Top 10 Albums Since 1980

[JMcQ77]

Here is my list for the Top 10 Albums since 1980 (no greatest hits albums, country, or other compilations included):

1. "Thriller" - Michael Jackson (1982)

It is hard to deny how groundbreaking this album was. From bringing "black music" to the MTV audience, creating stories in his videos, and even fusing funk and rock, "Thriller" was revolutionary. Check out the hits: "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", "Baby Be Mine", "The Girl Is Mine (with Paul McCartney)", "Thriller", "Beat It" and "Billie Jean". This is one album, not a greatest hits. Wow.

2. "The Joshua Tree" - U2 (1987)

Although I believe this album to be better top to bottom than "Thriller," the King of Pop had three tracks (Thriller, Beat It, and Billie Jean) that push Thriller to #1. Still, The Joshua Tree is a beautiful album. Not quite as obvious and in your face as "War," and better paced than "The Unforgettable Fire," "The Joshua Tree" was both powerful (Where the Streets Have No Name) and subdued (Mothers of the Disappeared). "The Joshua Tree" defined the late 80's along with the next band on the list.

3. "Appetite for Destruction" - Guns N' Roses (1987)

May be the best hard rock album of all time. Certainly "Appetite" holds its own against any album done by Zeppelin (maybe not the body of work - Axl's ego got in the way). After years of pop/hair metal diluting metal, Slash and Izzy's in-your-face, fused guitar work reminded people how to rock. And say what you will about Axl's singing ability, his style fit this album perfectly. Raw, ugly. Perfect.

4. "Ten" - Pearl Jam (1991)

Unfairly and stupidly labeled as "grunge," Pearl Jam is a rock band and this is their masterpiece. From anthems such as "Alive" to the groove of "Even Flow," this album is strong from one to ten. Although another Seattle band's 1991 album seems to garner the media obsession, "Ten" was better.

5. "Metallica" - Metallica (1992)

Say what you want about Metallica selling out (I know many people will), this album is heavy, bluesy, and finally showcased Metallica as musicians. Yes, 10-minute anthems about war are cool. However, tightly-constructed, dark, and introspective songs are even cooler.

6. "Document" - R.E.M. (1985)

How do you define this album? Rock? Alternative? College rock? Equal parts pop rock and social commentary, a brilliant album. Seriously, who can not sing along with "Its the End of the World As We Know It"? Just try it.

7. "Ok Computer" - Radiohead (1997)

"Pablo Honey" and "The Bends" are more accessible whereas some of the later stuff is crazier. "Ok Computer" sits somewhere in the middle but still requires a few listens. Then you're hooked.

8. "Hysteria" - Def Leppard (1987)

Flame if you want but is there a band that did pop metal better? Seven SEVEN??! hit singles. Intricate guitar work. Beautiful vocals. One-armed drumming. C'mon. Yes, the lyrics were cheesy. Yes, your 12-year old sister listened to them. But there are few albums with so many songs you know every word. Plus the movie was cool (Anthony Michael Hall as Mutt Lange. Awesome.)

9. "American Idiot" - Green Day (2004)

If you told me in 1995 that Green Day would make an iconic, "great" album, I would have laughed in your face. Or that Green Day would do a rock opera akin to The Who. They did both with "American Idiot." And it is good. Really good.

10. "Nevermind" - Nirvana (1991)

As a teenager in Seattle in the early 90's, I liked Nirvana before they were big and then despised them when they were the biggest band in the world. My view of this album is jaded. But I can't deny it. It is a great album.

[orange_black]

Pretty good list... hard to argue with any of those.

However, I think Prince's Purple Rain has to be in there somewhere.

[Sayburr]

There are a lot of iconic albums out over the past 20 years and your list is a very good list. Picking 10 albums out of everything is very hard.

There is one album that I think you missed, that is AC/DC's Back in Black which was released in 1980. This album brought hard rock to the mainstream listeners. When looking at your list, I would want to put it at #5.

Then there are these two maybes

Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA. Very much a hit record with feelgood music and dark lyrics. Seven top 10 songs.

Tom Waits - Rain Dogs - This is a perfect experemental rock album. Weird instruments, weird rhythms, weird lyrics, but all tied together perfectly, making it not only listenable, but very enjoyable. You can have your REM and Radiohead, give me Tom Waits!

Then you have bands like the Violent Femmes, XTC, Black Flag... good albums, but not top 10 worthy.

[JMcQ77]

I struggled with AC/DC and Purple Rain. In fact, I had Purple Rain on as #10 and then took it off because of "Nevermind." As much as I love "Back in Black," I don't think it holds up to "Appetite" and "Metallica." Interesting because "Back and Black" was one of the first albums I ever owned. If I would have expanded to #11 and #12, those were my next two albums.

[Rockbandfan23467]

Nice list. Appitite For Destruction is probably the best pop-metal album ever. Cool for defending the Black Album, too.

[orange_black]

wow dunno how i passed over the black album...

I think most Metallica fans wouldnt even recognize the black album as Metallica's best.

[momo217]

I like the list and the explanations. Very well written and interesting. I would probably only argue against REM. I hate to add the same band twice but it's hard to not add Pearl Jam's "VS." album to the list.

In my opinion, and that is all it is, you could add:

Check your Head - Beaste Boys
Disentigration (sp?) - The Cure
A Rush of Blood to the Head - Coldplay

I am basing my choices on how much I liked the album, not album sales or charts btw.

[idiotec]

It wouldn’t be my list, but that is the great thing about music, different strokes for different folks.

That being said, you did pick some great albums and it was well written and well thought out. So…. well done!

[elfreako]

I salute your effort. The ironic side of these lists is that most fans of the mentioned bands would more than likely pick another album as their "greatest ever". For instance, I think In Utero, Kid A and Vitalogy are better than what you've listed. The Black Album is probably the best example of this.

Not an easy exercise indeed.

[elfreako]

Three albums that would have made the list if it was mine: Post (Bjork), The Downward Spiral (NIN) and Mezzanine (Massive Attack)

You know what I can think of about twenty albums right off the top of my head. I better stop thinking about it right away or I'll be obsessed about making a list too.