Fast 'n' Bulbous have already started on their 2005 albums list (warning, big page).
DJ Martian (as well as keeping a page of similar resources) is using rateyourmusic to keep an alphabetical list of this year's best albums. Somebody else has a list of rated albums there too.
I've been posting short reviews to del.icio.us using rvw! for the last few months, so now I can produce my own ongoing list of this year's best albums. See also last year's list, and the same thing for books. It'll also work with any username, as long as the tags are formatted correctly.