Best Albums

Critics

The Highest Rated Albums of 1981

Decade

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

Source

All

Genre

All
- All
- AOR
- Art Pop
- Art Rock
- Country
- Electronic
- Experimental Rock
- Hard Rock
- Heavy Metal
- Metal
- New Wave
- Pop
- Pop Rock
- Pop Soul
- Post-Punk
- Progressive Rock
- Punk
- Punk Rock
- R&B
- Reggae
- Rock
- Singer-Songwriter
- Soul
- Synthpop

1981

1. Luther Vandross - Never Too Much

Luther Vandross - Never Too Much

August 12, 1981

Smooth Soul, Contemporary R&B, Pop Soul

Critic Score

100

2 reviews

2. Television Personalities - ...and Don't the Kids Just Love It

Television Personalities - ...and Don't the Kids Just Love It

January 1, 1981

Post-Punk, Indie Pop

Critic Score

95

3 reviews

3. X - Wild Gift

May 1, 1981

Critic Score

95

2 reviews

4. Black Flag - Damaged

Black Flag - Damaged

December 5, 1981

Critic Score

94

3 reviews

5. Squeeze - East Side Story

Squeeze - East Side Story

May 15, 1981

Pop Rock, New Wave

Critic Score

93

3 reviews

6. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Trust

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Trust

January 23, 1981

Critic Score

93

3 reviews

7. The Human League - Dare!

The Human League - Dare!

October 16, 1981

New Wave, Synthpop

Critic Score

93

4 reviews

8. Orchestral Manœuvres in the Dark - Architecture & Morality

Orchestral Manœuvres in the Dark - Architecture & Morality

November 8, 1981

Critic Score

92

3 reviews

9. Wipers - Youth of America

Wipers - Youth of America

March 13, 1981

Post-Punk, Punk Rock

Critic Score

91

2 reviews

10. The Rolling Stones - Tattoo You

The Rolling Stones - Tattoo You

August 24, 1981

Rock, Blues Rock

Critic Score

90

3 reviews

11. The Gun Club - Fire of Love

The Gun Club - Fire of Love

August 31, 1981

Blues Rock, Psychobilly, Punk Blues

Critic Score

90

4 reviews

12. Glenn Branca - The Ascension

Glenn Branca - The Ascension

November 0, 1981

No Wave, Noise Rock, Post-Rock, Totalism

Critic Score

90

4 reviews

13. This Heat - Deceit

This Heat - Deceit

September 0, 1981

Post-Punk, Experimental Rock

Critic Score

90

4 reviews

14. J. Geils Band - Freeze Frame

J. Geils Band - Freeze Frame

October 26, 1981

Yacht Rock, New Wave, Pop Rock

Critic Score

90

2 reviews

15. Rickie Lee Jones - Pirates

Rickie Lee Jones - Pirates

July 15, 1981

Singer-Songwriter, Jazz Pop

Critic Score

90

2 reviews

16. The Replacements - Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash

The Replacements - Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash

June 25, 1981

Punk Rock, Hardcore Punk

Critic Score

90

2 reviews

17. Rick James - Street Songs

Rick James - Street Songs

April 7, 1981

Contemporary R&B, Synth Funk

Critic Score

90

2 reviews

18. Rush - Moving Pictures

Rush - Moving Pictures

February 12, 1981

Progressive Rock, Hard Rock

Critic Score

90

2 reviews

19. The dB's - Stands for Decibels

The dB's - Stands for Decibels

January 1, 1981

Power Pop, Jangle Pop

Critic Score

90

2 reviews

20. Human Switchboard - Who's Landing in My Hangar?

Human Switchboard - Who's Landing in My Hangar?

Critic Score

90

2 reviews

21. Fela Kuti - Original Sufferhead

Fela Kuti - Original Sufferhead

Critic Score

90

2 reviews

22. Richard Horowitz - Eros in Arabia

Richard Horowitz - Eros in Arabia

Critic Score

89

2 reviews

23. David Byrne & Brian Eno - My Life in the Bush of Ghosts

David Byrne & Brian Eno - My Life in the Bush of Ghosts

February 1, 1981

Experimental Rock, Art Rock, Plunderphonics

Critic Score

88

13 reviews

24. The Psychedelic Furs - Talk Talk Talk

The Psychedelic Furs - Talk Talk Talk

June 6, 1981

Critic Score

87

3 reviews

25. Klaus Nomi - Klaus Nomi

Klaus Nomi - Klaus Nomi

New Wave, Art Pop, Classical Crossover

Critic Score

87

2 reviews

1

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