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The Highest Rated Albums of the 1980s
Decade
1980s
All Time
2020s
2010s
2000s
1990s
1980s
1970s
1960s
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Source
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AllMusic
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Genre
All
All
Alternative Rock
AOR
Art Pop
Country
Electronic
Folk
Hard Rock
Hardcore Punk
Heavy Metal
Hip Hop
Jangle Pop
Metal
New Wave
Pop
Pop Rock
Post-Punk
Punk
Punk Rock
Rock
Singer-Songwriter
Soul
Synthpop
Thrash Metal
1980s
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1
.
Prince - Sign "O" the Times
March 31, 1987
Pop Rock
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
.
The Go-Betweens - 16 Lovers Lane
August 1, 1988
Jangle Pop
Critic Score
100
2 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
13
.
Richard & Linda Thompson - Shoot Out the Lights
March 15, 1982
Folk Rock
Critic Score
100
2 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
14
.
Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded
March 3, 1987
Hip Hop
Critic Score
100
2 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
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
.
Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden
September 16, 1988
Post-Rock
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
.
XTC - Skylarking
October 27, 1986
Psychedelic Pop
Critic Score
98
3 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
23
.
Talking Heads - Remain in Light
October 8, 1980
New Wave
Critic Score
97
7
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
24
.
U2 - The Joshua Tree
March 9, 1987
Rock
Critic Score
97
6
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
25
.
Glenn Gould - Bach: The Goldberg Variations
Critic Score
97
3 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
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