Delving into end of the year music lists

I'm doing things a bit different this year when it comes to compiling my best of the year in music lists.  In the past I've tried to avoid other end of the year lists until I've completed mine.  It gave me a feeling of personal integrity, knowing that I wasn't being swayed by others.  The problem is that I'd end up overlooking albums that just weren't on my radar. 

For the last week or so I've been diving deep into these lists and playing the albums I was unfamiliar with, adding those that struck me as worthy contenders.  You could argue that those albums shouldn't be allowed because I haven't spent enough time with them.  It's a good point, but if I'd done this in 2004 I'd have discovered Arcade Fire's debut, Funeral and had it on my list.  An album I now look at as one of the greatest albums of the last 20 years. 

Here's some end of the year lists I've been perusing. 

Stereogum

Paste

Spin

Rolling Stone