Best Albums
Discover
New Releases
Lists
Genres
News
Community
Sign In
Best Albums
Must Hear
Worst Albums
Recently Rated
Critics
Users
The Highest Rated Albums of the 1980s
Decade
1980s
All Time
2020s
2010s
2000s
1990s
1980s
1970s
1960s
1950s
Source
All
All
AllMusic
Entertainment Weekly
Pitchfork
Rolling Stone
Sputnikmusic
Genre
All
All
Alternative Rock
AOR
Art Pop
Country
Electronic
Folk
Hard Rock
Heavy Metal
Hip Hop
Jangle Pop
Metal
New Wave
Pop
Pop Rock
Post-Punk
Punk
Punk Rock
Reggae
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
7
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
2
.
Paul Simon - Graceland
August 12, 1986
Singer-Songwriter
Critic Score
100
5
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
3
.
The Replacements - Let It Be
October 2, 1984
Alternative Rock
Critic Score
100
5
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
4
.
Pixies - Doolittle
April 18, 1989
Alternative Rock
Critic Score
100
5
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
5
.
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
May 2, 1989
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
.
Hüsker Dü - New Day Rising
January 1, 1985
Post-Hardcore
Critic Score
100
3 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
9
.
Metallica - Ride the Lightning
July 27, 1984
Thrash Metal
Critic Score
100
3 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
10
.
Barbra Streisand - The Broadway Album
November 5, 1985
Traditional Pop
Critic Score
100
2 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
11
.
Luther Vandross - Never Too Much
August 12, 1981
Smooth Soul
Critic Score
100
2 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
12
.
The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta
October 3, 1980
New Wave
Critic Score
100
2 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
13
.
EPMD - Strictly Business
August 30, 1988
Hip Hop
Critic Score
100
2 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
14
.
The Go-Betweens - 16 Lovers Lane
August 1, 1988
Jangle Pop
Critic Score
100
2 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
15
.
Richard & Linda Thompson - Shoot Out the Lights
March 15, 1982
Folk Rock
Critic Score
100
2 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
16
.
Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded
March 3, 1987
Hip Hop
Critic Score
100
2 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
17
.
Tom Waits - Rain Dogs
September 30, 1985
Rock
Critic Score
100
2 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
18
.
Sonic Youth - Sister
June 1, 1987
Alternative Rock
Critic Score
100
4
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
19
.
Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel of Love
October 9, 1987
Pop Rock
Critic Score
99
4
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
20
.
The Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy
November 18, 1985
Noise Pop
Critic Score
99
3 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
21
.
Prince - Dirty Mind
October 8, 1980
Synth Funk
Critic Score
99
6
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
22
.
Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden
September 16, 1988
Post-Rock
Critic Score
98
5
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
23
.
XTC - Skylarking
October 27, 1986
Psychedelic Pop
Critic Score
98
3 reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
24
.
Metallica - Master of Puppets
March 3, 1986
Thrash Metal
Critic Score
98
4
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
25
.
Talking Heads - Remain in Light
October 8, 1980
New Wave
Critic Score
97
7
reviews
Amazon
iTunes
Music
Spotify
1
2
3
4
...
49
THE BEST ALBUMS OF ...
2021
2020
1981
1979
Connect with AOTY
Like Us
Follow Us
Become a Donor
Donor badge, no ads + more benefits.
Critic Score
User Score
Advertisement
New Album Releases
95
Dave
We're All Alone In This Together
80
Darkside
Spiral
84
Emma-Jean Thackray
Yellow
77
Leon Bridges
Gold-Diggers Sound
NR
Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow
INDUSTRY BABY
More Releases
Advertisement
