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List by @riffiter

Best albums of the 1980s

Twenty albums that defined the 1980s — pop's imperial phase, hip-hop's arrival, and the underground that built the next decade.

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  1. 1Back in Black coverBack in BlackAC/DC · 19801980 · the hard rock juggernaut
  2. 2Remain in Light coverRemain in LightTalking Heads · 19801980 · afrobeat circuitry meets art rock
  3. 3Thriller coverThrillerMichael Jackson · 19831982 · the biggest album ever made, and it earns it
  4. 4Power, Corruption & Lies coverPower, Corruption & LiesNew Order · 19831983 · grief transmuted into dance music
  5. 5Purple Rain coverPurple RainPrince · 19841984 · rock, funk and pop fused by one performer
  6. 6Hounds of Love coverHounds of LoveKate Bush · 19851985 · art pop's high-water mark
  7. 7The Queen Is Dead coverThe Queen Is DeadThe Smiths · 19861986 · British indie's defining statement
  8. 8Master of Puppets coverMaster of PuppetsMetallica · 19861986 · thrash reaches symphonic scale
  9. 9Reign in Blood coverReign in BloodSlayer · 19861986 · 29 minutes of total velocity
  10. 10Graceland coverGracelandPaul Simon · 19861986 · songwriting meets South African groove
  11. 11Appetite for Destruction coverAppetite for DestructionGuns N' Roses · 19871987 · the last great dangerous rock debut
  12. 12The Joshua Tree coverThe Joshua TreeU2 · 19871987 · stadium rock with a searching soul
  13. 13It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back coverIt Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us BackPublic Enemy · 19881988 · hip-hop as political alarm
  14. 14Daydream Nation coverDaydream NationSonic Youth · 19881988 · the American underground's masterpiece
  15. 15Straight Outta Compton coverStraight Outta ComptonN.W.A · 19881988 · gangsta rap's ground zero
  16. 16Doolittle coverDoolittlePixies · 19891989 · quiet-loud dynamics the 90s ran on
  17. 173 Feet High and Rising cover3 Feet High and RisingDe La Soul · 19891989 · sampling as playground
  18. 18Paul's Boutique coverPaul's BoutiqueBeastie Boys · 19891989 · the densest sample collage ever cleared
  19. 19Like a Prayer coverLike a PrayerMadonna · 19891989 · pop stardom with something at stake
  20. 20Disintegration coverDisintegrationThe Cure · 19891989 · gloom at cathedral scale