Best Albums of the 1980s

Listed below are the best albums of the 1980s as calculated from their overall rankings in over 59,000 greatest album charts. (Chart last updated: 2 hours ago).
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1980s decade summaryThe best artists of the 1980s were The Smiths, Prince, The Cure, Pixies, Talking Heads, U2, Metallica, Kate Bush, R.E.M. and The Stone Roses.
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Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
569
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
"U2 Playing live at red rock Colorado was awesome day for music. A moment that can't really be looked at the same now that we have had. But that was an awesome concert. It's on vhs"  Reply
- VADERBREWING | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +5 votes (5 helpful | 0 unhelpful) Help A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.
Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
568
Rank in 1983:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
"Recommended by Phil Oakey from The Human League. As a big fan of the asymetric haircut, I bought it little knowing what it would sound like. Nothinglike the Humn League anyway. It is a wonderful album."  Reply
- lancashirearab | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +6 votes (6 helpful | 0 unhelpful) Help A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
565
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
"Ah, 80's hair glam bubblegum metal pop. Motley Crue's 5th album was a huge smash, with 4 top 30 singles and massive sales. This album had all of the Hollywood Glam prerequisites: apostrophe shortened song titles (Same Ol' Situation), umlauts, aquanet, songs about groupie sex ("She Goes Down"), a ..."  [+]  Reply
- Romanelli | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (3 helpful | 1 unhelpful) Help A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
565
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
"Very enjoyable. Volume one is easily the best. The other two become a bit of a drag, and the whole lot taken in one go is a real slog. Still, some wonderful moments here and there. All in all, Zappa never fails to amaze."  Reply
- garycottier | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful) Help A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
564
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Average Rating:
Comments:
416.
"Some consider this too 'poppy'. This 'supergroup' was formed from the ashes of 'Yes', 'King Crimson' and 'ELP' and given its release in 1982 could never have been 'Close to the Edge', 'Brain Salad Surgery', or 'In the Court of the Crimson King'. Granted, the album is radio friendly and delivered ..."  [+]  Reply
- Junomoogmello | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful) Help A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
564
Rank in 1982:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
"If the Enz were New Zealand's version of The Beatles then this is surely their finest moment with commercial sensibilities that outweigh the artistic achievement of 'Mental Notes'."  Reply
- patip1 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful) Help A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
556
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
"With 'Up On The Sun', The Meat Puppets created a psychedelic-country and experimental fusion that incorporates elements of jazz and even raga. The songs are essentially hypnotic and ethereal 'laid back' meditations which in their way are extremely engaging and innovative."  Reply
- hairymarx1 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful) Help A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
552
Rank in 1985:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
"The Psychedlic Furs were one one of the most significant pop bands of the new wave and this album is packed with winners. In popular conciousness they're John Hughes favs with "Pretty In Pink" and "Don't you Forget About Me", however this as well as several other albums sre well worth owning. The..."  [+]  Reply
- stangetzaway | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful) Help A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
552
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
"Came to Husker Du through Mega City Four doing a cover of Don't Want To Know If You Are Lonely so this album was a starting point. In fact all these years later I still only have Candy Apple Grey and Zen Arcade which I have to say I've never really got into. Candy Apple Grey is just much more acc..."  [+]  Reply
- Mr November | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful) Help A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
551
Rank in 1986:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 1,000. Page 42 of 100

Best Albums of the 1980s composition

Best Ever Artists
1. The Beatles
2. Radiohead
3. Pink Floyd
4. David Bowie
5. Bob Dylan
6. Led Zeppelin
7. The Rolling Stones
8. Arcade Fire
9. Neil Young
10. Nirvana