Top 5 Albums By Year

I decided to do something I'll likely regret - pick my top 5 albums from every year. These are the albums I listened to and enjoyed the most. That doesn't mean they are the "best," they're just my favorites. Also, these top fives can change. I might hear a record from the 70s tomorrow that becomes one of my faves, and the list changes. And as the list gets longer, the less music I've heard. Some don't list a full five, but my goal is to listen to more and find more faves.

2023 (So Far)

  • Depeche Mode - Memento Mori
  • The Lords Of Altamont - To Hell With Tomorrow The Lords Are Now!
  • Son Volt - Day of the Doug
  • Allen Epley - Everything

2022

  • Suede - Autofiction
  • Skid Row - The Gang's All Here
  • The Cult - Under the Midnight Sun
  • The Hellacopters - Eyes Of Oblivion
  • Johnny Marr - Fever Dreams Pts 1-4
2021
  • Gary Numan - Intruder
  • Duran Duran - Future Past
  • Morcheeba - Blackest Blue
  • Manic Street Preachers - Ultra Vivid Lament
  • Iron Maiden - Senjutsu
2020
  • Shiner - Schadenfreude
  • Fiona Apple - Fetch The Bolt Cutters
  • The Psychedelic Furs - Made of Rain
  • The Lees of Memory - Moonshot
  • Hum - Inlet
2019
  • Swervedriver - Future Ruins
  • Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - Watchmen (Soundtrack)
  • Jeff Whalen - 10 More Rock Super Hits
  • Sturgill Simpson - Sound & Fury
  • The Shelia Divine - Beginning of the End is Where We'll Start Again
2018
  • Failure - In The Future Your Body Will Be the Furthest Thing from Your Mind
  • Manic Street Preachers - Resistance Is Futile
  • Guided By Voices - Space Gun
  • Prince - Piano & A Microphone
  • Teenage Wrist - Chrome Neon Jesus

2017
  • Alain Johannes - Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands (Sountrack)
  • The Afghan Whigs - In Spades
  • Manager - Manager
  • Slowdive - Slowdive
  • The Lees Of Memory - The Blinding White Of Nothing At All

2016
  • The Tragically Hip - Man Machine Poem
  • John Carpenter - Lost Themes II
  • David Bowie - Black Star
  • The Lees Of Memory - Unnecessary Evil
  • Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein - Stranger Things (Sountrack)

2015
  • Failure - The Heart Is a Monster
  • Wilco - Star Wars
  • Junkie XL - Mad Max: Fury Road (Soundtrack)
  • John Carpenter - Lost Themes
  • Swervedriver - I Wasn't Born To Lose You

2014
  • The Afghan Whigs - Do To The Beast
  • Manic Street Preachers - Futurology
  • The Life and Times - Lost Bees
  • The Lees Of Memory - Sisyphus Says
  • Paul Leonard-Morgan - Dredd (Soundtrack)

2013
  • Manic Street Preachers - Rewind The Film
  • David Bowie - The Next Day
  • Charles Bradley - Victim Of Love
  • Petar Dundov - Sailing Off The Grid
  • M83 - Oblivion (Soundtrack)

2012
  • Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth
  • The Life and Times - No One Loves You Like I Do
  • Petar Dundov - Ideas From The Pond
  • Alex Gopher & Xavier Jamaux - Motorway (Soundtrack)
  • Brad - United We Stand

2011
  • All Hail The Crown - All Hail The Crown
  • Fu Manchu - Start The Machine
  • Cliff Martinez - Contagion (Soundtrack)
  • Bicentennital Bear - Lost Summers
  • Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee (Pt. 2)

2010
  • Tron: Legacy (Soundtrack)
  • Sleigh Bells - Treats
  • Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - The Social Network (Sountrack)
  • Satchel - Heartache and Honey
  • Brad - Best Friends?

2009
  • Wilco - Wilco (The Album)
  • Manic Street Preachers - Journal for Plague Lovers
  • Passion Pit - Manners
  • The Life and Times - Tragic Boogie
  • Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid

2008
  • The Gutter Twins - Saturnalia
  • Motley Crue - Saints of Los Angeles
  • Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
  • Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I-IV
  • Paul Haslinger - Death Race (Soundtrack)

2007
  • Pride Tiger - The Lucky Ones
  • Manic Street Preachers - Send Away The Tigers
  • Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond
  • Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City
  • Fu Manchu - We Must Obey

2006
  • The Tragically Hip - World Container
  • Prince - 3121
  • The Twilight Singers - Powder Burns
  • J Dilla - Donuts
  • Muse - Black Holes and Revelations

2005
  • Greg Dulli - Amber Headlights
  • The Twilight Singers - Powder Burns
  • Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
  • Spoon - Gimme Fiction
  • Brad vs Satchel - Brad vs Satchel

2004
  • The Tragically Hip - In Between Evolution
  • Annie - Anniemal
  • Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
  • Jon Chinn - I Can't Believe You Live Like That
  • The Good Life - Album Of The Year

2003
  • The Twilight Singers - Blackberry Belle
  • Gord Downie - Battle of the Nudes
  • Muse - Absolution
  • The Darkness - Permission To Land
  • Cursive - The Ugly Organ

2002
  • The Good Life - Black Out
  • Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights
  • Spoon - Kill The Moonlight
  • My Vitriol - Finelines
  • Mirand Sound - Engaged In Labor

2001
  • Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
  • National Skyline - This = Everything
  • Elbow - Asleep In The Back
  • Muse - Origin of Symmetry
  • Hey Mercedes - Everynight Fire Works

2000
  • The Twilight Singers - Twilight as Played by The Twilight Singers
  • Primal Scream - XTRMNTR
  • Radiohead - Kid A
  • Gluecifer - Tender Is The Savage
  • Tsar - Tsar

1999
  • Wilco - Summerteeth
  • Shawn Smith - Let It All Begin
  • Pretty Mighty Mighty - Famous Past Lives
  • The Hellacopters - Grande Rock
  • The Shelia Divine - New Parade

1998
  • The Tragically Hip - Phantom Power
  • The Afghan Whigs - 1965
  • Massive Attack - Mezzanine
  • Pulp - This Is Hardcore
  • Rocket from the Crypt - RFTC

1997
  • Catherine Wheel - Adam and Eve
  • Brad - Interiors
  • Travis - Good Feeling
  • Roni Size / Reprazent - New Forms
  • Depeche Mode - Ultra

1996
  • The Tragically Hip - Trouble At The Henhouse
  • The Afghan Whigs - Black Love
  • Failure - Fantastic Planet
  • Wilco - Being There
  • Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go

1995
  • PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love
  • Hum - You'd Prefer An Astronaut
  • Pulp - Different Class
  • Son Volt - Trace
  • Ruby - Salt Peter

1994
  • The Tragically Hip - Day For Night
  • Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible
  • Satched - EDC
  • Pearl Jam - Vitalogy
  • Beastie Boys - Ill Communication

1993
  • The Afghan Whigs - Gentlemen
  • Catherine Wheel - Chrome
  • Brad - Shame
  • Uncle Tupelo - Anodyne
  • Dinosaur Jr. - Where You Been

1992
  • The Tragically Hip - Fully Completely
  • The Afghan Whigs - Congregation
  • Helmet - Meantime
  • Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine
  • Manic Street Preachers - Generation Terrorists

1991
  • The Tragically Hip - Road Apples
  • A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory
  • Public Enemy - Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black
  • Uncle Tupelo - Still Feel Gone
  • U2 - Achtung Baby

1990
  • Mother Love Bone - Apple
  • Uncle Tupelo - No Depression
  • Depeche Mode - Violator
  • Ice Cube - Amerkikkka's Most Wanted
  • Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet

1989
  • The Cult - Sonic Temple
  • The Replacements - Don't Tell a Soul
  • Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
  • Pixies - Doolittle
  • The Cure - Disintegration

1988
  • N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton
  • Pixies - Surfer Rosa
  • Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
  • Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking
  • Van Halen - OU812

1987
  • The Replacements - Pleased to Meet Me
  • Prince - Sign O' The Times
  • The Cure - Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
  • Depeche Mode - Music For The Masses
  • The Cult - Electric

1986
  • Metallica - Master of Puppets
  • Depeche Mode - Black Celebration
  • Cinderella - Night Songs
  • Run-D.M.C. - Raising Hell
  • Beastie Boys- Licensed To Ill

1985
  • The Replacements - Tim
  • The Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy
  • The Cult - Love
  • Phil Collins - No Jacket Required
  • Kate Bush - Hounds of Love

1984
  • Van Halen - 1984
  • Prince and the Revolution - Purple Rain
  • Ratt - Ratt
  • Dio - The Last In Line
  • Depeche Mode - Some Great Reward

1983
  • Motley Crue - Shout At The Devil
  • Def Leppard - Pyromania
  • Genesis - Genesis
  • Duran Duran - Seven And The Ragged Tiger
  • Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Punch The Clock

1982
  • Billy Joel - The Nylon Curtain
  • James Horner - Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Soundtrack)
  • Prince - 1999
  • Duran Duran - Rio
  • Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast

1981
  • Billy Joel - Songs in the Attic
  • Van Halen - Fair Warning
  • The Sound - From The Lion's Mouth
  • Rush - Moving Pictures
  • John Carpenter - Escape From New York (Soundtrack)

1980
  • Billy Joel - Glass Houses
  • Zapp - Zapp
  • Van Halen - Women And Children First
  • The Vapors - New Clear Days
  • Elvis Costello And The Attractions - Get Happy!!

1979
  • Thin Lizzy - Black Rose: A Rock Legend
  • 20/20 - 20/20
  • Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Armed Forces
  • Gang of Four - Entertainment!
  • Neil Young - Rust Never Sleeps

1978
  • Elvis Costello - This Year's Model
  • Funkadelic - One Nation Under A Groove
  • Big Star - Third/Sister Lovers
  • Brian Eno - Ambient 1: Music for Airports
  • AC/DC - Powerage

1977
  • Billy Joel - The Stranger
  • Booty's Rubber Band - Ahh...The Name Is Bootsy, Baby!
  • Richard Hell & The Voidoids - Blank Generation
  • Cheap Trick - In Color
  • Television - Marquee Moon

1976
  • Billy Joel - Turnstiles
  • Steve Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life
  • Ramones - Ramones
  • Marvin Gaye - I Want You
  • Agustus Pablo - King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown

1975
  • Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
  • Parliament - Mothership Connection
  • Neil Young - Zuma
  • Neil Young - Tonight's The Night
  • David Bowie - Young Americans

1974
  • Billy Joel - Streetlife Serenade
  • Big Star - Radio City
  • David Bowie - Diamond Dogs
  • KISS - KISS
  • Queen - Sheer Heart Attack
1973
  • Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
  • Iggy And The Stooges - Raw Power
  • Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
  • Tower of Power - Tower of Power
  • ZZ Top - Tres Hombres
1972
  • The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street
  • Neil Young - Harvest
  • Big Star - #1 Record
  • Ernie Hines- Electrified
  • David Bowie - The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
1971
  • Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
  • Led Zeppelin - IV
  • The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
  • Baby Huey - The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend
  • Serge Gainsbourg - Historie De Melody Nelson
1970
  • Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Express Yourself
  • MC5 - Back In The USA
  • Neil Young - After The Gold Rush
  • Led Zeppelin - III
  • The Meters - Look-Ka Py Py
1969
  • The Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed
  • Led Zeppelin - II
  • Neil Young with Crazy Horse - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
  • The MCS - Kick Out The Jams
  • Isaac Hayes - Hot Buttered Soul
1968
  • John Cash - At Folsom Prison
  • The Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet
  • Nancy & Lee - Nancy & Lee
  • The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland
  • Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul
1967
  • The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
  • The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced?
  • The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold As Love
  • The Doors - The Doors
  • Frank Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim - Frank Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim

1966
  • The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
  • The Beatles - Revolver
  • The Beatles - Yesterday And Today
  • Frank Sinatra - Strangers In The Night
  • Mulatu Astatke & His Ethiopian Quintet - Afro-Latin Soul

1965
  • The Beatles - Rubber Soul
  • The Beatles - Help!
  • John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
  • The Rolling Stones - Out of Our Heads
1964
  • The Beatles - For Sale
  • The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night
  • The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go 
  • Xavier Cugat - Plays The Music Of Ernesto Lecuona
1963
  • The Beatles - Please Please Me
  • Dean Martin - This Is Dean Martin!
  • James Brown - Live At The Apollo
  • Stan Getz / Joao Gilberto - Getz / Gilberto
  • Duke Ellington And His Orchestra - Afro-Bossa
1962
  • Wyton Kelly - Whisper Not
  • Stan Getz/Charlie Byrd - Jazz Samba
  • Charles Mingus - Oh Yeah
  • The Chiffons - The Chiffons
  • Ray Charles - Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music
1961
  • Leonard Bernstein - West Side Story (Soundtrack)
  • Max Roach - We Insist! Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite
1960
  • Etta James - At Last!
1959
  • Dave Brubeck - Time Out
  • Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue
  • Ray Charles - What'd I Say
1958
  • Sabu And His Percussion Ensemble - Sorcery!
1957
  • Joe Turner - Rock & Roll
  • Miles Davis - Miles Ahead
  • Thelonious Monk - Brilliant Corners
1956
  • Frank Sinatra - Songs For Swingin' Lovers
  • Sonny Rollins - Plus 4
1955
  • Frank Sinatra - In The Wee Small Hours