Best Albums of the 1980s
Explore the best albums of the 1980s, based on over 2 million album rankings across 61,000 charts
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Last updated: 2 hours ago
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"Eccentric, sensual, a true feast for the ears; Bush does music narrative like no one else, all the while pushing the boundaries of the genre she's built for herself. The idea shouldn't make sense: two smaller albums in one normal length album. And yet its pulled off with brilliant tenacity. The o..." Reply
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DeusExMackia | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 11
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Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
17,755
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Comments:
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"I like your summary of "Rain Dogs'..spot on. It is my fav TW album but by a slim margin..I also really like "Franks Wild Years" and "Closing Time"." Reply
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ffudnebbuh | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 7
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Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
11,105
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"This represents the sound of the 80S that I don't like. Digital sounding drums, everything sounds produced, ugly synth sounds.. Even the live instruments (sax in 'latest trick' e.g.) sound like they're coming from a digital synth. The most famous track here 'Walk of Life' sounds very dated, like ..." Reply
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wooolf | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 2
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Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,806
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"The greatest Smiths album because I don't know. I just seem to prefer this over Queen is Dead. Barbarism is especially mindblowing! The guitar on the joke isnt funny anymore fucks me out ma mind erry time aswell. All the tracks are insane!" Reply
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Medelsvensson | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 5
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Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,156
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"Its cool, but it gets really boring really fast. And on some of the songs it sounds like they play the song and then just overdub a ton of treble-y reverb." Reply
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JulianR | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 6
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Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,519
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Comments:
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"Superb synth-pop album, high points are really high and low points aren't that low. Shout is a great explosive way to start an album, The Working Hour is smooth, jazzy, well-crafted pop song, Everybody Wants To Rule The World is great thoughtful lyrics mixed with catchy melody and fantastic produ..." Reply
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,218
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"Definitely one of the best Cure records. Head on the door, is probably the most accessible of their albums and the one that I would assume is the favourite amongst casual fans of the Cure. In between days, and, close to me, are obviously two great singles from one of the best singles bands of the..." Reply
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,653
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"This album is at times sloppy. The production sounds strangely out of wack. There are some complaints that can be levied against this album. The thing is that this album is So Goddamn Good despite any of that bullshit that it doesn't really matter! The lyrics of Paul Westerberg stand tall on here..." Reply
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Mercury | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 3
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Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,744
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Comments:
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"This is... Wow. I feel understood in a way I don't get from most people. I've never had all my fears and regrets and desires laid out so plainly in front of me before. What the hell is this album? I wasn't expecting this..." Reply
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sageamagoo | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 3
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Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,656
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Average Rating:
Comments:
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"The group's more intense and debauched recording. The perfect middle group between Red Roses For Me's break neck traditionalism and If I Should Fall From Grace with God's (relative) pop tendencies." Reply
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,990
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Total albums: 87. Page 1 of 9
Best Albums of the 1980s composition
| Year | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 118 | 12% | |
| 1981 | 120 | 12% | |
| 1982 | 108 | 11% | |
| 1983 | 96 | 10% | |
| 1984 | 100 | 10% | |
| 1985 | 87 | 9% | |
| 1986 | 93 | 9% | |
| 1987 | 87 | 9% | |
| 1988 | 99 | 10% | |
| 1989 | 92 | 9% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| The Cure | 10 | 1% | |
| Prince | 8 | 1% | |
| Iron Maiden | 8 | 1% | |
| Depeche Mode | 8 | 1% | |
| Elvis Costello | 8 | 1% | |
| The Smiths | 8 | 1% | |
| Rush | 8 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
 |
411 | 41% | |
| |
391 | 39% | |
 |
40 | 4% | |
 |
28 | 3% | |
 |
23 | 2% | |
 |
21 | 2% | |
 |
11 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Best Albums of the 1980s chart changes
| Biggest climbers Biggest climbers in top 100 since last month |
|---|
Up 4 from 70th to 66th |
Up 4 from 62nd to 58th |
Up 2 from 102nd to 100th |
| Biggest fallers Biggest fallers in top 100 since last month |
|---|
Down 4 from 57th to 61st |
Down 2 from 33rd to 35th |
Down 2 from 79th to 81st |
| New entries New entries in top 100 since last month |
|---|
Up 2 from 102nd to 100th |
| Leavers Leavers from top 100 since last month |
|---|
Down 1 from 100th to 101st |
