Response To Pitchfork's Best 200 Albums Of The 1980s

This list is being compiled as a response to the list Pitchfork released of their top 200 albums of the 80s. About 10 years prior they had compiled their first 80s list. While I had some issues with it, overall it wasn't bad. The problems I had with the original list pale in comparison to the glaring garbage that is presented with this new list. They jettisoned quite a lot of some of the best albums in the 80s in favor of putting more pop minded picks this time around. Even with the addition of 100 new slots(the old list was top 100) a good portion of the great picks on their original list went the way of the dodo. In their places are things like 3 Madonna albums, 2 Sade albums and 2 Janet Jackson albums. We also had the likes of Tina Turner, Whitney Houston and Anita Baker added to the list. They also decided to include watered down shit 80s jazz albums from great players who were definitely not anywhere near great in the 80s. Their new list reeks of their sale to Conde Nast. I would say a good 40-50% of the albums on the new list don't deserve to be on any kind of list at all. Pitchfork seems hellbent on castrating any semblance of art and replacing it with either "appropriate" art like La Monte Young, Philip Glass and Meredith Monk for the Guggenheim crowd or just flat out replacing it with shit like Madonna and Janet Jackson. 

I also noticed a ton of what I like to call "death worship". Death worship is something I've noticed lately where, when someone famous dies that persons art as a whole gets vaulted up to even greater heights. So the classics become godlike and the shitty albums suddenly become great. Art doesn't work that way. Art doesn't get better when the artist dies. It might come into people's view more when they die but it doesn't change the sounds that were put to tape when they were alive. If an album sucked when they were alive, well I'm sorry, that doesn't mean it still doesn't suck. It still totally sucks. With this list I see it in the picks of Leonard Cohen, Shitney Houston, Prince, Bowie etc...I'm sorry but "Let's Dance" is a shitty record.

 I also noticed Pitchfork really stretching it to include female artists this time around. They left off quite a few really amazing pieces of art made by women(more to come on that with my "things they left off" list coming soon). They instead vaulted very mediocre female artists very high. Now I can't say with certainty it has to do with gender and the current looking back validation we have been experiencing but it sure does smell like it. Now there is nothing wrong with showcasing women in music. I do it all the time here on this blog, but showcase the good shit. Madonna isn't great. Just because she is a woman doesn't make her great now. She sucked then and sucks now. Why do we need to prop up mediocrity when there is plenty of actual greatness to be exposed. I also think it's shitty that the vast majority of women they focused more on this time around mostly made pop music, a genre tied to being throwaway stuff. There were plenty of women in the 80s in punk, industrial, goth, experimental, folk, electronic, etc... that they should have focused on, instead they chose to focus on the pop because it's an easier pill to swallow. Once again, this is just the feeling I get. I could be dead wrong but if it walks like a duck...

Also stop putting compilations and live albums on album lists. It's unfair to people putting out original material and those people deserve those slots. 

So all in all the 80s list that Pitchfork put out just plain sucks. It's the worst list they have ever done and frankly, it's a god damn embarrassment.

Read below for some of my thoughts on these classic and definitely not so classic albums. Stay tuned for my picks of the most glaring omissions these idiots failed to recognize. 

200.Malcolm Mclaren-Duck Rock(1983)

This is a great album that should be much higher on this list.

199.Tenor Saw-Fever(1985)

This is an average reggae album that probably shouldn't be on this list. Compared to other reggae artists that came before, it's really not that great. Just because it came out in the 80s doesn't mean it deserves to be on an 80s list.

198.Mercyful Fate-Don't Break The Oath(1984)

Decent but fairly overrated metal album. I wouldn't have considered it for my list.

197.Whodini-Escape(1984)

Decent hip hop that's a little thin, didn't make any of my lists but it's really not that horrible.

196.Virgo-Self Titled(1989)

This is super cheesy and kind of shitty house music. Not list worthy

195.Cecil Taylor-For Olim(1987)

This is decent but it's still not that amazing. Not really list worthy but if you were making an 80s Jazz list I would consider it, but I also have no intention of making an 80s jazz list because most of it was shitty.

194.Patrice Rushen-Straight From The Heart(1982)

This just flat out sucks. Pitchfork mentions it's been sampled a lot. Who cares, this is shitty pop r&b that doesn't deserve much recognition.

193.Flipper-Generic Album Flipper(1982)

Amazing punk album. One of the best albums of the 80s. This would be in my top 10

192.Salt N Pepa-Hot, Cool & Vicious(1986)

Not horrible but also not great. Definitely not their best album and definitely not list worthy.

191.Bronski Beat-The Age Of Consent(1984)

Really bland early indie pop. Really really bland crap.

190.Ini Kamoze-Self Titled(1984)

This was a nice surprise. Never heard of this before and this is a really solid dub influenced reggae album. Decent placement.

189.Butthole Surfers-Locust Abortion Technician(1987)

Incredible noise/experimental rock album from Texas legends. This is way higher up on my list.

188.Yoko Ono-Season Of Glass(1981)

Not too bad. A little shitty in parts like most Yoko Ono albums tend to be. There are some gems on here and I commend her for making music so soon after her husband was killed.

187.Tom Tom Club-Self Titled(1981)

Great dance party record. I would put this here or maybe a slightly higher spot would be right.

186.Paul McCartney-II(1980)

Great album that does get a little too much praise these days but this is a good spot for it.

185.Too $hort-Life Is Too $hort(1988)

He had better stuff like "Born To Mack" but this is also solid. Pretty appropriate position.

184. Change-The Glow Of Love(1980)

This is crap. Pure bullshit disco no one needs to remember.

183.The B 52s-Wild Planet(1980)

Decent follow up to the self titled. This didn't make my list but I'm willing to reevaluate.

182.Abba-The Visitors(1981)

This is the best Abba album. That being said, it's still an Abba album so no.

181.Nuno Canavarro-Plux Quba(1988)

Fantastic album, very revolutionary to the clicks and cuts movement of techno. Highly recommended and should be way higher on the list.

180.808 State-90(1989)

While decent this is still pretty mediocre electronic music. Did not make my list.

179.Liliput-Self Titled(1982)

Great proto Riot Grrl album. Doesn't get enough recognition because a few bands did it earlier. Didn't make my list but probably should.

178.Joe Jackson-Night And Day(1982)

Never heard this album before Pitchfork put out this list and you know what, it's actually great! Kind of like a great mix between Elvis Costello, XTC and David Byrne vocals all doing weird experimental salsa pop. I would put this much higher.

177.Queen Latifah-All Hail The Queen(1989)

Super solid. Her rapping was better than her acting. Appropriate position for this one.

176.Psychic TV-Dreams Less Sweet(1983)

Not as bad as most of the Psychic TV stuff. They should have put Kondole on here instead.

175.Godflesh-Streetcleaner(1989)

Amazing industrial influenced metal album everyone should hear. While brutal this one is actually very melodic. Should be much higher.

174.Ornette Coleman-In All Languages(1987)

80s Ornette Coleman? Look at the cover! That's basically what it sounds like. Don't try and shoehorn jazz onto a list when jazz happened to suck in the 80s. Ornette Coleman was capable of sucking too.

173.Tina Turner-Private Dancer(1984)

Ugh no, it's pretty lame.

172.Duran Duran-Rio(1982)

Decent pop album. Kinf of an appropriate spot for it.

171. Scritti Politti-Cupid & Psyche 85(1985)

He would go on to do much better things in the mid 2000s. This is just shitty sophistipop. Not list worthy.

170.Yellowman-Mr. Yellowman(1982)

Not a bad reggae album. Kind of started a shit subgenre though. Decent position for it.

169.The Faith/Void-Split(1982)

There was much better punk, not to mention actual full lengths that came out in the 80s. They didn't put any Dead Kennedys on this list so this stupid little split can fuck right off. SPLIT NOT ALBUM=DISQUALIFIED!

168.Nurse With Wound-Soliloquy For Lilith(1988)

So why is this on here and Homotopy To Marie isn't. It's a mystery. Great job Pitchfork.

167.Au Pairs-Playing With A Different Sex(1981)

Great punk album, should be a little higher.

166.Ice T-Rhyme Pays(1986)

Iceburg is better but this is still solid, no real complaints about this being on here.

165.Swell Maps-Jane From Occupied Europe(1980)

Awesome album. I'm not sure why it's placed so low.

164.Pauline Oliveros, Stuart Dempster & Panaiotis-Deep Listening(1989)

Decent art house music, wouldn't make my list but I get it.

163.Ryuichi Sakamoto-Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence(1983)

Yellow Magic Orchestra was good. His solo shit is not. This is no exception. Just because Mac Demarco loves this doesn't mean it belongs on any list of any kind.

162.King Sunny Ade & His African Beats-Synchro System(1983)

Great dancy future afro funk rock. Should be higher.

161.Richard & Linda Thompson-Shoot Out The Lights(1982)

This album is amazing and brutal. This is literally divorce on tape. Should be in the top 50

160.Mr. Fingers-Amnesia(1988)

Crappy house music. Meh

159.Various Artists-The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto(1985)

I bought this in a dollar bin because I thought to cover looked cool. The music wasn't that great. I returned it. Compilation = DISQUALIFIED!

158.Judas Priest-British Steel(1980)

Pretty cheesy. Don't really get why people love the British New Wave Of Heavy Metal so much. It's just a side step from awful hair metal.

157.MC Lyte-Lyte As A Rock(1988)

One of the best hip hop albums of the 80s. Should be a lot higher. Especially if Pitchfork wants to retroactively cover their asses by honoring more women this time around.

156.Stevie Wonder-Hotter Than July(1980)

Kind of a farty Stevie Wonder album. His best shit was in the 70s. We don't need glorification of his downfall.

155.Elvis Costello & The Attractions-Imperial Bedroom(1982)

I always kind of hate Elvis. This isn't the worst. Decent position for it.

154.LL Cool J-Radio(1985)

Pretty great. Especially for an artist who get drastically shitty throughout the 90s

153.Meredith Monk-Dolmen Music(1981)

Pretentious vocal music. Totally unnecessary.

152.Meat Puppets-II(1984)

One of the best albums of the 80s. Should be MUCH higher. There's a reason Kurt Cobain covered a bunch of songs from this album for their unplugged session. Hell they even invited the Kirkwood brothers on that very show to help play their songs.

151.The Clean-Compilation(1988)

This is a comp. This is a best ALBUMS of the 80s list. Automatic disqualification.

150.La Monte Young-The Well Tuned Piano(1987)

Ugh more pretentious shit to appeal to the high art crowd. This isn't good.

149.Anita Baker-Rapture(1986)

Really shitty. I have no understanding of why anyone outside of a 65 year old with no taste in the 80s would listen to this.

148.Rites Of Spring-Self Titled(1985)

Extremely overrated proto emo album that would usher us into a decade of Fugazi, which, is actually a good thing. But I don't think this album is very great.

147.Virginia Astley-In The Gardens Where We Feel Secure(1983)

This is an average ambient pop album made by the daughter of a British TV theme show writer and sister in law to Pete Townshend of The Who. This is a good spot for it.

146.Geto Boys-Grip It! On That Other Level(1989)

Awesome nasty hard hitting hip hop, I actually like this better than their number 3 pick. Should be much higher.

145.Daniel Johnston-Hi! How Are You? The Unfinished Album(1983)

Eh, it's not horrible but it is also over glorified lo-fi indie folk made by someone with extreme mental issues.

144.The Clash-Sandinista(1980)

I would have picked Combat Rock due to it's focus.

143.Descendents-Milo Goes To College(1982)

I like this album. I don't love this album. It basically started CA skate punk so there's that. Decent place for it. It can be a bit shitty when the homophobic lyrics come in though.

142.Midori Takada-Through The Looking Glass(1983)

Newly unearthed non-masterpiece. It's decent. Decent position.

141.Celtic Frost-To Mega Therion(1985)

Awesome metal album, probably should be higher.

140.3rd Bass-The Cactus Album(1989)

One of the best hip hop albums of the 80s. These guys gave the Beastie Boys a run for their money. This also has the first appearance of MF Doom.

139.The Durutti Column-Vini Reilly(1989)

Kinda farty like the rest of their stuff. The debut is the only one worth listening to. If you had to put this on a list a little lower would be fine.

138.Big Daddy Kane-Long Live The Kane(1988)

Very solid hip hop album but slightly overrated this position is pretty approrpriate.

137.Horace Andy-Dance Hall Style(1982)

Excellent dub. No complaints with this pick.

136.Neneh Cherry-Raw Like Sushi(1989)

Pitchfork did a Sunday Review of this album and I listened to it then. It was crap pop garbage.. I listened to it again for this list and it's still crap pop garbage.

135.Big Black Songs About Fucking(1987)

One of the best albums of the 80s. The fact it is this low shows where Pitchfork is at these days. Deserves to be in at least the top 20

134.Jane's Addiction-Nothing's Shocking(1988)

Excellent album of interesting rock music. Nothing more. Nothing less. This is a pretty good spot for it.

133.XTC-Skylarking(1986)

This is a goddamn crime. This is one of the best albums of the 80s. Easily in the top 10.

132.Prefab Sprout-Steve McQueen(1985)

Really mediocre precurser to modern indie rock. Nothing special and definitely not list worthy. They are kind of like a second rate Squeeze.

131.Echo & The Bunnymen-Ocean Rain(1984)

Solid album of dark moody post punk influenced gothic rock. I have no complaints about this pick or the placement.

130.Scientist-Rids The World Of The Curse Of The Vampires(1981)

This deserves to be higher than most of the reggae and dub albums on this list. This is one of the best dub albums of all time and should at least be above the 100 spot.

129.The D.O.C.-No One Can Do It Better(1989)

Super solid album. Should be higher.

128.AC/DC-Back In Black(1980)

I can't really even listen to this album it's been played to death. Should be way lower. It's really nothing special other than arena ready hard rock.

127.David Bowie-Let's Dance(1983)

If he didn't die this wouldn't be on the list. It definitely isn't on mine before or after he died. This is the best of Bowie's worst albums. The best of the worst deserves no list.

126.Pet Shop Boys-Actually(1987)

Cheesy 80s pop crap. Not list worthy.

125.Peter Gabriel-Self Titled(1980)

Decent album though extremely overrated. We can thank it for one of the biggest crimes of the 80s. The "gated" drum sound. He invented it and used it well on this album. Everyone else made it disgusting. Appropriate placing.

124.Bruce Springsteen-Tunnel Of Love(1987)

Not a great Springsteen album. Rather than having 3 Springsteen albums leave this open for someone better.

123.The Go Gos-Beauty And The Beat(1981)

Solid debut but still pretty cheesy. I do like it. This is a good spot for it possibly even lower would have been better.

122.Beat Happening-Self Titled(1985)

The fact that they have this and NOT Jamboree on the list is a crime. This pick, though meaning well, sure does piss me off since Jamboree is infinitely better.

121.Pretenders-Self Titled(1980)

Extremely overrated. Boring song writing. Chrissie Hynde was a deep punker in the UK during the late 70s and this is what she came up with coming out the other side? Barf.

120.Run DMC-Self Titled(1984)

Solid but not that amazing. Important for being one of the first but not that amazing. Should be a little lower.

119.Steely Dan-Gaucho(1980)

Fuck off Steely Dan. Not list worthy.

118.Philip Glass-Solo Piano(1989)

Super lame. Super pretentious. Boring ass piano music made for people who love this asshole.

117.Whitney Houston-Self Titled(1985)

She died. She wasn't great. I certainly don't care about her schmaltzy pop crap.

116.Misfits-Walk Among Us(1982)

One of the best punk albums ever made. Should be higher than 100

115.Madonna-Like A Virgin(1984)

Not that great. Wouldn't put it on my list.

114.INXS-Kick(1987)

The production on this thing is so sterotypically 80s it's gross. Some of the singles were ok but as an album hell no this shouldn't be on any list.

113.Spacemen 3-Playing With Fire(1988)

Amazing album of super influential psyche rock. Pretty decent placement though.

112.New Order-Technique(1989)

Meh it's ok. Wouldn't be this high on my list.

111.Roxy Music-Avalon(1982)

The WORST Roxy Music album. This is cornball bullshit for idiots who have never heard the first few Roxy albums. I wish this album would just go away from critics minds who for some reason love it.

110.X-Los Angeles(1980)

Another classic. Deserves to be way higher. This was my #1 for 1980.

109.The Cure-The Head On The Door(1985)

The Cure are kind of annoying and kind of ok. This should be much lower if even on the list at all.

108.Young Marble Giants-Colossal Youth(1980)

The best minimal rock album of the 80s hands down. Should be in the top 50.

107.The Feelies-Crazy Rhythms(1980)

This should be way higher. Great expansive indie rock influenced by Television.

106.Laurie Spiegel-The Expanding Universe(1980)

Needs to be higher. Very great early electronic stuff.

105.Boogie Down Productions-By All Means Necessary(1988)

Swap this one for Criminal Minded way up there on the list and then we can talk.

104.Public Image LTD-Second Edition(1980)

Nope Pitchfork. Just because the band took the album Metal Box from the year before and switched the tracks around and changed the art doesn't mean you get to put this on your 80s list. DISQUALIFIED.

103.Beastie Boys-Licensed To Ill(1986)

Should be much lower. Hasn't aged well. Sounds thin and cheap these days. It is still good. But throw it down in the 170s and it's all good.

102.Wipers-Youth Of America(1981)

Great album! I just wish they had their first album Is This Real? on here too.

101.Alice Coltrane-Turiya Sings(1982)

It's ok. If it were further down the list it would be ok but this high. She had her highlights in the 70s. Stick with that stuff.

100.Cyndi Lauper-She's So Unusual(1983)

Is it horrible? No. Is it number 100? Hell no! Throw it down to the 180s!

99.Kool G Rap And DJ Polo-Road To The Riches(1989)

Great album. Great placement.

98.Nirvana-Bleach(1989)

Bleach has it's moments but it's also not the most amazing album ever. This is decent placement.

97.The Raincoats-Odyshape(1981)

Really amazing album should be in the top 40 at least.

96.Fela Kuti-Coffin For Head Of State(1981)

Fela has way too many highlights in the 70s to waste a spot on the 80s list for him. This is a good album but why bother when you have all the other extremely better shit. Especially the Expensive Shit.

95.Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois & Roger Eno-Apollo: Soundtracks And Atmospheres(1983)

Brian you did it best in the 70s. You should have stopped there. No one needs this.

94.Morbid Angel-Altars Of Madness(1989)

Classic metal. Should be in the top 50.

93.Steve Reich-Different Trains/Electric Counterpoint(1989)

Kind of farty. Wouldn't put it on a list, let alone top 100

92.Fleetwood Mac-Tango In The Night(1987)

Really lame Fleetwood Mac album. In fact outside of some of Rumours, some of the self titled and all of Tusk, Fleetwood Mac kind of sucks.

91.George Michael-Faith(1987)

Pretty farty. Not list worthy. It's not cute to put albums like this on here just because someone died a little before their time.

90.R.E.M.-Reckoning(1984)

I would say I enjoy Document more and since that's not on here then I don't think this should be either. It was a pretty huge let down from Murmur.

89.Cocteau Twins-Blue Bell Knoll(1988)

While enjoyable I never understood the vast appeal for this one. I would put this lower.

88.The Stone Roses-Self Titled(1989)

Pretty classic album, can get boring sometimes. This is a good spot for it.

87.Tears For Fears-Songs From The Big Chair(1985)

The Hurting is way better and since that's not on here this shouldn't be either. Plus it's way too high for either album.

86.Guns N Roses-Appetite For Destruction(1987)

Solid but should be lower.

85.The Blue Nile-Hats(1989)

This should be just a little bit higher.

84.Lucinda Williams-Self Titled(1988)

People say this invented Alt Country. No it didn't. The Mekons made Fear And Whiskey 3 years earlier and that's not even on this list(it should be). So no, sorry Lucinda, no list for you.

83.Jungle Brothers-Straight Out The Jungle(1988)

Solid but also kind of boring. This should be a little lower.

82.Iron Maiden-The Number Of The Beast(1982)

Oh jesus the amount of shit I could talk on this, one of the most overrated albums of all time. I've listened to it many times and each time I find myself questioning how anyone likes this let alone vaults it to the status it has. It cheesy, it's borderline hair metal. What am I missing?

81.Brian Eno & David Byrne-My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts(1981)

I wish this wasn't the standard bearer for Sample based music in the 80s. Why? Well because it kind of sucks. Either way down on the list or no list at all.

80.Manuel Gottsching-E2 E4(1984)

Gotta commend it for being decent to listen to. Kind of hate it for all the mid 2000s wankery it inspired. I would put it a little lower.

79.The Fall-This Nation's Saving Grace(1985)

Perfect 10/10 classic. This should be in the top 20 at least.

78.Madonna-Like A Prayer(1989)

Haha....Nope. Of course some of the singles are decent for other people but come on as an album in the top 100 you have got to be kidding!

77.Depeche Mode-Music For The Masses(1987)

Cheeseball shit. Not the worst. Definitely not top 100. Lower it or kick it off.

76.Nine Inch Nails-Pretty Hate Machine(1989)

Hmmmm. The album that influenced this isn't on here. That would be the much better album by Ministry "The Land Of Rape And Honey" so no, this one shouldnt be here.

75.Siouxsie And The Banshees-Juju(1981)

Decent album of theirs. I personally would have picked "Peepshow" but what can you do.

74.Bob Marley & The Wailers-Uprising(1980)

Eh, Not the greatest reggae album out there. I could think of some other stuff in reggae that should have taken this spot.

73.This Heat-Deceit(1981)

This is one of the best albums of the 80s and of all time. This should be at least in the top 20.

72.Michael Jackson-Bad(1987)

Michael Jackson is not that great, this is probably the worst of his 80s albums. This slot should go to someone else.

71.Motorhead-Ace Of Spades(1980)

Pretty great classic proto metal/punk album. Should actually be a little lower. Not much lower, but lower.

70.Ultramagnetic MCs-Critical Beatdown(1988)

This is a really solid Hip Hop album but personally I would place it around the 120 mark.

69.Metallica-Ride The Lightning(1984)

While the early Metallica albums are decent, there was a lot of other much better metal out there. This should be on the list but much lower.

68.Husker Du-Zen Arcade(1984)

This album is considered to be a stone cold punk classic. I like it a lot but I do think it's very overrated. This should be in the high 100s.

67.Julee Cruise-Floating Into The Night(1989)

One of the greatest dream pop albums ever made. I would put this in the top 50.

66.Vangelis-Blade Runner Soundtrack(1982)

Eh I was never very impressed with this. Synth wankery that unfortunately spawned a shitload of mediocre copycats in the 2000s. Wouldn't even make my list.

65.Violent Femmes-Self Titled(1983)

Amazing album. Definitely worthy of the top 30. It's a shame their second album"Hallowed Ground" didn't make this list because it's just as good.

64.Grace Jones-Nightclubbing(1981)

She is extremely overrated. Just because she is back playing live doesn't mean her old records got better. I would put this very low on my list.

63.Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds-From Her To Eternity(1984)

No Birthday party on this list? Well then this definitely should not be on the list either. This is his best solo album, but if you aren't going to put his superior band on here...well...

62.Glenn Branca-The Ascension(1981)

Very amazing album, albeit a little overrated. I would put this just a little bit lower. I do have to say though it's nice it got on the list. Is it this high because he recently died though? Do I smell death hero worship?

61.Talking Heads-Stop Making Sense(1984)

It's a live album. Personally I don't put live albums on lists outside of greatest live album lists. So DISQUALIFIED!

60.EPMD-Strictly Business(1988)

Classic album. Good placement.

59.Kate Bush-The Sensual World(1989)

So they didn't put her far superior album "The Dreaming" on here and instead put this schmaltzy piece of shit on here? This is the beginning of her music starting to suck hard. This has no business being on any list.

58.My Bloody Valentine-Isn't Anything(1988)

Great album. This is a good placement.

57.Galaxie 500-On Fire(1989)

Great album. I would have put this one a little lower.

56.Bruce Springsteen-Born In The USA(1984)

The only Springsteen album that belongs on an 80s list is Nebraska. I don't care how many baby boomers creamed their pants over this one. It's cheesy anthemic bullshit.

55.Metallica-Master Of Puppets(1986)

Refer to what I said about "Ride The Lightning" a few entries earlier.

54.The Replacements-Tim(1984)

The fact that this made it and Pleased To Meet Me didn't is ridiculous. I would swap them out at this position.

53.David Bowie-Scary Monsters And Super Creeps(1980)

His last truly great album. A little too high though.

52.Minutemen-Double Nickels On The Dime(1984)

This would be in my top 5 if not the #1 spot.

51.Sonic Youth-Evol(1986)

No "Sister"? What the hell were you guys thinking? Swap em out!

50.ESG-Come Away With ESG(1983)

This would be in my top 10. This is a perfect album.

49.Paul Simon-Graceland(1986)

This would be in my top 10 as well.

48.Slick Rick-The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick(1988)

Great hilarious and ridiculously ahead of it's time Hip Hop album. Good placement on this one.

47.U2-The Joshua Tree(1987)

This is some of the worst horseshit I have ever heard. This would never be on a list of mine. U2 are horrible and I wish people would realize that fact.

46.Dinosaur Jr.-You're Living All Over Me(1987)

Great guitar album. I would place this lower as I feel I haven't had the same emotional connection to this as a lot of other people have.

45.Fugazi-Self Titled(1988)

This is a great album but it's way too high on this list.

44.Sinead O'Conner-The Lion And The Cobra(1987)

Not that great. I would put this pretty low on my list.

43.The Smiths-Hatful Of Hollow(1984)

This is a singles compilation. Therefore it's not a full length. DISQUALIFIED!

42.Tom Waits-Rain Dogs(1985)

One of the best albums of the 80s. This would be in my top 10. I have no idea why stupid Pitchfork didn't also include Swordfishtrombones. They are basically 2 halves of a necessary whole.

41.Bad Brains-Self Titled(1982)

I wish people would stop vaulting these homophobic assholes to such great heights. This would be really low on my list. Also this is not higher than a Dead Kennedys album and they didn't put them on here so...

40.The Jesus And Mary Chain-Psychocandy(1985)

Great album, slightly overrated. Would be a little lower on my list.

39.R.E.M.-Murmur(1983)

Amazing album. One of the greatest debuts of all time. Should be in the top 20.

38.Run DMC-Raising Hell(1986)

Overrated. I would place this much lower.

37.Sade-Stronger Than Pride(1988)

So am I missing something here? How come, since about 5 years ago, there has been this weird critical reevaluation of Sade? Since this phenomenon has occurred I have wasted my time listening to her horrible music in hopes of figuring out why we are giving her the time of day. Her music is boring, bland, smooth jazz influenced coffee shop crap. What is the artistic merit? Did she usher in a genre I'm not aware of? Did she die? How come people love this idiot now? I need to know!!!

36.Black Flag-Damaged(1981)

Punk classic should be in the top 20

35.The Replacements-Let It Be(1984)

Amazing album and pretty solid placement to be honest.

34.Leonard Cohen-I'm Your Man(1988)

This is easily one of Cohen's worst albums. It's cheesy. It's corny. The music is pure and total fart compared t0 his late 60s early 70s output. I wouldn't be caught dead putting this shit on my list. Oh is it because he died?

33.Prince-Dirty Mind(1980)

Just because someone dies it doesn't make past work better. It might be more in the public eye. It doesn't make it better. This is way too high.

32.Pixies-Surfer Rosa(1988)

Classic album. 10/10 would probably be at least in my top 10.

31.Slayer-Reign In Blood(1986)

Classic metal album that I would honestly put a little bit lower. Still glad it's higher than all the Metallica albums though.

30.Janet Jackson-Rhythm Nation 1814(1989)

Pretty farty New Jack Swing if you ask me. Why is this on here?

29.Eric B & Rakim-Follow The Leader(1988)

A little high for this great album. Paid In Full is rightfully higher but there are some other hip hop albums that should be higher than this one.

28.Bruce Springsteen-Nebraska(1982)

This is Springsteen doing an amazing understated folk album. This is his best album. This high of a spot isn't unwarranted. Honestly if you have always hated Springsteen(which a lot of people do) you should really check this one out, you just might be impressed.

27.Cocteau Twins-Treasure(1984)

Stone cold classic. One of the greatest dream pop albums ever made. Would probably be in my top 10.

26.Prince-1999(1982)

Not a horrible album. One of Prince's best. I would put it a lot lower though.

25.Arthur Russell-World Of Echo(1986)

Extremely overrated. Looked at as a LGBTQ icon these days in hindsight. It's not horrible but it's vaulted to very high peaks because of that aforementioned fact. It's really just solid slightly experimental singer songwriter music that critics love to praise since it's obscure and socially conscious. Does that make it great music? Eh

24.Talk Talk-Spirit Of Eden(1988)

One the best albums of all time. This is actually a pretty good placement for it.

23.Minor Threat-Complete Discography(1989)

This is a compilation so it's automatically disqualified plus they put it higher than Black Flag's Damaged and Minutemen's Double Nickels On the Dime so this one gets a big fat NO! DISQUALIFIED!

22.Laurie Anderson-Big Science(1982)

Insanely overrated arty piece of garbage. Never understood why people liked this crap so much.

21.De La Soul-3 Feet High And Rising(1989)

This is definitely a contender for best hip hop album of the 80s but I think 3 of the 5 that are higher than it deserve those spots.

20.Boogie Down Productions-Criminal Minded(1987)

This is a great hip hop album but overall this is placed way too high. I would put this down in the 60s-80s

19.New Order-Power, Corruption & Lies(1983)

Way too high for this album. It's solid but no.

18.Kraftwerk-Computer World(1981)

I used to worship this album. It is great but this is way too high.

17.Prince-Sign O'The Times(1987)

A great Prince album but still way too high up. Pretty sure this is more death worship bullshit to show that Pitchfork was on board. Well they weren't that on board before he died so there's that.

16.Madonna-Self Titled(1983)

This might be her best album. I still wouldn't put any Madonna album on a best of album list. Sure she had some good singles but great albums she most definitely did not have.

15.Beastie Boys-Paul's Boutique(1989)

I would argue this is the best hip hop album of the 80s. It's definitely the best Beastie Boys album. It's also one of the best albums of all time.

14.Pixies-Dootlittle(1989)

I personally like Surfer Rosa better but this is also a classic. I would swap their positions on my own list.

13.The Smiths-The Queen Is Dead(1986)

The best and only real solid Smiths album. I would say this is a good placement for it.

12.Joy Division-Closer(1980)

Amazing album. Solid position. No Complaints.

11.Eric B & Rakim-Paid In Full(1986)

One of the best. I would swap this out for maybe Paul's Boutique.

10.Sade-Diamond Life(1985)

Hell no! Refer to her lower placed album. This is pure shit and has no business being in this position let alone any list of any kind.

09.The Cure-Disintegration(1989)

Way too high for this. It's not even their best. It's their most accessible and universally liked but not their best.

08.Janet Jackson-Control(1986)

Insanely high for something I wouldn't even consider being on a list.

07.Sonic Youth-Daydream Nation(1988)

This is a classic album, personally I would place it a little lower but it's not bad it's this high.

06.Public Enemy-It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back(1988)

Classic I would say leave this right where it is or switch it out with the NWA album below.

05.Talking Heads-Remain In Light(1980)

Great album but very overrated in Pitchfork's hands. This would be in my top 30 but not the top 10.

04.Kate Bush-Hounds Of Love(1985)

Great album but way too high. In the past few years critics have fallen all over themselves to heap praise on Kate. It's great but not #4.

03.N.W.A.-Straight Outta Compton(1988)

This is a good album. In the top 100 but definitely not top 10. I think they might be doing this because they made a movie about them. Also, Pitchfork, for all your social awareness did you forget about Dre?

02.Michael Jackson-Thriller(1982)

Not a chance. top 200 most likely but #2. Hell no.

01.Prince & The Revolution-Purple Rain(1984)

Nope. Don't vault people to great heights because they die prematurely. This is transparent bullshit. No way for the #1 spot. It's too cheesy.