Spin: Albums of the Year, 1965-2022

Spin Magazine: Albums of the Year, 1965-2022

From 1990 to the present, Spin magazine has named an album of the year. Because they’ve also done multiple best-of-all-time lists, I have extended the album-of-the-year selections back to 1965 based on those lists. Check out other album of the year awards here. 2022: Weyes Blood And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow 2021: Turnstile Glow On 2020: Fiona Apple Fetch the Bolt Cutters 2019: Big Thief Two Hands 2018: The 1975 A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships 2017: Kendrick Lamar Damn. 2016: Mitski Puberty 2 2015: Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly 2014: The War on Drugs Lost in the Dream 2013: Kanye West Yeezus 2012: Frank Ocean Channel Orange 2011: Fucked Up David Comes to Life 2010: Janelle Monáe The ArchAndroid 2009: Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavilion 2008: TV on the Radio Dear Science 2007: Against Me! New Wave 2006: TV on the Radio Return to Cookie Mountain 2005: Kanye West Late Registration 2004: Kanye West The College Dropout 2003: The White Stripes Elephant 2002: The White Stripes White Blood Cells 2001: System of a Down Toxicity 2000: Radiohead Kid A 1999: Nine Inch Nails The Fragile 1998: Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 1997: Cornershop When I Was Born for the 7th Time 1996: Beck Odelay 1995: Moby Everything Is Wrong 1994: Hole Live Through This 1993: Liz Phair Exile in Guyville 1992: Pavement Slanted and Enchanted 1991: Teenage Fanclub Bandwagonesque 1990: Ice Cube AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted 1989: N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton 1988: Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back 1987: Prince Sign ‘O’ the Times 1986: The Smiths The Queen Is Dead 1985: New Order Low-Life 1984: Run-D.M.C. Run-D.M.C. 1983: Tom Waits Swordfishtrombones 1982: Richard & Linda Thompson Shoot Out the Lights 1981: Black Flag Damaged 1980: Pretenders Pretenders 1979: Joy Division Unknown Pleasures 1978: Elvis Costello & The Attractions This Year’s Model 1977: Television Marquee Moon 1976: Ramones Ramones 1975: Patti Smith Horses 1974: Kraftwerk Autobahn 1973: Sly & the Family Stone Fresh 1972: Big Star #1 Record 1971: Marvin Gaye What’s Going On 1970: The Stooges Fun House 1969: Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II 1968: Aretha Franklin Lady Soul 1967: The Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico 1966: Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde 1965: Sun Ra Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Vol. 1 Resources and Related Links: Spin “Lists – End of Year” (1990-2020) Dave’s Music Database: “Spin’s Top 100 Albums of All Time” Dave’s Music Database: “Other Year-End Album Awards” First posted 12/10/2022; last updated 12/22/2022.