Best Albums

Pitchfork

Highest Rated Albums of the 1980s

Decade

1980s
- All Time
- 2020s
- 2010s
- 2000s
- 1990s
- 1980s
- 1970s
- 1960s

Genre

All
- - All
  - Alternative Rock
  - Ambient
  - Art Pop
  - Dream Pop
  - Dub
  - Electronic
  - Experimental Rock
  - Hard Rock
  - Hip Hop
  - Indie Pop
  - Jangle Pop
  - Metal
- - Minimalism
  - New Wave
  - No Wave
  - Noise Rock
  - Pop
  - Pop Rock
  - Post-Punk
  - Psychedelic
  - Punk
  - Punk Rock
  - Rock
  - Singer-Songwriter
  - Synthpop

1980s

1. Glenn Branca - The Ascension

Glenn Branca - The Ascension

Score

100

2. Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique

July 25, 1989

Score

100

3. Glenn Gould - Bach: The Goldberg Variations

Glenn Gould - Bach: The Goldberg Variations

Score

100

4. Pixies - Doolittle

Pixies - Doolittle

April 18, 1989

Alternative Rock

Score

100

5. The Smiths - The Queen is Dead

The Smiths - The Queen is Dead

June 16, 1986

Score

100

6. Joy Division - Closer

Joy Division - Closer

July 18, 1980

Score

100

7. Talking Heads - Remain in Light

Talking Heads - Remain in Light

October 8, 1980

Score

100

8. Metallica - Master of Puppets

Metallica - Master of Puppets

March 3, 1986

Score

100

9. Metallica - Ride the Lightning

Metallica - Ride the Lightning

July 27, 1984

Score

100

10. Pixies - Surfer Rosa

Pixies - Surfer Rosa

March 21, 1988

Alternative Rock

Score

100

11. The Replacements - Let It Be

The Replacements - Let It Be

October 2, 1984

Alternative Rock

Score

100

12. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses

The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses

March 13, 1989

Alternative Rock

Score

100

13. My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything

My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything

November 1, 1988

Score

100

14. Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction

Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction

July 21, 1987

Score

100

15. Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska

Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska

September 30, 1982

Score

100

16. Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

April 14, 1988

Score

100

17. The Fall - This Nation's Saving Grace

The Fall - This Nation's Saving Grace

September 23, 1985

Score

100

18. Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain

Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain

June 25, 1984

Score

100

19. Galaxie 500 - On Fire

Galaxie 500 - On Fire

September 1, 1989

Score

100

20. De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising

De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising

March 3, 1989

Score

100

21. Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden

Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden

September 16, 1988

Score

100

22. Prince - Sign "O" the Times

March 31, 1987

Score

100

23. XTC - English Settlement

XTC - English Settlement

February 12, 1982

Score

100

24. Kate Bush - Hounds of Love

Kate Bush - Hounds of Love

September 16, 1985

Score

100

25. Prince - Dirty Mind

Prince - Dirty Mind

October 8, 1980

Score

100

NOTE: This is not a year end list. This list is ordered by the ratings Pitchfork awarded albums throughout 1980.

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