Best Albums

Rolling Stone

www.rollingstone.com

Highest Rated Albums of 1986

Decade

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

Source

Rolling Stone
- All
- AllMusic
- Entertainment Weekly
- Pitchfork
- Rolling Stone
- Sputnikmusic

Genre

All
- All
- Alternative Rock
- Art Pop
- Country
- Dance
- Dance Pop
- East Coast Hip Hop
- Folk
- Gothic Rock
- Hard Rock
- Hardcore Punk
- Heavy Metal
- Hip Hop
- Metal
- New Wave
- Noise Rock
- Pop
- Pop Rock
- Post-Punk
- Punk
- Punk Rock
- Rock
- Singer-Songwriter
- Synthpop

1986

1. Bad Brains - I Against I

Bad Brains - I Against I

November 1, 1986

Alternative Metal

Score

100

2. Peter Gabriel - So

Peter Gabriel - So

May 19, 1986

Score

100

3. Paul Simon - Graceland

Paul Simon - Graceland

August 12, 1986

Score

100

4. Run-D.M.C. - Raising Hell

Run-D.M.C. - Raising Hell

May 15, 1986

Score

100

5. Metallica - Master of Puppets

Metallica - Master of Puppets

March 3, 1986

Score

100

6. The Smiths - The Queen is Dead

The Smiths - The Queen is Dead

June 16, 1986

Score

100

7. Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill

Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill

November 15, 1986

East Coast Hip Hop

Score

100

8. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Blood & Chocolate

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Blood & Chocolate

September 15, 1986

Score

90

9. Big Black - Atomizer

Big Black - Atomizer

January 1, 1986

Score

90

10. Depeche Mode - Black Celebration

Depeche Mode - Black Celebration

March 17, 1986

Score

90

11. Frank Zappa - Jazz from Hell

Frank Zappa - Jazz from Hell

November 15, 1986

Score

80

12. Mantronix - Music Madness

Mantronix - Music Madness

May 1, 1986

Score

80

13. Pretenders - Get Close

Pretenders - Get Close

November 4, 1986

Score

80

14. Elvis Costello - King of America

Elvis Costello - King of America

February 21, 1986

Score

80

15. Billy Bragg - Talking With the Taxman About Poetry

Billy Bragg - Talking With the Taxman About Poetry

September 1, 1986

Score

80

16. Janet Jackson - Control

Janet Jackson - Control

February 2, 1986

Contemporary R&B

Score

80

17. Genesis - Invisible Touch

Genesis - Invisible Touch

June 9, 1986

Score

80

18. Hüsker Dü - Candy Apple Grey

Hüsker Dü - Candy Apple Grey

March 1, 1986

Alternative Rock

Score

80

19. New Order - Brotherhood

New Order - Brotherhood

September 29, 1986

Score

80

20. Sonic Youth - EVOL

Sonic Youth - EVOL

May 1, 1986

Score

80

21. The Rolling Stones - Dirty Work

The Rolling Stones - Dirty Work

March 24, 1986

Score

80

22. Madonna - True Blue

Madonna - True Blue

June 30, 1986

Score

80

23. R.E.M. - Lifes Rich Pageant

R.E.M. - Lifes Rich Pageant

July 28, 1986

Alternative Rock

Score

80

24. James Brown - Gravity

James Brown - Gravity

September 15, 1986

Score

70

25. Kool Moe Dee - Kool Moe Dee

Kool Moe Dee - Kool Moe Dee

Score

70

1

NOTE: This is not a year end list. This list is ordered by the ratings Rolling Stone awarded albums throughout 1986.

ROLLING STONE'S HIGHEST RATED ALBUMS OF ...

Connect with AOTY

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

Advertisement

New Album Releases

70

HEROES & VILLAINS

NR

79

NR

80

Advertisement

AOTY October Playlist