - The Wrens
Easy pick, because I am from Secaucus. Great contenders though, with Sublime's Sublime, Tool's Aenima, Anti-Flag's Die For Your Government, and Dave Matthew's Crash.

1997: The Colour and the Shape - Foo Fighters
Hardest year thus far. Largest list of contenders too: Green Day's Nimrod, Third Eye Blind's self-titled, Radiohead's OK Computer, blink's Dude Ranch, and The Aquabats!' The Fury of the Aquabats!

1998: Dizzy Up The Girl - Goo Goo Dolls
Slightly biased because I love John Rzeznik's writing style. Only thing that would beat it would be In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, but System of A Down's self-titled, Fastball's All The Pain Money Can Buy, Offspring's Americana, and Catch 22's Keasbey Nights are close ones as well.

1999: Ágætis byrjun - Sigur Ros
What a year for music. I am just going to pick this just because I can not decide which one. This was one of Sigur Ros' better album though.

2000: Mass Romantic - New Pornographers
Aside from Queens of the Stone Age, Fuel, and Matchbox Twenty, nothing else seems good. Maybe Shaggy if he wasn't a sellout. Forgot to note Linkin Park's debut, Hybrid Theory, which was probably their only well-written album.

2001: Discovery - Daft Punk
This is my first House album ever and I think my 10th self-purchased album (parents bought the occasional album for me), and along with the whole Techno/Trance scene as well, this was a great start, plus so well rounded. This year was full of good ones though with Hoobastank's self-titled, Death Cab For Cutie's The Photo Album, The Strokes' Is This It, blink's Take Off Your... and JEW's Bleed American. I could probably note others, but these were pretty significant in my eyes, maybe Sum 41's AKNF.

2002: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots - The Flaming Lips
By the smallest possible margin this beat Interpol's Turn on the Bright Lights, but I would still put Interpol's as a top. TV On The Radio's OK Calculator is great, Coldplay's A Rush of Blood... is amazing, and Sum 41's Does This Look Infected? is a classic. Yoshimi though is well rounded in my opinion.

2003: Transatlanticism - Death Cab For Cutie
My first venture in to the indie rock world started with "Title and Registration", plus with such a strong songlist this goes for number one. Noteworthy however are: Thursday's War All The Time, Thrice's Artist in the Ambulance, Armor For Sleep's Dream To Make Believe, and Copeland's Beneath Medicine Tree. Strong year for post-hardcore bands, especially the debut for Silverstein and I believe Story of the Year.

2004: Good News For People Who Love Bad News - Modest Mouse
Even though I do not have many songs from this album, I consider it the best. Good runner ups are great though, which include: Kings of Convenience's Riot On An Empty Street, Franz Ferdinand's self-titled, Arcade Fire's Funeral, Tiesto's Just Be and maybe Kanye's College Dropout.

2005: Discovering the Waterfront - Silverstein
Some people must be like, wtf, but this was introduced to me roughly after the release date and since then, I have repped this band the most, followed by Death Cab and Goo Goo Dolls, but there is obviously challengers like Andy McKee's Art of Motion and PATD's debut album, Death Cab For Cutie's Plans, which is probably only seperated from being first by the fact that I love Silverstein, Minus The Bear's Menos el Oso, Armor For Sleep's What To Do..., Spoon's Gimme Fiction, and Sufjan Steven's Illinois.

2006: Continuum - John Mayer
John Mayer's Continuum is strictly one of my favorite albums written from him and has led to a huge influence on my playing style. I love the album in every possible way and it is so well written. However, there are so many good contenders such as: TV On The Radio's Return to Cookie Mountain, Muse's Black Holes and Revelations, Alesana's On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax (I love greek mythology so this won me over pretty easily), Band of Horses' Everything All The Time, The Scene Aesthetic's Building Homes From What We've Known, and others.

2007: None.
There was many good CD's in 2007 but I did not feel ANY of them stood out, so my vote for 2007 is null and void until I come across a good album from a new artist to me.


I am not going to put 2008 up because I have yet to listen to TV On The Radio's new album, but Ne-Yo's CD is strangely good, Nas' Untitled is great, Okkervil River's The Stand-Ins is great, and Coldplay's Viva la Vida was exceptional, so I will not add a 2008 selection.

[Thrillho]

1991: Spiderland - Slint

Hahaha. You just won the forum.

[CScheiner]

1991: Spiderland - Slint

Hahaha. You just won the forum.

Why did I just win the forum? If it is because everyone likes this CD, then I didn't win the forum, I found the best forum.

[Dimmukane]

That is the right answer.

[Thrillho]

Actually, I personally have never even heard it. But that album is a meme on here.

[spoon_of_grimbo]

1988   Bad Religion - "Suffer"
Just a brilliant example of how a melodic punk album ought to be- fast, short and to the point, catchy, and intelligent.

1989   Faith No More - "The Real Thing"
Although I actually prefer "Angel Dust," this one tends to put me in a better mood, and has some of the greatest vocal melodies of any rock record in the last 20 years - I LOVE singing along to this.

1990   Megadeth - "Rust In Peace"
Every riff and solo on this album combines amazing use of technical rhythms and perfect harmonizing, and is proof enough in my eyes that Megadeth >>> Metallica.  One of those albums you can actually sing the guitar parts...

1991   Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Combines the funkier elements of their sound with the more radio-friendly sound that's defined them since.  As a sort of sending-off treat before I went to uni, I went to see these guys live with my parents and brother, and we were all just singing along to every word (they even played "I Could Have Lied" and relied heavily on this album at that particular gig).  Just brings back nice memories of having a great time with my family I guess.

1992   Bon Jovi - "Keep the Faith"
The trinity of bands/artists that held a permenant residence in the tape deck of my parents' car when I was kid, consisted of a Drifters collection (which would totally be in this list if I were 30 years older), a Belinda Carlisle collection, and this.  I like to think that collectively, they shaped my music upbringing and gave me the keen ear for a pop melody that I still have today.

1993   Carcass - "Heartwork"
See the note under "Rust in Peace" and remove the Metallica reference - totally applies to this album, and it was my gateway into the heavier, more abrasive side of metal.

1994   Jeff Buckley - "Grace"
I was going to put Therapy?'s "Troublegum" for this year, but as great as it is, nothing can truly top the almost magical trance-like state that Buckley's music induces in me.  This record brings back memories of my ex before things went downhill, and also soundtracked my whole first year of uni.

1995   Jawbreaker - "Dear You"
Again, a tough call, and as I type this, I'm seriously tempted to change this to Rocket From the Crypt's "Scream Dracula Scream," but although that particular record gets a lot more listenage, "Dear You" is almost like a therapy album for me, a thoroughly emotional album which, while not necessarily cheering me up, always gives me time to think when I'm having a bad time.

1996   The Wildhearts - "Fishing for Luckies"
The Wildhearts are everything I expected to hear when Guns N Roses were first described to me - drug-fuelled, energetic, heavy rock, with a punk edge.  Needless to say, where GNR were a massive dissappointment to me (I generally CAN'T STAND their music) The Wildhearts were a huge treat, taking the aforementioned musical characteristics and adding massive pop melodies (along with some mad ideas for songs - a 10minute riff-fuelled epic about alien landings called "Sky Babies"?  Yes fucking please!).  Ginger still remains one of my favourite ever songwriters, and his solo albums only very narrowly missed out on being on this list.

1997   Bill Hicks - "Rant in E Minor"
Not music, but it wasn't specified that these all had to be MUSIC albums... Seriously, this guy was the nearest we'll ever have to a prophet, and he was taken from us way before his time.  Imagine the ire and fury he'd be spitting out at todays politicians...

1998   Strung Out - "Twisted By Design"
The single greatest collision of melodic metal and skatepunk ever to grace my ears, and my favourite album of all time.  The lyrics especially are something I can always connect with, to the point that I'm even going to get some of them tattooed.  (Special mentions for this year also include "Frame and Canvas" by Braid, although having recently discovered it, I feel I can't really justify putting it above TBD, and also "Americana" by The Offspring, as it was the album that introduced me to rock music in general).

1999   Mr. Bungle - "California"
Like stepping into a chilled out yet strangely sinister parallel dimension.  It's rare to come across a record with such a defined and individual character.

2000   Idlewild - "100 Broken Windows"
A bit of indie-rock, a bit of punk, a bit of sounding like a less hippy-and-annoying R.E.M. with balls.  Also helps that at least half of the melodies on here have that lift-the-hairs-on-the-back-of-your-neck quality.

2001   Alkaline Trio - "From Here to Infirmary"
Back when I was first getting into less mainstream rock/punk, this was about the first album to really click with me, and to which I could really relate.  Easily the Trio's most solid release, in my humble opinion.

2002   Hot Water Music - "Caution"
The way Chuck and Chris interweave both their vocal lines AND guitar parts, harmonize, and provide counter melodies is just spellbinding.  And the vaguely jazzy rhythm section kinda sets them apart.  A lot of HWM fans prefer their earlier, more hardcore-influenced material, but I feel this is where they really reached their peak in terms of songwriting.  I should add that this only very narrowly beat Thrice's "The Illusion of Safety," possibly the closest call of this whole list.

2003   Less Than Jake - "Anthem"
Yes it might be their poppiest album, and yes that may have been something to do with their return to a major label, but those points aside, this is their most fully realised albums, with their most hard-hitting and emotional lyrics, and a lot more variation in styles than you'd expect from an LTJ album.  Always puts me in a good mood when I hear this, and another amazing album for singing along to.

2004   Howards Alias - "The Answer Is Never"
I didn't think it was possible for what is essentially a ska-punk band to play such a strange and intricate mixture of emo (in the original 90s sense), ska, punk, and prog-rock, but these guys pulled it off.  Amazingly atmospheric at times, and sometimes just full on energetic, with some of the most endearingly heart-on-sleeve lyrics I've ever heard.  Imagine a less poppy (and slightly less reggae-obsessed) RX Bandits.  An amazing album, with the bonus of some amazing accompanying artwork too.

2005   He Is Legend - "I Am Hollywood"
A bit rock, a bit pop, a bit metalcore, but somehow totally different to anything else I've heard.  And those dark-side-of-a-fairytale lyrics give the whole record a creepy atmosphere all it's own.

2006   Amusement Parks on Fire - "Out of the Angeles"
Listening to this album is like climbing into a womb, the way the sound just washes over you like warm fluid.  The title track, which I heard on a magazine sampler, was pretty much the soundtrack to my last summer before going to uni (and brings back a lot of mixed memories, some great, some really bad, but I wouldn't change any of them), and having recently picked up the album, I was glad to find that the rest of it definitely matches up to the promise of that title-track.

2007   A Wilhelm Scream - "Career Suicide"
Like someone took the Strung Out album I mentioned above, and made everything a bit chunkier, faster, more technical, and a bit rougher-round-the-edges.  The harmonies (both guitar and vocal) are unreal, and some of the riffs are jaw-dropping.  Also, Trevor and Nuno have got a strange style of lyric writing that somehow combines palpable anger and emotion with some laugh-out-loud lines, and it makes for a strange, but definitely not unpleasant listen.

2008   Glass and Ashes - "Glass and Ashes"
Sounds like The Bronx covering Drive Like Jehu's "Yank Crime" while stood on the backs of charging bulls that are frantically running away from a giant wall of fire that's laying waste to a forest.  Basically this record is a mixture of punk'n'roll, math-rock, and a hint of post-rock, and it's totally as awesome as the mental image that last sentence should've provided.  That said, there's a severe chance the new Dillinger Four album could knock this off the 2008 top-spot, from the tidbits I've heard off it so far...




Well, that took a good couple of hours, but hey, I'd rather be writing music lists than wasting my time sleeping...

[Cadeonehalf]

1990: Facelift- Alice in Chains
Some of Layne Staley's best vocal work is here, I say. Although runners up include Apple by Mother Love Bone and Ritual de lo Habitual by Jane's Addiction, basically cementing the early nineties as OH GOD SO MUCH GRUNGE ROCK HUAAAARGHS

1991: The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life- Frank Zappa
I always appreciate Zappa for what he tried to do, but his lyrics were so ASININE. Him doing covers=AMAZING.

1992: Rage Against the Machine- Rage Against the Machine
Their Best Album. Period. Not a single song I haven't memorized on guitar by now. Some of Tom Morello's best work.

1993: God Shuffled His Feet- Crash Test Dummies
Oh, Crash Test Dummies, singing about camping and retiring. My Dad basically played this all the time for nothing else but the guy's vocals. Plus, while I would probably have picked In Utero or Siamese Dream over it NOW, it is what I actually listened to THEN.

1994: Unplugged in New York- Nirvana
Truly Unconventional and Iconic in its own right.

1995: Slaughter of the Soul- At the Gates
Yay for Swedes tripping on Acid and playing Melodic Death Metal.

1996: Aenima- Tool
Love Maynard James Keenan's vocals in this album, if nothing else (which is a lie, the guitar is also amazing).

1997: Sehnsucht- Rammstein
Yeah, there wasn't a lot released in 1997 that I was obsessed with then that I can post now (think Nsync and Backstreet Boys. UGH. Glad I got over that.

1998: Whitey Ford Sings the Blues- Everlast
I love the combination of Everlast's vocals with acoustic rock here.

1999: Blue- Third Eye Blind
All the pseudo-punk instrumentation of the previous album, but with lyrics that just jumped enormously in insightfulness.

2000: The State- Nickelback
As much as I hate Chad Kroeger for wiping his dick all over a good thing with The Long Road, this album was amazing, and I really wish they'd continued in this direction.

2001: Believe in Nothing- Paradise Lost
I think these guys take the cake when it comes to Rock superstardom in Europe v. complete anonymity in the States. Seriously, this is amongst their best "softer albums", and my personal favorite.

2002: The Eminem Show-Eminem
Yeah yeah, Eminem. When he's not being all Slim-Shady and acting like a complete dumbfuck, he has a tendency to write these incredibly captivating lyrics...and this album has a lot more of that. It's also better than Encore since I'm a little upset with him quitting recording (just when he was getting good)

2003: Thickfreakness- The Black Keys
Mmmmm overdriven Blues Rock. These guys kick serious ass. Close runner up for 2003 is the Golden Age of Grotesque by Marilyn Manson.

2004: Absolution- Muse
My favorite album of theirs, a friend got it for my 15th birthday and I've since had to buy another copy because I PLAYED THE OLD ONE TOO MUCH.

2005: Hypnotize- System of a Down
Their best album. Hands down. A pinnacle (in my mind) of artistic maturity for this band. It's really a shame that the process of recording Mezmerize/Hypnotize made them hate each other so much to break up.

2006: Skin and Bones- Foo Fighters
Dave Grohl kinda only writes really good singles, IMO, so a live album filled with his best singles=amazing.

2007: Elect the Dead- Serj Tankian
I have never before, nor will I likely again, heard an album of this level of near-schizophrenic anger and sarcasm and even some twisted forms of love (dig deep). I cannot wait for him to go on tour round here and cannot wait for a follow up.

2008: Watershed- Opeth
This was actually my introduction to Opeth (which I've gathered is a sort of Blasphemy) but I'm now obsessed with this group and are mining their discography every day and having my FACE MELTED OFF.
Great album.

Still, there are some years that I have no albums of note (see Eminem) and then others with like 20. For example, Coheed and Cambria never even made it on my list despite being my favorite still existing band. (I really wish I hadn't missed the late sixties, Hendrix was awesome)

EDIT: Need to learn my Scandanavian countries better 

[David_Dovey]

I thought At the Gates were Swedish?

[Spluff]

They are definitely Swedish, because they were part of the whole Gothenburg thing.

[Red Peril]

1986 Sonic Youth-Evol
1987 Big Black-Songs About Fucking
1988 The Pixies-Surfer Rosa
1989 Fugazi-13 Songs
1990 Sonic Youth-Goo
1991 Slint-Spiderland
1992 Polly Harvey-Rid of Me
1993 Earth-Earth 2 (Hard to turn down In On the Kill Taker, though)
1994 Portishead-Dummy (Didn't like this year, really)
1995 Polly Harvey-To Bring You My Love
1996 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds-Murder Ballads
1997 Godspeed You! Black Emperor-F#A#Infinity
1998 Refused-The Shape Of Punk To Come
1999 The Boredoms-Vision Creation Newsun
2000 At the Drive-In Relationship of Command
2001 Gillian Welch-Time (The Revelator)
2002 The Cooper Temple Clause-See This Through and Leave (Or this one, its popularity baffles me)
2003 Mogwai-Happy Songs for Happy People
2004 Joanna Newsom-The Milk Eyed Mender
2005 Lightning Bolt-Hypermagic Mountain
2006 Joanna Newsom-Ys
2007 Animal Collective- Strawberry Jam
2008- A year so musically derelict I haven't brought a single album, I hope it rots in hell.

[mberan42]

Man, this was a great way to burn about 2.5 hours this afternoon. I tried this before, but I started on the year I was born and went towards today. It was incredibly difficult 'cause there aren't too many albums-as-a-whole I feel any connection to from the 80s and early 90s. Anyway, here we go:

1980 - AC/DC - Back in Black

1981 - Foreigner - 4

1982 - Michael Jackson - Thriller
...i guess. Was never a huge Jacko fan, but this is a great album

1983 - Ziggy Stardust - David Bowie
Recorded in '73, but not released until '83.

1984 - Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense
Oh man, best live recording ever.

1985 - Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair
"Everybody wants to rule the wooooorld" Also, gotta put a-ha's Hunting High and Low at #2: "Taaaaake oooon meeeee! (take on me!)"

1986 - Beastie Boys - Licence to Ill
Meh. Not much came out in '86.

1987 - Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction
I was so tempted to Rickroll this year...

1988 - U2 - Rattle and Hum

1989 - Neil Young - Freedom

1990 - Depeche Mode - Violator
Wtf, music of 1990?! I only put this down 'cause it has Personal Jesus on it...

1991 - FUCK YOU SPIDERLAND
Man, I just Do Not Get Slint. Yeah, this is a great album, I just don't get the fanboi obsession with it... I should, 'cause a lot of my later choices are derived from/influenced by Slint.

1992 - Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine
Jesus, is this album 16 years old?!

1993 - Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream

1994 - Jeff Buckley - Grace

1995 - Oasis - (what's the story) Morning Glory

1996 - Tool - Ænima
Whoa there wasn't that great of music this year; Want me to go with Meat Loaf - Live Around the World?

1997 - Mogwai - Young Team
Oh man '97 was a much better year. Built To Spill - Perfect From Now On; Godspeed You! Black Emperor - f#a#∞; Spiritualized - Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space all come a close 2nd.

1998 - Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Probably #1 on my Deserted Island Top-Five Must-Have Albums list.

1999 - Sigur Rós - Ágætis Byrjun
Probably #2 on that same list.

2000 - The Dandy Warhols - Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia

2001 - Incubus - Morning View
Seriously, I couldn't think of anything this year that I felt any connection, no matter how remote, to. Maybe the Tenacious D album?

2002 - The Decemberists - Castaways and Cutouts
Broken Social Scene - You Forget It In People is a very close 2nd

2003 - Explosions in the Sky - The Earth is Not a Cold, Dead Place
The Wrens - Meadowlands is a very close 2nd

2004 - TV on the Radio - Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes

2005 - Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary

2006 - The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America

2007 - The National - Boxer

2008 - Girl Talk - Feed the Animals
Man I cannot stop listening to this album.

That was fun!

[CaptainClae]

First post!

1992 = Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine
I don't listen to them that much anymore, but they dominated my listening 3-4 years ago, and this album has all the best songs on it.
Runners up = Alice in Chains - Dirt, Kyuss - Blues For the Red Sun

1993 = Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
This year was a hard one for me. Siamese dream because it's got Geek USA on it.
Runners up = Radiohead - Pablo Honey

1994 = Nas - Illmatic
Good year for Hip Hop! Hard to pick between Nas and Warren G, but I went for Nas cause I listen to more of him at the moment. Illmatic is kinda iconic.
Runners Up = Warren G - Regulate...G Funk Era, Kyuss - Welcome To Sky Valley

1995 = Kyuss - ...And the Circus Leaves Town
My favourite Kyuss album. I don't really listen to much music pre 1999 though, and most of what I do listen to which is pre 1999 is also pre 1980 so yeah.
Runners up = Radiohead - The Bends, Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.

1996 = Kid Koala - Scratchcratchratchatch
Pretty much THE best instrumental Hip Hop album ever.
Runners Up = Rage Against The Machine - Evil Empire, Tool - Ænima, DJ Shadow - Endtroducing...

1997 = Radiohead - OK Computer
For lack of anything better to choose
Runners Up = Foo Fighters - Color & Shape

1998 = At The Drive-In - In/Casino/Out
I love At The Drive-In. This isn't my favourite album, but it's the best from this year.
Runners Up = Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children, Queens of the Stone Age - Queens of the Stone Age

1999 = Sigur Rós - Ágætis Byrjun
Close between this and Operation Doomsday, but this is an amazing album.
Runners Up = Fantomas - Fantomas, Opeth, Still Life, MF Doom - Operation Doomsday

2000 = Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030
Collab. between one of my favourite Emcees, one of my favourite turntablists, and one of my favourite producers. And its about the FUTURE, man.
Runners Up = Del the Funkee Homosapien - Both Sides of the Brain, At The Drive-In - Relationship of Command

2001 = N*E*R*D - In Search Of...
N*E*R*D's pretty amazing Debut.
Runners Up = Daft Punk - Discovery, Opeth - Blackwater Park, Aesop Rock - Labor Days

2002 = Minus the Bear - Highly Refined Pirates
My favourite Minus the Bear album. Good year for music.
Runners up = Coheed & Cambria = The Second Stage Turbine Blade, Queens of the Stone Age - Songs For the Deaf, Isis - Cceanic, Sigur Rós - ( )

2003 = The Fall of Troy - The Fall of Troy
Year of the long album names. Yes, I enjoy Coheed, so shoot me. But The Fall of Troy's debut kicked ass this year.
Runners up = Coheed & Cambria - In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3, The Mars Volta - Deloused in the Comatorium, The Kills - Keep On Your Mean Side, Mogwai - Happy Songs for Happy People

2004 = mewithoutYou - Catch For Us the Foxes
My favourite album from one of my favourite bands.
Runners Up = Mastodon - Leviathan, Isis - Panopticon, MF Doom - MM.. Food, DJ Dangermouse - The Grey Album

2005 = Queens of the Stone Age - Lullabies to Paralyze
Phew! Some really good albums. But this is my most listened to album ever for a reason.
Runners Up = Circa Survive - Juturna, Pharrell - In my Mind, The Mint Chicks - Fuck the Golden Youth, Daft Punk - Human After All, Sigur Rós - Takk..., Lil Wayne - Tha carter II

2006 = Hot Club de Paris - Drop it Till it Pops!
It's kinda like Barbershop Mathpop-punk. Which is kinda awesome.
Runners Up = Thom Yorke - The Eraser, Isis - In the Absence of Truth, Tom Waits - Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards, The Fall of Troy - Doppelgänger, The Mint Chicks, Crazy? Yes! Dumb? no!, Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor

2007 = Justice - †
Most fun album ever. It's so cool.
Runners Up = Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass, Radiohead - In Rainbows, Okkervil River - The Stage Names, Lupe Fiasco - The Cool, The Fall of Troy - Manipulator, Blu & Exile - Below the Heavens, Damiera - M(US)IC

2008 = Steve Aoki - Pillowface and His Airplane Chronicles
This year was really tough. Steve Aoki cause I'm loving it and it's awesome fun, but it was really hard to choose.
Runners Up = The Cool Kids - The Bake Sale EP, N*E*R*D - Seeing Sounds, Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping, Foals - Anitdotes, Hot Club de Paris, Live at Dead Lake, Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, The Sound of Animals Fighting, The Ocean and the Sun

Wow that was an effort! It was fun, though.

[Big Happy Captain]

1991: Loveless- My Bloody Valentine
1992: Hit To Death In The Future Head- Flaming Lips
1993: Transmissions From The Satellite Heart- Flaming Lips   (FL are not one of my fave bands at all, but these 2 albums are damn good)
1994: 76:14- Global Communication
1995: Electric Wizard
1996: A Pretty Mess By This One Band- Grandaddy
1997: Under The Western Freeway- Grandaddy      (Grandaddy are my 2nd fave band, and UTWF is one of the greatest albums ever. Go and get it now)
1998: Good Morning Spider- Sparklehorse
1999: Her Wallpaper Reverie- Apples In Stereo
2000: Yesterday Was Dramatic, Today Is Okay- Mùm   (Mùm is my all time favourite band and this debut of theirs is fantastic)
2001: Crocodile Krazy Glue- Nurse With Wound
2002: Finally We Are No On- Mùm                     (My all time favourite album. Enough said)
2003: Frengers- Mew
2004: An Accidental Memory In The Case Of Death- Eluvium
2005:Travel In Constants Volume 20- Eluvium                        (Im a big fan of ambient music and Matthew Cooper to me outshines anyone else in the genre)
2006: Citrus- Asobi Seksu
2007: Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy- Mùm   (another amazing album by Mùm, this really made my year last year)

not going to say for sure what my fave album of this year is, im hoping something better will be released in the next month or so.

right now its a tie between the b-side collection by Apples In Stereo, or the Grouper/Ina Ore split.

[BrilliantEraser]

1988: Naked -- Talking Heads
1989: The Samples -- The Samples
1990: The La's -- The La's (there was jack shit released in 1990)
1991: Woodface -- Crowded House
1992: Nonsuch -- XTC
1993: Remember Two Things -- Dave Matthews Band
1994: Grace -- Jeff Buckley
1995: Ben Folds Five -- Ben Folds Five
1996: Recovering the Satellites -- Counting Crows
1997: Good Feeling -- Travis
1998: Try Whistling This -- Neil Finn
1999: After the Party -- The Push Stars
2000: Landing on the Sidewalk -- The Samples (runner-up: Enjoy the Melodic Sunshine -- Cosmic Rough Riders)
2001: One Nil -- Neil Finn
2002: Drunken Lullabies -- Flogging Molly
2003: Keep it Together -- Guster
2004: The Dresden Dolls -- The Dresden Dolls
2005: Picaresque -- The Decemberists
2006: Hey, You -- Chris Trapper
2007: The Boy With No Name -- Travis
2008: Way to Normal -- Ben Folds

[Dazed]

1988 - Green - R.E.M.
1989 - Mother's Milk - Red Hot Chili Peppers
1990 - Social Distortion - Social Distortion
1991 - Gish - The Smashing Pumpkins
1992 - 2 way tie between Blind Melon - Blind Melon and Dirt - Alice in Chains
1993 - Vs. - Pearl Jam
1994 - 3 way tie between Superunknown - Soundgarden, Pisces Iscariot - The Smashing Pumpkins, and MTV Unplugged in New York - Nirvana
1995 - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness - The Smashing Pumpkins
1996 - 2 way tie between Ænima - Tool and Unplugged - Alice in Chains
1997 - OK Computer - Radiohead
1998 - Before These Crowded Streets - Dave Matthews Band
1999 - Horrible year for music. Anyway, Alanis Unplugged - Alanis Morissette
2000 - Mer de Noms - A Perfect Circle
2001 - Lateralus - Tool
2002 - Songs for the Deaf - Queens of the Stone Age
2003 - Thirteenth Step - A Perfect Circle THANK YOU MAYNARD, FOR KEEPING ME SANE THROUGH THIS AWFUL PERIOD OF SHIT
2004 - Absolution - Muse
2005 - Picaresque - The Decemberists
2006 - 2 way tie between 10,000 Days - Tool and Carnavas - The Silversun Pickups
2007 - Zeitgeist - The Smashing Pumpkins
2008 - I don't think I've liked anything yet this year.

[MobyDickhole]

1989: Doolittle- The Pixies
1990: Goo - Sonic Youth
1991: Spiderland - Slint
1992: Automatic For The People -R.E.M.
1993: Transmissions from the Satellite Heart -The Flaming Lips
1994: Mellow Gold -Beck
1995: Wowee Zowee -Pavement
1996: Millions Now Living Will Never Die -Tortoise
1997: OK Computer -Radiohead
1998: In The Aeroplane Over The Sea -Neutral Milk Hotel
1999: Ágætis Byrjun- Sigur Rós
2000: Mass Romantic -The New Pornographers
2001: Discovery -Daft Punk
2002: You Forgot it in People - Broken Social Scene (2002 was a Really good year for music)
2003: Dear Castastrophe Waitress -Belle And Sebastian
2004: Funeral - The Arcade Fire
2005: Picaresque -The Decemberists
2006: American V: A Hundred Highways -Johnny Cash (Johnny Cash's last album contains his version of a traditional song called "God's Gonna Cut You Down" and it very well might be one of the best songs of the past decade.
2007: Strawberry Jam- Animal Collective
2008: Feed The Animals -Girl Talk