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Greatest Albums of the 1980s

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It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
#29
1988

It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

by Public Enemy

Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop East Coast Hip Hop +2 more
Thriller
#31
1982

Thriller

by Michael Jackson

Pop Contemporary R&b Dance-Pop +3 more
Purple Rain
#33
1984

Purple Rain

by Prince, The Revolution

Funk Pop Pop Rock +5 more
Sign "☮︎" the Times
#36
1987

Sign "☮︎" the Times

by Prince

Funk Contemporary R&b Pop Rock +2 more
Remain in Light
#37
1980

Remain in Light

by Talking Heads

New Wave Post-Punk Electronic +2 more
Closer
#45
1980

Closer

by Joy Division

Post-Punk New Wave Gothic Rock +1 more
The Queen Is Dead
#56
1986

The Queen Is Dead

by The Smiths

Jangle Pop Indie Pop Indie Rock +2 more
Graceland
#57
1986

Graceland

by Paul Simon

Pop Pop Rock Rock +2 more
Straight Outta Compton
#59
1988

Straight Outta Compton

by N.W.A

Gangsta Rap Hip Hop West Coast Hip Hop
Hounds of Love
#62
1985

Hounds of Love

by Kate Bush

Art Rock Pop Rock Art Pop +5 more
The Stone Roses
#64
1989

The Stone Roses

by The Stone Roses

Indie Rock Rock Jangle Pop +2 more
The Joshua Tree
#66
1987

The Joshua Tree

by U2

Rock Pop Rock Alternative Rock +4 more
Appetite for Destruction
#67
1987

Appetite for Destruction

by Guns N' Roses

Hard Rock Rock Metal +2 more
Master of Puppets
#80
1986

Master of Puppets

by Metallica

Thrash Metal Heavy Metal Metal +3 more
Paul's Boutique
#83
1989

Paul's Boutique

by Beastie Boys

Hip Hop East Coast Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop +1 more
Murmur
#86
1983

Murmur

by R.E.M.

Alternative Rock Jangle Pop Rock +1 more
Rain Dogs
#88
1985

Rain Dogs

by Tom Waits

Blues Rock Rock Experimental Rock +2 more
Back in Black
#91
1980

Back in Black

by AC/DC

Hard Rock Rock Arena Rock +2 more
Daydream Nation
#103
1988

Daydream Nation

by Sonic Youth

Alternative Rock Rock Indie Rock +2 more
Let It Be
#120
1984

Let It Be

by The Replacements

Alternative Rock Power Pop Indie Rock +2 more
Dare
#122
1981

Dare

by The Human League

New Wave Dance-Pop New Romantic +2 more
Swordfishtrombones
#128
1983

Swordfishtrombones

by Tom Waits

Blues Blues Rock Alternative Rock +2 more
Surfer Rosa
#134
1988

Surfer Rosa

by Pixies

Alternative Rock Rock Indie Rock
3 Feet High and Rising
#140
1989

3 Feet High and Rising

by De La Soul

Hip Hop Jazz Rap
Doolittle
#144
1989

Doolittle

by Pixies

Alternative Rock Indie Rock Rock
Steve McQueen
#154
1985

Steve McQueen

by Prefab Sprout

Synth-Pop Pop Rock Sophisti-Pop +1 more
Bad
#158
1987

Bad

by Michael Jackson

Pop Dance-Pop Pop Rock +4 more
Paid in Full
#161
1987

Paid in Full

by Eric B. & Rakim

Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop East Coast Hip Hop +2 more
Disintegration
#165
1989

Disintegration

by The Cure

Gothic Rock Alternative Rock New Wave +2 more
Like a Prayer
#170
1989

Like a Prayer

by Madonna

Pop Dance-Pop Synth-Pop +3 more
Power, Corruption & Lies
#178
1983

Power, Corruption & Lies

by New Order

New Wave Synth-Pop Post-Punk +2 more
Psychocandy
#185
1985

Psychocandy

by The Jesus and Mary Chain

Noise Pop Rock Alternative Rock +2 more
Nebraska
#187
1982

Nebraska

by Bruce Springsteen

Rock Folk Rock Americana +2 more
Born in the U.S.A.
#190
1984

Born in the U.S.A.

by Bruce Springsteen

Rock Heartland Rock Pop Rock +5 more
Criminal Minded
#195
1987

Criminal Minded

by Boogie Down Productions

Hardcore Hip Hop
1999
#203
1982

1999

by Prince

Funk Pop Dance-Pop +5 more
So
#215
1986

So

by Peter Gabriel

Rock Art Rock Pop Rock +2 more
Isn't Anything
#222
1988

Isn't Anything

by My Bloody Valentine

Shoegaze Rock Noise Pop +2 more
Actually
#225
1987

Actually

by Pet Shop Boys

Synth-Pop Electronic Dance-Pop +2 more
Reign in Blood
#227
1986

Reign in Blood

by Slayer

Thrash Metal Metal Heavy Metal +1 more
Synchronicity
#239
1983

Synchronicity

by The Police

Alternative Rock New Wave Rock +2 more
Run‐D.M.C.
#248
1984

Run‐D.M.C.

by Run‐D.M.C.

Hip Hop Rap Rock East Coast Hip Hop +1 more
I'm Your Man
#255
1988

I'm Your Man

by Leonard Cohen

Ballad Folk Rock Pop +3 more
The Nightfly
#257
1982

The Nightfly

by Donald Fagen

Jazz Pop Pop Rock Sophisti-Pop +1 more
Raising Hell
#273
1986

Raising Hell

by Run‐D.M.C.

Hip Hop East Coast Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop +2 more
Damaged
#274
1981

Damaged

by Black Flag

Hardcore Punk Punk
The Lexicon of Love
#275
1982

The Lexicon of Love

by ABC

Pop New Wave Electronic +2 more
Technique
#277
1989

Technique

by New Order

Synth-Pop Alternative Dance Electronic +2 more
Soul Mining
#278
1983

Soul Mining

by The The

New Wave Art Pop Post-Punk +2 more
Licensed to Ill
#286
1986

Licensed to Ill

by Beastie Boys

Hip Hop Rap Rock East Coast Hip Hop +1 more
Ace of Spades
#297
1980

Ace of Spades

by Motörhead

Heavy Metal Hard Rock Speed Metal +3 more
Ocean Rain
#303
1984

Ocean Rain

by Echo & the Bunnymen

Post-Punk Indie Rock Jangle Pop +2 more
Faith
#311
1987

Faith

by George Michael

Pop Dance-Pop Dance-Rock +4 more
Sound Affects
#315
1980

Sound Affects

by The Jam

Mod Revival New Wave Rock +2 more
Control
#318
1986

Control

by Janet Jackson

Pop Contemporary R&b Synth-Pop +2 more
Double Nickels on the Dime
#319
1984

Double Nickels on the Dime

by Minutemen

Alternative Rock Post-Punk Punk +2 more
Imperial Bedroom
#323
1982

Imperial Bedroom

by Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Alternative Rock New Wave Rock +2 more
Nightclubbing
#335
1981

Nightclubbing

by Grace Jones

Disco New Wave Art Pop +2 more
Diamond Life
#339
1984

Diamond Life

by Sade

Smooth Soul Sophisti-Pop Pop +2 more
Avalon
#342
1982

Avalon

by Roxy Music

Art Rock Pop Rock Rock +3 more
Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963
#358
1985

Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963

by Sam Cooke

Soul
My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
#368
1981

My Life in the Bush of Ghosts

by Brian Eno, David Byrne

Art Rock Ambient Experimental +2 more
Dirty Mind
#369
1980

Dirty Mind

by Prince

Funk Dance-Pop Pop +4 more
Los Angeles
#370
1980

Los Angeles

by X

Rock Punk Rock And Roll
Raw Like Sushi
#381
1989

Raw Like Sushi

by Neneh Cherry

Pop Dance Dance-Pop +2 more
Lifes Rich Pageant
#388
1986

Lifes Rich Pageant

by R.E.M.

Alternative Rock Rock Jangle Pop
This Nation's Saving Grace
#389
1985

This Nation's Saving Grace

by The Fall

Post-Punk Rock
Strictly Business
#398
1987

Strictly Business

by EPMD

Hip Hop
Searching for the Young Soul Rebels
#399
1980

Searching for the Young Soul Rebels

by Dexys Midnight Runners

Blue-Eyed Soul New Wave Rock +2 more
She's So Unusual
#410
1983

She's So Unusual

by Cyndi Lauper

New Wave Pop Rock Pop +2 more
Pretty Hate Machine
#414
1989

Pretty Hate Machine

by Nine Inch Nails

Industrial Industrial Rock Alternative Rock +2 more
The Number of the Beast
#419
1982

The Number of the Beast

by Iron Maiden

Heavy Metal Metal Nwobhm +2 more
The River
#422
1980

The River

by Bruce Springsteen

Rock Folk Rock Heartland Rock +2 more
The Smiths
#423
1984

The Smiths

by The Smiths

Indie Pop Jangle Pop Alternative Rock +1 more
Rhythm Nation 1814
#424
1989

Rhythm Nation 1814

by Janet Jackson

Contemporary R&b New Jack Swing Hip Hop +2 more
Hatful of Hollow
#427
1984

Hatful of Hollow

by The Smiths

Alternative Rock Rock Indie Rock +2 more
Sandinista!
#428
1980

Sandinista!

by The Clash

Dub Punk Rock Rock +2 more
Brothers in Arms
#431
1985

Brothers in Arms

by Dire Straits

Rock Classic Rock Pop Rock +2 more
Beauty and the Beat
#432
1981

Beauty and the Beat

by Go‐Go's

New Wave Pop Rock Rock +2 more
Violent Femmes
#433
1983

Violent Femmes

by Violent Femmes

Alternative Rock Rock Indie Rock +2 more
Juju
#446
1981

Juju

by Siouxsie and the Banshees

New Wave Post-Punk Gothic Rock
Rapture
#450
1986

Rapture

by Anita Baker

R&b Soul Jazz +2 more
Too-Rye-Ay
#452
1982

Too-Rye-Ay

by Dexys Midnight Runners

New Wave Rock Blue-Eyed Soul +2 more
Tracy Chapman
#454
1988

Tracy Chapman

by Tracy Chapman

Folk Rock Rock Alternative Rock +2 more
Madonna
#467
1983

Madonna

by Madonna

Pop Synth-Pop Dance-Pop +2 more
Private Dancer
#474
1984

Private Dancer

by Tina Turner

Pop Rock Ballad Pop +3 more
Treasure
#477
1984

Treasure

by Cocteau Twins

Dream Pop Ethereal Wave Rock +2 more
Strangeways, Here We Come
#481
1987

Strangeways, Here We Come

by The Smiths

Indie Pop Indie Rock Jangle Pop +1 more
Pornography
#491
1982

Pornography

by The Cure

New Wave Gothic Rock Rock +2 more
Green
#497
1988

Green

by R.E.M.

Alternative Rock Rock Pop +1 more
Zen Arcade
#498
1984

Zen Arcade

by Hüsker Dü

Alternative Rock Hardcore Punk Punk +1 more
Duck Rock
#502
1983

Duck Rock

by Malcolm McLaren

Downtempo Hip Hop New Wave +1 more
Red
#503
1981

Red

by Black Uhuru

Reggae Dub Roots Reggae
The Flat Earth
#519
1984

The Flat Earth

by Thomas Dolby

New Wave Art Pop Electronic +1 more
Meat Is Murder
#520
1985

Meat Is Murder

by The Smiths

Indie Pop Jangle Pop Indie Rock +1 more
Rattlesnakes
#522
1984

Rattlesnakes

by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

Indie Pop Indie Rock Pop +2 more
The Visitors
#524
1981

The Visitors

by ABBA

Pop Electronic Europop +2 more
Low‐Life
#528
1985

Low‐Life

by New Order

Alternative Dance New Wave Electronic +1 more
The Head on the Door
#532
1985

The Head on the Door

by The Cure

Alternative Rock New Wave Rock +2 more
Diana
#536
1980

Diana

by Diana Ross

Disco Soul Funk +2 more

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