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1981 Album Releases
1980
1982
1981
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Popularity
Release Date
Critic Score
User Score
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Type
Compilation
(53)
EP
(73)
Live
(41)
LP
(1,153)
Remix
(3)
Score
(7)
Single
(269)
Soundtrack
(27)
Genre
AOR
(8)
Art Pop
(8)
Art Rock
(7)
Country
(8)
Dub
(7)
Electronic
(27)
Experimental
(11)
Experimental Rock
(8)
Funk
(7)
Hard Rock
(21)
Hardcore Punk
(13)
Heavy Metal
(9)
Metal
(9)
New Wave
(36)
No Wave
(9)
Pop
(63)
Pop Rock
(39)
Post-Punk
(46)
Progressive Rock
(7)
Punk
(18)
Punk Rock
(7)
Reggae
(11)
Rock
(95)
Soul
(9)
Synthpop
(20)
Feb 12
Rush
Moving Pictures
90
critic score
(2)
84
user score
(308)
Apr 14
The Cure
Faith
73
critic score
(3)
81
user score
(282)
Sep 22
King Crimson
Discipline
85
critic score
(2)
82
user score
(279)
Jan 1
This Heat
Deceit
90
critic score
(2)
84
user score
(272)
May 1
Kraftwerk
Computer World
90
critic score
(2)
84
user score
(264)
Dec 5
Black Flag
Damaged
94
critic score
(3)
81
user score
(263)
Nov 13
New Order
Movement
78
critic score
(5)
78
user score
(247)
1981
Glenn Branca
The Ascension
90
critic score
(3)
86
user score
(203)
Feb 2
Iron Maiden
Killers
71
critic score
(4)
77
user score
(182)
Jun 6
Siouxsie and the Banshees
Juju
80
critic score
(1)
83
user score
(175)
Oct 14
Prince
Controversy
81
critic score
(5)
79
user score
(168)
May 11
Grace Jones
Nightclubbing
87
critic score
(3)
82
user score
(150)
Feb 1
David Byrne & Brian Eno
My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
87
critic score
(10)
81
user score
(138)
Aug 24
The Rolling Stones
Tattoo You
90
critic score
(3)
80
user score
(132)
Oct 29
Depeche Mode
Speak & Spell
68
critic score
(3)
72
user score
(116)
Jun 1
Minor Threat
Minor Threat
83
user score
(107)
Jul 4
Mission of Burma
Signals, Calls and Marches
94
critic score
(2)
84
user score
(102)
Oct 2
The Police
Ghost in the Machine
75
critic score
(2)
74
user score
(100)
Oct 12
U2
October
70
critic score
(5)
66
user score
(98)
Oct 16
The Human League
Dare!
93
critic score
(4)
80
user score
(96)
Nov 4
Black Sabbath
Mob Rules
57
critic score
(3)
71
user score
(88)
Nov 30
ABBA
The Visitors
60
critic score
(2)
77
user score
(87)
Nov 27
Soft Cell
Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
75
critic score
(2)
72
user score
(86)
Mar 13
Wipers
Youth of America
91
critic score
(2)
82
user score
(83)
Nov 8
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Architecture & Morality
89
critic score
(2)
81
user score
(83)
Nov 13
Japan
Tin Drum
90
critic score
(1)
79
user score
(83)
Jul 27
Stevie Nicks
Bella Donna
83
critic score
(2)
79
user score
(80)
Aug 31
The Gun Club
Fire of Love
90
critic score
(3)
80
user score
(79)
Oct 10
Bauhaus
Mask
80
critic score
(1)
77
user score
(77)
May 1
Akiko Yano
Tadaima
82
user score
(75)
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Nov 23
AC/DC
For Those About to Rock We Salute You
70
critic score
(2)
67
user score
(75)
Jun 25
The Replacements
Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash
91
critic score
(3)
82
user score
(73)
Jan 1
The Sound
From the Lions Mouth
90
critic score
(1)
81
user score
(70)
Nov 9
Men At Work
Business as Usual
85
critic score
(2)
78
user score
(67)
Feb 2
Talking Heads
Once in a Lifetime
96
user score
(66)
Mar 1
Gang of Four
Solid Gold
88
critic score
(3)
81
user score
(66)
Apr 10
Public Image Ltd.
The Flowers of Romance
78
critic score
(3)
80
user score
(66)
May 30
Echo & the Bunnymen
Heaven Up Here
85
critic score
(2)
79
user score
(64)
Jul 1
Electric Light Orchestra
Time
50
critic score
(3)
79
user score
(61)
Nov 1
Dead Kennedys
In God We Trust, Inc.
70
critic score
(2)
82
user score
(61)
Nov 7
Ozzy Osbourne
Diary of a Madman
75
critic score
(2)
78
user score
(61)
Aug 10
Bob Dylan
Shot of Love
49
critic score
(3)
52
user score
(60)
Jun 8
The Go-Go's
Beauty and the Beat
84
critic score
(3)
77
user score
(54)
Nov
Agent Orange
Living in Darkness
90
critic score
(1)
77
user score
(51)
Nov
The Durutti Column
LC
80
critic score
(1)
77
user score
(51)
May 1
Adolescents
Adolescents
90
critic score
(1)
80
user score
(48)
Sep 14
Genesis
Abacab
75
critic score
(2)
60
user score
(47)
Jul 31
Journey
Escape
65
critic score
(2)
63
user score
(46)
Jun 15
Duran Duran
Duran Duran
80
critic score
(2)
77
user score
(44)
1981
Daniel Johnston
Songs of Pain
60
critic score
(2)
80
user score
(42)
Jun 23
Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club
80
critic score
(1)
76
user score
(42)
Apr 7
Rick James
Street Songs
100
critic score
(1)
79
user score
(41)
Apr 29
Van Halen
Fair Warning
65
critic score
(2)
74
user score
(41)
Feb 13
Phil Collins
Face Value
80
critic score
(2)
78
user score
(40)
Nov 10
Mötley Crüe
Too Fast for Love
65
critic score
(2)
69
user score
(40)
Apr 6
The Birthday Party
Prayers on Fire
80
critic score
(1)
79
user score
(39)
Jul 1
Blue Öyster Cult
Fire of Unknown Origin
80
critic score
(1)
79
user score
(39)
Jan 23
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Trust
93
critic score
(3)
79
user score
(35)
Jun 6
The Psychedelic Furs
Talk Talk Talk
87
critic score
(3)
77
user score
(35)
Jan 1
The Raincoats
Odyshape
80
critic score
(2)
81
user score
(34)
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The Best Albums of 1981
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