100 Best Albums of the 80's

[gotribe31]

Per Rolling Stone. All I have to say is that I'm glad I was born late enough not to remember some of these. I mean, Prince has 3 of the top 20 spots on the list.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists ... s-20110418

[Triple-S]

1984 at 81, and seeing "Pyromania" (a truly overrated band is Def Leppard) ranked ahead of it is, is a travesty. As is leaving off Pauls Boutique, which is the Beastie Boys best album.

[Larvell Blanks]

The Prince albums were ahead of their time but if you listen now they sound dated.

Two glaring omissions, IMO,
Disintegration - The Cure
Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes

Looking through that list there are really no surprises. I was surprised to see Sonic Youth rated in the middle of the pack. Thought that should be top 25 at least. Seemed like they through in the towel on some picks by choosing those w/ lots of singles on them and were popular ie Culture Club or Cyndi Lauper

[mattvan1]

To say that Rolling Stone Magazine is a mere shell of its former self is an insult to mere shells everywhere.

[Spin]

Nice. List each one on a different page, so you get 100 "views" of all your ads by anyone without a life who will look at them all.


If you're gonna give us a list, give us a list. They must be really hard up for hits.

U2 Joshua Tree #3? It wasn't even U2's third best.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[motherscratcher]

The Prince albums were ahead of their time but if you listen now they sound dated.

Two glaring omissions, IMO,
Disintegration - The Cure
Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes

Looking through that list there are really no surprises. I was surprised to see Sonic Youth rated in the middle of the pack. Thought that should be top 25 at least. Seemed like they through in the towel on some picks by choosing those w/ lots of singles on them and were popular ie Culture Club or Cyndi Lauper

I haven't looked at the list yet but this is insane if those 2 albums are off it.

I agree on Prince, I don't think it's bad for him to occupy some of the top spots.

SSS- Pyromania was awesome. So was 1984, but no need to slam pyromania.

[FUDU]

I don't see much to argue with in the top ten really, you just have to keep it in context. As far as Prince goes, in the 80's there were only two male performers bigger than him (Jacko and Bruce), and maybe one female (Madonna), he got his due.

[hiko]

I haven't looked at this thing, but if that list left off Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes, then it's a piece of fucking crap.

[waborat]

The list is 22 years old, used to bitch about it waaaaay back while bubblin 'shrooms...

Sorry Trips, '84 wasn't even VH's best in the 80's, that would go to Fair Warning, W&C1st & 5150. Hell, take off Drop Dead Legs & Top Jimmy and ya probably have their worst album recorded...

I agree, Pyromania was good, but High N Dry was much better...

Having the Boss' best 2 lps of the 80's (Nebraska & River) behind BITUSA & Tunnel Of Love is BS...

Rolling Stone, as usual, put most of their list as the most popular, not the best. Although it was nice to see London Calling beat out a bunch of the other crap

[Cerebral_DownTime]

They got the worng Metallicash album.

Ride The Lightning was better than Kill 'Em All.

But as THE MattVan said...... Rolling Stone sucks donkey balls.

[FUDU]

The list is 22 years old, used to bitch about it waaaaay back while bubblin 'shrooms...

Sorry Trips, '84 wasn't even VH's best in the 80's, that would go to Fair Warning, W&C1st & 5150. Hell, take off Drop Dead Legs & Top Jimmy and ya probably have their worst album recorded...

I agree, Pyromania was good, but High N Dry was much better...

Having the Boss' best 2 lps of the 80's (Nebraska & River) behind BITUSA & Tunnel Of Love is BS...

Rolling Stone, as usual, put most of their list as the most popular, not the best. Although it was nice to see London Calling beat out a bunch of the other crap

Yeah but wabs you were 30 in the 80's so that changes everything.

[Triple-S]

The list is 22 years old, used to bitch about it waaaaay back while bubblin 'shrooms...

Sorry Trips, '84 wasn't even VH's best in the 80's, that would go to Fair Warning, W&C1st & 5150. Hell, take off Drop Dead Legs & Top Jimmy and ya probably have their worst album recorded..

The worst Van HALEN record was Diver Down, mainly because of the covers on it. Worst Van HAGAR album was OU812.

I agree Fair Warning was the best, but that wouldn't make a list like this.

[mattvan1]

But as THE MattVan said...... Rolling Stone sucks donkey balls.

[jb]

I got no major issues except two. I mean, how do you REALLY make a case London Calling doesn't belong at or near the top. Joshua Tree, too, which IS U2's best single work, by a significant margin.

It's RS. You know what you're getting and this stuff is subjective. I'm only shocked they didn't find a way to make the top five something like The Stones, John Lennon, The Who, and whatever schlock McCartney put out.

My only two major issues are that anything Lou Red as done since the 1970's SUCKS and only Wenner himself and his NY obsession gets him where he is and there is no excuse for leaving out Musical Youth.

Pass the mutha feakin' Dutchie.

[hermanfontenot]

Neil Young could fart into a microphone twelve times and RS would still give it four stars.

[FUDU]

Neil Young could fart into a microphone twelve times and RS would still give it four stars.

Neil Young farts are better than 50% of what is on that list anyway.

Neil Young (as a song writer) : that list :: Tom Hamilton : Matt Underwood

[hermanfontenot]

Neil Young farts are better than 50% of what is on that list anyway.

Neil Young (as a song writer) : that list :: Tom Hamilton : Matt Underwood

Neil Young blows. Yeah, you heard me.

[motherscratcher]

Neil Young farts are better than 50% of what is on that list anyway.

Neil Young (as a song writer) : that list :: Tom Hamilton : Matt Underwood

Neil Young blows. Yeah, you heard me.

Madness

[Larvell Blanks]

Neil Young farts are better than 50% of what is on that list anyway.

Neil Young (as a song writer) : that list :: Tom Hamilton : Matt Underwood

Neil Young blows. Yeah, you heard me.

Madness

You're right. Can't discount early 80's Ska. I enjoyed "Our House" and "One step beyond". Another glaring omission.

[jb]

^^^^^^^^^^^^

Some artists really should just write songs and let someone else sing.

Neil can't fuckin' sing.

In the 80's I wouldn't give 2 shits for anything other but "Rockin' in the free world" and the only reason he'd be on any 80's list is casue Vetter liked it in the 90's.

[jb]

Madness

You're right. Can't discount early 80's Ska. I enjoyed "Our House" and "One step beyond". Another glaring omission.

+ 1

In general, these types of lists are incredibly punk / mainstream r n r biased, just as is the RRHOFM. Very little respect given to new wave or ska or even the reggae those bands rolled out. Including UB40 over them is a travesty.

The Specials and The Jam were the shit. Madness was good, too.

I like to play this hen I drive thru Y-town:



This version has a crcaked out her gourd Amy Winehouse for no reson at all


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXmFWwPaUqI&feature=related

[RickNashEquilibrium]

The Specials and The Jam were the shit. Madness was good, too.

All good bands, I actually liked Weller better in Style Council although I am partial to that new age, softer 80's stuff like them, Spandau Ballet, Simple Minds, Wang Chung, etc etc.

[Spin]

Sorry Trips, '84 wasn't even VH's best in the 80's, that would go to Fair Warning, W&C1st & 5150. Hell, take off Drop Dead Legs & Top Jimmy and ya probably have their worst album recorded...

I agree, Pyromania was good, but High N Dry was much better...

1984 was a great hair album, in a different category from their earlier metal albums. And I would put Van Hagar in the pop category.

Leppard, if you took out Die Hard the Hunter, Comin Under Fire, and Billys Got a Gun it would be their first hair album. The rest of Pyro and from then on it was all sugary hair slash pop slash throw up in my mouth crap.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

lol.

Van Halen was never metal.

[Spin]

Why are there no bitch bands in the top 19? They have the Pretenders at 20, hell they broke down more barriers than just about anybody else. Chrissie blazed the trail for Benatar, Jett, Harry.

And where are those three? Benatar had the world by the balls in the late 70's on through the 80's. Jett turned metal on its ear. Blondie was probably too punk for RSM. Cutting edge shit. Once you get past a few top 40 songs.

Speaking of Neil Young, I just heard Johnny Cash covering Heart of Gold today...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-isEdSq7ECg

[waborat]

Chrissie blazed the trail for Benatar, Jett, Harry.

And where are those three? Benatar had the world by the balls in the late 70's on through the 80's. Jett turned metal on its ear. Blondie was probably too punk for RSM. Cutting edge shit. Once you get past a few top 40 songs.

FWIW, Harry was on the scene before Hynde, Blondie only released 1 album worth a damn in the 80s, more a 70's band...

Jett 'n metal in the same sentence is funny

[waborat]

The worst Van HALEN record was Diver Down, mainly because of the covers on it.

Little Guitars > anything on 84's Jump On Teacher

[FUDU]

Neil Young farts are better than 50% of what is on that list anyway.

Neil Young (as a song writer) : that list :: Tom Hamilton : Matt Underwood

Neil Young blows. Yeah, you heard me.

Madness

..and all this time I thought mo was calling Herm crazy.

[Spin]

[Spin]

Jett 'n metal in the same sentence is funny

Yeah, thinking more clearly she was obviously pop with an edge. A more commercialized Benatar.

I still put Pat's Crimes of Passion in the top 20.

[waborat]

Jett 'n metal in the same sentence is funny

Yeah, thinking more clearly she was obviously pop with an edge. A more commercialized Benatar.

I still put Pat's Crimes of Passion in the top 20.

Pat & hubby Neil were pretty tough in the early days

[jb]

Blondie was probably too punk for RSM. Cutting edge shit.

Plus you already established that Blondie drove Kool Herc around on the hip hop cheese bus.

Concur that Blondie was too hard core considering London Calling was ranked # 1. Shit, in the 80's in my late teens I always cranked Atomic and Touched by Your Presence Dear before I went out to kick some ass.

Bunch of fluffers at RS

[Spin]

Blondie was probably too punk for RSM. Cutting edge shit.

Plus you already established that Blondie drove Kool Herc around on the hip hop cheese bus.

Concur that Blondie was too hard core considering London Calling was ranked # 1. Shit, in the 80's in my late teens I always cranked Atomic and Touched by Your Presence Dear before I went out to kick some ass.

Bunch of fluffers at RS

Obviously RSM isn't afraid of punk rockers, looking at the top 10. Maybe just punkers who laid out a couple top 40 hooks on each album to boost sales. Which is all you guys heard anyway (the same reason Clement Burke doesn't get any pub as one of the best drummers). Not my loss.

I still say if you put the Pretenders in the top 20 (and rightfully so), Benatar should be there too. Again, not my loss...

[Cerebral_DownTime]

70's Heart was pretty good.

[FUDU]

70's Heart was pretty good.

Yep 70's Heart was good, but then they became fat.

[Triple-S]

I still say if you put the Pretenders in the top 20 (and rightfully so), Benatar should be there too. Again, not my loss...

not to veer all that off-topic, always found it weirdly amusing that the mall she's singing of in "Back to Ohio" was the one my mom dragged me to as a kid all the time.

Also, she's bitching about the lack of farms in ohio? really? Has she been to areas around Stark Co. and Northern Summit?

[Larvell Blanks]

I still say if you put the Pretenders in the top 20 (and rightfully so), Benatar should be there too. Again, not my loss...

not to veer all that off-topic, always found it weirdly amusing that the mall she's singing of in "Back to Ohio" was the one my mom dragged me to as a kid all the time.

Also, she's bitching about the lack of farms in ohio? really? Has she been to areas around Stark Co. and Northern Summit?

It's
My City was Gone
that's like calling Baba O'Reilly "Teenage Wasteland"

[FUDU]

He does have you there 3S.

[Larvell Blanks]

70's Heart was pretty good.

Yep 70's Heart was good, but then they became fat.

Only one became fat

the other had her eye on Brad Hamilton momentarily

[Triple-S]

He does have you there 3S.

that he does..

[Spin]

I still say if you put the Pretenders in the top 20 (and rightfully so), Benatar should be there too. Again, not my loss...

not to veer all that off-topic, always found it weirdly amusing that the mall she's singing of in "Back to Ohio" was the one my mom dragged me to as a kid all the time.

The one that's closed now?

Also, she's bitching about the lack of farms in ohio? really? Has she been to areas around Stark Co. and Northern Summit?

The land the mall is on was a farm that teenagers use to hang out, and did things teenagers did when they hung out. Then it became a big busy commercialized mass of concrete. Then the Metro busses rolled in, and it became a different teenage hangout (think Randall Park and more recently Tower City). Now it's just a bunch of useless empty concrete.

[Triple-S]

Wait...Chapel Hill?

I thought that was still open.

or am I thinking wrong akron mall.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

Now it's just a bunch of useless empty concrete

So?

Why can't teenagagers hang out in the empty concrete?.

Kids love squalor.

[waborat]

70's Heart was pretty good.

Yep 70's Heart was good, but then they became fat.

Only one became fat

the other had her eye on Brad Hamilton momentarily

Nancy still looks good, and rocks

[Spin]

Wait...Chapel Hill?

I thought that was still open.

or am I thinking wrong akron mall.

Not Chapel Hill. It was there before she left for Brittain.

Some sources have it as Cascade Plaza, but Rolling Acres Mall was built in the late 1970's while she was gone, so that's the more likely what she's talking about.

[Spin]

Now it's just a bunch of useless empty concrete

So?

Why can't teenagagers hang out in the empty concrete?.

Kids love squalor.

it's still inhabited by "other" teens.

[jb]

Wait...Chapel Hill?

I thought that was still open.

or am I thinking wrong akron mall.

Not Chapel Hill. It was there before she left for Brittain.

Some sources have it as Cascade Plaza, but Rolling Acres Mall was built in the late 1970's while she was gone, so that's the more likely what she's talking about.

Chrissi (and her talented brother Terry I might add) are from the Falls, Spin. Why the freak would she sing about Copely? The lyric is "My" city was gone.

It's about Chapel Hill when the area shopping shifted from the State St plaza to Howe & Bucholtzer and they plowed over rural land only to leave a crumbling strip plaza and a vacant downtown Akron.

[jb]

Now it's just a bunch of useless empty concrete

So?

Why can't teenagagers hang out in the empty concrete?.

Kids love squalor.

Seemed happy enough in Slum Dog Millionare.

[Triple-S]

Chrissi (and her talented brother Terry I might add) are from the Falls, Spin. Why the freak would she sing about Copely? The lyric is "My" city was gone.

It's about Chapel Hill when the area shopping shifted from the State St plaza to Howe & Bucholtzer and they plowed over rural land only to leave a crumbling strip plaza and a vacant downtown Akron.

Don't know man...that popcorn cart owned...Seems almost like it was worth all of that trouble.

[Spin]

Wait...Chapel Hill?

I thought that was still open.

or am I thinking wrong akron mall.

Not Chapel Hill. It was there before she left for Brittain.

Some sources have it as Cascade Plaza, but Rolling Acres Mall was built in the late 1970's while she was gone, so that's the more likely what she's talking about.

Chrissi (and her talented brother Terry I might add) are from the Falls, Spin. Why the freak would she sing about Copely? The lyric is "My" city was gone.

It's about Chapel Hill when the area shopping shifted from the State St plaza to Howe & Bucholtzer and they plowed over rural land only to leave a crumbling strip plaza and a vacant downtown Akron.

How in the hell can the Pride of Firestone High School be from Cuyahoga Falls? I see nowhere where she ever lived in Caucasian Falls.

Chapel Hill Mall was built in 1967. Chrissie left Akron for London in 1973. Rolling Acres was built in 1975. She "Went Back to Ohio" in 1982. And State Road Plaza was still fully occupied into the late 80's early 90's. Montgommery Ward shutting down started it's death spiral as much as anything else.

It's obvious she's singing about several sites.

"There was no train station. There was no downtown." (Polsky's and O'Neil's, and all the little stores around them)
"South Howard had disappeared" (where they built Cascade Plaza)(There's no South Howard in Cuyahoga Falls)
"The farms of Ohio had been replaced by shopping malls" (Rolling Acres)

Here's an interesting fact. When they attended Kent State, Chrissie and Mark Mothersbough of Devo played in a band.

Here's something I came up with myself (for Sociology class). First everyone went downtown. Then the plazas took them away from downtown. Then the malls took them away from the plazas. Then the plazas (anchored by big box stores) took them away from the malls. Now you have plazas that look like downtown (Legacy Village, Crocker Park).