Best albums of the 1980s

83 records · chart score = each record's average, pulled toward the site average (8.0) until it has more than a few scores

1. 1
   Boodle Boodle BoodleThe Clean

   1981Alternative
   Chart score8.52avg 10.0 · 1 score
2. 2
   DoolittlePixies

   1989Alternative
   Chart score8.52avg 10.0 · 1 score
3. 3
   East WestThe Paul Butterfield Blues Band

   1988R&B/Soul
   Chart score8.52avg 10.0 · 1 score
4. 4
   Living Too LateThe Fall

   1986Alternative
   Chart score8.52avg 10.0 · 1 score
5. 5
   Perverted by LanguageThe Fall

   1983Alternative
   Chart score8.52avg 10.0 · 1 score
6. 6
   ReckoningR.E.M.

   1984Rock
   Chart score8.52avg 10.0 · 1 score
7. 7
   The Paul Butterfield Blues BandThe Paul Butterfield Blues Band

   1988R&B/Soul
   Chart score8.52avg 10.0 · 1 score
8. 8
   The Wonderful And Frightening World Of....The Fall

   1988Alternative
   Chart score8.52avg 10.0 · 1 score
9. 9
   TimThe Replacements

   1985Rock
   Chart score8.52avg 10.0 · 1 score
10. 10
    The Number of the Beast (Remastered 2015)Iron Maiden

    1982Metal
    Chart score8.42avg 9.0 · 2 scores
11. 11
    1984 (Remastered)Van Halen

    1984Rock
    Chart score8.40avg 9.5 · 1 score
12. 12
    Locust Abortion TechnicianButthole Surfers

    1987Alternative
    Chart score8.40avg 9.5 · 1 score
13. 13
    Skid Row (30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)Skid Row

    1989Rock
    Chart score8.37avg 9.4 · 1 score
14. 14
    Somewhere in Time (2015 Remaster)Iron Maiden

    1986Metal
    Chart score8.37avg 9.4 · 1 score
15. 15
    Pleased to Meet MeThe Replacements

    1987Rock
    Chart score8.36avg 8.9 · 2 scores
16. 16
    Blizzard Of Ozz (40th Anniversary Expanded Edition)Ozzy Osbourne

    1980Rock
    Chart score8.30avg 9.1 · 1 score
17. 17
    Pretty Hate MachineNine Inch Nails

    1989Rock
    Chart score8.30avg 9.1 · 1 score
18. 18
    PyromaniaDef Leppard

    1983Rock
    Chart score8.30avg 9.1 · 1 score
19. 19
    CrocodilesEcho and the Bunnymen

    1980Pop
    Chart score8.27avg 9.0 · 1 score
20. 20
    Epic Garden MusicSad Lovers & Giants

    1981Rock
    Chart score8.27avg 9.0 · 1 score
21. 21
    Green (Remastered)R.E.M.

    1988Alternative
    Chart score8.27avg 9.0 · 1 score
22. 22
    Heaven up HereEcho and the Bunnymen

    1981Pop
    Chart score8.27avg 9.0 · 1 score
23. 23
    Hey! LucianiThe Fall

    1986Alternative
    Chart score8.27avg 9.0 · 1 score
24. 24
    In the Flat FieldBauhaus

    1980Alternative
    Chart score8.27avg 9.0 · 1 score
25. 25
    Louder Than LoveSoundgarden

    1989Rock
    Chart score8.27avg 9.0 · 1 score
26. 26
    MurmurR.E.M.

    1983Rock
    Chart score8.27avg 9.0 · 1 score
27. 27
    Ocean RainEcho and the Bunnymen

    1984Pop
    Chart score8.27avg 9.0 · 1 score
28. 28
    There's a Ghost in My HouseThe Fall

    1987Alternative
    Chart score8.27avg 9.0 · 1 score
29. 29
    Alice In ChainsAlice In Chains

    1989Alternative
    Chart score8.22avg 8.8 · 1 score
30. 30
    Love Over GoldDire Straits

    1982Pop
    Chart score8.22avg 8.5 · 2 scores
31. 31
    Making MoviesDire Straits

    1980Pop
    Chart score8.22avg 8.5 · 2 scores
32. 32
    Ride The Lightning (Deluxe Remaster)Metallica

    1984Rock
    Chart score8.20avg 8.7 · 1 score
33. 33
    Powerslave (2015 Remaster)Iron Maiden

    1984Metal
    Chart score8.17avg 8.6 · 1 score
34. 34
    British SteelJudas Priest

    1980Rock
    Chart score8.16avg 8.4 · 2 scores
35. 35
    Porcupine (Expanded; 2004 Remaster)Echo and the Bunnymen

    1983Alternative
    Chart score8.15avg 8.5 · 1 score
36. 36
    Piece of Mind (Remastered 2015)Iron Maiden

    1983Metal
    Chart score8.14avg 8.3 · 2 scores
37. 37
    Kill 'Em All (Deluxe Remaster)Metallica

    1983Rock
    Chart score8.12avg 8.4 · 1 score
38. 38
    Out of the CellarRatt

    1984Metal
    Chart score8.12avg 8.4 · 1 score
39. 39
    Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? (Expanded Edition - Remastered)Megadeth

    1986Metal
    Chart score8.12avg 8.4 · 1 score
40. 40
    Master of Puppets (Expanded Edition)Metallica

    1986Metal
    Chart score8.10avg 8.3 · 1 score
41. 41
    Ace of SpadesMotörhead

    1980Rock
    Chart score8.07avg 8.2 · 1 score
42. 42
    ...And Justice for All (Remastered Deluxe Box Set)Metallica

    1988Rock
    Chart score8.05avg 8.1 · 1 score
43. 43
    Give the People What They WantThe Kinks

    1981Rock
    Chart score8.02avg 8.0 · 1 score
44. 44
    Mirror MovesThe Psychedelic Furs

    1984Alternative
    Chart score8.02avg 8.0 · 1 score
45. 45
    Mr. PharmacistThe Fall

    1986Alternative
    Chart score8.02avg 8.0 · 1 score
46. 46
    Room to LiveThe Fall

    1986Rock
    Chart score8.02avg 8.0 · 1 score
47. 47
    Shout At The DevilMötley Crüe

    1983Rock
    Chart score8.02avg 8.0 · 1 score
48. 48
    Signals, Calls and MarchesMission Of Burma

    1981Alternative
    Chart score8.02avg 8.0 · 1 score
49. 49
    Speaking in TonguesTalking Heads

    1983Pop
    Chart score8.02avg 8.0 · 1 score
50. 50
    Surfer Rosa (2007 Remaster)Pixies

    1988Alternative
    Chart score8.02avg 8.0 · 1 score