1981 Album Releases

1981
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Compilation

 (57)

EP

 (87)

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 (47)

LP

 (1,317)

Remix

 (3)

Score

 (7)

Single

 (342)

Soundtrack

 (32)

Unofficial

 (3)
Genre

AOR

 (9)

Art Pop

 (17)

Country

 (10)

Electronic

 (40)

Experimental

 (15)

Experimental Rock

 (12)

Folk

 (9)

Funk

 (9)

Hard Rock

 (24)

Hardcore Punk

 (16)

Heavy Metal

 (13)

Industrial

 (9)

Metal

 (14)

New Wave

 (47)

No Wave

 (9)

Pop

 (82)

Pop Rock

 (48)

Post-Punk

 (64)

Progressive Rock

 (11)

Punk

 (23)

Punk Rock

 (12)

Reggae

 (13)

Rock

 (120)

Soul

 (11)

Synthpop

 (27)
Feb 12
Rush - Moving Pictures
Rush
Moving Pictures
90
critic score
(2)
83
user score
(368)
Apr 14
The Cure - Faith
The Cure
Faith
65
critic score
(2)
81
user score
(342)
Jan 1
This Heat - Deceit
This Heat
Deceit
90
critic score
(2)
84
user score
(337)
Sep 22
King Crimson - Discipline
King Crimson
Discipline
85
critic score
(2)
83
user score
(336)
Dec 5
Black Flag - Damaged
Black Flag
Damaged
94
critic score
(3)
81
user score
(313)
May 10
Kraftwerk - Computer World
Kraftwerk
Computer World
90
critic score
(2)
84
user score
(289)
Nov 13
New Order - Movement
New Order
Movement
77
critic score
(3)
78
user score
(279)
1981
Glenn Branca - The Ascension
Glenn Branca
The Ascension
85
critic score
(2)
86
user score
(244)
Jun 6
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Juju
Siouxsie and the Banshees
Juju
80
critic score
(3)
83
user score
(219)
Feb 2
Iron Maiden - Killers
Iron Maiden
Killers
71
critic score
(4)
77
user score
(217)
Oct 14
Prince - Controversy
Prince
Controversy
81
critic score
(5)
79
user score
(193)
May 11
Grace Jones - Nightclubbing
Grace Jones
Nightclubbing
85
critic score
(2)
83
user score
(171)
Feb 1
David Byrne & Brian Eno - My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
David Byrne & Brian Eno
My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
87
critic score
(10)
81
user score
(157)
Aug 24
The Rolling Stones - Tattoo You
The Rolling Stones
Tattoo You
90
critic score
(3)
79
user score
(157)
Oct 29
Depeche Mode - Speak & Spell
Depeche Mode
Speak & Spell
65
critic score
(2)
71
user score
(132)
Jun 1
Minor Threat - Minor Threat
Minor Threat
Minor Threat
83
user score
(119)
Jul 4
Mission of Burma - Signals, Calls and Marches
Mission of Burma
Signals, Calls and Marches
94
critic score
(2)
84
user score
(116)
Oct 2
The Police - Ghost in the Machine
The Police
Ghost in the Machine
75
critic score
(2)
74
user score
(116)
Oct 12
U2 - October
U2
October
65
critic score
(3)
66
user score
(112)
Nov 30
ABBA - The Visitors
ABBA
The Visitors
60
critic score
(2)
77
user score
(111)
Oct 16
The Human League - Dare!
The Human League
Dare!
93
critic score
(4)
79
user score
(109)
Nov 4
Black Sabbath - Mob Rules
Black Sabbath
Mob Rules
57
critic score
(3)
71
user score
(105)
Nov 27
Soft Cell - Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
Soft Cell
Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
75
critic score
(2)
73
user score
(104)
Mar 13
Wipers - Youth of America
Wipers
Youth of America
91
critic score
(2)
83
user score
(102)
Jul 27
Stevie Nicks - Bella Donna
Stevie Nicks
Bella Donna
83
critic score
(2)
80
user score
(102)
Nov 8
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Architecture & Morality
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Architecture & Morality
89
critic score
(2)
82
user score
(95)
Oct 10
Bauhaus - Mask
Bauhaus
Mask
80
critic score
(1)
78
user score
(93)
Nov 13
Japan - Tin Drum
Japan
Tin Drum
90
critic score
(1)
80
user score
(91)
Feb 2
Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime
Talking Heads
Once in a Lifetime
96
user score
(87)
Aug 31
The Gun Club - Fire of Love
The Gun Club
Fire of Love
90
critic score
(4)
80
user score
(86)
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Nov 23
AC/DC - For Those About to Rock We Salute You
AC/DC
For Those About to Rock We Salute You
70
critic score
(2)
66
user score
(86)
Jun 25
The Replacements - Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash
The Replacements
Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash
90
critic score
(2)
83
user score
(82)
Jul 1
Electric Light Orchestra - Time
Electric Light Orchestra
Time
50
critic score
(3)
80
user score
(79)
Mar 1
Gang of Four - Solid Gold
Gang of Four
Solid Gold
89
critic score
(4)
81
user score
(78)
Nov 9
Men At Work - Business as Usual
Men At Work
Business as Usual
85
critic score
(2)
78
user score
(78)
May 1
矢野顕子 [Akiko Yano] - Tadaima
矢野顕子 [Akiko Yano]
Tadaima
82
user score
(77)
Jan 1
The Sound - From the Lions Mouth
The Sound
From the Lions Mouth
90
critic score
(1)
81
user score
(75)
Nov 1
Dead Kennedys - In God We Trust, Inc.
Dead Kennedys
In God We Trust, Inc.
70
critic score
(2)
82
user score
(74)
Apr 10
Public Image Ltd. - The Flowers of Romance
Public Image Ltd.
The Flowers of Romance
78
critic score
(3)
81
user score
(72)
May 30
Echo & the Bunnymen - Heaven Up Here
Echo & the Bunnymen
Heaven Up Here
90
critic score
(1)
79
user score
(71)
Aug 10
Bob Dylan - Shot of Love
Bob Dylan
Shot of Love
49
critic score
(3)
52
user score
(68)
Jun 8
The Go-Go's - Beauty and the Beat
The Go-Go's
Beauty and the Beat
84
critic score
(3)
78
user score
(66)
Nov 7
Ozzy Osbourne - Diary of a Madman
Ozzy Osbourne
Diary of a Madman
75
critic score
(2)
78
user score
(64)
Nov
Agent Orange - Living in Darkness
Agent Orange
Living in Darkness
90
critic score
(1)
78
user score
(63)
Nov
The Durutti Column - LC
The Durutti Column
LC
80
critic score
(1)
77
user score
(57)
Apr
Adolescents - Adolescents
Adolescents
Adolescents
90
critic score
(1)
81
user score
(55)
Jun 15
Duran Duran - Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran
80
critic score
(2)
76
user score
(54)
Sep 14
Genesis - Abacab
Genesis
Abacab
75
critic score
(2)
60
user score
(54)
Feb 13
Phil Collins - Face Value
Phil Collins
Face Value
80
critic score
(3)
77
user score
(53)
Apr 7
Rick James - Street Songs
Rick James
Street Songs
100
critic score
(1)
80
user score
(52)
Jul 31
Journey - Escape
Journey
Escape
65
critic score
(2)
65
user score
(51)
Apr 6
The Birthday Party - Prayers on Fire
The Birthday Party
Prayers on Fire
80
critic score
(1)
79
user score
(48)
Apr 29
Van Halen - Fair Warning
Van Halen
Fair Warning
65
critic score
(2)
74
user score
(48)
Jul 1
Blue Öyster Cult - Fire of Unknown Origin
Blue Öyster Cult
Fire of Unknown Origin
80
critic score
(1)
80
user score
(47)
Nov 10
Mötley Crüe - Too Fast for Love
Mötley Crüe
Too Fast for Love
65
critic score
(2)
66
user score
(47)
1981
Daniel Johnston - Songs of Pain
Daniel Johnston
Songs of Pain
60
critic score
(2)
79
user score
(46)
Mar 16
The Who - Face Dances
The Who
Face Dances
60
critic score
(2)
56
user score
(45)
Jun 19
Oingo Boingo - Only a Lad
Oingo Boingo
Only a Lad
90
critic score
(1)
78
user score
(45)
Jun 23
Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club
80
critic score
(1)
74
user score
(45)
Oct 5
Einstürzende Neubauten - Kollaps
Einstürzende Neubauten
Kollaps
80
critic score
(1)
75
user score
(45)
NEXT »
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