Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of the 1980s

Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of the 1980s

Original Source →

Sort

Low → High
- Low → High
- High → Low

100. Minor Threat - Out of Step

Minor Threat - Out of Step

April 0, 1983

Critic Score

90

1 review

99. Gang of Four - Songs of the Free

Gang of Four - Songs of the Free

January 1, 1982

Critic Score

70

2 reviews

98. Cocteau Twins - Treasure

Cocteau Twins - Treasure

November 1, 1984

Critic Score

90

1 review

97. Mekons - The Mekons Rock 'n' Roll

Mekons - The Mekons Rock 'n' Roll

September 1, 1989

Critic Score

85

2 reviews

96. Rites of Spring - Rites of Spring

Rites of Spring - Rites of Spring

June 1, 1985

Critic Score

60

1 review

95. Duran Duran - Rio

Duran Duran - Rio

May 10, 1982

Critic Score

90

2 reviews

94. Meat Puppets - Meat Puppets II

Meat Puppets - Meat Puppets II

April 1, 1984

Alternative Rock

Critic Score

100

1 review

93. David Bowie - Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)

David Bowie - Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)

September 12, 1980

Critic Score

90

3 reviews

92. Kate Bush - Hounds of Love

Kate Bush - Hounds of Love

September 16, 1985

Critic Score

97

3 reviews

With her self-produced fifth album, Kate Bush became a total auteur, embracing the possibilities of digital sampling synthesizers and creating a perfect marriage of technique and exploration.

Full Review →

91. X - Los Angeles

X - Los Angeles

April 26, 1980

Critic Score

100

1 review

90. Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking

Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking

August 23, 1988

Alternative Rock

Critic Score

90

2 reviews

89. Boredoms - Soul Discharge

Boredoms - Soul Discharge

December 1, 1989

Critic Score

90

1 review

88. Spacemen 3 - Playing With Fire

Spacemen 3 - Playing With Fire

February 27, 1989

Neo-Psychedelia

Critic Score

90

1 review

87. Prince - Dirty Mind

Prince - Dirty Mind

October 8, 1980

Critic Score

99

6 reviews

86. The Police - Ghost in the Machine

The Police - Ghost in the Machine

October 2, 1981

Critic Score

75

2 reviews

85. Paul Simon - Graceland

Paul Simon - Graceland

August 12, 1986

Singer-Songwriter

Critic Score

100

5 reviews

84. ESG - Come Away with ESG

ESG - Come Away with ESG

January 1, 1983

Critic Score

85

3 reviews

83. Talk Talk - The Colour of Spring

Talk Talk - The Colour of Spring

Critic Score

85

2 reviews

82. The Fall - Perverted by Language

The Fall - Perverted by Language

December 12, 1983

Critic Score

80

1 review

81. Cocteau Twins - Blue Bell Knoll

Cocteau Twins - Blue Bell Knoll

September 19, 1988

Critic Score

81

3 reviews

80. Hüsker Dü - New Day Rising

Hüsker Dü - New Day Rising

January 1, 1985

Critic Score

100

2 reviews

79. Manuel Göttsching - E2-E4

Manuel Göttsching - E2-E4

January 1, 1984

Critic Score

96

2 reviews

78. They Might Be Giants - Lincoln

They Might Be Giants - Lincoln

September 25, 1988

Alternative Rock

Critic Score

75

2 reviews

77. The Smiths - Strangeways, Here We Come

The Smiths - Strangeways, Here We Come

September 28, 1987

Alternative Rock

Critic Score

81

3 reviews

76. The dB's - Stands for Decibels

The dB's - Stands for Decibels

January 1, 1981

Critic Score

90

1 review

75. Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded

Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded

March 3, 1987

Critic Score

100

2 reviews

74. Mekons - Fear and Whiskey

Mekons - Fear and Whiskey

June 1, 1985

Critic Score

94

2 reviews

73. Coil - Horse Rotorvator

Coil - Horse Rotorvator

Critic Score

100

1 review

72. Meat Puppets - Up on the Sun

Meat Puppets - Up on the Sun

March 1, 1985

Alternative Rock

Critic Score

90

1 review

71. The Replacements - Pleased to Meet Me

The Replacements - Pleased to Meet Me

July 7, 1987

Alternative Rock

Critic Score

87

2 reviews

70. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Trust

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Trust

January 23, 1981

Critic Score

93

3 reviews

69. The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms

The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms

April 1, 1980

Critic Score

96

2 reviews

68. Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense

Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense

September 1, 1984

Critic Score

84

5 reviews

67. The Pogues - Rum Sodomy & the Lash

The Pogues - Rum Sodomy & the Lash

August 1, 1985

Critic Score

85

4 reviews

66. The Dukes Of Stratosphear - Psonic Psunspot

The Dukes Of Stratosphear - Psonic Psunspot

August 1, 1987

Psychedelic Pop

Critic Score

82

2 reviews

65. The Soft Boys - Underwater Moonlight

The Soft Boys - Underwater Moonlight

June 28, 1980

Neo-Psychedelia

Critic Score

95

3 reviews

64. Television Personalities - ...And Don't the Kids Just Love It

Television Personalities - ...And Don't the Kids Just Love It

January 1, 1981

Critic Score

85

2 reviews

63. Young Marble Giants - Colossal Youth

Young Marble Giants - Colossal Youth

February 1, 1980

Critic Score

91

9 reviews

62. R.E.M. - Reckoning

R.E.M. - Reckoning

April 9, 1984

Alternative Rock

Critic Score

91

4 reviews

61. Nurse with Wound - Homotopy to Marie

Nurse with Wound - Homotopy to Marie

January 1, 1982

Critic Score

78

2 reviews

60. Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska

Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska

September 30, 1982

Critic Score

91

4 reviews

59. Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction

Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction

July 21, 1987

Critic Score

90

6 reviews

58. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Imperial Bedroom

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Imperial Bedroom

July 2, 1982

Critic Score

93

3 reviews

57. Pixies - Come on Pilgrim

Pixies - Come on Pilgrim

September 28, 1987

Alternative Rock

Critic Score

84

3 reviews

56. King Crimson - Discipline

King Crimson - Discipline

September 22, 1981

Progressive Rock

Critic Score

85

2 reviews

55. The Police - Synchronicity

The Police - Synchronicity

June 1, 1983

Critic Score

90

2 reviews

54. Big Black - Songs About Fucking

Big Black - Songs About Fucking

January 1, 1987

Critic Score

90

1 review

53. Mission of Burma - Signals, Calls and Marches

Mission of Burma - Signals, Calls and Marches

July 4, 1981

Critic Score

94

2 reviews

52. Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full

Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full

July 7, 1987

Critic Score

93

3 reviews

51. Leonard Cohen - I'm Your Man

Leonard Cohen - I'm Your Man

February 2, 1988

Singer-Songwriter

Critic Score

89

4 reviews

Original Source: https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-top-100-albums-of-the-1980s/

Related

Pitchfork Lists

Comments

Sign in to comment

No one has said anything yet.

Connect with AOTY

Become a Donor
Donor badge, no ads + more benefits.

Advertisement

Recent List Comments

Hildreth commented on 2020 List Aggregate

cakenator commented on People's Best Albums of 2015

Salman7236 commented on Kerrang!'s 50 Best Albums of 2000

AndreManfre93 commented on Double J's Top 50 Albums of 2014

AndreManfre93 commented on Uncut's 75 Best Albums of 2020

Rob commented on Rough Trade's Albums of the Year 2020

AndreManfre93 commented on Popmatters' 100 Best Albums of the 2000s

ThisDigitalSpoi commented on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time [2020]

bankai commented on Alternative Press's 50 Best Albums of 2019

Jehenshaw79 commented on The Guardian's 100 Best Albums of the 21st Century

Recent Best Music

Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory - 20th Anniversary Edition

Nick Cave - Idiot Prayer: Nick Cave Alone at Alexandra Palace

Ólafur Arnalds - some kind of peace

Drive-By Truckers - The New OK

Working Men's Club - Working Men's Club

The Replacements - Pleased to Meet Me (Deluxe Edition)

The OBGMs - The Ends

Adrianne Lenker - songs

John Lennon - GIMME SOME TRUTH. The Ultimate Mixes

Advertisement

October Playlist