To begin, earlier this year I created an Apple Music playlist with a song I love from each calendar year, 1960 to the present. And as always with my lists, no repeat artists.
Next, both for my own reference, and for a "better" way to consolidate all the year-end lists I have written over the years, here is a list of all Albums of the Year and their corresponding list, if there is one. I need to write more 80's lists at some point and have been researching them. Note that some of my lists have changed of course, and the AOTY I write below may be different at the corresponding link.
My #1 album of the year for:
1985: Tears for Fears- Songs from the Big Chair
List coming soon
1986: R.E.M.- Lifes Rich Pageant
1987: U2- Joshua Tree
1988: Amy Grant- Lead Me On
List coming soon
1989: The Innocence Mission- The Innocence Mission
List coming soon
1990: The Connells- One Simple Word
1991: Smashing Pumpkins- Gish
1992: Seventy Sevens- Pray Naked
1993: Mortal- Fathom
1994: Poor Old Lu- Sin
1995: Sixpence None the Richer- This Beautiful Mess
1996: Mineral- The Power of Failing
1997: Sixpence None the Richer- Sixpence None the Richer
1998: Sunny Day Real Estate- How It Feels To Be Something On
1999: Jimmy Eat World- Clarity
2000: Sunny Day Real Estate- The Rising Tide
2001: The Appleseed Cast- Low Level Owl Volumes 1 + 2
2002: The Gloria Record- Start Here
2003: Fountains of Wayne- Welcome Interstate Managers
2004: Brandtson- Send Us a Signal
2005: Sufjan Stevens- Illinois(e)
2006: mewithoutYou- Brother, Sister
2007: Thrice- The Alchemy Index
2008: Mates of State- Re-Arrange Us
2009: The Appleseed Cast- Sagarmatha
2010: Arcade Fire- The Suburbs
2011: The Spirit That Guides Us- Innocent Blood
2012: mewithoutYou- Ten Stories
2013: Tegan and Sara- Heartthrob
2014: Luxury- Trophies
2015: Wolf Alice- My Love is Cool
2016: The Avett Brothers- True Sadness
2017: Manchester Orchestra- A Black Mile to the Surface
2018: Neko Case- Hell-On
2019: Great Grandpa- Four of Arrows
2020: Taylor Swift- folklore
2021: The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die- Illusory Walls
Full list coming soon!
