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The Highest Rated Albums of the 1980s
Decade
1980s
All Time
2010s
2000s
1990s
1980s
1970s
1960s
1950s
Genre
All
All
Alternative Rock
Art Pop
Dance Pop
Electronic
Folk
Hard Rock
Hardcore Punk
Heavy Metal
Hip Hop
Indie Pop
Jangle Pop
Metal
New Wave
Pop
Pop Rock
Post-Punk
Punk
Punk Rock
R&B
Rock
Singer-Songwriter
Sophisti-Pop
Soul
Synthpop
Thrash Metal
1980s
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1.
Prince - Sign "O" the Times
March 31, 1987
R&B
Critic Score
100
6
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
2.
Paul Simon - Graceland
August 12, 1986
Singer-Songwriter
Critic Score
100
5
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
3.
Pixies - Doolittle
April 18, 1989
Alternative Rock
Critic Score
100
5
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
4.
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
March 13, 1989
Alternative Rock
Critic Score
100
4
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
5.
The Replacements - Let It Be
October 2, 1984
Alternative Rock
Critic Score
100
4
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
6.
The Smiths - The Queen is Dead
June 16, 1986
Jangle Pop
Critic Score
100
4
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
7.
Pretenders - Pretenders
January 11, 1980
New Wave
Critic Score
100
3 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
8.
Metallica - Ride the Lightning
July 27, 1984
Thrash Metal
Critic Score
100
3 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
9.
Barbra Streisand - The Broadway Album
November 5, 1985
Traditional Pop
Critic Score
100
2 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
10.
The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta
October 3, 1980
New Wave
Critic Score
100
2 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
11.
EPMD - Strictly Business
August 30, 1988
Hip Hop
Critic Score
100
2 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
12.
Richard & Linda Thompson - Shoot Out the Lights
March 15, 1982
Folk Rock
Critic Score
100
2 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
13.
Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded
March 3, 1987
Hip Hop
Critic Score
100
2 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
14.
XTC - Skylarking
October 27, 1986
Psychedelic Pop
Critic Score
100
2 reviews
Amazon
Spotify
15.
Hüsker Dü - New Day Rising
January 1, 1985
Post-Hardcore
Critic Score
100
2 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
16.
Tom Waits - Rain Dogs
September 30, 1985
Rock
Critic Score
100
2 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
17.
Sonic Youth - Sister
June 1, 1987
Alternative Rock
Critic Score
100
4
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
18.
Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel of Love
October 9, 1987
Pop Rock
Critic Score
99
4
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
19.
Prince - Dirty Mind
October 8, 1980
Funk
Critic Score
99
6
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
20.
Talking Heads - Remain in Light
October 8, 1980
New Wave
Critic Score
98
5
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
21.
The Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy
November 1, 1985
Noise Pop
Critic Score
98
2 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
22.
U2 - The Joshua Tree
March 9, 1987
Rock
Critic Score
97
6
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
23.
Glenn Gould - Bach: The Goldberg Variations
Critic Score
97
3 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
24.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Get Happy!!
February 15, 1980
New Wave
Critic Score
97
3 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
25.
Metallica - Master of Puppets
March 3, 1986
Thrash Metal
Critic Score
97
3 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
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