1981 Album Releases

1981

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Feb 12

Rush - Moving Pictures

Moving Pictures

90

critic score

(2)

84

user score

(276)

Apr 14

The Cure - Faith

73

critic score

(3)

81

user score

(256)

Sep 22

King Crimson - Discipline

85

critic score

(2)

82

user score

(243)

May 1

Kraftwerk - Computer World

90

critic score

(2)

84

user score

(239)

Dec 5

Black Flag - Damaged

94

critic score

(3)

81

user score

(238)

Jan 1

This Heat - Deceit

90

critic score

(2)

85

user score

(235)

Nov 13

New Order - Movement

78

critic score

(5)

79

user score

(226)

1981

Glenn Branca - The Ascension

90

critic score

(3)

85

user score

(171)

Feb 2

Iron Maiden - Killers

71

critic score

(4)

78

user score

(170)

Jun 6

Siouxsie and the Banshees - Juju

Siouxsie and the Banshees

80

critic score

(1)

83

user score

(157)

Oct 14

Prince - Controversy

81

critic score

(5)

79

user score

(154)

May 11

Grace Jones - Nightclubbing

87

critic score

(3)

83

user score

(144)

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

(130)

Aug 24

The Rolling Stones - Tattoo You

The Rolling Stones

90

critic score

(3)

81

user score

(126)

Oct 29

Depeche Mode - Speak & Spell

68

critic score

(3)

71

user score

(102)

Jul 4

Mission of Burma - Signals, Calls and Marches

Mission of Burma

Signals, Calls and Marches

94

critic score

(2)

84

user score

(99)

Jun 1

Minor Threat - Minor Threat

83

user score

(96)

Oct 2

The Police - Ghost in the Machine

Ghost in the Machine

75

critic score

(2)

74

user score

(94)

Oct 12

70

critic score

(5)

66

user score

(91)

Nov 27

Soft Cell - Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret

Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret

75

critic score

(2)

72

user score

(84)

Oct 16

The Human League - Dare!

The Human League

93

critic score

(4)

80

user score

(81)

Nov 4

Black Sabbath - Mob Rules

57

critic score

(3)

71

user score

(78)

Nov 30

ABBA - The Visitors

60

critic score

(2)

78

user score

(76)

Jul 27

Stevie Nicks - Bella Donna

83

critic score

(2)

79

user score

(75)

Aug 31

The Gun Club - Fire of Love

90

critic score

(3)

80

user score

(75)

May 1

Akiko Yano - Tadaima

81

user score

(73)

Nov 8

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Architecture & Morality

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

Architecture & Morality

89

critic score

(2)

82

user score

(73)

Nov 23

AC/DC - For Those About to Rock We Salute You

For Those About to Rock We Salute You

70

critic score

(2)

67

user score

(73)

Mar 13

Wipers - Youth of America

Youth of America

91

critic score

(2)

82

user score

(72)

Nov 13

Japan - Tin Drum

90

critic score

(1)

81

user score

(72)

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Jun 25

The Replacements - Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash

The Replacements

Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash

91

critic score

(3)

83

user score

(70)

Oct 10

80

critic score

(1)

77

user score

(67)

Jan 1

The Sound - From the Lions Mouth

From the Lions Mouth

90

critic score

(1)

81

user score

(64)

Mar 1

Gang of Four - Solid Gold

88

critic score

(3)

82

user score

(62)

May 30

Echo & the Bunnymen - Heaven Up Here

Echo & the Bunnymen

85

critic score

(2)

79

user score

(61)

Nov 7

Ozzy Osbourne - Diary of a Madman

Diary of a Madman

75

critic score

(2)

79

user score

(58)

Nov 9

Men At Work - Business as Usual

Business as Usual

85

critic score

(2)

79

user score

(58)

Feb 2

Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime

Once in a Lifetime

95

user score

(57)

Nov 1

Dead Kennedys - In God We Trust, Inc.

In God We Trust, Inc.

70

critic score

(2)

82

user score

(57)

Jul 1

Electric Light Orchestra - Time

Electric Light Orchestra

50

critic score

(3)

79

user score

(56)

Aug 10

Bob Dylan - Shot of Love

49

critic score

(3)

51

user score

(55)

Apr 10

Public Image Ltd. - The Flowers of Romance

Public Image Ltd.

The Flowers of Romance

78

critic score

(3)

82

user score

(53)

Jun 8

The Go-Go's - Beauty and the Beat

Beauty and the Beat

84

critic score

(3)

77

user score

(51)

May 1

Adolescents - Adolescents

90

critic score

(1)

80

user score

(48)

Nov

The Durutti Column - LC

The Durutti Column

80

critic score

(1)

78

user score

(47)

Nov

Agent Orange - Living in Darkness

Living in Darkness

90

critic score

(1)

78

user score

(45)

Sep 14

Genesis - Abacab

75

critic score

(2)

61

user score

(43)

Jul 31

Journey - Escape

65

critic score

(2)

64

user score

(40)

Apr 29

Van Halen - Fair Warning

65

critic score

(2)

74

user score

(39)

Jun 15

Duran Duran - Duran Duran

80

critic score

(2)

76

user score

(38)

Jun 23

Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Club

80

critic score

(1)

76

user score

(38)

Apr 6

The Birthday Party - Prayers on Fire

The Birthday Party

Prayers on Fire

80

critic score

(1)

79

user score

(35)

Apr 7

Rick James - Street Songs

100

critic score

(1)

80

user score

(35)

Jul 1

Blue Öyster Cult - Fire of Unknown Origin

Blue Öyster Cult

Fire of Unknown Origin

80

critic score

(1)

79

user score

(35)

Jan 23

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Trust

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

93

critic score

(3)

80

user score

(33)

1981

Au Pairs - Playing With a Different Sex

Playing With a Different Sex

90

critic score

(1)

79

user score

(32)

Feb 9

Phil Collins - Face Value

80

critic score

(2)

78

user score

(32)

Oct 5

Einstürzende Neubauten - Kollaps

Einstürzende Neubauten

80

critic score

(1)

74

user score

(32)

Oct 8

Joy Division - Still

81

critic score

(3)

79

user score

(32)

Jan 1

The Raincoats - Odyshape

80

critic score

(2)

80

user score

(31)

Related

The Best Albums of 1981

The Best Albums of All Time

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