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).
"This is a really interesting album - I like how it plays around with different tones and sounds in a way that almost sounds like noise rock filtered through a post-punk lens. Unfortunately, all the chaos results in very few songs that work, and the ones that are interesting outstay their welcome ...""This is a really interesting album - I like how it plays around with different tones and sounds in a way that almost sounds like noise rock filtered through a post-punk lens. Unfortunately, all the chaos results in very few songs that work, and the ones that are interesting outstay their welcome long after their only trick was revealed. It's telling that my favorite things here are the opener and closer. The piano on the closer especially sounds great, and while it also lacks variety it succeeds in doing what it's supposed to do: close the album. I wish the ideas were reigned in a bit on the rest because a slightly more organized version of this would be just fantastic."[+]Reply
"I purchased this Masterpiece on its release and everyone thought I was insane, but I'm still here living the dream and still listening to this on the same piece of Vinyl"Reply
"Incredible indie pop album from the early 80s that still stands up today. Unfortunately it seems this record is really overlooked; many songs are immediately catchy and unique for the time. Admittedly, the ending few songs don't speak to me much, but this album caught me off guard with how fun it...""Incredible indie pop album from the early 80s that still stands up today. Unfortunately it seems this record is really overlooked; many songs are immediately catchy and unique for the time. Admittedly, the ending few songs don't speak to me much, but this album caught me off guard with how fun it was.
Favorite tracks: Rip it Up, Breakfast Time, I Can't Help Myself"[+]Reply
""The Last of the True Believers" is the fourth studio album by Nanci Griffith and the most generally the highly acclaimed album by critics and fans. Producer Jim Rooney captured lightning in a bottle with Griffith's third album "Once in a Very Blue Moon." But would lightning strike twice? Yes! Ro..."""The Last of the True Believers" is the fourth studio album by Nanci Griffith and the most generally the highly acclaimed album by critics and fans.
Producer Jim Rooney captured lightning in a bottle with Griffith's third album "Once in a Very Blue Moon." But would lightning strike twice?
Yes! Rooney carefully crafted the record in similar to her Philo debut. It's organic and dynamic and has aged fairly well, compared to lots of overproduced 80s music. It's a delicate, detailed style that compliments her folk material and her country-folk vocals. Backing bluegrass musicians Bela Fleck, Mark O'Connor and Roy Huskey Jr. return, and so does Lyle Lovett, on the heels of his own career, who contributes harmony vocals and appears on the front cover.
The material on the record is very strong, probably the most consistent out of all Griffith's records. All songs are written or co-written by Griffith, except Tom Russell's St Olav's gate and the collaboratively written "Goin' Gone."
A career highlight is the sentimental and nostalgic "Love at the Five and Dime." "One of These Days" is another early sentimental Griffith favorite, and "The Wing and the Wheel" is another suburb sentimental treat. But it's not all sickly sweet. There are plenty of upbeat tracks, especially "Looking for the Time" and "Fly By Night."
The Last of the True Believers is not only a career highlight, but also the end of an era. Following the release, Griffith finally scored a four record deal with MCA, and the most successful material of her career would come out of this late 80s early 90s period.
Again, the album cover contains references to the songs. The woman on the left references "Looking for the Time" and the dancing couple in the storefront are inspired by "Love at the Five and Dime." And perhaps Griffith herself references "Fly By Night," as she stands alone in on the streets watching the lonely hearts go by.
Essential.
Career Highlight: Love at the Five and Dime
Gems: St Olav's Gate, Looking for the Time, One of These Days, Fly By Night and Wing and the Wheel"[+]Reply
"Almost 3 years after Rock for Light Bad Brains came back with a change of pace heavier sound which would lead the way for many alternative bands to come."Reply
"This album is completely underrated in the VM canon and has some very poorly thought out out ratings here. Go back and listen again, people! Spanish Steps opens the album... leading into The Mystery which can be thought of as Van's mature revisitation of Into the Mystic. Queen of the Slipstream i...""This album is completely underrated in the VM canon and has some very poorly thought out out ratings here. Go back and listen again, people! Spanish Steps opens the album... leading into The Mystery which can be thought of as Van's mature revisitation of Into the Mystic. Queen of the Slipstream is an upbeat love song. Then comes a rolling bass line to open up a patented Van Morrison jazz meditation, I Forgot. If you don't love the way he breaks into the line "If my heart could do my thinking and my head begin to feel" ....well there's not much hope for you. The next two songs are just fine, leading into the three central tracks which are all very good late Van Morrison. Alan Watts Blues is as much fun as you will ever have listening to Van. As is Give my my Rapture. Did Ye Get Healed is merely a good song.
I had older siblings who listened to Van from the classic era. This was the first record of his that I bought (during university) and I loved it. It might be second level Van Morrison but that still makes it better than 98% of the crap anyone else has ever produced. "[+]Reply
"Love & Rockets is made up of all of the former members of Bauhaus except for lead singer Peter Murphy. Generally Daniel Ash took over vocals though David J sings at times. If anyone worried whether they'd still be creative, this album laid those worries to rest. Express is one of the best post pu...""Love & Rockets is made up of all of the former members of Bauhaus except for lead singer Peter Murphy. Generally Daniel Ash took over vocals though David J sings at times. If anyone worried whether they'd still be creative, this album laid those worries to rest. Express is one of the best post punk albums of the decade with moments of raw punk edge (It Could Be Sunshine) shouldering up against angst psychedelica (Kundalini Express) and acoustic beauty (All In My Mind II). This would be in my Top 5 of 1986."[+]Reply