Best Albums of the 1980s

Listed below are the best albums of the 1980s as calculated from their overall rankings in over 57,000 greatest album charts.

Best albums by year or decade
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Year:
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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Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
31,413
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Top rated album (88/100 - 2962 votes)  88 (2,962 votes)
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
26,299
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Top rated album (86/100 - 2066 votes)  86 (2,066 votes)
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
22,893
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Top rated album (86/100 - 2305 votes)  86 (2,305 votes)
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,531
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,018
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,989
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,491
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,439
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • eBay
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  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,306
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,498
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 94. Page 1 of 10

Best Albums of the 1980s composition

Year Albums %


1980 119 12%
1981 120 12%
1982 106 11%
1983 97 10%
1984 102 10%
1985 83 8%
1986 94 9%
1987 87 9%
1988 98 10%
1989 94 9%
Country Albums %


United Kingdom 417 42%
United States 388 39%
Australia 40 4%
Mixed Nationality 27 3%
Canada 23 2%
Germany 20 2%
Argentina 12 1%
Show all
Compilation? Albums %
No 965 97%
Yes 35 4%
Live? Albums %
No 978 98%
Yes 22 2%
Soundtrack? Albums %
No 988 99%
Yes 12 1%
Best Albums of 2025
1. Getting Killed by Geese
2. Eusexua by FKA Twigs
3. Let God Sort Em Out by Clipse
4. Lux by Rosalía
5. Sable, Fable by Bon Iver
6. Forever Howlong by Black Country, New Road
7. Lotus by Little Simz
8. More by Pulp
9. Lonely People With Power by Deafheaven
10. Golliwog by Billy Woods
11. Sinister Grift by Panda Bear
12. Magic, Alive! by McKinley Dixon
13. The Scholars by Car Seat Headrest
14. Pink Floyd At Pompeii MCMLXXII by Pink Floyd
15. Bleeds by Wednesday (US)
16. Double Infinity by Big Thief
17. From The Pyre by The Last Dinner Party
18. Mayhem by Lady Gaga
19. Moisturizer by Wet Leg
20. Choke Enough by Oklou
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