Best rock albums of the 1980's

The Best Rock Albums of the 1980's

Appendix to my book "A History of Rock Music"

Selected by piero scaruffi
and revised in 2003 by Gianluca Patane and in 2009 by Teun Romme

Best albums of all times | Musicians | Back to music

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

Best of the 1960's

Best of the 1970's

Best of the 1980's

Best of the 1990's

Best of the 2000's

Best of the 2010's

If you know the recording (NOT release) dates of these albums, please send them to me. It is ridiculous that rock music uses the release date instead of the recording or composition dates.

9/10

Butthole Surfers: Psychic Powerless (1984)
Diamanda Galas: Diamanda Galas (1984)
Foetus: Nail (1985)
Gun Club: Fire Of Love (1981)
Husker Du: Zen Arcade (1984)
Jon Hassell: Dream Theory In Malaya (1981)
Minutemen: Double Nickels On The Dime (1984)

8.5/10

American Music Club: California (1988)
Big Black: Atomizer (1986)
Bruce Springsteen: The River (1980)
Dead Kennedys: Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables (1980)
Constance Demby: Novus Magnificat (1986)
Dream Syndicate: The Days Of Wine And Roses (1982)
Nick Cave: From Her To Eternity (1984)
Pandora's Box: Original Sin (1989)
Peter Gabriel: Passion (1989)
Pixies: Surfer Rosa (1988)
Steve Roach: Dreamtime Return (1988)
Soft Boys: Underwater Moonlight (1980)

8/10

Ambitious Lovers: Greed (1988)
Angkor Wat: When Obscenity Becomes The Norm (1989)
Bad Brains: Rock For Light (1982)
Band Of Susans: Love Agenda (1989)
Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic: Magnetic Flip (1984)
Bitch Magnet: Umber (1989)
Black Flag: Damaged (1981)
Blind Idiot God: Blind Idiot God (1987)
Bongwater: Double Bummer (1988)
Butthole Surfers: Rembrandt Pussyhorse (1986)
Camper Van Beethoven: Camper Van Beethoven (1986)
Camper Van Beethoven: Telephone Free Landslide Victory (1985)
Cocteau Twins: Head Over Heels (1983)
Colin Newman: A-Z (1980)
Cows: Daddy Has A Tail (1989)
Cramps: Songs The Lord Taught Us (1980)
David Thomas: Monster Walks The Winter Lake (1986)
David Thomas: The Sound Of The Sand (1981)
Dead Can Dance: Spleen And Ideal (1985)
Death Of Samantha: Strungout On Jargon (1986)
Deuter: Silence Is The Answer (1981)
Diamanda Galas: The Litanies Of Satan (1982)
Dinosaur Jr: You're Living All Over Me (1987)
Djam Karet: Reflections From The Firepool (1988)
Einsturzende Neubauten: Zeichnungen das Patienten OT (1983)
Enya: Watermark (1988)
Faith No More: Introduce Yourself (1987)
Fear: Record (1982)
Feedtime: Feedtime (1986)
Feelies: Crazy Rhythms (1980)
Fetchin Bones: Cabin Flounder (1985)
Flaming Lips: Telepathic Surgery (1989)
Fleshtones: Roman Gods (1981)
Flipper: Generic (1982)
Foetus: Hole (1984)
Forrest Fang: The Wolf At The Ruins (1989)
Galaxie 500: On Fire (1989)
Godflesh: Streetcleaner (1989)
Green: White Soul (1989)
Guns N' Roses: Appetite For Destruction (1987)
Henry Rollins: Hot Animal Machine (1987)
Hugo Largo: Drum (1987)
Husker Du: New Day Rising (1985)
Jane Siberry: No Borders Here (1983)
Jon Hassell: Aka-Darbari-Java Magic Realism (1983)
Julian Cope: World Shut Your Mouth (1984)
King Snake Roost: Things That Play Themselves (1988)
Laughing Hyenas: You Can't Pray A Lie (1989)
Legal Weapon: Death Of Innocence (1982)
Lou Reed: New York (1989)
Mark Stewart: Learning To Cope With Cowardice (1983)
Mary Margaret O'Hara: Miss America (1988)
Metallica: Kill 'Em All (1983)
Metallica: Master Of Puppets (1986)
Michael Jones: After The Rain (1988)
Ministry: The Land Of Rape And Honey (1988)
Misfits: Walk Among Us (1982)
Missing Foundation: 1933 (1988)
Mission Of Burma: VS (1982)
My Bloody Valentine: Isn't Anything (1988)
Nick Cave: The Firstborn Is Dead (1985)
Pauline Oliveros: Roots Of The Moment (1988)
Pere Ubu: Art Of Walking (1980)
Peter Frohmader: Through Time And Mistery (1988)
Peter Michael Hamel: Colours Of Time (1980)
Peter Michael Hamel: Transition (1983)
Pop Group: For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder (1980)
Public Enemy: It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988)
Public Image Ltd: Flowers of Romance (1981)
Rapeman: Two Nuns And A Pack Mule (1989)
Red Temple Spirits: Dancing To Restore An Eclipsed Moon (1988)
Replacements: Let It Be (1984)
Replacements: Tim (1985)
Richard Thompson: Shoot Out The Lights (1982)
Rip Rig & Panic: God (1981)
Savage Republic: Customs (1989)
Sinead O'Connor: The Lion And The Cobra (1987)
Sonic Youth: Bad Moon Rising (1985)
Sonic Youth: Daydream Nation (1988)
Stan Ridgway: The Big Heat (1986)
Stephan Micus: Ocean (1986)
Steve Roach: Structures From Silence (1984)
Swans: Children Of God (1987)
Swans: Cop (1984)
Swans: Filth (1983)
Tackhead: Friendly As A Hand Grenade (1989)
Talk Talk: Spirit Of Eden (1988)
Tiny Lights: Prayer For The Halcyon Fear (1985)
Tom Waits: Rain Dogs (1985)
Tom Waits: Swordfishtrombones (1983)
Tragic Mulatto: Locos Por El Sexo (1987)
Tuxedomoon: Half Mute (1980)
Slint: Tweez (1989)
Univers Zero: Heatwave (1986)
Unrest: Tink Of Southeast (1987)
Violent Femmes: Violent Femmes (1982)
X: LA (1980)

7.5/10

Afrika Bambaataa: Beware (1986)
American Music Club: Engine (1987)
Annette Peacock: I Have No Feelings (1986)
Annette Peacock: Sky-skating (1982)
Bad Religion: No Control (1989)
Bad Religion: Suffer (1988)
Band Of Susans: Hope Against Hope (1988)
Bel Canto: White-Out Conditions (1987)
Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic: Faultline (1989)
Blake Babies: Earwig (1989)
Blind Idiot God: Undertow (1988)
Camper Van Beethoven: II & III (1986)
CCCP: Affinità - Divergenze (1985)
Chuck Vrtacek: Learning To Be Silent (1985)
Cocteau Twins: Treasure (1984)
Constance Demby: Sacred Space Music (1982)
Creamers: Love Honor And Obey (1989)
Current 93: Nature Unveiled (1984)
David + David: Boomtown (1986)
David Thomas: More Places Forever (1985)
David Thomas: Variations On A Theme (1983)
De La Soul: 3 Feet High and Rising (1989)
Death Of Samantha: Where The Women Wear The Glory And The Men Wear The Pants (1988)
Del-Lords: Johnny Comes Marching Home (1986)
Dogbowl: Tit (1989)
Dream Syndicate: Medicine Show (1984)
Eberhard Schoener: Sky Music - Mountain Music (1984)
Eric B. & Rakim: Paid In Full (1987)
Feelies: Good Earth (1986)
Flaming Lips: Oh My Gawd (1987)
Foetus: Thaw (1988)
Fred Frith: Speechless (1981)
Fushitsusha: Live I (1989)
God Bullies: Plastic Eye Miracle (1989)
Godflesh: Godflesh (1988)
Golden Palominos: Golden Palominos (1983)
Gun Club: Miami (1982)
Henry Rollins: Life Time (1988)
Honeymoon Killers: Love American Style (1985)
Jane's Addiction: Nothing's Shocking (1988)
Jane Siberry: The Walking (1987)
Jesus And Mary Chain: Psychocandy (1985)
Julian Cope: Fried (1984)
Klaus Schulze: Audentity (1983)
Love And Rockets: Seventh Dream Of Teenage Heaven (1985)
Meat Puppets: Up On The Sun (1985)
Melvins: Ozma (1989)
Metallica: Ride The Lightning (1984)
Michael Shrieve: Big Picture (1989)
Mickey Hart: Yamantaka (1982)
Ministry: The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste (1989)
MX-80 Sound: Out Of The Tunnel (1980)
My Dad Is Dead: The Taller You Are The Shorter You Get (1989)
Naked Raygun: Jettison (1988)
Nick Cave: Tender Prey (1988)
Nine Inch Nails: Pretty Hate Machine (1989)
Original Sins: Hardest Way (1989)
Paul Schutze: Deus Ex Machina (1989)
Pauline Oliveros: Deep Listening (1989)
Pauline Oliveros: Wanderer (1985)
Peter Frohmader: Homunculus (1988)
Peter Jefferies: At Swim Two Birds (1987)
Pixies: Doolittle (1989)
Prince: Sign O The Times (1987)
Pussy Galore: Right Now (1987)
Queensryche: Operation: Mindcrime (1988)
R.E.M.: Murmur (1983)
Rhythm And Noise: Contents Under Notice (1984)
Rickie Lee Jones: Pirates (1981)
Rites of Spring: Rites Of Spring (1985)
Royal Trux: Royal Trux (1988)
Rudimentari Peni: Cacophony (1987)
Saccharine Trust: Surviving You (1984)
Slayer: Reign In Blood (1986)
Smithereens: Green Thoughts (1988)
Sonic Youth: Confusion Is Sex (1983)
Sonic Youth: Sister (1987)
Squirrel Bait: Skag Heaven (1987)
Stone Roses: Stone Roses (1989)
Swans: Holy Money (1986)
Synergy: Metropolitan Suite (1985)
They Might Be Giants: They Might Be Giants (1986)
Throbbing Gristle: Heathen Earth (1980)
Tom Waits: Franks Wild Years (1987)
Tragic Mulatto: Hot Man Pussy (1989)
Unrest: Malcolm X Park (1988)
UT: Conviction (1986)
Virginia Astley: From Gardens Where We Feel Secure (1983)
Voivod: Nothingface (1989)
Waitresses: Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful (1982)
XTC: Skylarking (1986)
Young Fresh Fellows: The Men Who Loved Music (1987)
Zoogz Rift: Nonentity (1988)

7/10

10,000 Maniacs: In My Tribe (1987)
23 Skidoo: The Culling Is Coming (1983)
23 Skidoo: Urban Gamelan (1984)
808 State: 808:90 (1989)
A Certain Ratio: To Each (1981)
A R Kane: 69 (1988)
Able Tasmans: A Cuppa Tea And A Lie Down (1987)
Absolute Grey: What Remains (1986)
AC/DC: Back In Black (1980)
Adolescents: Adolescents (1981)
Adrian Belew: Lone Rhino (1982)
Aerosmith: Pump (1989)
Agent Orange: Living In Darkness (1981)
Agitpop: Back At The Plain Of Jars (1986)
Agnostic Front: Cause For Alarm (1986)
Aksak Maboul: Un Peu De L'Ame Des Bandits (1980)
Alan Stivell: Tir Na Nog/ Symphonie Celtique (1980)
Alan Vega: Alan Vega (1980)
Alan Vega: Collision Drive (1982)
Alien Sex Fiend: Who's Been Sleeping In My Brain (1983)
Allan Holdsworth: Secrets (1989)
Alter Natives: Hold Your Tongue (1986)
Ambitious Lovers: Envy (1984)
American Music Club: United Kingdom (1989)
Annette Peacock: Abstract-Contact (1988)
Anthrax: Spreading the Disease (1985)
Antietam: Antietam (1985)
Arcane Device: Engines Of Myth (1988)
Art Of Noise: Who's Afraid Of (1984)
Art Zoyd: Generation Sans Futur (1980)
Art Zoyd: Phase IV (1982)
Arthur Russell: Tower of Meaning (1983)
Asia: Asia (1982)
Asmus Tietchens: Marches Funebres (1989)
B.A.L.L.: Period (1987)
Bad Brains: I Against I (1986)
Barbara Manning: Lately I Keep Scissors (1988)
Barnes & Barnes: Voobaha (1980)
Barry Adamson: Moss Side Story (1989)
Bats: Daddy's Highway (1988)
Bauhaus: Mask (1981)
Beastie Boys: Paul's Boutique (1989)
Beasts Of Bourbon: Axeman's Jazz (1984)
Bel Canto: Birds Of Passage (1989)
Bevis Frond: Triptych (1988)
Big Audio Dynamite: Megatop Phoenix (1989)
Big Audio Dynamite: This Is Big Audio Dynamite (1985)
Big Black: Songs About Fucking (1987)
Big F: Big F (1989)
Bill Laswell: Baselines (1983)
Bill Laswell: Hear No Evil (1988)
Bill Nelson: Chance Encounters In The Garden Of Lights (1988)
Biota: Biota (1982)
Biota: Rackabones (1985)
Birthday Party: Junkyard (1982)
Birthday Party: Prayers On Fire (1981)
Black Flag: Loose Nut (1985)
Black Flag: Slip It In (1984)
Black Sun Ensemble: Black Sun Ensemble (1988)
Black Sun Ensemble: Lambent Flame (1988)
Blasters: Blasters (1981)
Blasters: Non Fiction (1983)
Blue Nile: A Walk Across The Rooftops (1983)
Bob Dylan: Oh Mercy (1989)
Bob Mould: Workbook (1989)
Bob Neuwirth: Back to the Front (1988)
Bob Wiseman: In Her Dream (1989)
BoDeans: Love And Hope And Sex And Dreams (1986)
Bola Sete: Shambhala Moon (1982)
Bolt Thrower: Realm Of Chaos (1989)
Bongos: Drums Along The Hudson (1982)
Bongwater: Too Much Sleep (1989)
Boogie Down Productions: By All Means Necessary (1988)
Boredoms: Soul Discharge (1989)
Brian Eno: On Land (1982)
Brian Eno: Thursday Afternoon (1985)
Bruce Springsteen: Born In The USA (1984)
Butthole Surfers: Hairway To Steven (1988)
Butthole Surfers: Locust Abortion Technician (1987)
Cabaret Voltaire: Red Mecca (1981)
Caetano Veloso: Estrangeiro (1989)
Camper Van Beethoven: Key Lime Pie (1989)
Camper Van Beethoven: Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart (1988)
Captain Beefheart: Ice Cream For Crow (1982)
Carcass: Symphonies Of Sickness (1989)
Carney/Hild/Kramer: Happiness Finally Came To Them (1987)
Cars: Heartbeat City (1984)
Cartoon: Music From Left Field (1983)
Cassiber: Man Or Monkey (1983)
Cat Heads: Hubba (1987)
Cat Heads: Submarine (1988)
Celibate Rifles: The Turgid Miasma Of Existence (1986)
Celtic Frost: Into The Pandemonium (1987)
Cheater Slicks: On Your Knees (1989)
Chris Isaak: Chris Isaak (1987)
Chris Isaak: Silvertone (1985)
Christian Death: Only Theatre of Pain (1982)
Chuck Vrtacek: Monkey On A Hard Roll (1984)
Chuck Vrtacek: When Heaven Comes To Town (1988)
Church: Heyday (1985)
Clash: Sandinista (1980)
Clock DVA: Advantage (1983)
Clock DVA: Thirst (1981)
Clock DVA: White Souls In Black Suits (1980)
Club Foot Orchestra: Wild Beasts (1986)
Cocteau Twins: Blue Bell Knoll (1988)
Coil: Horse Rotorvator (1986)
Coldcut: What's That Noise (1989)
Controlled Bleeding: Headcrack (1986)
Corrosion Of Conformity: Animosity (1985)
Cowboy Junkies: Trinity Session (1988)
Cramps: A Date With Elvis (1986)
Crime And The City Solution: Room Of Lights (1986)
Crime And The City Solution: Shine (1988)
Cro-Mags: Best Wishes (1989)
Crumbsuckers: Life Of Dreams (1986)
Cure: Disintegration (1989)
Cure: Pornography (1982)
Current 93: Dogs Blood Rising (1985)
D.R.I.: Dirty Rotten (1983)
Daniel Johnston: Yip/Jump Music (1983)
Daniel Lanois: Acadie (1989)
Danielle Dax: Pop Eyes (1983)
Danzig: Danzig (1988)
Dark Day: Exterminating Angel (1980)
Das Damen: Triskaidekaphobe (1988)
Das Damen: Jupiter Eye (1987)
Dave Alvin: Romeo's Escape (1987)
David Byrne & Brian Eno: My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts (1981)
David Lanz: Cristofori's Dream (1988)
David Lanz: Nightfall (1985)
David Sylvian: Brilliant Trees (1984)
David Sylvian: Secrets Of The Beehive (1987)
David Thomas: Blame The Messenger (1987)
DB's: Stands For Decibels (1981)
Dead Can Dance: Dead Can Dance (1984)
Dead Can Dance: The Serpent's Egg (1988)
Dead Kennedys: Plastic Surgery Disasters (1982)
Death In June: Brown Book (1987)
Death: Leprosy (1988)
Def Leppard: Pyromania (1983)
Del-Lords: Frontier Days (1984)
Del Fuegos: Longest Day (1984)
Descendents: Milo Goes To College (1982)
Deuter: Nirvana Road (1984)
Diamanda Galas: The Divine Punishment (1986)
Diamond Head: Lightning to the Nations (1980)
Didjits: Hey Judester (1988)
Die Form: Die Puppe (1982)
Die Kreuzen: Century Days (1988)
Die Kreuzen: Die Kreuzen (1984)
Die Warzau: Disco Rigido (1989)
Died Pretty: Free Dirt (1986)
Dinosaur Jr: Bug (1988)
Dinosaur Jr: Dinosaur (1985)
Discharge: Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing (1982)
Don Henley: The End Of Innocence (1989)
Donner Party: Donner Party II (1988)
Dr John: Plays Mac Rebennack (1981)
Dr Nerve: Out To Bomb Fresh Kings (1986)
Dream Syndicate: Out Of The Grey (1986)
Durutti Column: The Return (1980)
Echo & The Bunnymen: Crocodiles (1980)
Echo & The Bunnymen: Ocean Rain (1984)
Ed Hall: Albert (1988)
EIEIO: Land Of Opportunity (1985)
Einsturzende Neubauten: Fuenf auf der nach oben offenen Richterskala (1987)
Einsturzende Neubauten: Kollaps (1981)
Eleventh Dream Day: Beet (1989)
Eleventh Dream Day: Prairie School Freakout (1988)
Embarrassment: Death Travels West (1983)
Enya: Enya (1987)
Eric Andersen: Ghosts Upon The Road (1988)
Eric Johnson: Tones (1986)
Eugene Chadbourne: Collected Symphonies (1985)
Exciter: Heavy Metal Maniac (1983)
F/I: Space Mantra (1988)
Fabrizio DeAndre`: Creuza De Ma (1984)
Factrix: California Babylon (1982)
Factrix: Scheintot (1981)
Faith No More: Real Thing (1989)
Fall: Hex Enduction Hour (1982)
Fall: This Nation's Saving Grace (1985)
Faster Pussycat: Faster Pussycat (1987)
Fates Warning: Perfect Symmetry (1989)
Feedtime: Shovel (1986)
Feelies: Only Life (1988)
Felt: Forever Breathes The Lonely Word (1986)
Fetchin Bones: Bad Pumpkin (1986)
Fetchin Bones: Galaxy 500 (1987)
fIREHOSE: Ragin' Full On (1986)
Fish & Roses: We Are Happy To Serve You (1989)
Fishbone: Truth And Soul (1988)
Flaming Lips: Hear It Is (1986)
Flesh Eaters: A Minute To Pray A Second To Die (1981)
Fleshtones: Fleshtones Vs Reality (1987)
Fleshtones: Hexbreaker (1983)
Flipper: Gone Fishin' (1984)
Frank Perry: Deep Peace (1980)
Frank Zappa: Jazz From Hell (1986)
Frank Zappa: Perfect Stranger - Director: Pierre Boulez (1984)
Frank Zappa: Zappa (1983)
Fred Frith: Gravity (1980)
Fred Frith: Voice Of America (1983)
Frightwig: Cat Farm Faboo (1984)
Frogs: It's Only Right And Natural (1989)
Front 242: Geography (1982)
Front 242: Front by Front (1988)
Front Line Assembly: State Of Mind (1988)
Galaxie 500: Today (1988)
Game Theory: Lolita Nation (1987)
Gandalf: Journey To An Imaginary Land (1980)
Gang Green: You Got It (1987)
GBH: City Baby Attacked By Rats (1982)
GG Allin: Freaks, Faggots, Drunks & Junkies (1988)
Giant Sand: Storm (1988)
Gibson Bros: Dedicated Fool (1989)
Glass Eye: Hello Young Lovers (1989)
Go-Betweens: Before Hollywood (1983)
Go-Go's: Beauty And The Beat (1981)
God Bullies: Mamawombwomb (1989)
Golden Palominos: Visions Of Excess (1985)
Gories: House Rockin' (1988)
Gorilla Biscuits: Start Today (1989)
Green On Red: Gravity Talks (1983)
Green River: Rehab Doll (1988)
Green: Elaine MacKenzie (1987)
Green: Green (1986)
Gun Club: Las Vegas Story (1984)
Gut Bank: Dark Ages (1986)
Hafler Trio: Intoutof (1988)
Half Japanese: 1/2 Gentlemen Not Beasts (1980)
Half Japanese: Loud (1981)
Hanoi Rocks: Oriental Beat (1982)
Happy Mondays: Bummed (1989)
Harold Budd: Abandoned Cities (1984)
Harold Budd: White Arcades (1986)
Heart: Heart (1985)
Helios Creed: Last Laugh (1989)
Helios Creed: Superior Catholic Finger (1988)
Helloween: Walls Of Jericho (1985)
High Rise: High Rise II (1986)
Holger Czukay & David Sylvian: Plight And Premonition (1988)
Hoodoo Gurus: Stoneage Romeos (1984)
Hugo Largo: Mettle (1989)
Hunters And Collectors: The Fireman's Curse (1983)
Husker Du: Candy Apple Grey (1986)
Husker Du: Flip Your Wig (1985)
Husker Du: Warehouse (1987)
In The Nursery: Koda (1988)
Indigo Girls: Indigo Girls (1989)
Iron Maiden: Iron Maiden (1980)
J. Geils Band: Freeze Frame (1981)
Jade Warrior: At Peace (1985)
Jah Wobble: Bedroom Album (1983)
James Chance: Sax Maniac (1982)
Jane Siberry: Bound By The Beauty (1989)
Jane Siberry: Speckless Sky (1984)
Jason & The Scorchers: Lost And Found (1985)
Jean-Michel Jarre: Les Chants Magnetiques (1981)
Jeff Greinke: Cities In Fog (1985)
Jeff Greinke: Timbral Planes (1988)
Jesus And Mary Chain: Automatic (1989)
Jim Steinman: Bad For Good (1981)
Jody Harris & Robert Quine: Escape (1981)
Joe Satriani: Surfing With The Alien (1987)
John "Cougar" Mellencamp: Scarecrow (1985)
John Cale: Music For A New Society (1982)
Jon Hassell: Power Spot (1986)
Jorge Reyes: Nierika (1989)
Joy Division: Closer (1980)
Jungle Brothers: Done By The Forces Of Nature (1989)
Kate Bush: The Dreaming (1982)
Keith Leblanc: Stranger Than Fiction (1989)
Kevin Braheny: Galaxies (1988)
Kevin Braheny: Perelandra (1984)
Kid Creole & The Coconuts: Fresh Fruit In Foreign Places (1981)
Killdozer: Intellectuals Are The Shoeshine Boys Of The Ruling Elite (1984)
Killdozer: Snakeboy (1985)
Killing Joke: Killing Joke (1980)
King's X: Gretchen Goes To Nebraska (1989)
King Crimson: Discipline (1981)
King Missile: They (1988)
Kitaro: Silk Road (1980)
Klaus Schonning: Symphodysse` I (1989)
L.L. Cool J: Radio (1985)
L7: L7 (1988)
Laibach: Nova Akropola (1985)
Lazy Cowgirls: Lazy Cowgirls (1985)
Lazy Cowgirls: Tapping The Source (1987)
Legendary Pink Dots: Any Day Now (1987)
Lemonheads: Hate Your Friends (1987)
Lindsay Cooper: Gold Diggers (1983)
Live Skull: Dusted (1987)
Living Colour: Vivid (1988)
Liz Story: Speechless (1988)
LMNOP: Elemen Opee Elpee (1986)
Longshoremen: Grr Huh Yeah (1985)
Loop: Heaven's End (1987)
Los Lobos: How Will The Wolf Survive (1984)
Lou Reed: Blue Mask (1982)
Lou Reed: Legendary Hearts (1983)
Lounge Lizards: Lounge Lizards (1981)
Lounge Lizards: Voice Of Chunk (1989)
Love Of Life Orchestra: Geneve (1980)
Lubricated Goat: Paddock Of Love (1988)
Lubricated Goat: Plays The Devil's Music (1987)
Lucia Hwong: House of Sleeping Beauties (1985)
Lucinda Williams: Lucinda Williams (1988)
Ludichrist: Immaculate Deception (1986)
Lydia Lunch: 13.13 (1982)
Lydia Lunch: In Limbo (1984)
Lydia Lunch: Queen Of Siam (1980)
Lyle Lovett: Pontiac (1988)
Malaria: Emotion (1982)
Manowar: Battle Hymns (1982)
Manuel Gottsching: E2-E4 (1984)
Marcus Allen: Petals (1981)
Mark Isham: Tibet (1989)
Mark Isham: Vapor Drawings (1983)
Mark Stewart: As The Veneer Of Democracy Starts To Fade (1985)
Mark Stewart: Mark Stewart (1987)
Mark Tucker: In The Sack (1982)
Marshall Crenshaw: Marshall Crenshaw (1982)
Material: Memory Serves (1981)
Material: Seven Souls (1989)
Matthew Sweet: Earth (1989)
Meat Beat Manifesto: Storm The Studio (1989)
Meat Puppets: Meat Puppets II (1983)
Megadeth: Peace Sells (1986)
Mekons: Fear And Whiskey (1985)
Melissa Etheridge: Melissa Etheridge (1988)
Membranes: Kiss Ass Godhead (1988)
Membranes: The Gift Of Life (1985)
Men & Volts: Hootersville (1983)
Mercyful Fate: Melissa (1983)
Merrell Fankhauser: Message To The Universe (1986)
Metallica: And Justice For All (1988)
Michael Brook: Hybrid (1985)
Michael Hedges: Aerial Boundaries (1984)
Michael Jackson: Thriller (1981)
Michael Jones: Amber (1987)
Michael Jones: Michael's Music (1981)
Michael Shrieve: Stiletto (1989)
Michael Stearns: Chronos (1985)
Michael Stearns: Lyra Sound Constellation (1983)
Michelle Shocked: Short Sharp Shocked (1988)
Ministry: Twitch (1986)
Minor Threat: Out Of Step (1983)
Minutemen: Punch Line (1981)
Minutemen: What Makes A Man Start Fires (1982)
Missing Foundation: Missing Foundation (1987)
Mofungo: Bugged (1988)
Mofungo: Out Of Line (1983)
Motorhead: Orgasmatron (1986)
Moving Targets: Burning In Water (1986)
Mr T Experience: Everybody's Entitled To Their Own Opinion (1986)
Mudhoney: Mudhoney (1989)
Muffins: 185 (1982)
N.W.A.: Straight Outta Compton (1988)
Naked Raygun: Throb Throb (1985)
Naked Raygun: Understand (1989)
Nanci Griffith: Poet in My Window (1982)
Napalm Death: From Enslavement To Obliteration (1988)
Necks: Sex (1989)
Negativland: Negativland (1980)
Nekropolis: Cultes Des Goules (1985)
Nervous Gender: Music from Hell (1981)
Neville Brothers: Yellow Moon (1989)
New Model Army: Vengeance (1984)
New Order: Power Corruption And Lies (1983)
News from Babel: Work Resumed On The Tower (1984)
Newtown Neurotics: Beggars Can Be Choosers (1983)
Nick Cave: Your Funeral My Trial (1986)
Nick Mason: Fictitious Sports (1981)
Nicky Skopelitis: Next To Nothing (1989)
Nico: Camera Obscura (1985)
No Trend: Tritonian Nash-Vegas Polyester Complex (1986)
Nuclear Assault: Game Over (1986)
Numb: Christmeister (1989)
Nurse With Wound: Homotopy To Marie (1982)
Nurse With Wound: Spiral Insana (1986)
Nurse With Wound: The Sylvie and Babs Hi-Fi Companion (1985)
Ono: Machines That Kill People (1983)
Ophelias: Ophelias (1987)
Ordinaires: One (1989)
Ordinaires: Ordinaires (1985)
Original Sins: Big Soul (1987)
Orthotonics: Wake Up You Must Remember (1984)
Ozric Tentacles: Pungent Effulgent (1989)
Pandoras: Stop Pretending (1986)
Paolo Conte: Paolo Conte (1984)
Patrick O'Hearn: Ancient Dreams (1985)
Paul Roessler: Abominable (1988)
Paul Simon: Graceland (1986)
Pauline Oliveros: Accordion And Voice (1982)
Pauline Oliveros: The Well And The Gentle (1986)
Penguin Cafè Orchestra: Broadcasting From Home (1984)
Penguin Cafè Orchestra: Penguin Cafè Orchestra (1981)
Penguin Cafè Orchestra: Signs Of Life (1987)
Pere Ubu: Cloudland (1989)
Pere Ubu: Tenement Year (1988)
Pere Ubu: The Song Of The Bailing Man (1983)
Peter Gabriel: Birdy (1985)
Peter Gabriel: III (1980)
Peter Gabriel: So (1986)
Peter Michael Hamel: Bardo (1981)
Peter Michael Hamel: Organum (1986)
PFS: Illustrative Problems (1986)
Phantom 309: A Sinister Alphabet (1989)
Phantom Tollbooth: One-way Conversation (1987)
Phish: Junta (1988)
Phranc: Folksinger (1985)
Pianosaurus: Groovy Neighborhood (1987)
Plasticland: Plasticland (1984)
Plimsouls: Plimsouls (1981)
Pogues: Rum Sodomy And The Lash (1985)
Police: Zenyatta Mondatta (1980)
Polyrock: Polyrock (1980)
Pretenders: Learning To Crawl (1984)
Primitives: Lovely (1988)
Prince: 1999 (1982)
Prince: Around The World In A Day (1985)
Prince: Purple Rain (1984)
Prong: Force Fed (1988)
Psychedelic Furs: Talk Talk Talk (1981)
Public Enemy: Yo Bum Rush The Show (1987)
Pussy Galore: Dial M For Motherfucker (1989)
R.E.M.: Document (1987)
R.E.M.: Green (1988)
Rain Parade: Emergency Third Rail Power Trip (1983)
Raincoats: Moving (1984)
Ramones: End Of The Century (1980)
Raw Power: Screams from the Gutter (1984)
Raybeats: Guitar Beat (1981)
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Freaky Styley (1985)
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Red Hot Chili Peppers (1984)
Red Temple Spirits: If Tomorrow I Were Leaving For Lhasa (1989)
Redd Kross: Neurotica (1987)
Rene` Lussier: Le Tresor De La Langue (1989)
Replacements: Hootenanny (1983)
Replacements: Pleased To Meet Me (1987)
Residents: Big Bubble (1985)
Residents: Census Taker (1985)
Residents: God In Three Persons (1988)
Residents: Mark Of The Mole (1981)
Rhythm And Noise: Chasms Accord (1985)
Richard Thompson: Hand Of Kindness (1983)
Rickie Lee Jones: Flying Cowboys (1989)
Rip Rig & Panic: Attitude (1983)
Rip Rig & Panic: I Am Cold (1982)
Ritual Tension: I Live Here (1986)
Robbie Robertson: Robbie Robertson (1987)
Rob Wasserman: Solo (1983)
Robert Rich: Numena (1987)
Robert Rich: Rainforest (1989)
Robert Wyatt: Animals Film (1982)
Robyn Hitchcock: Black Snake Diamond Role (1981)
Robyn Hitchcock: Fegmania (1985)
Rodney Crowell: Keys to the Highway (1989)
Roger Miller: No Man Is Hurting Me (1986)
Rudimentari Peni: Death Church (1983)
Run-DMC: King Of Rock (1985)
Run-DMC: Raising Hell (1986)
Run-DMC: Run-DMC (1984)
Rush: Permanent waves (1980)
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Neo Geo (1987)
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Ongakuzukan/Illustrated Musical Encyclopedia (1984)
Saccharine Trust: Paganicons (1981)
Sadus: Illusions (1988)
Samhain: Initium (1984)
Savage Republic: Ceremonial (1985)
Savage Republic: Jamahiriya (1988)
Savage Republic: Tragic Figures (1982)
Screaming Trees: Even If And Especially When (1987)
Screeching Weasel: Boogadaboogadaboogada (1989)
Sepultura: Beneath The Remains (1989)
Sharkbait: Feed Our Frenzy (1988)
Sheila Chandra: Nada Brahma (1985)
Shonen Knife: Pretty Little Baka Guy (1986)
Sisters Of Mercy: Floodland (1987)
Skinny Puppy: Rabies (1989)
Slava Ranko: Arctic Hysteria (1981)
Slickee Boys: Cybernetic Dreams Of Pi (1983)
Slovenly: After The Original Style (1985)
Slovenly: We Shoot For The Moon (1989)
Smithereens: Especially For You (1986)
Smiths: The Queen Is Dead (1986)
Smiths: The Smiths (1984)
Social Distortion: Mommy's Little Monster (1983)
Software: Electronic Universe (1985)
Sonic Youth: Evol (1986)
Soul Asylum: Hang Time (1988)
Soul Asylum: Made To Be Broken (1986)
Souled American: Fe (1988)
Soundgarden: Ultramega OK (1988)
Spacemen 3: Playing With Fire (1988)
Steel Pole Bath Tub: Butterfly Love (1989)
Stephan Micus: Koan (1981)
Stephan Micus: Twilight Fields (1987)
Stephan Micus: Wings Over Water (1982)
Steve Douglas: Rainbow Suite (1981)
Steve Earle: Guitar Town (1986)
Stick Men: This Is The Master Brew (1982)
Stray Cats: Stray Cats (1981)
Styrenes: Girl Crazy (1982)
Subhumans: The Day The Country Died (1983)
Suburbs: Credit In Heaven (1981)
Sugarcubes: Life's Too Good (1988)
Suicidal Tendencies: Suicidal Tendencies (1983)
Suicide: Alan Vega Martin Rev (1980)
Suzanne Vega: Suzanne Vega (1985)
Swans: Greed (1986)
Swollen Monkeys: After Birth Of The Cool (1981)
T-Bone Burnett: Truth Decay (1980)
Tackhead: Tape Time (1987)
Talking Heads: Remain In Light (1980)
Teardrop Explodes: Kilimanjaro (1980)
Terminal Cheesecake: Johnny Town Mouse (1989)
Test Dept: Beating The Retreat (1984)
The Scene Is Now: Burn All Your Records (1985)
The Scene Is Now: Tonight We Ride (1988)
The The: Mind Bomb (1989)
The The: Soul Mining (1982)
These Immortal Souls: Get Lost (1987)
They Might Be Giants: Lincoln (1988)
Thin White Rope: Exploring The Axis (1985)
This Heat: Deceit (1981)
Three O'Clock: Sixteen Tambourines (1983)
Throbbing Gristle: In The Shadow Of The Sun (1981)
Throbbing Gristle: Mission Of Dead Souls (1981)
Throwing Muses: Throwing Muses (1986)
Tiny Lights: Hazel's Wreath (1988)
Toiling Midgets: Sea Of Unrest (1982)
Tom Petty: Full Moon Fever (1989)
Tom Verlaine: Dreamtime (1981)
Tom Verlaine: Words From The Front (1982)
Toto: Toto IV (1982)
Tracy Chapman: Tracy Chapman (1988)
Trespassers W: Dummy (1988)
Turtle Island String Quartet: Turtle Island String Quartet (1988)
U2: Boy (1980)
U2: Joshua Tree (1987)
Ultravox: Vienna (1980)
Union Carbide Productions: In The Air Tonight (1987)
Univers Zero: Ceux Du Dehors (1982)
Univers Zero: Uzed (1984)
Universal Congress Of: Prosperous And Qualified (1988)
Van Morrison: Beautiful Vision (1982)
Van Morrison: Common One (1980)
Van Morrison: Inarticulate Speech Of The Heart (1983)
Vangelis: Mask (1985)
Vaselines: Dum Dum (1988)
Velvet Monkeys: Future (1983)
Venom: Black Metal (1982)
Verlaines: Bird-Dog (1987)
Violent Femmes: Hallowed Ground (1984)
Virgin Prunes: A New Form Of Beauty (1981)
Virgin Prunes: If I Die I Die (1982)
Viv Akauldren: I'll Call You Sometime (1987)
Voice Farm: World We Live In (1982)
Voivod: Killing Technology (1987)
Volcano Suns: Thing Of Beauty (1989)
Von Lmo: Future Language (1981)
Vulgar Boatmen: You And Your Sister (1989)
Walkabouts: Cataract (1989)
Wall Of Voodoo: Call Of The West (1982)
Was Not Was: Was Not Was (1981)
Waterboys: This Is The Sea (1985)
Wayne Gratz: Reminescence (1989)
Wedding Present: George Best (1987)
White Zombie: Soul Crusher (1987)
Wild Seeds: Brave Clean + Reverent (1986)
William Aura: Lovely Day (1981)
Windbreakers: Terminal (1984)
Wipers: Over The Edge (1983)
Wolfgang Press: Bird Wood Cage (1988)
Wolfgang Press: Standing up Straight (1986)
Woodentops: Giant (1986)
Work: Slow Crimes (1982)
X: Under The Big Black Sun (1982)
X: Wild Gift (1981)
XTC: English Settlement (1982)
Yo La Tengo: Ride The Tiger (1986)
Young Fresh Fellows: The Fabulous Sounds Of The Pacific Northwest (1984)
Young Gods: L'Eau Rouge (1989)
Young Marble Giants: Colossal Youth (1980)
Zero Boys: Vicious Circle (1982)
Zoogz Rift: Amputees In Limbo (1982)
Zoogz Rift: Ipecac (1984)
Zoogz Rift: Water (1987)
Zoviet France: Misfits, Loony Tunes And Squalid Criminals (1986)
Zoviet France: Mohnomishe (1983)
ZZ Top: Eliminator (1983)

Eps and Minis

8/10

Mars: Mars (1980) (EP)
Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic: Beat Of The Mesozoic (1985) (EP)
Butthole Surfers: Butthole Surfers (1983) (EP)
Gun Club: Death Party (1986) (EP)
Lydia Lunch: The Agony Is The Ecstasy (1982) (EP)

7.5/10

Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic: Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic (1983) (EP)
Birthday Party: The Bad Seed (1983) (EP)
Black Flag: The Process of Weeding Out (1985) (EP)
Fishbone: Fishbone (1985) (EP)
Harold Budd: The Serpent/Children Of The Hills (1981) (EP)
Henry Rollins: Hard Volume (1989) (mini)
Negative Trend: We Don't Play, We Riot (1983) (EP)
Tragic Mulatto: Judo For The Blind (1984) (EP)

7/10

17 Pigmies: Hatikva (1983) (EP)
808 State: Quadrastate (1989) (EP)
Band Of Susans: Blessing And Curse (1986) (EP)
Big Black: Lungs (1983) (EP)
Big Black: Bulldozer (1984) (EP)
Billy Bragg: Life's a Riot with Spy Vs Spy (1983) (EP)
Birthday Party: Mutiny! (1983) (EP)
Bitch Magnet: Star Booty (1988) (EP)
Blake Babies: Nicely Nicely (1987) (EP)
Bush Tetras: Rituals (1981) (EP)
Crime And The City Solution: Just South Of Heaven (1985) (EP)
Danielle Dax: Jesus Egg That Wept (1984) (EP)
David Sylvian: Words With The Shaman (1985) (EP)
Dead Can Dance: Garden Of The Arcane Delights (1984) (EP)
Felt: Splendour Of Fear (1984) (mini)
Felt: Poem Of The River (1987) (mini)
Fishbone: It's A Wonderful Life (1987) (EP)
Flaming Lips: Flaming Lips (1984) (EP)
Husker Du: Metal Circus (1983) (mini)
Jesus Lizard: Pure (1989) (EP)
Killdozer: Burl (1986) (EP)
Lard: The Power Of Lard (1989) (EP)
Laughing Hyenas: Merry Go Round (1987) (EP)
Mercyful Fate: Mercyful Fate (1982) (EP)
Micronotz: Smash (1983) (EP)
Mudhoney: Superfuzz Bigmuff (1988) (EP)
Of Cabbages And Kings: Of Cabbages And Kings (1987) (EP)
Of Cabbages And Kings: Face (1988) (mini)
Opal: Northern Line (1985) (EP)
Paul Roland: A Cabinet Of Curiosities (1987) (EP)
Paul Roland: Happy Families (1988) (EP)
Pixies: Come On Pilgrim (1987) (EP)
Raging Slab: True Death (1989) (EP)
Rapeman: Budd (1988) (EP)
R.E.M.: Chronic Town (1982) (EP)
Savage Republic: Trudge (1985) (EP)
Sonic Youth: Sonic Youth (1982) (EP)
Tall Dwarfs: Throw A Sickie (1986) (mini)

The greatest bands of the 1980s

(Check the database of 1980s)

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