List of 1980s albums considered the best

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of 1980s music albums that music journalists, magazines, and music review websites have named among the best of the 1980s, listed by the years of their release. Each album is included in at least four "best/greatest of the 1980s/all time" lists from different publications (inclusive of all genres and nationalities) as chosen by their editorial staffs or audience, and/or hall of fame awards and historical preservation measures.

List

1980

More information Release Date, Album ...
Release Date Album Artist Genre(s) Label Notes Accolades
January 11, 1980[1] Pretenders The Pretenders Real Records Accolades
February 29, 1980 Crazy Rhythms The Feelies Stiff Heavily influenced the alternative rock genre by combining post-punk and jangle pop.[2] Accolades
February 1980 (1980-02)[3] Colossal Youth Young Marble Giants Post-punk Rough Trade
April 26, 1980[8] Los Angeles X Slash Accolades
May 23, 1980 (1980-05-23) I Just Can't Stop It The Beat Regarded as one of the most important albums of the "2-Tone and the Ska Resurrection"[9]
  • UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #168[10]
  • Diariocritico's 100 Best Albums of the 80s: #48[11]
  • Spin's "Top 100 Alternative Albums": #94[12]
  • Fast 'n' Bulbous - The 500 Best Albums Since 1965: #283[13]
May 30, 1980 (1980-05-30)[14] Peter Gabriel III Peter Gabriel Accolades
June 1980 Underwater Moonlight The Soft Boys Armageddon Influential on the development of the neo-psychedelia and college rock music genres and on a number of bands, especially R.E.M.[24][25]
July 11, 1980 Searching For The Young Soul Rebels Dexys Midnight Runners Accolades
July 18, 1980 (1980-07-18) Closer Joy Division Factory Widely recognised as a seminal release of the post-punk era, released following the suicide of the band's lead singer and lyricist Ian Curtis.[29] It is considered one of the darkest albums.[30] Accolades
July 18, 1980 Crocodiles Echo & The Bunnymen Korova Accolades
July 25, 1980 (1980-07-25)[34] Back In Black AC/DC Accolades
September 2, 1980 (1980-09-02) Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables Dead Kennedys
September 12, 1980 (1980-09-12)[39] Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) David Bowie RCA Rankings
October 8, 1980 (1980-10-08) Remain In Light Talking Heads Sire Attained widespread acclaim from critics for its sonic experimentation, rhythmic innovations, and merging of disparate genres into a cohesive whole.[40][41] Accolades and legacy
October 10, 1980 (1980-10-10) Kilimanjaro The Teardrop Explodes Mercury[42][43]
  • Hartbeat!'s Greatest Albums of All Time: #40[44]
  • NME's Top 100 Greatest Albums of the 1980s: #17[45]
  • UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #68[10]
  • Q magazine's "100 Greatest British Albums Ever": #95[46]
October 17, 1980 (1980-10-17)[47] The River Bruce Springsteen Columbia Rankings
October 20, 1980 (1980-10-20) Boy U2 Island Accolades
October 21, 1980 Killing Joke Killing Joke It is considered one of the heaviest albums.[48]
October 1980 (1980-10)[52] Ace Of Spades Motörhead Bronze
November 3, 1980[56] In The Flat Field Bauhaus 4AD Regarded as a key prototypical gothic music release.[57]
November 28, 1980 (1980-11-28)[59] Sound Affects The Jam Polydor Accolades
December 12, 1980 (1980-12-12) Sandinista! The Clash Triple album influential in the punk rock movement with its experimental sound and eclectic genres.[64]
Close

1981

More information Release date, Album ...
Release date Album Artist Genre(s) Label Notes Accolades
February 12, 1981 (1981-02-12) Moving Pictures Rush Anthem Accolades
February 1981 (1981-02) My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts Brian Eno & David Byrne Heavily influential on sample-oriented music.[74] Reception and legacy
May 11, 1981 (1981-05-11) Computerwelt Kraftwerk Concept album themed around computer technology and its rise within society. Had a significant impact on the genres of hip-hop, electronic music, and has been sampled in many notable works. Critical reception
May 11, 1981 Nightclubbing Grace Jones Island Legacy
May 15, 1981 Talk Talk Talk The Psychedelic Furs CBS It is considered one of the darkest albums.[30]
May 29, 1981 Heaven Up Here Echo & The Bunnymen Korova Accolades
June 19, 1981 Juju Siouxsie And The Banshees Polydor
August 31, 1981 Fire Of Love The Gun Club Ruby Considered the first album of its kind to combine punk rock with American roots music, helped to create punk blues.[85][86]
September 1981 Deceit This Heat Rough Trade Critical reception and legacy

UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #454[10]

October 2, 1981 Discipline King Crimson Significant influence on post-progressive rock.[91]
  • Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of the 1980s: #56[6]
  • UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #163[10]
  • Classic Rock's 100 Greatest Albums Of The '80s: #40[58]
  • Musikexpress's 50 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #48[92]
October 16, 1981[93] Dare The Human League Virgin Legacy
October 2, 1981 (1981-10-02)[97] Ghost In The Machine The Police A&M Accolades
November 6, 1981 Architecture & Morality Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Dindisc Legacy
November 1981 (1981-11) Damaged Black Flag Hardcore punk[101] SST Regarded as one of the most influential punk rock records ever made for its intense depictions of rage, violence, and alienation.[102][103] Reception and legacy
Close

1982

More information Release date, Album ...
Release date Album Artist Genre(s) Label Notes Accolades
February 12, 1982 English Settlement XTC Virgin
March 8, 1982 Hex Enduction Hour The Fall Post-punk Kamera
  • NME's the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: #201[107]
  • Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of the 1980s: #33[6]
  • UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #49[10]
  • Paste's Best Albums of the 1980s: #59[108]
March 15, 1982 (1982-03-15) Shoot Out The Lights Richard & Linda Thompson British folk rock[109] Hannibal Critical response
March 22, 1982 (1982-03-22) The Number Of The Beast Iron Maiden Heavy metal EMI It is considered one of the heaviest albums.[48] Reception and legacy
April 19, 1982 Big Science Laurie Anderson
  • UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #203[10]
  • Pitchfork's Top 200 Albums of the 1980s (2018): #22[54]
  • Slant's 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #44[66]
  • Rolling Stone's Essential 200 Rock Records[110]
May 4, 1982 Pornography The Cure Fiction Considered an important milestone in the development of gothic rock. It is considered one of the darkest albums.[30] Legacy
May 10, 1982 (1982-05-10) Rio Duran Duran EMI Rankings
May 14, 1982 Combat Rock The Clash
May 28, 1982 (1982-05-28) Avalon Roxy Music Critical reception
June 21, 1982 (1982-06-21) The Lexicon Of Love ABC Neutron Legacy
July 2, 1982 (1982-07-02)[137][138] Imperial Bedroom Elvis Costello And The Attractions Rankings
September 13, 1982 (1982-09-13) The Dreaming Kate Bush EMI
September 30, 1982 (1982-09-30) Nebraska Bruce Springsteen Columbia It is considered one of the darkest albums.[30] Critical reception
October 1, 1982 The Nightfly Donald Fagen Warner Bros. Regarded as one of the best recorded albums for audiophiles.[149][150] Accolades
October 11, 1982 Vs. Mission Of Burma Ace of Hearts
  • Pitchfork's Top 200 Albums of the 1980s (2018): #49[54]
  • UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #132[10]
  • Treble's 150 Best Albums of the 1980s: #118[152]
  • Greenwood Encyclopedia of Rock History's Most Significant Rock Albums[153]
October 27, 1982 (1982-10-27) 1999 Prince Warner Bros. Influential to Minneapolis sound, electro, house, and techno."[158][159] Critical reception and legacy
October 1982 (1982-10)[160] The Days Of Wine And Roses The Dream Syndicate
November 29, 1982 (1982-11-29) Thriller Michael Jackson Epic Best-selling album of all time. Rankings
Close

1983

More information Release date, Album ...
Release date Album Artist Genre(s) Label Notes Accolades
January 20, 1983 (1983-01-20) Pyromania Def Leppard Vertigo Critical reception and legacy
February 28, 1983 (1983-02-28) War U2 Post-punk Island Legacy
February 1983 (1983-02)[165] High Land, Hard Rain Aztec Camera Rough Trade
March 23, 1983 Eliminator ZZ Top Warner Bros.
April 12, 1983 (1983-04-12) Murmur R.E.M. I.R.S. Accolades
April 13, 1983 Violent Femmes Violent Femmes Slash Reception
May 2, 1983 (1983-05-02) Power, Corruption & Lies New Order Factory Critical reception
June 1, 1983 Speaking In Tongues Talking Heads Sire
June 17, 1983 (1983-06-17) Synchronicity The Police A&M Accolades
July 25, 1983 (1983-07-25) Kill 'Em All Metallica Megaforce Regarded as a groundbreaking album for the development of thrash metal.[197] Reception
August 8, 1983 Script Of The Bridge The Chameleons Statik Regarded as influential on gothic music and Manchester bands.[198]
  • Fast 'n' Bulbous's 1000 Best Albums of All Time: #128[199]
  • The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"[83]
  • Laut's List of Milestones[200]
  • Ondarock's Rock Milestones List[201]
September 1, 1983 Swordfishtrombones Tom Waits Experimental rock[202] Island Reception
October 14, 1983 (1983-10-14) She's So Unusual Cyndi Lauper Portrait Considered a pioneering achievement for a debut album by a female artist for achieving four top-five singles.[204] Accolades
October 21, 1983 Soul Mining The The Some Bizzare/Epic Legacy and accolades
November 5, 1983 (1983-11-05) Clics Modernos Charly García
  • Interdisc
  • SG Discos
 Significant work in Argentine rock music.[206] Accolades

Al Borde's 250 Most Important Latin Rock Albums (2006): #3[207]

November 10, 1983 (1983-11-10) Rebel Yell Billy Idol Chrysalis
Close

1984

More information Release date, Album ...
Release date Album Artist Genre(s) Label Notes Accolades
February 20, 1984 (1984-02-20) The Smiths The Smiths Rough Trade
April 9, 1984 (1984-04-09) Reckoning R.E.M. I.R.S.
  • Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of the 1980s: #62[6]
  • UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #99[10]
  • Slant's 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #81[66]
  • Popkultur.de's 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #80[178]
May 4, 1984 (1984-05-04) Ocean Rain Echo & The Bunnymen Korova
June 4, 1984 (1984-06-04) Born In The U.S.A. Bruce Springsteen Columbia Rankings
June 25, 1984 (1984-06-25) Purple Rain Prince And The Revolution Warner Bros. Soundtrack album Accolades
July 3, 1984 Zen Arcade Hüsker Dü SST Regarded as instrumental in the creation of the alternative rock genre,[229][230] and considered by some to be one of the greatest rock albums of all time.[231][232][233] Legacy
July 15, 1984 Structures From Silence Steve Roach Fortuna Regarded as one of the most important ambient albums of all time.[5]
  • FACT's The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #10[5]
  • New Age Magazine's 25 Most Influential Ambient CDs[237]
  • Echoes Radio's #2 Album of All Time.[238]
  • Pitchfork's 33rd best ambient album of all time[239]
July 16, 1984 (1984-07-16) Diamond Life Sade Epic Credited as being influential to neo soul.[242] Critical reception
July 27, 1984 (1984-07-27) Ride the Lightning Metallica Megaforce records Widely regarded as one of the greatest Thrash Metal records of all time Reception and legacy
July 1984[243] Double Nickels On The Dime Minutemen SST Highly regarded for its fusion of punk rock, funk, country, spoken word and jazz, and references a variety of themes, from the Vietnam War and racism in America, to working-class experience and linguistics.[247][248] Legacy
September 1984 (1984-09) Stop Making Sense Talking Heads Live album and soundtrack album to the concert film of the same name.
  • Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of the 1980s: #68[6]
  • UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #192[10]
  • Slant's 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #61[66]
  • Popkultur.de's 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #88[178]
October 2, 1984 (1984-10-02) Let It Be The Replacements Twin/Tone Critical reception
October 12, 1984 (1984-10-12) Rattlesnakes Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
November 12, 1984 Hatful Of Hollow The Smiths Rough Trade Compilation album
November 12, 1984[251] Treasure Cocteau Twins 4AD Regarded as one of the greatest dream pop records.[252][253] Legacy and accolades
1984 Meat Puppets II Meat Puppets SST
1984 E2-E4 Manuel Göttsching Inteam Significant to the development of house, techno, and ambient techno music of the late 1980s and early 1990s.[257][258][259]
  • Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of the 1980s: #79[6]
  • FACT's The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #4[5]
  • UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #165[10]
  • Treble's 150 Best Albums of the 1980s: #52[152]
Close

1985

More information Release date, Album ...
Release date Album Artist Genre(s) Label Notes Accolades
January 1985 New Day Rising Hüsker Dü SST Regarded as one of the first and most influential purely alternative rock albums.[263] Aftermath and influence
February 11, 1985 (1985-02-11) Meat Is Murder The Smiths Rough Trade It is considered one of the darkest albums.[30]
February 25, 1985 (1985-02-25)[267] Songs From The Big Chair Tears For Fears
Critical reception
May 1, 1985 Suzanne Vega Suzanne Vega Folk rock A&M
May 13, 1985 (1985-05-13) Low-Life New Order Factory
May 17, 1985 (1985-05-17) Brothers In Arms Dire Straits Rock Vertigo Accolades
June 17, 1985[274] Misplaced Childhood Marillion Neo-prog EMI Regarded as a significant benchmark in the "neo-prog" movement.[275] Accolades
June 1985 (1985-06) Steve McQueen Prefab Sprout Sophisti-pop[240] Legacy
June 1985 Rites Of Spring Rites Of Spring Dischord Often as regarded as the first emo album.[276] Reception
August 5, 1985 Rum Sodomy & The Lash The Pogues Stiff (UK & Europe)

MCA (US & Canada)

 Critical reception and accolades
August 30, 1985[278] The Head On The Door The Cure Fiction
September 16, 1985 (1985-09-16) Hounds Of Love Kate Bush EMI Accolades
September 18, 1985 Tim The Replacements Sire Reception
September 23, 1985 (1985-09-23)[283] This Nation's Saving Grace The Fall Beggars Banquet It is considered one of the darkest albums.[30] Accolades
September 30, 1985 Rain Dogs Tom Waits Island A loose concept album about "the urban dispossessed" of New York City.[285] Noted for its broad spectrum of musical styles and genres such as dirty blues, New Orleans funeral brass, and Kurt Weill operas.[286] Reception
November 18, 1985 Psychocandy The Jesus And Mary Chain Blanco y Negro Considered a landmark recording due to its combined guitar feedback and noise with traditional pop melody and structure, influencing forthcoming shoegaze genre and alternative rock in general.[291][292] It is considered one of the heaviest albums.[48] Reception and legacy
1985 Fear and Whiskey The Mekons Sin
Close

1986

More information Release date, Album ...
Release date Album Artist Genre(s) Label Notes Accolades
January 1, 1986 (1986-01-01) Atomizer Big Black Touch and Go, Homestead It is considered one of the heaviest albums.[48] Accolades
February 4, 1986 Control Janet Jackson A&M Regarded as a precursor to the new jack swing genre.[294][295] Accolades
February 17, 1986 The Colour Of Spring Talk Talk EMI
March 3, 1986 (1986-03-03) Master Of Puppets Metallica Elektra Widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influential metal albums of all time, and is credited with consolidating the American thrash metal scene.[300][301] It is considered one of the heaviest albums.[48] Accolades and legacy
March 5, 1986 Guitar Town Steve Earle MCA
May 15, 1986 Raising Hell Run-DMC Profile The first Platinum and multi-Platinum hip hop record, and one of the greatest and most important albums in the history of hip hop music and culture.[305][306] Accolades
May 19, 1986 (1986-05-19) So Peter Gabriel
Acclaimed for its ability to balance musical experimentation with popular accessibility,[309][310][311] the album broke Gabriel into the international mainstream after developing a cult following for several years.[312] Legacy
May 1986 EVOL Sonic Youth SST It is considered one of the heaviest albums.[48]
June 16, 1986 (1986-06-16) The Queen Is Dead The Smiths Rough Trade Critical reception
June 1986[314] London 0 Hull 4 The Housemartins Go! Discs
July 28, 1986 (1986-07-28) Lifes Rich Pageant R.E.M. I.R.S.
August 1, 1986[321] Crowded House Crowded House Capitol/EMI
August 18, 1986 Slippery When Wet Bon Jovi
August 25, 1986 (1986-08-25) Graceland Paul Simon Warner Bros. Incorporated South African styles such as isicathamiya and mbaqanga into rock and folk influences. Accolades
September 22, 1986 Talking with the Taxman About Poetry Billy Bragg Folk punk
September 25, 1986 (1986-09-25) Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? Megadeth Thrash metal[331][332] Capitol Regarded as having helped give prominence to extreme metal.[333] Legacy
October 7, 1986 Reign In Blood Slayer Thrash metal Regarded as among the greatest heavy metal records ever.[334][335] It is considered one of the heaviest albums.[48] Legacy
October 27, 1986 (1986-10-27) Skylarking XTC Significantly influential towards alternative pop.[336] Retrospective reviews and legacy
November 15, 1986 Licensed to Ill Beastie Boys The album became the first rap LP to top the Billboard 200 chart. Critical reception
November 17, 1986 (1986-11-17) Infected The The
November 21, 1986 I Against I Bad Brains SST
Accolades
1986 Horse Rotorvator Coil
  • Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of the 1980s: #73[6]
  • FACT's The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #13[5]
  • Popkultur.de's 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #90[178]
  • Ondarock's Rock Milestones List[201]
Close

1987

More information Release date, Album ...
Release date Album Artist Genre(s) Label Notes Accolades
March 9, 1987 (1987-03-09)[340] The Joshua Tree U2 Rock Island Legacy
March 30, 1987[341][342] Sign "O" The Times Prince
Legacy
March, 1987 Locust Abortion Technician Butthole Surfers Touch and Go
June 1, 1987 Sister Sonic Youth SST Critical reception
July 7, 1987 (1987-07-07)[344] Paid In Full Eric B. & Rakim Golden age hip hop Credited as a benchmark album of golden age hip hop. Rakim's rapping, which pioneered the use of internal rhymes in hip hop, set a higher standard of lyricism in the genre and served as a template for future rappers. The album's heavy sampling by Eric B. became influential in hip hop production.[345][346][347] Reception and influence
June 17, 1987 Pleased To Meet Me The Replacements Sire
  • Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of the 1980s: #71[6]
  • UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #102[10]
  • Popkultur.de's 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #96[178]
  • Paste's "The 80 Best Albums of the 1980s": #70[350]
July 21, 1987 (1987-07-21) Appetite For Destruction Guns N' Roses Geffen It is considered one of the heaviest albums.[48] Appetite for Destruction
July 27, 1987 (1987-07-27) Within the Realm of a Dying Sun Dead Can Dance 4AD Considered to be the definitive Neoclassical Darkwave album of the 1980s[351]
August 3, 1987 (1987-08-03) Hysteria Def Leppard Phonogram Regarded as one of the best pop-metal albums ever recorded.[355][356] Critical reception
August 17, 1987 Substance 1987 New Order Factory Regarded as one of the greatest pop albums of all time, and greatly influential in dance and alternative dance genres.[358] Release and reception
August 21, 1987 Diesel And Dust Midnight Oil Alternative rock Sprint / Columbia
  • Popkultur.de's 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #72[178]
  • UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #397[10]
  • Diariocritico's 100 Best Albums of the 80s: #50[11]
  • laut's Best Albums of the 80's: #29[359]
August 31, 1987 Darklands The Jesus and Mary Chain Blanco y Negro
August 31, 1987 (1987-08-31) Document R.E.M. I.R.S.
  • Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of the 1980s: #48[6]
  • UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #115[10]
  • Slant's 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #17[66]
  • Popkultur.de's 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #70[178]
  • Diariocritico's 100 Best Albums of the 80s: #28[221]
August 31, 1987 (1987-08-31) Bad Michael Jackson Epic Accolades
September 7, 1987 (1987-09-07)[367] Actually Pet Shop Boys Parlophone Critical reception
September 28, 1987 (1987-09-28) Strangeways, Here We Come The Smiths Rough Trade
September 28, 1987 (1987-09-28) Music For The Masses Depeche Mode Mute Critical reception
September 1987 The Perfect Prescription Spacemen 3 Neo-psychedelia[32]
  • Glass (original UK release)
  • Fire (various UK reissues)
  • Genius Records (original US release)
  • Taang! (1996 US reissue)
 Concept album about "a vision of a drug trip from inception to its blasted conclusion, highs and lows fully intact."[372]
  • Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of the 1980s: #50[6]
  • UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #307[10]
  • The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"[83]
  • Ondarock's Rock Milestones List[201]
October 5, 1987[373] The Lion And The Cobra Sinéad O'Connor
  • UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #244[10]
  • Pitchfork's Top 200 Albums of the 1980s (2018): #44[54]
  • Slant's 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #46[66]
  • Spin's The 25 Greatest Albums of All Time: #24[376]
October 19, 1987[377] Kick INXS Legacy
October 19, 1987[378] Secrets Of The Beehive David Sylvian Virgin
  • FACT's The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #64[5]
  • UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #64[10]
  • Ondarock's Rock Milestones List[201]
  • La Discothèque parfaite de l'odyssée du rock's Best Albums in the History of Rock[380]
November 2, 1987 Faith George Michael Accolades
November 16, 1987 Floodland The Sisters of Mercy Merciful Release
December 14, 1987 You're Living All Over Me Dinosaur Jr. SST Regarded as one of the greatest and most influential albums in alternative rock, and an influence on grunge music due to its drawling vocals paired with loud guitars and driving rhythms.[383][384] Legacy
Close

1988

More information Release date, Album ...
Release date Album Artist Genre(s) Label Notes Accolades
January 18, 1988 If I Should Fall from Grace with God The Pogues
February 2, 1988 I'm Your Man Leonard Cohen Columbia Critical reception
March 21, 1988 (1988-03-21)[389] Surfer Rosa Pixies 4AD It is considered one of the heaviest albums.[48] Accolades
April 5, 1988 (1988-04-05) Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman Elektra Helped to revive the singer-songwriter genre.[393] Legacy
April 25, 1988 Life's Too Good The Sugarcubes One Little Independent Records Brought international attention to the Icelandic music scene and lead singer Björk. [394] Accolades
May 2, 1988 Vivid Living Colour Epic
June 28, 1988[396] It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Public Enemy Regarded as one of the greatest and most influential albums of all time for its densely aggressive sound influenced by free jazz, heavy funk, and musique concrète with lead rapper Chuck D's sociopolitical rhetoric, revolutionary attitudes, and dense vocabulary.[400][401][402] Accolades
August 23, 1988 Nothing's Shocking Jane's Addiction Warner Bros. Critical reception
August 1988 16 Lovers Lane The Go-Betweens
September 12, 1988[407] Spirit Of Eden Talk Talk Parlophone (EMI) Credited with pioneering the post-rock genre.[412]
  • Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of the 1980s: #34[6]
  • UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #9[10]
  • Slant's 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #56[66]
  • Diariocritico's 100 Best Albums of the 80s: #84[173]
September 19, 1988 Tender Prey Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Mute Records
October 17, 1988 (1988-10-17)[417] Fisherman's Blues The Waterboys Folk rock
October 18, 1988 Daydream Nation Sonic Youth Enigma Double album. Significantly influential on the alternative and indie rock genres.[418][419] Reception and legacy
October 1988 Superfuzz Bigmuff Mudhoney Sub Pop
November 15, 1988 (1988-11-15) The Trinity Session Cowboy Junkies Accolades
November 21, 1988 (1988-11-21) Isn't Anything My Bloody Valentine Creation Regarded as a pioneering work of shoegazing.[424][425][426] It is considered one of the heaviest albums.[48] Reception
November 21, 1988 Bummed Happy Mondays Factory
Close

1989

More information Release date, Album ...
Release date Album Artist Genre(s) Label Notes Accolades
January 10, 1989 (1989-01-10) New York Lou Reed Rock Sire[429]
  • UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #47[10]
  • Slant's 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #70[66]
  • Diariocritico's 100 Best Albums of the 80s: #63[320]
  • Q's 40 Best Albums of the '80s: #26[428]
January 25, 1989 (1989-01-25)[430][431] Straight Outta Compton N.W.A
Triggered the rap genre's movement toward hardcore, gangsta rap.[433] Rankings
January 30, 1989 (1989-01-30) Technique New Order Factory
February 6, 1989 3 Feet High And Rising De La Soul Tommy Boy Described as "the first psychedelic hip-hop record" as well as the beginning of alternative hip hop, jazz rap, progressive hip hop, and the use of the hip hop skit.[438][439] Retrospective opinion
February 27, 1989 Playing with Fire Spacemen 3 Fire
March 21, 1989 Like A Prayer Madonna Pop Legacy
March 21, 1989 Nick of Time Bonnie Raitt Capitol
April 17, 1989 Doolittle Pixies Alternative rock Praised for its "quiet/loud" dynamic that influenced the development of early-1990s grunge music.[442][443] Reception
April 24, 1989[444] Full Moon Fever Tom Petty Rock MCA
May 2, 1989 The Stone Roses The Stone Roses Silvertone / RCA (US) Significant towards the development of the Madchester and baggy cultural scenes.[447] Accolades
May 2, 1989 (1989-05-02) Disintegration The Cure Fiction Critical reception
July 25, 1989 (1989-07-25) Paul's Boutique Beastie Boys Capitol Regarded as a landmark album of golden age hip hop and a seminal work in sample-based production.[455] Accolades
September 1, 1989 (1989-09-01) 13 Songs Fugazi Dischord Regarded as one of the best albums of the post-hardcore genre.[456] Accolades
September 12, 1989 (1989-09-12) Floating Into The Night Julee Cruise Warner Bros. Critical response

FACT's The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #24[5]

September 19, 1989 (1989-09-19) Rhythm Nation 1814 Janet Jackson A&M
  • Slant Magazine's "Best Albums of the 80's"- No. 43 (2012)[457]
  • Spin "The 300 Best Albums of the Past 30 Years (1985-2014)"- No. 54[458]
  • Pitchfork "The 200 Best Albums of the 1980's"- No. 30 [459]
  • Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time- No. 339 [460]
  • Cleveland.com "The 80 Greatest of the 1980's by Rock Hall Inductees"- No. 58[461]
October 16, 1989 (1989-10-16) The Sensual World Kate Bush EMI
October 16, 1989 (1989-10-16) Hats The Blue Nile
October 20, 1989 (1989-10-20) Pretty Hate Machine Nine Inch Nails TVT
October 23, 1989 (1989-10-23)[469][470] On Fire Galaxie 500 Rough Trade Regarded as a benchmark album for the development of slowcore.
  • Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of the 1980s: #16[6]
  • FACT's The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #51[5]
  • UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980s: #152[10]
  • Popkultur.de's 100 Best Albums of the 1980s: #38[178]
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