Top Ten Lists of Eighties Albums
What are your top ten favorite albums from the 80s?
This page currently edited by: stingr22. Past editor: Junior
By: Colleen
- 10. Substance by New Order
This may be more or less a "best of" album I suppose, but it is one of my favorites
- 9. Music for the Masses by Depeche Mode
Yes they deserve another spot, simply because all their albums are phenomenal!
- 8. Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret by Soft Cell
All their best on one disc!
- 7. Nine Inch Nails by Pretty Hate Machine
yes it was in the eighties, I listen to this one all the time
- 6. Darklands by Jesus and Mary Chain
I think JAMC were a hugely underrated group!
- 5. Peep Show by Siouxsie and the Banshees
GREAT RECORD
- 4. The Smiths by Hatful of Hollow
excellent
- 3. The Pixies by Doolittle
Ok this is pushing 90's but it still comes in, an excellent album along with "Sufer Rosa"
- 2. Disintegration by The Cure
The Best Cure album, although "Pornography" is a close second.
- 1. Black Celebration by Depeche Mode
Favorite album from my most favourite group! A definte turning point for DM
By: Paul Stanley from KISS
- 10. KISS Double Platinum by KISS
Buy it cus you know you're getting your money's worth with KISS
- 9. Sex by Some Hooker
The songs were made up when I was f***ing a hooker it's called Sex buy it if ya wanna Toss.
- 8. Jail House Rock by Elvis Presley
The King I don't reckon anybody's made it as big as him and if they want to they''re gonna have to work their buts off. Also Jail House Rock is a classic.
- 7. When Doves Cry by Prince
I reckon Prince was just as good as Micheal Jackson I mean the music was very similar.
- 6. Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden
Bruce Dickinson at his best
- 5. Living the Life (i was born to live) by Steel Zed
This is probably just about the best song i've ever heard by Steel Zed lead singer Vic Murdaca has an awsome voice there just as good as KISS.
- 4. AC-DC Live by AC-DC
One of the greates songs also "TNT" and "Highway to Hell" my recommendation is buy it
- 3. KISS Greatest by KISS
Some marvelous songs on this one like "God gave Rock 'n' Roll to you" and many others.
- 2. Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi
Second best Hair Band but do have some marvelous songs
- 1. Smashes,Thrashes and Hits by Me Paul Stanley from KISS
One of the best Albums ever. I don't think you could disagree if I said KISS are the greatest band in the world cus ya can't. So if ya want some heavy music buy it and listen to No.13 that's a classic. Plus the greatest hair band ever.
OK I have a confession this is really Paul Stanley from KISS who was writing this my real name is Stanley Harvey Eisen and if you don't beleive me then go to Yahoo and type in "Paul Stanley Biography and go to the first one.
By: Headbanger
- 10. Garbage by Alice Cooper
- 9. Ride the Lightening by Mettalica
- 8. Back In Black by AC/DC
- 7. Shout at the Devil by Motley Crue
- 6. Injustice for all by Mettalica
- 5. Bark at the Moon by Ozzy Osbourne
- 4. Iron Maiden by Iron Maiden
- 3. Blizzard of Oz by Ozzy Osbourne
- 2. Powerslave by Iron Maiden
Excellent!!! Almost as good as number of the beast.
- 1. The Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden
Hands down the best metal album ever made. Contains the hits "Hallowed be thy name", "Run to the hills", "22 Acacia Avenue", "the Number of the Beast", and "Invaders". Gotta get this, or you JUST AIN'T A SCUMDOG!!!
GET THESE F***ING ALBUMS!!!
By: Shane Swearingen
- 10. Double Nickles on the Dime by The Minute Men
This album was actually concieved as an answer to the album I have at #9, but the end result sounds far different. 40+ songs, usually clocking in somewhere between the 1 and 2 minute mark featuring some awe-inspiring grooves, witty (and often funny) social commentary, and the occasional guitar solo. Ideal driving music.
- 9. Zen Arcade by Husker Du
The first band to combine the speed and intensity of hardcore punk with guitar-heroism and classic pop hooks, not to mention 2 singer-songwriters in guitarist bob mould and drummer grant hart, each with his distinct style and voice. I'm hard-pressed to pick a favorite album, but if you put a gun to my head, I'd probably take this, with 1985's classic "New Day Rising" and 1987's far more polished and poppy-but everybit as good "Warehouse: Songs and Stories" coming in close behind. The songs on zen arcade are incredibly diverse but can be initially off-putting due to the seeming unevenness or lack of cohesion. Punk tunes like "Broken Home/Broken Heart", "Chartered Trips", and the raging "The Biggest Lie" are tempered by weird expiraments ("Hare Krshna", "The Toothfairy and the Princess", "Dreams Reoccurring"(reprised as "Reoccurring Dreams", a live 13-minute jam)), more straightforward pop songs ("Somewhere", "Standing by the Sea", "Pink turns to Blue" and the heartbreaking "Whatever"), even a couple of uncharacteristically gentle piano ballads in "One Step at a Time" and "Monday will never be the Same". A landmark album that breaks away from hardcore tradition to create something infinitely more intesting.
- 8. Remain in Light by Talking Heads
The greatest album by one of the greatest bands of all time. Side 1 is upbeat and full of killer dance tunes, while side 2 is a darker more reflective listening experience, but it's all equally enjoyable.
- 7. 3 Ft. High & Rising by De La Soul
Hip-hop? Hippies? Makes sense.
- 6. Let It Be by The Replacements
When I think of The Replacements, I think of beer. Beer for breakfast, beer for lunch, beer as therapy, beer as consolidation, beer as a means of enlightenment, beer as life-affirming celebration, beer as beer...and dammit it makes me thirsty.
- 5. The Queen is Dead by The Smiths
Morrissey, Marr, and the less important guys(just kidding...Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke will get their mention here) create a pop tour de force about anarchy,lonliness, homosexuality, suicide, homicide, great britain, and the joys of literature, whilst marr creates a lush, harmonious, largely ambient atmosphere, that nicely contrasts morrissey's eccentric voice and bizzare, but cutting lyrics, as well as joyce and rourke's driving rythms. bloody essential!
- 4. Surfer Rosa by The Pixies
The Pixies formula has been aped by so many bands in the wake of nirvana's success (cobain himself claiming "Teen Spirit" a pixies rip-off) that it's easy to forget just how revolutionary they were. The soft-loud dynamics, the jagged chord progressions, the brilliantly twisted lyrics, the male-female interwoven vocal harmonies, the ability to combine harsh abrasive punk-rock sneering with an unashamed affinity for the classic pop craftsmanship of bands like the beatles and big star...it goes on. Although every pixies album is completely essential, I find this, their full-length debut to be their most consistently satisfying, from the crunchy opener "bone machine" to the calculated cocaphony of "something against you" to the sweet kim deal-sung "gigantic" to the monumental "where is my mind?"(which, in one 80's nostalgia-website music-loving writer's opinion is one of the greatest(as in, like "top 10 greatest ever") songs ever made) to the creepy romantic-longing of "cactus"(recently covered by david bowie), to the shimmering melodic album-closing "brick is red" surfer rosa is a rock & roll classic, the stuff of time capsules.
- 3. Closer by Joy Division
The importance and influence of this band cannot be overstated. Although they only put out 2 full-length albums and a number of killer singles, joy division's music is still immitated left and right today, but alas joy division is inimitable, even if they never achieved the commercial success of many of the latter day poachers they would inspire. peter hooks' angular melodic bass-playing, bernard sumner's searing guitar work and ian curtis' dark baritone, intense vocals, and haunting lyrics created an otherworldly sound that simply cannot be duplicated. "closer" is their best album and "24 Hours", it's centerpiece is the most terrifying piece of music I've ever heard...it's hard not to make the connection between this song's lyrics(and this whole album, for that matter) and Ian's tragic suicide("got to find my destiny/before it gets too late"). Other highlights include the miserable dance pop of "Isolation", the somber piano-driven "The Eternal", "A Means to an End", and the Closer-closer "Decades", which has one of the greatest synth-riffs of all time and a jaw-droppingly beautiful but incredibly disturbing vocal.
- 2. Murmur by R.E.M.
A fuzzy rock masterpiece. It might take awhile for the songs to work their way into your system, but once, they're there, they aren't leaving. Combine icy velvets/joy division-derived drony emotive-yet-detatched melodicism with rootsy jangle pop ala the byrds, and the power-poppery of big star and you have a general idea. But this album doesn't sound like anything that came before or after it...timelessness actually kind of factors into the album's over-all feel..it doesn't sound like it came from any specific era, as much as it does an entirely different universe. Essential music.
- 1. Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth
This album encompasses all that is great about music. There's so much power and emotion within these songs, that defies logic for me to bother with trying to explain it in this little space...well, here goes: There's a feeling of freedom and possibilities that run throughout this album, a feeling of cathartic open-ended nirvana, equal parts cerebral and visceral; a sonic juggernaught of glorious pop songs drenched in mind-altering feedback and layers of discordent, yet hummable melodies . The guitar-playing is mind-blowingly inventive and abstract without ever getting overly pretensious or indulgent and the rythm section is relentless without being overbaring. The lyrics are wide-ranging and interesting, managing to be universally compelling and incredibly personal, creating a surreal, but intimate atmosphere that sucks you in on first listen and leaves you jonzing for more, as the songs tear away at your skull while you sleep and turn your brain into conflicting disjointed fragments, equally influenced byincessently gorgeous melodies and chaotic white noise.rock.
There's too many great albums too mention, but a few deserving ones include the Bad Brains' "I Against I", The Pretenders' self-titled debut, Dinosaur Jr's "You're Living all over me" and Public Enemy's "It takes a Nation of Millions..."...go ahead, let vh1 cover all the generic new wave, 1-hit noveltys, and shitty hair metal they want. The good music of the 80's(like the good music today) was underground.
By: anjanette
- 10. Make It Big by Wham
This cd is so much FUN!!!!
- 9. Duran Duran by Duran Duran
The quintessential new romantic gem!
- 8. Like A Prayer by Madonna
The best of Madge!!!
- 7. So Red The Rose by Arcadia
If you pinned me down, I'd have to say this is my favorite 80's cd
- 6. Some Great Reward by Depeche Mode
I love every song on it!
- 5. Hunting High And Low by A-ha
I hate "Take On Me" and it's a shame that's all america heard from them!
- 4. Rio by Duran Duran
Their best work to date. I love the songs although it was a very slick production
- 3. Joshua Tree by U2
Amazing.
- 2. Scoundrel Days by A-ha
Morten Harket's voice is purely angelic
- 1. War by U2
Their best cd.
By: sean
- 10. Footloose Soundtrack by Various
this is sooooo cool and so 80's how could you not include this
- 9. Scarecrow by John Cougar Mellencamp
another great album from JCM has stood the test of time well
- 8. 5150 by Van Halen
a great album
- 7. True Colours by Cyndi Lauper
pure 1986 its great
- 6. Diesel And Dust by Midnight Oil
A must have in every Aussie kids collection in the mid 80's still stands out today!!!
- 5. Top Gun Soundtrack by Various
I love this Album everytime I hear it I'm back in highschool in 1986
- 4. Like A Virgin by Madonna
the begining of a legend I reckon this is her best a great 80s Album
- 3. Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi
A great Rock album play it loud
- 2. Born In The Usa by Bruce Springsteen
A great album to play really loud especially the song Glory Days
- 1. The Lonesome Jubilee by John Cougar Mellencamp
how good is this album!!! its an absoulute masterpiece
By: Oscar San Jose
- 10. Liquidizer (1989) by Jesus Jones
The first release of a band with big hits in the early 90's that has returned to life in 2002. Manchester Sound, techno-rock. The inspiration for bands as EMF
- 9. La Canción de Juan Perro (1987) by Radio Futura
Spanish rock band mixing traditional rock of the sixties, seventies with latin american and spanish sounds and the modern tecnology,those days, samplers. Produced by the British Jo Dworniak (ex I-Level)
- 8. Cupid & Psyche 85 by Scritti Politti
Soul, pop and samplers very well mixed in this cocktail of great tracks.
- 7. Who is Afraid Of... by The Art Of Noise
Trevor Horn (ex-Buggles and even ex-Yes) and his friends playing with a Fairlight CMI.
- 6. Tormenta A Las 10 (1984) by Objetivo Birmania
Teen and fresh pop songs with a little bit of soul and funk on top of a electronic production based on the legendary Fairlight CMI. The band is maybe only known in Spain.
- 5. Especially for You by The Smithereens
Great american rock of the 80's. Suzanne Vega appears on In A Lonely Place.
- 4. The Lexicon of Love by ABC
Sofisticated and elegant production by Trevor Horn (Buggles, Yes), for this good collection of pop-white soul songs
- 3. Reckoning (1984) by REM
The best work during the 80's of this veteran band.
- 2. Scale of 10 (1984) by Thomas Leer
International, Nº.1 Are enough reasons to listen to this album. Electronic ambients( less experimental as previous works, smart lyrics.
- 1. Black Celebration 1983 by Depeche Mode
Their darkest work, their best compositions, especially dressed in black again
By: Julie Harris
The 80's was a marvelous time for music as this was when cross cultural samplimg really began.
By: Tito M. Cantafio
- 10. Iron Maiden by # Of The Beast Thru Seventh Son
No band ruled the way Maiden did in the 80's!!
- 9. Judas Priest by Screaming for Vengeance
- 8. Headless Cross by Black Sabbath
On of the Sabs best offerings of all time and highly overlooked masterpiece!!
- 7. The Studio Sessions by Grand Slam
Lynott's post Lizzy band...only just released 2002, but a remarkable show of what could have been. All the tracks are in their original recorded versions done in 1984.
- 6. Whitesnake 1987 by Whitesnake
Set a standard for production....was followed up only by the Blue Murder CD.
- 5. Heaven & Hell by Black Sabbath
Fresh sound and powerful.
- 4. 1984 by Van Halen
This is the kind ofv music that was soooooo missed on Diver Down.
- 3. Thunder & Lightning by Thin Lizzy
rocks from start to finish!! Twin lead harmony copied by Maiden, Priest and countless others.
- 2. Masters Of Reality (the Blue Garden) by Masters Of Reality
Where is Tim Harrington???
- 1. Blue Murder by Blue Murder
overlooked.
Rush - Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures and Signals. The Power Station - S/T - proved that pop musci could rock!!! Metallica - Master of Puppets, Justice. Genesis- Duke....the jams staretd to work again. Kyuss - Blues for the Red Sun and Cathedral- Ethereal Mirror --both ushered in the advent of doom!!!
By: SAM Siddiki
- 10. Like A Virgin by Madonna
It wouldnt be fair to miss this one as my old classic
- 9. Big Country by Big Country
A beautiful, haunting sound from the Scottish Masters of New Wave Rock
- 8. Black Celebration by Depeche Mode
The masters of techno-pop are the indisputable kings in their own rights. I cant be grateful enough that they are still around after two decades of relentless class showing
- 7. Phantoms by The Fixx
When you listen to Fixx you have to know it is a band something serious to listen to and to judge that you have to be serious about this album first
- 6. Thriller by Michael Jackson
Well! What can I say here. The King of Pop does it like no one can
- 5. Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son by Iron Maiden
The title track is enough to leave one wondering how far the bounderies of Metal Rock can stretch. This piece of rock leaves you absolutely breathless! Maiden has an average imagination that is way beyond one's wildest imagination
- 4. Born in the U.S.A by Bruce Springsteen
Simple lyrics for bourgeois. The average man cant feel average after listening to this marvel. Indeed the best work by the Boss to-date
- 3. Painkiller by Judas Priest
Metal at its best. " Touch of Evil" and " One shot at glory" still leave me out of my tracks
- 2. Flaunt The Imperfect by China Crisis
For those who missed out on this there is still time to listen to this gem and look for anything short of perfect
- 1. Scoundrel Days by A-ha
I just couldnt get enough of this masterpiece in that winter of 1984
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