The Great Albums of the 1980's
This list is all of the great albums I have heard in rock, in the ten year span of 1980-1989. No limit on number
Bold = 96-100% rating
2009 edition = 109 entries
2013 edition = 201 entries
2016 edition = 277 entries
2021 edition = 402 entries
new! = new addition
up - moved up the list since last time
down - moved down the list since last time
italics – 5 star albums
regular font - 4 ½ star albums
1.Daydream Nation - Sonic Youth (1988)
2.Miss America - Mary Margaret O’Hara (1988)
3.Warehouse: Songs and Stories - Husker Du (1987)
4.Double Nickels on the Dime - The Minutemen (1984)
5.Sister - Sonic Youth (1987)
6.Fire of Love - The Gun Club (1981)
7.English Settlement - XTC (1982)
8.Psychic...Powerless...Another Man's Sac - Butthole Surfers (1984)
9.Life’s Rich Pageant - R.E.M. (1986)
10.Up on the Sun - Meat Puppets (1985)
11.Underwater Moonlight - The Soft Boys (1980) up
12.White Soul – Green (1989) new!
13.Surfer Rosa - Pixies (1988)
14.Aka-Darbari - Java Magic Realism – Jon Hassell (1983) new!
15.The River - Bruce Springsteen (1980)
16.Shoot out the Lights - Richard Thompson (1982)
17.Zen Arcade - Husker Du (1984)
18.Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart - Camper Van Beethoven (1988)
19.Remain in Light - Talking Heads (1980)
20.Skylarking – XTC (1986)
21.It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back - Public Enemy (1988)
22.Ride the Lightning - Metallica (1984)
23.Spirit of Eden - Talk Talk (1988)
24.Raising Hell - Run DMC (1986)
25.Praire School Freakout - Eleventh Dream Day (1988)
26.Psychocandy - The Jesus and Mary Chain (1985)
27.On Fire - Galaxie 500 (1989)
28.Black Snake Diamond Role - Robyn Hitchcock (1981)
29.Native Sons - The Long Ryders (1984)
30.The Days of Wine and Roses - The Dream Syndicate (1982)
31.Synchronicity - The Police (1983)
32.Hypnotised - The Undertones (1980)
33.The Serpent’s Egg - Dead Can Dance (1988)
34.Doolittle - Pixies (1989)
35.Reign in Blood – Slayer (1986)
36.Document - R.E.M. (1987)
37.World Shut Your Mouth - Julian Cope (1987)
38.Blue Bell Knoll - Cocteau Twins (1988)
39.Wild Gift - X (1981)
40.Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables - The Dead Kennedys (1980)
41.Malcom X Park - Unrest (1988)
42.Passion - Peter Gabriel (1989)
43.Die Kreuzen - s/t (1984)
44.II & III - Camper Van Beethoven (1986)
45.Lolita Nation – Game Theory (1987) new!
46.Paul's Boutique - Beastie Boys (1989)
47.Variations on a Theme - David Thomas (1983)
48.Positive Touch - The Undertones (1981)
49.You Can’t Pray a Lie – Laughing Hyenas (1989)
50.The Law of Things - The Bats (1989)
51.A-Z - Colin Newman (1980)
52.Flip Your Wig - Husker Du (1985)
53.Murmur - R.E.M. (1983)
54.Original Sin - Pandora's Box (1989)
55.Miami - The Gun Club (1982)
56.Graceland - Paul Simon (1986)
57.Boylan Heights - The Connells (1987) up
58.Born in the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen (1984)
59.Black Sea - XTC (1980)
60.Mekons Rock n Roll - Mekons (1989)
61.Nail - Foetus (1985)
62.Swordfishtrombones - Tom Waits (1983)
63.The Big Heat - Stan Ridgway (1986)
64.Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman (1988)
65.Sound of Sand - David Thomas (1982)
66.Chris Issak - s/t (1987)
67.Gretchen Goes to Nebraska - King's X (1989)
68.California - American Music Club (1988)
69.The Art of Walking - Pere Ubu (1980)
70.Dream Theory in Malaya - John Hassel (1981) up
71.Up to Here - The Tragically Hip (1989)
72.Atomiser - Big Black (1986) down
73.Prayer for the Halcyon Fear - Tiny Lights (1985)
74.Rock for Light - Bad Brains (1983)
75.Disintegration - The Cure (1989) up
76.Two Nuns and a Pack Mule - Rapeman (1988)
77.Hex Education Hour – The Fall (1982)
78.New York - Lou Reed (1989)
79.The Men Who Loved Music – Young Fresh Fellows (1987) new!
80.Crocodiles - Echo and the Bunnymen (1980)
81.Drifters - True West (1984)
82.Umber – Bitch Magnet (1989) new!
83.Nothing's Shocking - Jane's Addiction (1988)
84.More Fun in the New World - X (1983)
85.When Johnny Comes Marching Home – The Del Lords (1986) new!
86.Robbie Robertson - s/t (1987)
87.Short Sharp Shocked - Michelle Shocked (1988)
88.Done By the Forces of Nature – Jungle Brothers (1989) new!
89.Children of God - The Swans (1987)
90.Spleen and Ideal - Dead Can Dance (1985)
91.Los Angeles – X (1980)
92.Manic Pop Thrill – That Petrol Emotion (1986) new!
93.Confusion is Sex - Sonic Youth (1983)
94.Peter Gabriel - III (1980)
95.Love Agenda - Band of Susans (1989)
96.The Lion and the Cobra - Sinead O'Connor (1987)
97.This Is the Sea – The Waterboys (1985) new!
98.Hope Against Hope - Band of Susans (1988)
99.Bound by the Beauty - Jane Siberry (1989)
100.Oh My Gawd - The Flaming Lips (1987)
101.Rembrandt Pussyhorse - Butthole Surfers (1986)
102.Hallowed Ground - Violent Femmes (1984)
103.Flowers of Romance - PIL (1981)
104.Generic – Flipper (1982)
105.From Her to Eternity - Nice Cave (1984)
106.The Pretenders - The Pretenders (1980)
107.Fegmania - Robyn Hitchcock (1985)
108.Daddy Has a Tail – Cows (1989) new!
109.Discipline - King Crimson (1981)
110.Green Thoughts - The Smithereens (1988) up
111.Psionic Sunspot - The Dukes of Stratosphere (1987)
112.No Control - Bad Religion (1989) up
113.Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes (1983)
114.I'm Your Man - Leonard Cohen (1988)
115.The Queen is Dead - The Smiths (1986)
116.Double Bummer – Bongwater (1988)
117.Flying Cowboys - Rickie Lee Jones (1989)
118.Hole – Foetus (1984)
119.Get Happy - Elvis Costello (1980)
120.The Good Earth - The Feelies (1986)
121.Fisherman’s Blues – The Waterboys (1988)
122.From Gardens Where We Feel Secure - Virginia (1983) new!
123.Zenyatta Mondatta - The Police (1980) down
124.Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful – Waitresses (1982)
125.Sixteen Tambourines – The Three O’Clock (1983) new!
126.Cabin Flounder - Fetchin Bones (1985)
127.Kill 'em All - Metallica (1983)
128.Guitar Beat - Raybeats (1981)
129.Songs the Lord Taught Us - The Cramps (1980) up
130.Script of the Bridge – The Chameleons (1983) new!
131.Fried - Julian Cope (1984)
132.The Desert Music – Steve Reich (1985) new!
133.God – Rip Rig and Panic (1981) new!
134.The Power of Lard – Lard (1988)
135.Plastic Surgery Disasters – Dead Kennedys (1982)
136.Plasticland - s/t (1984)
137.Rain Dogs - Tom Waits (1985)
138.Cloudland - Pere Ubu (1989)
139.Elaine Mackenzie – Green (1987) new!
140.Damaged - Black Flag (1981)
141.Novus Magnificent: Through the Stargate – Constance Demby (1986) new!
142.The Sin of Pride - The Undertones (1983) down
143.As the Veneer of Democracy Starts to Fade - Mark Stewart (1985) new!
144.Reprecussion - The db's (1982)
145.Today - Galaxie 500 (1988)
146.Friendly as a Hand Grenade – Tackhead (1989) up
147.Floodland – Sisters of Mercy (1987) new!
148.I Against I - Bad Brains (1986)
149.Silvertone - Chris Isaak (1985)
150.Killing Joke – s/t (1980) new!
151.Roman Gods - Fleshtones (1982)
152.Boomtown - David + David (1986)
153.Youth of America – Wipers (1981) new!
154.Some People are on the Pitch They Think Its Over Now – The Dentists (1985) new!
155.Daddy's Highway - The Bats (1987)
156.Emergency Third Rail Power Trip - Rain Parade (1983) up
157.This Nation's Saving Grace - The Fall (1985)
158.Killing Time – Massacre (1982)
159.They Might Be Giants - They Might Be Giants (1986)
160.Telepathic Surgery - The Flaming Lips (1989) down
161.Ocean Rain - Echo and the Bunnymen (1984)
162.Folksinger - Phranc (1985)
163.Killing Time – Massacre (1982)
164.Frank's Wild Year's – Tom Waits (1987) new!
165.Pictures of Starving Children Sell Records – Chumbawamba (1986) new!
166.In Combo – The Suburbs (1980) new!
167.Legendary Hearts - Lou Reed (1983) new!
168.New Day Rising - Husker Du (1985)
169.Paris, Texas - Ry Cooder (1984)
170.So Good It Hurts – The Mekons (1988)
171.The Dream Of The Blue Turtle – Sting (1988)
172.Back in Black - AC/DC (1980)
173.Fun and Games - The Connells (1989) new!
174.By All Means Necessary - Boogie Down Productions (1988)
175.Head Over Heels - Cocteau Twins (1983)
176.Engine – American Music Club (1987) new!
177.Drawings of Patient O.T. – Einsturzende Neubauten (1983) new!
178.Element of Light - Robyn Hitchcock (1986) new!
179.Rum Sodomy and Lash – The Pogues (1985) new!
180.Streetcleaner – Godflesh (1989) new!
181.Alan vega – Martin Rev – Suicide (1980) new!
182.Godflesh – s/t (1988) new!
183.Talk Talk Talk – The Psychedelic Furs (1981) new!
184. Vs - Mission of Burma (1982)
185.Introduce Yourself - Faith No More (1987)
186.Half Mute - Tuxedomoon (1980)
187.Peace and Love – The Pogues (1989) new!
188.Out of the Silent Planet - King's X (1988)
189.Master of Puppets - Metallica (1986)
190.Brave Words – The Chills (1987) new!
191.Truth Decay – T Bone Burnette (1980) new!
192.Learning to Crawl - The Pretenders (1984)
193.Cop - Swans (1984)
194.Mama Africa - Peter Tosh (1983) up
195.Starfish - The Church (1988)
196.Cosmic Thing – B52’s (1989) new!
197.Dark Continent – Wall of Voodoo (1981) new!
198.Reckoning - R.E.M. (1984)
199.Juju Music – King Sunny Ade (1982)
200.Tit – Dogbowl (1989) new!
201.Conviction - UT (1986) new!
202.Before Hollywood – The Go Betweens (1983) new!
203.Magnetic Flip - Birdsongs of the Mesozoic (1984) new!
204.Songs about Fucking - Big Black (1987)
205.Catholic Boy - Jim Carrol Band (1980) new!
206.Signals – Rush (1982)
207.The Ascension – Glen Branca (1981)
208.Forever Breathes the Lonely World - Felt (1986)
209.Sixteen Lovers Lane - The Go Betweens (1988)
210.Frontier Days - The Del Lords (1984)
211.Lincoln - They Might Be Giants (1988)
212.Playing with Fire – Spacemen 3 (1989) new!
213.The Colour of Spring - Talk Talk (1986)
214.Big Soul - Original Sins (1987)
215.If I Should Fall from Grace With God – The Pogues (1988)
216.Bad Brains - Bad Brains (1982)
217.More Specials – The Specials (1980) new!
218.Gravity Talks – Green on Red (1983) new!
219.Strung Out on Jargon – Death of Samantha (1986) new!
220.Scratch Acid - s/t (1984)
221.Jettison - Naked Raygun (1988)
222.Beautiful Vision – Van Morrison (1982)
223.Hear it Is - The Flaming Lips (1986)
224.Honky Tonk Angel – Patti Loveless (1988)
225.Golden Palominos - self-titled (1983) new!
226.Closer - Joy Division (1980)
227.Speaking in Tongues - Talking Heads (1983)
228.The Wonderful and Frightening World of the Fall - The Fall (1984)
229.The Land of Rape and Honey - Ministry (1988)
230.Too Tough to Die – Ramones (1984)
231.Especially for You - The Smithereens (1986)
232.White Out Conditions – Bel Canto (1987) new!
233.My Life in the Bush of Ghosts - Bryne and Eno (1981)
234.Telephone Free Landslide Victory - Camper Van Beethoven (1985)
235.Hand of Kindness - Richard Thompson (1983)
236.Walk Among Us – Misfits (1982)
237.Translate Slowly - The Reivers (1985)
238.Vienna - Ultravox (1980)
239.Evol - Sonic Youth (1986) up
240.Suffer - Bad Religion (1988)
241.Old Rottenhat - Robert Wyatt (1985) new!
242.Fabulous Sounds of the Pacific NW - Young Fresh Fellows (1984) new!
243.Hazel’s Wreath – Tiny Lights (1988)
244.Jamboree - Beat Happening (1988)
245.Under the Big Black Sun - X - (1982)
246.Dolemn Music – Meredith Monk (1981) new!
247.Field Day – Marshall Crenshaw (1983)
248.How Will the Wolf Survive? - Los Lobos (1984)
249.Camper Van Beethoven - Camper Van Beethoven (1986)
250.3 Feet High and Rising - De La Soul (1989)
251.Marshall Crenshaw – s/t (1982)
252.License to Ill - Beastie Boys (1986) down
253.Dead Can Dance - s/t (1984)
254.Full Moon Fever – Tom Petty new!
255.Credit in Heaven – The Suburbs (1981) new!
256.Heyday - The Church (1985)
257.Yo Bum Rush the Show - Public Enemy (1987)
258.Only Life - The Feelies (1988)
259.Ice Cream for Crow – Captain Beefheart (1982) new!
260.Monster Walks the Winter Lake – David Thomas (1986)
261.Jonathan Sings – Jonathan Richman (1983)
262.Customs – Savage Republic (1989) new!
263.Fourth World Different Sounds – Jon Hassell (1980) new!
264.Mask – The Bauhaus (1981) new!
265.Strangeways Here We Come – The Smiths (1987) new!
266.Tonal Plexus – Glenn Branca (1981) new!
267.Meat Puppets II - The Meat Puppets (1984)
268.Death Of Innocence – Legal Weapon (1982)
269.Candy Apple Grey - Husker Du (1986)
270.Too Much Sleep – Bongwater (1989)
271.Fear and Whiskey - The Mekons (1985)
272.At Swim 2 Birds – Peter Jeffries (1987) new!
273.Of Skins and Heart - The Church (1981)
274.The Firstborn is Dead - Nice Cave (1985)
275.Hearts and Bones - Paul Simon (1983)
276.Guitar Town – Steve Earle (1986) up
277.Secrets of the Beehive – David Sylvian (1987) new!
278.First Last and Always – Sisters of Mercy (1985) new!
279.Black Metal – Venom (1982)
280.Pretty Hate Machine – Nine Inch Nails (1989) new!
281.Ace of Spades – Motorhead (1980) new!
282.Suzanne Vega - s/t (1985)
283.Trust – Elvis Costello (1981)
284.Medicine Show - The Dream Syndicate (1984)
285.Hollywood Holiday – True West (1983) new!
286.Marshall Crenshaw – s/t (1982) new!
287.Viva Hate – Morrissey (1988)
288.Oh Mercy – Bob Dylan (1989)
289.Express – Love and Rockets (1986) new!
290.Bring the Family - John Hiatt (1987)
291.The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste – Ministry
292.Dial M for Mutherfucker – Pussy Galore
293.Run DMC - s/t (1984)
294.Sandinista - The Clash (1980)
295.Fleshtones Vs. Reality – The Fleshtones (1983) new!
296.Seance - The Church (1983)
297.Tangle – Thinking Fellers Union Local# 282 (1989) new!
298.Love and Hope and Sex and Dreams – BoDeans (1986) new!
299.Gone Fishin – Flipper (1984)
300.Stands for Decibels - The db's (1981)
301.All About Eve – s/t (1988)
302.Paid in Full - Erik b. and Rakim (1987) up
303.13 - Lydia Lunch (1982)
304.Crazy Rhythms - The Feelies (1980) up
305.Poem of the River – Felt (1984) new!
306.The Smiths - The Smiths (1984) up
307.I Often Dream of Trains - Robyn Hitchcock (1984)
308.Call of the West - Wall of Voodoo (1982)
309.So - Peter Gabriel (1986) up
310.Guitar Music – Leo Kottke (1981) new!
311.Like a Prayer - Madonna (1989) up
312.Queen of Siam – Lydia Lunch (1980) new!
313.The Joshua Tree - U2 (1987) up
314.Snake Charmer – Jah Wobble/ The Edge/ Holger Czukay (1983) new!
315.Pirates – Rickie Lee Jones (1981) new!
316.Exterminating Angel – Dark Day (1980) new!
317.Amnesia - Richard Thompson (1988)
318.Rites of Spring - s/t (1985) up
319.Avalon - Roxy Music (1982)
320.Right Now – Pussy Galore (1983) new!
321.Collision Drive – Alan Vega (1981) new!
322.Land of the Lost – Wipers (1986) new!
323.How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder – Pop Group (1980)
324.Litanies of Satan – Diamanda Galas (1982)
325.Signs of Life - Penguin Cafe Orchestra (1987)
326.King of Rock – Run DMC (1985)
327.What Makes a Man Start Fires - The Minutemen (1983)
328.Bella Donna – Stevie Nicks (1981) new!
329.End of a Century - Ramones (1983) new!
330.Thriller - Michael Jackson (1982)
331.Saint Julian - Julian Cope (1987) new!
332.How Could Hell Be Any Worse – Bad Religion (1982)
333.You’re Living all over Me - Dinosaur Jr. (1987) up
334.The Trinity Sessions - Cowboy Junkies (1988) down
335.President Yo La Tengo - Yo La Tengo (1989)
336.Heartbeat City - The Cars (1982) new!
337.Criminal Minded – Boogie Down Productions (1987) new!
338.Double Fantasy – John Lennon (1980) new!
339.Mark of the Mole – The Residents (1981) new!
340.Key Lime Pie - Camper Van Beethoven (1989)
341.Album – PIL (1986) new!
342.Triptych - The Bevis Frond (1988)
343.Blind Idiot God – s/t (1987) new!
344.From the Lion’s Mouth – The Sound (1981) new!
345.The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses (1989) down
346.Galaxy 500 – Fetchin Bones new!
347.Heartbeat City - The Cars (1984) new!
348.Hexbreaker – The Fleshtones (1983) new!
340.In My Tribe - 10,000 Maniacs (1987)
350.Mind Bomb – The The (1989) new!
351.Beauty and the Beat – Go-Go’s (1981) new!
352.Solitude Standing – Suzanne Vega (1987) new!
353.All Hail the Queen – Queen Latifah (1989) new!
354.Sound Affects – The Jam (1981) new!
355.Shadows – Gordon Lightfoot (1982)
356.Ghost Stories - The Dream Syndicate (1988)
357.Unfinished Business – EPMD (1989) new!
358.Out of Step - Minor Threat (1984)
359.Album – Joan Jett (1983) new!
360.Tattoo You – Rolling Stones (1981)
361.The Speckless Sky - Jane Siberry (1985)
362.Freedom of Choice – Devo (1980) new!
363.Love, Honor and Obey – The Creamers (1989) new!
364.Kick – INXS (1987) new!
365.True Blue – Madonna (1986) new!
366.Ambient 4: On Land – Brian Eno (1982)
367.Pornography – The Cure (1982)
368.Head on the Floor – The Cure (1985) new!
369.Hold Out – Jackson Browne (1980) new!
370.L7 – s/t (1988)
371.Happy Come Home - Victoria Williams (1987)
372.Moving Pictures – Rush (1981)
373.Juanta – Phish (1989) new!
374.They - King Missle (1981)
375.Hairway to Steven - Butthole Surfers (1988)
376.Wild Planet – B52’s (1980) down
377.Tweez – Slint (1989) new!
378.Camera Obscura – Nico (1985) new!
379.Tunnel of Love – Bruce Springsteen (1987) new!
380.Dancing to Restore Eclipsed Moon – Red Temple Spirits (1988)
381.Steel Wheels – The Rolling Stones (1989) new!
382.Victorialand - Cocteau Twins (1986)
383.Seven Waves – Suzanne Ciari (1982)
384.Eliminator - ZZ Top (1983) new!
385.Commercial Album – The Residents (1980)
386.Filth – Swans (1983)
387.Strictly Business – EPMD (1988)
388.Rio – Duran Duran (1982)
389.Kilimanjaro – The Teardrop Explodes (1980) new!
390.Around the World in a Day – Prince (1985) new!
391.Blame the Messenger – David Thomas (1987) new!
392.Porcupine - Echo and the Bunnymen (1983) new!
393.The Splendor of Fear – Felt (1984)
394.Danzig – s/t (1988)
395.Black Candy - Beat Happening (1989)
396.Blood and Chocolate – Elvis Costello (1986) new!
397.High Land, Hard Rain - Aztec Camera (1983)
398.Colossal Youth – Young Marble Giants (1980) new!
399.3rd From the Sun – Chrome (1982)
400.David Svlvian & Holger Czukay (1988)
401.Pump - Aerosmith (1989) new!
402.Glass Houses - Billy Joel (1980) down