Best Albums

Critic Score

The Best Electronic Albums of 1981

1980s
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1981

1. The Human League - Dare

The Human League - Dare

October 16, 1981

Synthpop, New Wave

Dance-Pop, Minimal Wave

Critic Score

93

4 reviews

2. Orchestral Manœuvres in the Dark - Architecture & Morality

Orchestral Manœuvres in the Dark - Architecture & Morality

November 8, 1981

Minimal Synth, New Wave, Art Pop

Critic Score

92

3 reviews

3. Michael Stearns - Planetary Unfolding

Michael Stearns - Planetary Unfolding

1981

Space Ambient, Progressive Electronic

Berlin School, Drone, New Age

Critic Score

88

2 reviews

4. Roedelius - Wenn Der Südwind Weht

Roedelius - Wenn Der Südwind Weht

1981

Ambient, Electronic

Critic Score

85

2 reviews

5. Phew - Phew

Phew - Phew

June 25, 1981

Post-Punk, Experimental Rock, Art Rock, Minimal Wave

Art Pop, Industrial, Krautrock, New Wave

Critic Score

90

1 review

6. Whitehouse - Erector

February 1981

Power Electronics

Critic Score

90

1 review

7. B.E.F. - Music for Listening To

B.E.F. - Music for Listening To

1981

Electro-Industrial, Synthpop, Experimental

Critic Score

90

1 review

8. John Carpenter - Escape from New York

John Carpenter - Escape from New York

1981

Critic Score

90

1 review

9. 高橋幸宏 [Yukihiro Takahashi] - Neuromantic

高橋幸宏 [Yukihiro Takahashi] - Neuromantic

May 24, 1981

New Wave, Techno Kayō, Synthpop, Kayōkyoku

Art Pop, Sophisti-Pop

Critic Score

81

2 reviews

10. Soft Cell - Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret

Soft Cell - Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret

November 27, 1981

Synthpop, New Wave

Electro-Disco, Minimal Synth

Critic Score

78

3 reviews

11. YMO - Technodelic

YMO - Technodelic

November 21, 1981

Synthpop, Electronic, Art Pop

New Wave, Progressive Electronic, Industrial, Electro, Minimal Wave

Critic Score

80

2 reviews

12. Rod Stewart - Tonight I'm Yours

Rod Stewart - Tonight I'm Yours

November 6, 1981

Pop Rock, Rock & Roll, Synthpop

Synthpop, Roots Rock

Critic Score

80

2 reviews

13. Duran Duran - Duran Duran

Duran Duran - Duran Duran

June 15, 1981

New Wave, Synthpop

Disco, Post-Punk

Critic Score

80

2 reviews

14. Various Artists - A Christmas Record

Various Artists - A Christmas Record

November 1981

Christmas, Pop Rock, New Wave, No Wave, Post-Punk

Critic Score

83

1 review

15. Tolerance - Divin

Tolerance - Divin

1981

Industrial, Minimal Synth

Ambient, Minimal Techno, Ambient Dub

Critic Score

82

1 review

16. Crash Course in Science - Signals from Pier Thirteen

Crash Course in Science - Signals from Pier Thirteen

1981

EBM, Industrial, Synth Punk

Critic Score

80

1 review

17. Minimal Man - The Shroud Of

Minimal Man - The Shroud Of

1981

Post-Punk, Industrial, Minimal Wave

Dark Ambient, Krautrock

Critic Score

80

1 review

18. Vangelis - Chariots of Fire

Vangelis - Chariots of Fire

April 1981

Progressive Electronic, New Age

Critic Score

80

1 review

19. Nervous Gender - Music From Hell

Nervous Gender - Music From Hell

1981

Critic Score

80

1 review

20. Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft - Alles ist Gut

Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft - Alles ist Gut

February 14, 1981

EBM, Neue Deutsche Welle, Synth Punk

Critic Score

80

1 review

21. David Borden - Music For Amplified Keyboard Instruments

David Borden - Music For Amplified Keyboard Instruments

October 10, 1981

Minimalism, Progressive Electronic

Critic Score

80

1 review

22. The Residents - Mark of The Mole

The Residents - Mark of The Mole

September 15, 1981

Experimental, Minimal Synth

Minimal Wave, Post-Industrial

Critic Score

80

1 review

23. Whitehouse - Dedicated to Peter Kürten, Sadist and Mass Slayer

Whitehouse - Dedicated to Peter Kürten, Sadist and Mass Slayer

May 1981

Power Electronics

Field Recordings

Critic Score

80

1 review

24. 坂本龍一 [Ryuichi Sakamoto] - Left-Handed Dream

坂本龍一 [Ryuichi Sakamoto] - Left-Handed Dream

October 5, 1981

Art Pop, Synthpop

Japanese Folk Music, Progressive Electronic

Critic Score

80

1 review

25. John Carpenter & Alan Howarth - Halloween II

John Carpenter & Alan Howarth - Halloween II

1981

Horror Synth, Dark Ambient

Critic Score

80

1 review

1

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