AOTY 2023

Best Albums

Critics

The Highest Rated Albums of the 1980s

Decade

1980s
- All Time
- 2020s
- 2010s
- 2000s
- 1990s
- 1980s
- 1970s
- 1960s
- 1950s

Source

All

Genre

All
- All
- AOR
- Art Pop
- Country
- Electronic
- Folk
- Hard Rock
- Heavy Metal
- Hip Hop
- Jangle Pop
- Jazz
- Metal
- New Wave
- Pop
- Pop Rock
- Post-Punk
- Punk
- R&B
- Reggae
- Rock
- Singer-Songwriter
- Soul
- Synthpop
- Thrash Metal

1980s

1. Prince - Sign O' the Times

Prince - Sign O' the Times

March 31, 1987

Pop Rock, Funk Rock, Contemporary R&B, Synth Funk

Critic Score

100

7 reviews

2. Pixies - Doolittle

Pixies - Doolittle

April 18, 1989

Indie Rock, Alternative Rock

Critic Score

100

7 reviews

3. Paul Simon - Graceland

Paul Simon - Graceland

August 12, 1986

Pop Rock, Singer-Songwriter

Critic Score

100

6 reviews

4. U2 - The Joshua Tree

U2 - The Joshua Tree

March 9, 1987

Pop Rock, Heartland Rock, Alternative Rock

Critic Score

100

4 reviews

5. The Replacements - Let It Be

The Replacements - Let It Be

October 2, 1984

Alternative Rock

Critic Score

100

4 reviews

6. Metallica - Master of Puppets

Metallica - Master of Puppets

March 3, 1986

Critic Score

100

4 reviews

7. EPMD - Strictly Business

EPMD - Strictly Business

August 30, 1988

Hip Hop, Boom Bap, Hardcore Hip Hop, East Coast Hip Hop

Critic Score

100

3 reviews

8. Hüsker Dü - New Day Rising

Hüsker Dü - New Day Rising

January 1, 1985

Post-Hardcore, Alternative Rock, Noise Pop, Indie Rock, Hardcore Punk

Critic Score

100

3 reviews

9. The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead

The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead

June 16, 1986

Jangle Pop, Indie Pop

Critic Score

100

3 reviews

10. David Murray Octet - Murray's Steps

David Murray Octet - Murray's Steps

Critic Score

100

2 reviews

11. David Murray Octet - Ming

David Murray Octet - Ming

June 15, 1980

Avant-Garde Jazz, Free Jazz

Critic Score

100

2 reviews

12. Barbra Streisand - The Broadway Album

Barbra Streisand - The Broadway Album

November 5, 1985

Traditional Pop, Standards

Critic Score

100

2 reviews

13. Luther Vandross - Never Too Much

Luther Vandross - Never Too Much

August 12, 1981

Smooth Soul, Boogie

Critic Score

100

2 reviews

14. The Beat - I Just Can't Stop It

The Beat - I Just Can't Stop It

May 1, 1980

Critic Score

100

2 reviews

15. The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta

The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta

October 3, 1980

New Wave, Pop Rock

Critic Score

100

2 reviews

16. Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded

Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded

March 3, 1987

Boom Bap, East Coast Hip Hop, Conscious Hip Hop

Critic Score

100

2 reviews

17. Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full

Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full

July 7, 1987

Boom Bap, East Coast Hip Hop

Critic Score

100

2 reviews

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

Run-D.M.C. - Raising Hell

May 15, 1986

Hardcore Hip Hop, East Coast Hip Hop, Rap Rock

Critic Score

100

2 reviews

19. Pixies - Surfer Rosa

March 21, 1988

Indie Rock, Alternative Rock

Critic Score

99

6 reviews

20. Tom Waits - Rain Dogs

Tom Waits - Rain Dogs

September 30, 1985

Dark Cabaret, Experimental Rock, Singer-Songwriter

Critic Score

99

4 reviews

21. Prince - Dirty Mind

Prince - Dirty Mind

October 8, 1980

Pop Rock, Synth Funk

Critic Score

99

6 reviews

22. 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

Hardcore Hip Hop, Conscious Hip Hop, East Coast Hip Hop

Critic Score

99

6 reviews

23. Coil - Horse Rotorvator

Coil - Horse Rotorvator

Critic Score

98

2 reviews

24. Talking Heads - Remain in Light

Talking Heads - Remain in Light

October 8, 1980

New Wave, Post-Punk

Critic Score

97

7 reviews

25. Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A.

Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A.

June 4, 1984

Critic Score

97

6 reviews

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November Playlist