Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of the 1980s

Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of the 1980s

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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 1, 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

85

4 reviews

67. The Pogues - Rum Sodomy & the Lash

The Pogues - Rum Sodomy & the Lash

August 1, 1985

Critic Score

87

3 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

80

3 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/

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