In order to pick its favourites, Key Notes relied quite a bit on google, wikipedia and, most importantly, this one.  Here are his choices in list form:

1982 – Prince – 1999
1983 – U2 – War
1984 – Prince & The Revolution – Purple Rain
1985 – Kate Bush – Hounds of Love
1986 – Paul Simon – Graceland
1987 – Prince – Sign ‘O’ The Times
1988 – Public Enemy – It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back
1989 – Neil Young – Freedom
1990 – Depeche Mode – Violator
1991 – Nirvana – Nevermind
1992 – Soul Asylum – Grave Dancers Union
1993 – The Flaming Lips – Transmission From The Satellite Heart
1994 – REM – Monster
1995 – Elliott Smith – Elliott Smith
1996 – Rage Against The Machine – Evil Empire
1997 – Radiohead – OK Computer
1998 – Elliott Smith - XO
1999 – The Flaming Lips – The Soft Bulletin
2000 – Badly Drawn Boy – The Hour Of The Bewilderbeast
2001 – Ryan Adams – Gold
2002 – The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
2003 – New Pornographers – Electric Version
2004 – Interpol - Antics
2005 – Bright Eyes – I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning
2006 – Joanna Newsom – The Y’s
2007 – The National - Boxer 

Some notes regarding the above:

Though most people have gone for Thiller in 1982, Key Notes isn't a fan.

There are a number of Flaming Lips and Elliott Smith records in there but both have been a huge influence on Key Notes musical development and so he makes no apologies for having more than one entry.

Key Notes hasn't chosen an entry for 2008 because he believes the best record of the year is still to come, though it probably won't be Chinese Democracy.

'How can you not include Funeral by Arcade Fire?' you ask.  Key Notes hasn't listened to Funeral since while Antics is still on the playlist.

So, that's been Key Note's day wasted, fill in your favourite albums in the comment box below.