...I try not to say that my personal favourites should be on any list like this UNLESS it really is a "must hear" album. Example: My favourite Floyd album (and favourite album of ALL TIME) is Animals.... but Dark Side should be on this list first and foremost.
I agree with this wholeheartedly. I did that on the "103 Films..." thread, and likely will do so here as well [I know my Benny Goodman fits the bill, as there's only one tune on it that I like enough to repeatedly listen to... but that one is possibly in my top 50 favorite tunes of all time].
Funny, I liked the 'Eno/Lanois years' of U2: "Unforgettable Fire", "Joshua Tree" and I like most of "Achtung Baby"... that's almost exactly right between the 'ages' of U2 that you two prefer. [Yes, I did the "U2"/"you two" thing deliberately.] Some of the 'Passengers' stuff is pretty good, but some I think is awful ["Elvis Ate America"].