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The Best Alternative Rock Albums of the 1980s
Decade
1980s
All Time
2020s
2010s
2000s
1990s
1980s
1970s
1960s
1950s
Source
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Genre
Alternative Rock
All
Alternative Rock
Classical
Country
Electronic
Hard Rock
Heavy Metal
Hip Hop
Jazz
Metal
New Wave
Pop
Pop Rock
Post-Punk
Punk
Punk Rock
R&B
Reggae
Rock
Singer-Songwriter
Soul
Synthpop
Thrash Metal
Western Classical Music
1980s
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1
.
Pixies - Doolittle
April 18, 1989
Indie Rock
,
Alternative Rock
Critic Score
100
7
reviews
Amazon
Music
Spotify
2
.
U2 - The Joshua Tree
March 9, 1987
Pop Rock
,
Heartland Rock
,
Alternative Rock
Critic Score
100
4
reviews
Amazon
Music
Spotify
3
.
The Replacements - Let It Be
October 2, 1984
Alternative Rock
Critic Score
100
4
reviews
Amazon
Music
Spotify
4
.
Hüsker Dü - New Day Rising
January 1, 1985
Post-Hardcore
,
Alternative Rock
,
Noise Pop
,
Indie Rock
,
Hardcore Punk
Critic Score
100
3 reviews
Amazon
Music
Spotify
5
.
Pixies - Surfer Rosa
March 21, 1988
Indie Rock
,
Alternative Rock
Critic Score
99
6
reviews
Amazon
Music
Spotify
6
.
The Replacements - Tim
September 18, 1985
Alternative Rock
,
Power Pop
Critic Score
95
4
reviews
Amazon
Music
Spotify
7
.
Hüsker Dü - Flip Your Wig
September 1, 1985
Alternative Rock
,
Post-Hardcore
Critic Score
95
2 reviews
Amazon
Music
Spotify
8
.
Sonic Youth - Sister
June 1, 1987
Alternative Rock
,
Noise Rock
Critic Score
95
4
reviews
Amazon
Music
Spotify
9
.
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
May 2, 1989
Baggy
,
Neo-Psychedelia
,
Jangle Pop
Critic Score
93
3 reviews
Amazon
Music
Spotify
10
.
Cocteau Twins - Head Over Heels
October 24, 1983
Ethereal Wave
,
Gothic Rock
,
Dream Pop
,
Post-Punk
Critic Score
93
2 reviews
Amazon
Music
Spotify
11
.
Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking
August 23, 1988
Alternative Rock
,
Funk Rock
,
Hard Rock
Critic Score
91
3 reviews
Amazon
Music
Spotify
12
.
my bloody valentine - Isn't Anything
November 21, 1988
Noise Pop
,
Shoegaze
Critic Score
91
2 reviews
Amazon
Music
Spotify
13
.
A.R. Kane - 69
July 1, 1988
Dream Pop
,
Experimental Rock
,
Shoegaze
Critic Score
91
2 reviews
Amazon
14
.
R.E.M. - Document
September 1, 1987
Jangle Pop
,
Alternative Rock
Critic Score
90
4
reviews
Amazon
Music
Spotify
15
.
Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
October 18, 1988
Alternative Rock
,
Noise Rock
Critic Score
90
5
reviews
Amazon
Music
Spotify
16
.
Meat Puppets - Meat Puppets II
April 1, 1984
Cowpunk
,
Alternative Rock
,
Punk Blues
,
Punk Rock
Critic Score
90
2 reviews
Amazon
Music
Spotify
17
.
This Mortal Coil - It'll End In Tears
October 1, 1984
Ethereal Wave
,
Dream Pop
Critic Score
90
2 reviews
Amazon
Music
Spotify
18
.
Julee Cruise - Floating into the Night
September 12, 1989
Dream Pop
,
Sophisti-Pop
,
Ambient Pop
Critic Score
90
2 reviews
Amazon
Music
Spotify
19
.
Peter Murphy - Deep
December 19, 1989
Alternative Rock
Critic Score
90
1 review
Amazon
Music
Spotify
20
.
Love and Rockets - Earth, Sun, Moon
September 9, 1987
Alternative Rock
,
Gothic Rock
,
Neo-Psychedelia
Critic Score
90
1 review
Amazon
Music
Spotify
21
.
Titãs - Õ Blésq Blom
October 16, 1989
Alternative Rock
,
Pop Rock
Critic Score
90
1 review
Amazon
22
.
Camper Van Beethoven - Telephone Free Landslide Victory
November 1, 1985
Alternative Rock
,
Indie Rock
Critic Score
90
1 review
Amazon
Music
Spotify
23
.
Noir Désir - Veuillez rendre l'âme (à qui elle appartient)
January 29, 1989
Alternative Rock
,
Art Rock
Critic Score
90
1 review
Amazon
24
.
Ian McCulloch - Candleland
September 17, 1989
Alternative Rock
,
Jangle Pop
Critic Score
90
1 review
Amazon
Music
Spotify
25
.
Fishbone - Truth and Soul
September 13, 1988
Alternative Rock
,
Funk Rock
Critic Score
90
1 review
Amazon
Music
Spotify
1
2
3
4
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Users' Highest Rated Alternative Rock Albums of the 1980s
MORE GENRES:
Alternative Rock
Classical
Country
Electronic
Hard Rock
Heavy Metal
Hip Hop
Jazz
Metal
New Wave
Pop
Pop Rock
Post-Punk
Punk
Punk Rock
R&B
Reggae
Rock
Singer-Songwriter
Soul
Synthpop
Thrash Metal
Western Classical Music
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