So yeah, this is way way off topic, but I saw this, and I was compelled to do it myself... And just so we're clear - this is a retrospective look. I'm not talking about the albums that I thought were the best in that year. I'm looking back and saying objectively what I now think the best albums released that year are. Also, greatest hits records don't count. Also also, I have to have actually listened to the whole album, if not owned it at one point.Here's nothing:
1978: Ambient I: Music for Airports, by Brian Eno
1979: (tie) London Calling, by The Clash and The Wall, by Pink Floyd
1980: Back in Black, AC/DC
1981: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, AC/DC (really, i'm not a big AC/DC fan at all, but I'm tellin ya, 1981 is a rough year for music. I'd probably pick October by U2, but honestly, I never really listened to the whole thing...)
1982: Thriller, by Michael Jackson
1983: War, by U2
1984: Reckoning, by R.E.M.
1985: Meat is Murder, by The Smiths
1986: So, by Peter Gabriel
1987: Diesel and Dust, by Midnight Oil and The Joshua Tree, by U2 (with Document by R.E.M., Appetite for Destruction, by G'N'R, and Kick by INXS right behind these two... what a great year for music...)
1988: Rattle and Hum, by U2
1989: The Stone Roses, by The Stone Roses
1990: Ritual de lo Habitual, by Jane's Addiction
1991: Loveless, by My Bloody Valentine and Achtung Baby by U2. I'm sorry. I can't pick. Especially cause it was going to be a no-brainer for Ten by Pearl Jam until i saw that both the U2 and MBV records both came out in THE SAME MONTH?!?!?! Oh, to go back in time and smack my 13-year old self upside the head and tell him to buy these instead of the Use Your Illusions... well, in all fairness, I did buy Achtung Baby...
1992: Angel Dust, by Faith No More
1993: Dubnobasswithmyheadman, by Underworld
1994: Grace, by Jeff Buckley
1995: The Bends, by Radiohead
1996: Being There, by Wilco
1997: OK Computer, by Radiohead - the only year that required no research at all (which is unfortunate, because some great records came out this year - Perfect from Now On, by Built to Spill; Either/Or, by Elliott Smith; Lonesome Crowded West, by Modest Mouse; Urban Hymns, by the Verve; Young Team, by Mogwai; and F♯A♯∞, by Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
1998: Mezzanine, by Massive Attack
1999: Keep It Like A Secret, by Built To Spill
2000: Kid A, by Radiohead
2001: Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever, by Explosions in the Sky
2002: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, by Wilco
2003: Give Up, by The Postal Service
2004: Eveningland, by Hem
2005: Illinois, by Sufjan Stevens
2006: Everything All the Time, by Band of Horses and The Animal Years, by Josh Ritter
2007: Neon Bible, by Arcade Fire
2008: The Seldom Seen Kid, by Elbow
