The Old Acclaimed Music Forum

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Jan 3, 2009 - 7:25PM

Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Time for the album results. The formatting, even though I'm pretty much completely copying Henrik's, is quite a bit of work, so I will be posting them 10 at a time until the top 25, when they will be posted 5 at a time. The time between the posts will vary from an hour to maybe up to a day, depending on how busy I am. Songs will be posted after the album ranking is unveiled.

Please feel free to have a lively discussion and I'll try to answer any questions you have.

Accidentally typed 1990s in the title of the topic of the last one. You can delete that post if you want Henrik.

Stephan

Jan 3, 2009 - 7:37PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

I will include people in the biggest fans section when they've placed the album in their top 25, unless there are more than 5 people that placed it in their top 25. In that case I will just mention the highest 5 rankings.

#100

The Rolling Stones - Tattoo You (1981)

Score: 860 points

Biggest fans:
Greg Rumpff (#24), Greg (#24)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1981 poll: 9

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 205

#99

Metallica - Kill 'Em All (1983)

Score: 872 points

Biggest fans:
LonesomePanda (#21)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1983 poll: 9

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 125

#98

Black Flag - Damaged (1981)

Score: 880 points

Biggest fans:
None

Comments:
I'm not interested in that kind of attitude, I'm not interested in worshipping ugliness, violence and noise. (nicolas)

Place in the 1981 poll: 8

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 63

#97

X - Wild Gift (1981)

Score: 887 points

Biggest fans:
Harold Wexler (#20)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1981 poll: 3

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 105

#96

Bob Dylan - Infidels (1983)

Score: 905 points

Biggest fans:
Snusmumrik (#9), Toni (#21)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1983 poll: 10

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 561

#95

The Replacements - Pleased To Meet Me (1987)

Score: 920 points

Biggest fans:
John (#12)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1987 poll: 8

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 156

#94

The Gun Club - Fire Of Love (1981)

Score: 934 points

Biggest fans:
LonesomePanda (#15), Mo (#17), Snusmumrik (#1 , Netjade (#23), Sonofsamiam (#25)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1981 poll: 8

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 148

#93

The Clash - Combat Rock (1982)

Score: 940 points

Biggest fans:
Mo (#1), TOni (#19)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1982 poll: 8

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 216

#92

Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast (1982)

Score: 949 points

Biggest fans:
Nicolas (#7), Mo (# , Henrik (#16)

Comments:
The perfect heavy metal album. The music here is almost classical. (nicolas)

Place in the 1982 poll: 8

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 68

#91

My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything (198

Score: 951 points

Biggest fans:
Netjade (#9), Mitchell Stirling (#22), SuperFurry (#25)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1988 poll: 8

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 102

Henrik

Jan 3, 2009 - 7:55PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Stephan, a great start (i.e. the great albums are still to come)!

It looks like some of the positions from the yearly polls are wrong, a few too many 8's I think.

Stephan

Jan 3, 2009 - 7:57PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Damn, I just noticed I screwed up the "Place in the 198x poll"

The actual rankings are:
9
9
8
3
10
9
6
7
10
9

nicolas

Jan 3, 2009 - 8:03PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Too bad that heavy metal is underrated here...
And "Infidels" gets a surprinsingly bad score

John

Jan 3, 2009 - 8:19PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

I wonder how many people have heard Infidels. I left it off my list because I hadn't heard the whole thing start to finish.

Honorio

Jan 3, 2009 - 9:54PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Good start, but The Stones deserved a higher placement IMHO.

Jan 3rd, 2009 - 9:54 PM

Stephan

Jan 3, 2009 - 10:31PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

6 people haven't heard Infidels. It's in the higher regions I think, but not very high. 11 people haven't heard Pleased To Meet Me for example.

netjade

Jan 3, 2009 - 10:46PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Good start, but The Stones deserved a higher placement IMHO.

..and so did pierce, rollins, ptmme and mbv as well.. it's the spirit of the poll, my spanish friend, and it will leave us in agony and pleasure, in letdowns and surprises, ennui and excitement all over again and again and again_ (blank spot for a squint-eyed emoticon with stolid eyebrows and long, flaming, sunset coloured hair streaming out behind it, and some pianoAdagio from Khachaturian's Spartacus)
_

...thus no This Heat and Furs among the bottom 10... wow, the spirit of the poll still DOES work wonders... plus I had Infidels on #93, not bad for a mark of my childhood.

nj

ps. great job, Steph. next bit! next bit! next bit!

Stephan

Jan 3, 2009 - 11:47PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

#90

New Order - Low-Life (1985)

Score: 954 points

Biggest fans:
Mitchell Stirling (#13), Moonbeam (#20), Jonah (#20), LonesomePanda (#24)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1981 poll: 10

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 80

#89

Meat Puppets - II (1983)

Score: 958 points

Biggest fans:
Toni (#14), John (#19), Netjade (#19)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1983 poll: 8

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 211

#88

Donald Fagen - THe Nightfly (1982)

Score: 960 points

Biggest fans:
Greg Rumpff (#10), Honorio (#25)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1981 poll: 8

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 49

#87

Talk Talk - The Colour of Spring (1986)

Score: 979 points

Biggest fans:
Netjade (#22), Andre (#25)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1981 poll: 10

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 176

#86

The Psychedelic Furs - Talk Talk Talk (1981)

Score: 980 points

Biggest fans:
Mo (#9), Michel (#11)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1983 poll: 7

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 210

#85

X - Los Angeles (1980)

Score: 982 points

Biggest fans:
BillAdama (#9), Jonah (#19), Rocky Raccoon (#23)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1987 poll: 5

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 64

#84

The Cure - Pornography (1982)

Score: 984 points

Biggest fans:
Moonbeam (#5), Henrik (#15)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1981 poll: 6

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 99

#83

New Order - Technique (1989)

Score: 985 points

Biggest fans:
Mitchell Stirling (#19), Midaso (#20), otisredding (#22), Adrian (#25)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1982 poll: 10

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 42

#82

Roxy Music - Avalon (1982)

Score: 988 points

Biggest fans:
Mo (#3), Greg (#17), Moonbeam (#19), John (#22), Henrik (#24)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1982 poll: 5

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 60

#81

N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton (198

Score: 998 points

Biggest fans:
Mo (#4), Nicolas (#

Comments:
A bomb. Those three first tracks are violent, funky and funny, and groovy as hell. (nicolas)

Place in the 1988 poll: 8

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 23

Stephan

Jan 3, 2009 - 11:52PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

That's the last one for today. I'll leave you with a little factoid: the average year for the last 20 albums is 1983. Seems like we're valuing the second half of the decade a bit higher than the first half.

netjade

Jan 4, 2009 - 12:24AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

.. and so much for the letdownzs... nightfly, avalon, pornography, los angeles, technique.. ...
...
on leigheing dreemves
_
dey szay. and.... snobula

a tlast

[8D]

Rocky Raccoon

Jan 4, 2009 - 1:17AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Thought I had "Wild Gift" higher on my list than "Los Angeles," I must have screwed up my list and switched them. "Wild Gift" would have finished higher. Oh well.

Rocky Raccoon

Jan 4, 2009 - 1:21AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

P.S. Nice work so far, but I think you mean to say: Acclaimed Music 1980s rank (not 1990s) Eagerly awaiting next installment.

Moonbeam

Jan 4, 2009 - 2:06AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Stephan, great work! One thing though- I voted Pornography at 15, not 5. The reason I bring it up is that I have another Cure album at number 5, and I don't want it to suffer if it's believed to be 15!

Stephan

Jan 4, 2009 - 10:28AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Oh, fuck! You two were the ones who submitted a list without the Album ID intact as I requested and I thought that by ordering your list by artist that problem would be solved. However, Excel seems to randomly place artists with multiple albums, so they have been mixed around. Damn, damn, damn.

I'll try to fix this and let you know what changed..

Stephan

Jan 4, 2009 - 11:19AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

I really hope I didn't order any of the other lists by artist and screwed up other rankings.. I don't think so, but I don't have the time to check either. Well, these changes gave us a new #1, and pretty much the whole top 50 was switched around. Fortunately not that many changes in the bottom 20, but here's the revised list:

81) N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton
82) New Order - Technique
83) Roxy Music - Avalon
84) Psychedelic Furs, The - Talk Talk Talk
85) Talk Talk - The Colour Of Spring
86) X - Los Angeles
87) Cure, The - Pornography
88) Fagen, Donald - The Nightfly
89) Meat Puppets - II
90) My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything
91) Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast
92) New Order - Low-Life
93) Clash, The - Combat Rock
94) Gun Club, The - Fire Of Love
95) Replacements, The - Pleased To Meet Me
96) X - Wild Gift
97) Dylan, Bob - Infidels
98) Black Flag - Damaged
99) Metallica - Kill 'Em All
100) Rolling Stones, The - Tattoo You

Jan 4, 2009 - 11:55AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Stephan,

None of my votes so far are right.
Please check.
I can send you my original lists if you want.

Honorio

Jan 4, 2009 - 11:56AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Great work, Stephan, but did you finally received my comments for both albums and songs? I’m saying this because you didn’t posted my comments for “The Nightfly”. There were not so brilliant, but I’m copying here anyway: “The sophisticated Fagen created an album that simultaneously was a nostalgic wink to the past and a determined step into the future”. Please, let me know if you didn’t received the rest of the comments and I will send you again.

Jan 4th, 2009 - 11:56 AM

Henrik

Jan 4, 2009 - 12:19PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

A new #1, wow it must be close in the top!

Stephan, I know what it's like with messed up ID columns and such. And I know that you have other things to do as well, but if Mo's ranking is completely wrong it sounds like it's necessary with a thorough check before you move on with the countdown. There is no need to rush this thing.

Stephan

Jan 4, 2009 - 12:22PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Yeah, I completely mucked up Mo's ranking. I'm not sure how that happened, but it had nothing to do with the ID-debacle. I've already fixed it and I'm doing a quick check on the others but so far I've found no other errors.

Rocky Raccoon

Jan 4, 2009 - 12:29PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

I don't mind resubmitting with ID's in place if that would make things easier. In the directions you mentioned a "Your Ranking" column, but I didn't see anything specifically marked like that. Is it just column D?

Stephan

Jan 4, 2009 - 12:32PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Yeah, the idea was to have the rankings in column D and keeping column A as it is so I can more easily compile the lists.

It's OK though, it's my fault for not checking if sorting them by artist would give the same order.

Toni

Jan 4, 2009 - 1:22PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Damn, instead of giving the 16th position to Pleased to Meet Me, I made it to Tim, which I hadn't even listened to! Stephan, I know it was all my fault, but if you want you can retire all the points I had given to Tim, ok?
Oh, and Pleased to Meet Me would go, in the first ranking, from 95th to 88th. A little better for such a good album.

Moonbeam

Jan 4, 2009 - 1:25PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Do you want me to resubmit, Stephan?

Andre

Jan 4, 2009 - 6:07PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Oh oh, poor Stephan.

Why not take all your time to do a total recheck and then start the results page over again? Henrik can delete this thread afterwards, right?

VanillaFire1000

Jan 4, 2009 - 7:11PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

You did get my list right? I don't remember getting a conformation email.

Stephan

Jan 4, 2009 - 9:48PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

I don't think I did VanillaFire.

And yeah.. it may be time for a recheck. Stay tuned.

nicolas

Jan 4, 2009 - 10:04PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Courage, stephan

Stephan

Jan 4, 2009 - 10:04PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Ah.. when I saw that you actually made the mistake yourself Toni, I was very relieved. I'll still make a little recheck though.

I will post the revised bottom 20 tomorrow, I think.

Andre

Jan 4, 2009 - 10:27PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Take it easy, Stephan. With all that nature ice going on in Holland now, why don't you take a break and go skating tomorrow? A day in the fresh air can do wonders

Stephan

Jan 5, 2009 - 12:08AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

I have been skating last week, but I'm now back at my apartment in Groningen where (unfortunately) I don't have any ice skates. Perhaps it's for the better though, since I have a school assignment due friday that still needs quite a bit of work.

Miguel

Jan 5, 2009 - 7:53AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Stephan, I'm in the same situation as VanillaFire1000. Did you receive my list?. I sent it two times, to your email addresses (stephan@neoptolemos.com and neoptolemos.com@gmail.com).

Stephan

Jan 5, 2009 - 10:12AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Yes Miguel, I did receive your list.

VanillaFire1000

Jan 5, 2009 - 11:41AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Damn. I don't have that file anymore too.

Stephan

Jan 5, 2009 - 12:04PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Hm, that sucks.. what email did you send it from? Perhaps I missed it..

Jonah

Jan 5, 2009 - 1:51PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Hey Stephan, no worries. I think a lot of us are willing to wait as long as necessary to get accurate results.

For my spreadsheet, I used the Sort function on Excel to separate different songs to make ranking easier. When I was finally finished, I used the Sort function to order the albums once again by their original ID. I doubt that causes any ordering problems, but I thought you'd like to know and maybe others could use that function in the future.

Stephan

Jan 5, 2009 - 2:04PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Yeah, that was the main idea for the album ID Jonah. It doesn't really matter whether the submitted lists are ordered by ranking or ID, since I can easily sort them by ID if they ID is still intact.

I've done a few random checks and it seems that none of the other lists are wrong, so here's the (hopefully) final bottom 20, with a new #81.

#81

Hüsker Dü - New Day Rising (1985)

Score: 981 points

Biggest fans:
Fred (#7), John (# , Harold Wexler (#12), Toni (#25)

Comments:
More interesting to me than Zen Arcade. A little more melodic, with even cool moments. (nicolas)

Place in the 1985 poll: 8

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 67

81) Hüsker Dü - New Day Rising
82) N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton
83) Talk Talk - The Colour Of Spring
84) Psychedelic Furs, The - Talk Talk Talk
85) Meat Puppets - II
86) X - Los Angeles
87) Roxy Music - Avalon
8 Cure, The - Pornography
89) Fagen, Donald - The Nightfly
90) New Order - Low-Life
91) Replacements, The - Pleased To Meet Me
92) Gun Club, The - Fire Of Love
93) Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast
94) My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything
95) Clash, The - Combat Rock
96) X - Wild Gift
97) Dylan, Bob - Infidels
9 Black Flag - Damaged
99) Metallica - Kill 'Em All
100) Rolling Stones, The - Tattoo You

If anyone finds any mistakes as far as 'Biggest Fans', please let me know. I really don't have the time to redo all the formatting, but if anyone finds another mistake in what I already posted I guess I will have to. I am fairly certain that the rest is fine now though.

nicolas

Jan 5, 2009 - 4:13PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

I'm a bit embarrassed because I don't find my comments on Husker Du and Black Flag particularly intersting, especially because they are not so positive, but hell, now it's written..

nicolas

Jan 5, 2009 - 4:19PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

So, this new list leaves New Order's "Technique" out.
Will it be the # 80 ?

Stephan

Jan 5, 2009 - 5:06PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Yes, Moonbeam's #20 spot for Technique made it #80.

Henrik

Jan 5, 2009 - 6:06PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

nicolas, it's the rest of us who haven't posted any comments who should be embarrassed!

BillAdama

Jan 5, 2009 - 6:35PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

The Cure and New Order are doing surprisingly bad so far. And I thought Los Angeles would do better at least, I wonder how low it would have fallen without my #9 vote.

Jan 5th, 2009 - 6:35 PM

VanillaFire1000

Jan 5, 2009 - 10:44PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Subject: The Best Albums and Songs of the 1980s
From: lackey@eden.rutgers.edu
Date: Sat, December 13, 2008 3:14 pm

That is when I sent it. I can also get the excel document back if you can't find it or I filled it in wrong.

Rocky Raccoon

Jan 5, 2009 - 10:46PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

That's funny, nicolas, because I find Zen Arcade more melodic. New Day Rising seems more hardcore to me, whereas Zen Arcade is touched by just a hint of pop sensibility.

Stephan

Jan 6, 2009 - 12:00AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

I did not receive it VanillaFire, I'm sorry. I think it's probably a little too late to still send it, since I already unveiled the last 20.

John

Jan 6, 2009 - 12:08AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

I'm with Nicolas. I find New Day Rising much more accessible.

Stephan

Jan 6, 2009 - 12:36AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Hope I've got this one right.

#80

New Order - Technique (1989)

Score: 995 points

Biggest fans:
Mitchell Stirling (#19), Midaso (#20), otisredding (#22), Adrian (#25)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1989 poll: 10

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 42

#79

The Replacements - Tim (1985)

Score: 1008 points

Biggest fans:
John (#3), Greg (#15), Midaso (#24)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1985 poll: 7

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 88

#78

Peter Gabriel - So (1986)

Score: 1017 points

Biggest fans:
Greg Rumpff (#7), Miguel (#12), Michel (#17), Andre (#20), Snusmumrik (#23)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1986 poll: 8

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 32

#77

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Trust (1981)

Score: 1018 points

Biggest fans:
Toni (#12), Fred (#14), Miguel (#21)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1981 poll: 4

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 213

#76

Bob Dylan - Oh, Mercy (198

Score: 1021 points

Biggest fans:
Snusmumrik (#1), otisredding (#11), SuperFurry (#14)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1988 poll: 9

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 257

#75

Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill (1986)

Score: 1022 points

Biggest fans:
Toni (#9), LonesomePanda (#10), Greg Rumpff (#12)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1986 poll: 7

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 28

#74

Run-D.M.C. - Raising Hell (1986)

Score: 1024 points

Biggest fans:
SuperFurry (#10), Toni (#11), Greg Rumpff (#17), ROcky Raccoon (#25)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1986 poll: 9

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 30

#73

Madonna - Like A Prayer (1989)

Score: 1025 points

Biggest fans:
Moonbeam (#4), Sonofsamiam (#14), Greg Rumpff (#1 , Honorio (#1

Comments:
The most ambitious effort from the Blond Ambition (and that’s saying a lot), focusing on personal subjects but not losing their controversial edge. (Honorio)

Place in the 1989 poll: 8

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 59

#72

Eric B. & Rakim - Paid In Full (1987)

Score: 1026 points

Biggest fans:
Sonofsamiam (#7), Toni (#1 , tremolo (#1 , Greg (#25)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1987 poll: 10

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 55

#71

The Police - Synchronicity (1983)

Score: 1027 points

Biggest fans:
Rocky Raccoon (#10), Toni (#13), Stephan (#14), Greg Rumpff (#19), Michel (#22)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1983 poll: 6

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 34

#70 and #71 have the same amount of points, but #70 has the highest single ranking.

Rocky Raccoon

Jan 6, 2009 - 9:40AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Wow, only ten points separate No. 78 and 70.

Stephan

Jan 6, 2009 - 10:13AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

#70

Brian Eno - David Bryne - My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts (1981)

Score: 1027 points

Biggest fans:
Andre (#7), Mo (#15), Michel (#16), Henrik (#21), Honorio (#24)

Comments:
Eno & Byrne previewed the sound of the future with samples and world music, getting ahead of their contemporaries for more than a decade. (Honorio)

Place in the 1981 poll: 2

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 46

#69

Sonic Youth - Sister (1987)

Score: 1030 points

Biggest fans:
tremolo (# , BillAdama (#10), SuperFurry (#19), Jonah (#23)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1987 poll: 6

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 38

#68

Hüsker Dü - Warehouse: Songs And Stories (1987)

Score: 1030 points

Biggest fans:
SuperFurry (#3), Fred (# , Greg (#20), Snusmumrik (#25), Snusmumrik (#23)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1987 poll: 7

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 87

#67

Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel of Love (1987)

Score: 1039 points

Biggest fans:
Greg (#3), Midaso (#16), Miguel (#17), Stephan (#19), Harold Wexler (#25)

Comments:
Bruce making a concept album about love and his divorce. The production is a bit dated, but great songs anyway and the most personal Springsteen album. (Nicolas)

Place in the 1987 poll: 7

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 110

#66

Neil Young - Freedom (1989)

Score: 1039 points

Biggest fans:
Miguel (#3), Andre (#14), otisredding (#19), Rocky Raccoon (#22), Nicolas (#22)

Comments:
Strange album. Good songs, nothing to throw away, none of them excellent except for the last one, the electric version of "Rocking In The Free World", a true masterpiece. The reason for that is the production : NY has no clear idea about it, and the songs suffer from it, some of them sounding dated, some of them sounding like back in the seventies, some of them like what he was about to do next with Crazy Horse. Too bad, because with a proper sound, that album could have been much bigger.
(Nicolas)

Place in the 1989 poll: 8

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 98

#65

The Smiths - Meat Is Murder (1985)

Score: 1043 points

Biggest fans:
Mitchell Stirling (#11), Andre (#13), SuperFurry (#16), Midaso (#23), Fred (#24)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1985 poll: 9

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 114

#64

Talking Heads - Speaking In Tongues (1983)

Score: 1044 points

Biggest fans:
Miguel (# , Moonbeam (#17), Mo (#1 , Netjade (#20), Toni (#24)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1983 poll: 7

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 270

#63

This Heat - Deceit (1981)

Score: 1065 points

Biggest fans:
tremolo (#4), Netjade (#6), Sonofsamiam (#6), BillAdama (#20), Jonah (#24)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1981 poll: 10

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 280

#62

Pretenders - Pretenders (1980)

Score: 1066 points

Biggest fans:
Harold Wexler (#5), Moonbeam (#16), Rocky Raccoon (#20), Adrian (#24)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1980 poll: 4

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 55

#61

Leonard Cohen - I'm Your Man (198

Score: 1067 points

Biggest fans:
Miguel (#2), otisredding (#9), Fred (#12), Snusmumrik (#15), Henrik (#23)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1988 poll: 6

Acclaimed Music 1990s rank: 92

Honorio

Jan 6, 2009 - 10:14AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Excellent, Stephan, everything is getting better. Only one minor mistake that Rocky Raccoon pointed previously: I think you mean to say: Acclaimed Music 1980s rank (not 1990s).
So… we have the first personal #1 way down to general #76 (because I understand that “Combat Rock” was not Mo’s #1, isn’t it?). Yes, Snusmumrik, “Oh, Mercy” is a great album and, although it’s not on my Top 25, it would have been nice having it in our Top 50. Anyway that’s democracy.
Sorry for the mistake in my comment, I should have said: The most ambitious effort from the Blond Ambition (and that’s saying a lot), focusing on personal subjects but not losing her controversial edge.

Jan 6th, 2009 - 10:14 AM

Stephan

Jan 6, 2009 - 10:26AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Ah, how silly of me. I will fix that for the next albums.

And yes, you're correct. That's the first #1.

Stephan

Jan 6, 2009 - 10:29AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Made another tiny mistake. The 1980s rank for Pretenders - Pretenders is 25, not 55.

Honorio

Jan 6, 2009 - 10:32AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Nicolas, I agree with you about “Freedom”, but there’s an explanation for the dispersion of the arrangements. The album was assembled from different unfinished Young projects (just like the 1977 album “American Stars ‘n’ Bars” or like his very last album, “Chrome Dreams II”). Some of the hardest numbers with Crazy Horse (like “Don’t Cry”) comes from “Eldorado” project, released only in Japan as an EP. Other numbers come from the sessions of 1988’s “This Note’s for You” with the brass section, like the excellent “Crime in the City” (I disagree with you on that, “Rockin’…” is not the only good song, “Crime…” is very good too). By the way, there were still some unreleased gems from these sessions (have you heard the sublime 18 minutes-long “Ordinary People” from the last album?). And, thirdly, the usual acoustic numbers including beautiful duets with Linda Ronstadt, with a song (“Too Far Gone”) dating back to the sessions of “American Stars ‘n’ Bars”. Anyway, I agree, it’s a disperse album, with more focus could have been much better.

Jan 6th, 2009 - 10:32 AM

Moonbeam

Jan 6, 2009 - 10:34AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Great job, Stephan! I wish Like a Prayer was a little higher, but I'm happy it's not in the bottom quarter. To me, that album is one of the greatest accomplishments in the history of pop music. While True Blue flirted with artistic expression, Like a Prayer glows with it. She had built a large enough audience at that point in her career to unleash this deeply affecting personal and powerful statement, and it resonates still today, nearly 20 years later. "Oh Father" is one of the greatest songs of the 80s in my book, and I can't think of a single moment that isn't transcendent and wonderful on that album.

Honorio

Jan 6, 2009 - 10:49AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Agree with U, Moonbeam about “Like a Prayer”. And I missed your comments! But you can add it a posteriori like you just done with “Like a Prayer”!

Jan 6th, 2009 - 10:49 AM

Stephan

Jan 6, 2009 - 11:29AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Looking back at my ranking I think I might have placed Like A Virgin and Pretenders a little too low.. but there's just so many good albums on the list.

Henrik

Jan 6, 2009 - 11:53AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Snusmumrik is listed twice as a fan of "Warehouse: Songs and Stories". Is one of them actually someone else?

Stephan

Jan 6, 2009 - 1:03PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Ah, no. There's nobody who had it as #23, I just forgot to delete that.

Stephan

Jan 6, 2009 - 1:06PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

#60

New Order - Power, Corruption And Lies (1983)

Score: 1070 points

Biggest fans:
Jonah (#9), Honorio (#14), Moonbeam (#14), SuperFurry (#17)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1983 poll: 5

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 79

#59

Metallica - Master Of Puppets (1986)

Score: 1073 points

Biggest fans:
LonesomePanda (#2), Henrik (#4), John (#7)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1986 poll: 5

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 26

#58

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

Score: 1076 points

Biggest fans:
Harold Wexler (#7), Snusmumrik (# , Rocky Raccoon (#17), Stephan (#23), Greg Rumpff (#25)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1982 poll: 9

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 53

#57

The Cure - The Head On The Door (1985)

Score: 1077 points

Biggest fans:
Moonbeam (#9), Honorio (#10), Henrik (#12), Mo (#14)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1985 poll: 3

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 103

#56

The Pogues - If I Should Fall From Grace With God (198

Score: 1078 points

Biggest fans:
Snusmumrik (#10), Adrian (#11), Toni (#15), Michel (#15), John (#24)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1988 poll: 5

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 141

#55

Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes (1983)

Score: 1083 points

Biggest fans:
LonesomePanda (# , Jonah (#16), Honorio (#21), BillAdama (#21), Greg Rumpff (#21)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1983 poll: 4

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 45

#54

Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman (198

Score: 1083 points

Biggest fans:
Andre (#6), Greg Rumpff (#13), Rocky Raccoon (#15), Nicolas (#16), Miguel (#20), Stephan (#20)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1988 poll: 10

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 61

#53

Prince & The Revolution - Parade (1986)

Score: 1097 points

Biggest fans:
Miguel (#6), Moonbeam (#7), Sonofsamiam (#15), Nicolas (#20), Harold Wexler (#21)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1986 poll: 6

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 121

#52

The Smiths - Strangeways Here We Come (1987)

Score: 1112 points

Biggest fans:
Fred (#10), Moonbeam (#10), Mo (#10), Netjade (#15), Midaso (#17)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1987 poll: 5

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 94

#51

Minutemen - Double Nickels On The Dime (1984)

Score: 1118 points

Biggest fans:
Jonah (#7), Netjade (# , tremolo (#14), LonesomePanda (#16), Adrian (#17)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1984 poll: 10

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 44

VanillaFire1000

Jan 6, 2009 - 1:08PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Really? Damn.

I doubt my opinion would greatly change the overall results, but I guess I could just post my top 10 albums.

1. Graceland - Paul Simon
2. Purple Rain - Prince
3. Document - R.E.M.
4. Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman
5. Rum, Sodomy, & The Lash - The Pouges
6. Daydream Nation - Sonic Youth
7. Born in the USA - Bruce Spingsteen
8. Speaking in Tongues - Talking Heads
9. I'm Your Man - Leonard Cohen
10. Paul's Boutique - Beastie Boys

Honorio

Jan 6, 2009 - 2:19PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Sorry, Stephan, but you forgot to post my comments (and maybe other people’s comments too). No problem, I’ll copy and paste right now:
#60 New Order - Power, Corruption And Lies: The resurrection on the third album, after “Still” and “Movement” they were able to find its own voice in the shape of moody dance-pop.
#57 The Cure - The Head On The Door: Usually darker efforts like “Pornography” or “Disintegration” get all the acclaim, but my favourite album by The Cure is their most accessible too. Many of the album charms rely on catchy tunes but it never sounds conventional, Robert Smith knew how to retain his trademark weirdness and eccentricity, and also his emotional drive.
#56 The Pogues - If I Should Fall From Grace With God: Tradition and innovation. Irish traditional music and punk. Love songs and political songs. Or should I say political love songs?
#55 Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes: The organic, amateurish and street-musician sound of the album supposed a breeze of fresh air in the context of the synth-pop reign of the early eighties.

Jan 6th, 2009 - 2:19 PM

nicolas

Jan 6, 2009 - 2:35PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

... and my comment about Tracy Chapman : Simple and beautiful songs sung with a great voice… if you're not afraid of so-called "mainstream".

I've seen that album on many Ikea shelves in many different living rooms (sometimes it was the only CD) but when you listen to it 20 years after, the songs are still working. Of course, now, a lady singing folkey music is very common but let me tell you, it was not the case in 1988. As a folk music fan I had hard times in the '80s...

Greg Rumpff

Jan 6, 2009 - 2:55PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

The rankings I give are sometimes not really representative of how I feel about an album overall...mostly because my "real" 80s picks didn't survive into this vote-off for the most part.

One example is "Tattoo You" that I was listed as the "biggest fan" of...I only own that on vinyl and seldom listen to it.

I did take the time though to rank all of the remaining 100 relative to each other by listing all the tracks for each album, determining how many songs I liked of each of those and calculating the "likability" percentage with another column listing the "great" songs on each LP. I used the "great songs" to help break up ties. I then went back through one last time manually and manipulated it one last time to make sure it was as close to "right" for me as I could make it.

The songs list will be MUCH more representative (for me) of my 80s picks.

Greg Rumpff

Jan 6, 2009 - 3:10PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

A couple random comments on albums:

#88 DONALD FAGEN The Nightfly- I'm a big Steely Dan fan, own all their albums..but Nightfly is the only solo Dan I've ever been able to get into. Kamakiriad always seemed to wrapped up in the concept at the expense of the songs and there wasn't much "catchy" on his most recent one outside of "Security Joan" in my opinion. This one had not only "I.G.Y." and the great title track about the life of an overnight DJ but the snazzy "Walk Between the Raindrops".

#78 PETER GABRIEL So- It was only last year that I first heard the entire album outside the hit tunes so I'm probably overrating this one right now. I'll have a better handle on it by next year.

#74 RUN DMC Raising Hell- Same thing...newness might be giving it more of a bump than is called for.

Stephan

Jan 6, 2009 - 4:22PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Seems like I forget something every time. Sorry guys.

Stephan

Jan 6, 2009 - 6:10PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

#50

Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense (1984)

Score: 1121 points

Biggest fans:
John (#1), Mo (#3), Miguel (#4), Greg Rumpff (#15), Andre (#23)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1984 poll: 7

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 90

#49

Echo & The Bunnymen - Ocean Rain (1984)

Score: 1124 points

Biggest fans:
Mitchell Stirling (#4), Honorio (#13), BillAdama (#17), Michel (#25)

Comments:
A kind of “Forever Changes” for the 80s, a lush backing acoustic guitars and orchestral arrangements for the best set of songs from the pen of Ian McCulloch. (Honorio)

Place in the 1984 poll: 8

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 89

#48

Lou Reed - New York (1989)

Score: 1136 points

Biggest fans:
Nicolas (#5), Snusmumrik (#13), Miguel (#16), Greg (#21), BillAdama (#23), Greg Rumpff (#25)

Comments:
A very cohesive album about Lou Reed's city, which has always been his obsession. Great lyrics, and great sound. Very simple : two guitars, one bass, drums, like Neil Young's Crazy Horse. (Nicolas)

Place in the 1989 poll: 6

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 58

#47

Kraftwerk - Computer Welt (1981)

Score: 1138 points

Biggest fans:
Greg Rumpff (#6), Henrik (#7), Moonbeam (#13), tremolo (#16), otisredding (#23)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1981 poll: 5

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 91

#46

AC/DC - Back In Black (1980)

Score: 1141 points

Biggest fans:
Stephan (#7), Greg Rumpff (#9), LonesomePanda (#14), Nicolas (#15), Greg (#16)

Comments:
Sex and booze and rock'n roll… And a great band. (Nicolas)

Place in the 1980 poll: 7

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 19

#45

The Human League - Dare! (1981)

Score: 1143 points

Biggest fans:
otisredding (#10), Stephan (#11), LonesomePanda (#12), John (#13), Miguel (#14)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1981 poll: 1

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 33

#44

Elvis Costello And The Attractions - Get Happy!! (1980)

Score: 1145 points

Biggest fans:
Fred (#5), Harold Wexler (# , otisredding (#12), Netjade (#14), John (#1

Comments:
None

Place in the 1980 poll: 10

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 50

#43

Prince - Dirty Mind (1980)

Score: 1147 points

Biggest fans:
Henrik (#9), Moonbeam (#11), Harold Wexler (#13), Jonah (#14), Rocky Raccoon (#16)

Comments:
Funky and pop, sexually explicit and musically full of genius, all of Prince is already there in this album, which is visionnary and influencial for all the urban black music of the '80s. (Nicolas)

Place in the 1980 poll: 6

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 73

#42

R.E.M. - Reckoning (1984)

Score: 1150 points

Biggest fans:
John (#2), otisredding (#15), Snusmumrik (#17), Andre (#1 , Michel (#20)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1984 poll: 3

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 101

#41

Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction (1987)

Score: 1152 points

Biggest fans:
Nicolas (#6), Stephan (#6), BillAdama (#11), John (#15), Greg (#1

Comments:
A great rock'n roll album in the middle of these freezing eighties. Of course, it is excessive, but exuberance is the essence of rock'n roll. Rock'n roll has nothing to do with intergrity, it's just fun, and they know that. (Nicolas)

Place in the 1987 poll: 4

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 11

Toni

Jan 6, 2009 - 9:52PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Strange to see the 10th place in the 1980 poll right ahead of the 1st of the 1981 poll... Now there's no little doubt that 81 was by far the worst year of the decade!

Rocky Raccoon

Jan 7, 2009 - 2:00AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

— Have we had all the 1981 albums yet? I'm too lazy to look.
— I'm amazed how few points seem to be separating every album, did that happen in the '90s poll? Again, too lazy.
— Also, I'm pretty sure I had 'Appetite for Destruction' in my top 25, but I'm not listed.

Rocky Raccoon

Jan 7, 2009 - 2:06AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

OK, I checked, we're done with 1981.

Snusmumrik

Jan 7, 2009 - 8:33AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Great work, Stephan. I've been out of touch a while, but glad I'm not missing the entire countdown.

Nassim (a.k.a. Lonesome Panda)

Jan 7, 2009 - 9:11AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Rocky Raccoon, you're not listed because you are not in the 5 biggest fans, even though it is in your top 25.

There were not much score differences either between the albums in the 90s poll (even though I would not tell if there were much or less). The main difference I guess is that in the 90s poll their was quite a gap between each albums of the top 10, while here it seems that a single vote can change the winner.
I have checked that recently since I have discovered or learned to like some albums and Sigur Ros or Neutral Milk Hotel would have won a few steps with the votes I would makes right now.

Stephan

Jan 7, 2009 - 5:28PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

#40

The Pogues - Rum, Sodomy And The Lash (1985)

Score: 1156 points

Biggest fans:
LonesomePanda (#3), Adrian (#4), Snusmumrik (#7), SuperFurry (# , Toni (#17)

Comments:
When punk meets celtic. Powerful album, a bit messy but hosting a true masterpiece, "And The Band played Waltzing Mathilda" (Nicolas)

Place in the 1985 poll: 4

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 39

#39

David Bowie - Scary Monsters (1980)

Score: 1159 points

Biggest fans:
Fred (#3), Snusmumrik (#3), Moonbeam (#6), otisredding (# , Honorio (#12)

Comments:
Bowie made a decided step into the 80s with an album that supposed the culmination of all sides of 70s Bowie: avant-garde, cold funk and glamorous. (Honorio)

Place in the 1980 poll: 8

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 72

#38

Prefab Sprout Steve McQueen/Two Wheels Good (1985)

Score: 1164 points

Biggest fans:
Honorio (#3), Sonofsamiam (#10), otisredding (#14), Henrik (#14), Fred (#17), Andre (#17)

Comments:
Sophisti-pop at its best. And that’s not only because of the polished arrangements courtesy of Thomas Dolby but mainly for the superb song-writing of Paddy McAloon. Opaque and clever but sensitive lyrics and complex but brilliant melodies filled an album that never fails to fascinate me every time I listen to it no matter the many years passed since I discover it. (Honorio)

Place in the 1985 poll: 6

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 40

#37

Kate Bush - Hounds Of Love (1985)

Score: 1166 points

Biggest fans:
Mitchell Stirling (#5), Henrik (# , Sonofsamiam (#13), Fred (#1 , Adrian (#20)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1985 poll: 5

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 35

#36

The Cure - Seventeen Seconds (1980)

Score: 1169 points

Biggest fans:
Henrik (#3), Michel (#4), Moonbeam (#5), LonesomePanda (#6), Nicolas (#14)

Comments:
The Cure really invented a sound. The best example is Disintegration. (Nicolas)

Place in the 1983 poll: 9

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 116

#35

The Smiths - Hatful Of Hollow (1984)

Score: 1171 points

Biggest fans:
Midaso (#4), Adrian (#5), Michel (# , Andre (#9), Mitchell Stirling (#17)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1984 poll: 9

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 108

#34

R.E.M. - Life's Rich Pageant (1986)

Score: 1176 points

Biggest fans:
Andre (#3), Michel (#6), Miguel (#9), Mitchell Stirling (#1 , tremolo (#21)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1986 poll: 3

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 126

#33

Talk Talk - Spirit Of Eden (198

Score: 1181 points

Biggest fans:
Netjade (#2), Snusmumrik (#4), Mo (#4), Sonofsamiam (#9), tremolo (#10)

Comments:
During the risky and adventurous search of their own sound, Mark Hollis found an abstract, unique and strange kind of beauty. (Honorio)

Place in the 1988 poll: 7

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 57

#32

XTC - Skylarking (1986)

Score: 1190 points

Biggest fans:
tremolo (#5), Miguel (#13), Midaso (#15), Sonofsamiam (#16), Netjade (#16)

Comments:
Clever lyrics about adulthood subjects (not hiding thorny matters as atheism) enhanced by detailed and inventive arrangements. (Honorio)

Place in the 1986 poll: 4

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 65

#31

R.E.M. - Green (198

Score: 1193 points

Biggest fans:
Jonah (#1), Michel (#5), Miguel (#5) Andre (# , Snusmumrik (#12)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1988 poll: 4

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 85

Stephan

Jan 7, 2009 - 5:30PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Damn those smilies. And about Nicolas' comment for Seventeen Seconds.. I'm not sure whether he placed it with the wrong album or typed the wrong name, but I just post it as I get it.

nicolas

Jan 7, 2009 - 7:43PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

damn it !
No, I really meant "Seventeen Seconds" and not "Disintegration"
It is more logical, 17 seconds being from '81 and Disintegration an attempt at getting back to that sound after a (beautiful) pop escapade

BillAdama

Jan 7, 2009 - 10:38PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

It's interesting seeing Seventeen Seconds that high. I find Pornography, Head In The Door, and Disintegration much stronger. Then again I guess we haven't seen Pornography or Disintegration yet.

If REM's less impressive albums of the decade all made the top 50, I can only imagine how well Murmur and Document did. Same deal with Prince.

The 80's poll is a bit more suspenseful than the end of the all time polls, because there are just so many different albums that could be #1.

Jan 7th, 2009 - 10:38 PM

Stephan

Jan 7, 2009 - 10:56PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

#30

U2 - War (1983)

Score: 1198 points

Biggest fans:
Andre (#4), Greg Rumpff (#6), Mo (# , Honorio (#16), Rocky Raccoon (#21)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1983 poll: 3

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 43

#29

Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)

Score: 1207 points

Biggest fans:
Stephan (#5), SuperFurry (#6), Honorio (#7), Greg (#10), Nicolas (#13)

Comments:
Bruce wanted something less dark for his third album and so he mixed happy stuff and darker songs. Maybe that's why you get the impression that it is two records (Nicolas)
The splendid double album of Springsteen is also probably his more personal effort, dealing with the conflictive relationship with his father on “Independence Day” and reflecting the real story of his sister told from the point of view of his brother-in-law on the title track. Never before and after his scenes of broken heroes were so real. (Honorio)

Place in the 1980 poll: 3

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 37

#28

Hüsker Dü - Zen Arcade (1209)

Score: 1164 points

Biggest fans:
Fred (#2), Sonofsamiam (#11), Rocky Raccoon (#11), Netjade (#12), SuperFurry (#12)

Comments:
Sometimes I don't understand that thing around hardcore. (Nicolas)

Place in the 1984 poll: 6

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 31

#27

The Replacements - Let It Be (1230)

Score: 1166 points

Biggest fans:
Harold Wexler (#1), BillAdama (#4), John (#4), Greg (# , Jonah (#1 , Rocky Raccoon (#1

Comments:
None

Place in the 1984 poll: 2

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 36

#26

Elvis Costello And The Attractions - Imperial Bedroom (1982)

Score: 1247 points

Biggest fans:
Snusmumrik (#2), Netjade (#3), Toni (#6), Adrian (#10), SuperFurry (#15)

Comments:
The most colorful piece of Elvis's six-first-albums sequence. We still have the beautiful ballads and some urgent guitar rock moments, but now Mr. Costello's sound is more diversified and orchestral than never. Five years after the masterpiece of basic rock My Aim Is True, he made the exact opposite to create his second most pleasant act (for me, of course!). (Toni)

Place in the 1982 poll: 4

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 41

#25

Prince - 1999 (1982)

Score: 1273 points

Biggest fans:
Moonbeam (#1), Jonah (# , Stephan (#9), John (#10), Rocky Raccoon (#12)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1982 poll: 3

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 29

#24

The Smiths - The Smiths (1984)

Score: 1281 points

Biggest fans:
Mitchell Stirling (#1), Greg (#2), otisredding (#4), Midaso (# , Andre (#11), Mo (#11)

Comments:
The jangly guitars, the falsettos, the poetic but provocative lyrics are the main weapons of one of the best debut albums ever. (Honorio)

Place in the 1984 poll: 4

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 27

#23

R.E.M. - Document (1987)

Score: 1287 points

Biggest fans:
John (#5), Rocky Raccoon (#6), Jonah (#13), SuperFurry (#13), Greg Rumpff (#14)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1987 poll: 3

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 54

#22

Bruce Springsteen - Born In The U.S.A. (1984)

Score: 1291 points

Biggest fans:
Greg Rumpff (#1), Rocky Raccoon (#3), Stephan (#4), Nicolas (#10), Midaso (#10)

Comments:
When the boss went really mainstream. The songs are great, part of them coming from the Nebraska sessions, some are really personal ("Bobby Jean" dedicated to Steve Van Zandt), and the title track is a great protest song. (Nicolas)

Place in the 1984 poll: 5

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 24

#21

The Cure - Disintegration (1989)

Score: 1293 points

Biggest fans:
Greg (#1), Moonbeam (#2), Greg Rumpff (# , LonesomePanda (#11), BillAdama (#12), Midaso (#12)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1989 poll: 5

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 51

Stephan

Jan 7, 2009 - 10:58PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

It's interesting seeing Seventeen Seconds that high. I find Pornography, Head In The Door, and Disintegration much stronger. Then again I guess we haven't seen Pornography or Disintegration yet.

Pornography was all the way back at #88.

If REM's less impressive albums of the decade all made the top 50, I can only imagine how well Murmur and Document did. Same deal with Prince.

Murmur did very well indeed.. I won't spoil how well though.

The 80's poll is a bit more suspenseful than the end of the all time polls, because there are just so many different albums that could be #1.

Yep, it's all pretty close on this one. The songs are a little further apart, but even they are quite close.

VanillaFire1000

Jan 7, 2009 - 11:05PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Looking at my top 10 and what has already come up in it...maybe my vote could of mattered a little.

Fred

Jan 7, 2009 - 11:24PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Nicolas! Hüsker Dü left hardcore with "Zen Arcade". Also should have been a single album imo.

pop elton

Jan 7, 2009 - 11:37PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Stephan, I noticed that Let It Be & Zen Arcade have less points than many albums below them. (Kate Bush has same score).

It's very hard to guess which album is gonna be #1. My guess is Doolittle.

Here are the albums which are in top 20 (in alphabetical order).
Beastie Boys Paul's Boutique
De La Soul 3 Feet High And Rising
Jackson, Michael Thriller
Jesus And Mary Chain, The Psychocandy
Joy Division Closer
Paul Simon Graceland
Pixies Doolittle
Pixies Surfer Rosa
Prince Purple Rain
Prince Sign 'O' the Times
Public Enemy It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
R.E.M. Murmur
Smiths, The The Queen Is Dead
Sonic Youth Daydream Nation
Springsteen, Bruce Nebraska
Stone Roses, The The Stone Roses
Talking Heads Remain In Light
U2 The Joshua Tree
Waits, Tom Swordfishtrombones
Waits, Tom Rain Dogs

Stephan

Jan 7, 2009 - 11:44PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Heh, I put their points where their years were supposed to be. Number overload.

Moonbeam

Jan 8, 2009 - 12:03AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

I'm a little bummed that 1999 and Disintegration didn't make the top 20, but I can't be too upset with them in the top 25.

And Seventeen Seconds absolutely deserves to be up there.

Rocky Raccoon

Jan 8, 2009 - 12:50AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

I'm going to guess either "Purple Rain" or "The Queen Is Dead" is No. 1.

Mike Kelly

Jan 8, 2009 - 1:03AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

I'm bummed that "Imperial Bedroom" didn't make the top 25, but I can't say anything because I finked out and didn't vote. If I had voted, it probably would have moved to at least #25, because I would have had it at #1 and "1999" wouldn't have been in my top 10. Ah well. I shouldn't have been so indecisive. Still, a very interesting list. Can't wait to see the top 5!

John

Jan 8, 2009 - 1:03AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

I think it'll be Nebraska.

Toni

Jan 8, 2009 - 1:06AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Woohoo, eight out of my first 10 are in the top 20!!!

Interesting that when everybody expected R.E.M.'s albums to be extremely high because of Reckoning's late appearance, all of their other albums appeared together in a row, and now there's only Murmur out there. Indeed, beside Automatic for the People and Murmur, I have some difficult in discerning which is their next best album, there are at least five with the same level of quality.

Penguin

Jan 8, 2009 - 2:22AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

I didn't know enough about these albums to cast a vote, but my top 3 would have been "The Joshua Tree," "The Stone Roses," and "The Queen Is Dead."

Nassim (a.k.a. Lonesome Panda)

Jan 8, 2009 - 9:19AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

glad to see 3 hip-hop albums in the top 20 (especially my #1 vote !). Only Enter the Wu Tang was not in the bottom 20 on the 90s poll if I remember well.

Henrik

Jan 8, 2009 - 10:57AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

These albums are all in the AM top 22 of the 1980s. Talk about agreement with the critics!

nicolas

Jan 8, 2009 - 11:08AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

according to the forum all-time albums poll 1 year ago

1. Doolittle
2. The Queen Is Dead
3. Remain In Light
4. Purple Rain
5. Stone Roses
6. Daydream Nation
7. Murmur
8. Surfer Rosa
9. The Joshua Tree
10. Closer
11. Graceland
12. Sign O The Times
13. Rain Dogs
14. It Takes A Nation
15. Thriller

None of the 80s album in the overall poll 100 won't be in this poll's top 20

Lower than 100 (with their ranking in the overall poll 80's albums)

16. Swordfishtrombones (18)
17. Paul's Boutique (20)
18. 3 Feet High (22)
19. Psychocandy (27)
20. Nebraska (28)

Left behind here :

Sister "went down" 50 slots (#19 in the overall albums poll, # 59 in this poll)
Spirit of Eden lost 16 slots

Disintegration, The Smiths did better (+ 2 spots)

i haven't been lower than Nebraska's position in the overall top 100

Clear ?

Stephan

Jan 8, 2009 - 11:08AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

#20

The Jesus And Mary Chain - Psychocandy (1985)

Score: 1297 points

Biggest fans:
otisredding (#6), Snusmumrik (#6), Midaso (#7), SuperFurry (#9), Mitchell Stirling (#9)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1985 poll: 2

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 17

#19

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (1989)

Score: 1320 points

Biggest fans:
LonesomePanda (#1), SuperFurry (#2), tremolo (#2), Sonofsamiam (#4), Henrik (#10)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1989 poll: 4

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 20

#18

Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska (1982)

Score: 1341 points

Biggest fans:
Nicolas #1), SuperFurry (#5), Stephan (#10), Snusmumrik (#11), Greg Rumpff (#11)

Comments:
Made at home on a 4-track recorder, a record that reads like a short stories book. "Well they closed down the auto plant in mahwah late that month…" remind you of something? (Nicolas)
Portraits of crime and desperation, nude and chilling songs, a dark album whose stature and influence is getting bigger and bigger every year. (Honorio)

Place in the 1982 poll: 1

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 21

#17

U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987)

Score: 1356 points

Biggest fans:
Stephan (#1), Rocky Raccoon (#2), Greg Rumpff (#3), Toni (#4), Michel (#10)

Comments:
I love listening to this album while traveling at night. Try to put it very low and forget it, its a wonderful experience. Track by track it takes you to diverse "musical places" and it's all relaxing, even if quite epic. U2 have tried to repeat this kind of artwork again, but of course they've failed. This is that type of result that is impossible to be repeated. (Toni)

Place in the 1987 poll: 2

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 5

#16

Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)

Score: 1385 points

Biggest fans:
Greg Rumpff (#2), Stephan (#3), LonesomePanda (#7), Toni (# , Honorio (#

Comments:
A classic. Here again, 9 potential singles, and so many memories. I was 12 or 13 when this one came out and let me tell you, it was HUGE… (Nicolas)
Much more than "the best selling album of all time", Thriller is a manual of great production in pop music. These songs probably wouldn't become good in the hands of the majority of the other producers, but here they were took exactly to the right point, and from normal compositions, were born atemporal recordings. (Toni)
The best selling album ever deserves for sure to be in the top 10. There are enough evidences throughout the album to support that: the stronger set of songs on Jackson career, the wide range of styles displayed, the crossover appeal capable to satisfy both the most exigent critic and the casual listener and, of course, the meticulous production of Quincy Jones. (Honorio)

Place in the 1982 poll: 2

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 4

#15

Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones (1983)

Score: 1416 points

Biggest fans:
Honorio (#1), Mo (#1), Henrik (#2), Miguel (#7), Netjade (#10)

Comments:
“A precious pile of junk”, that’s the way Roger Roca described the album for Rockdelux. Waits seemed to manufacture his album with materials from demolished buildings (as vintage jazz, Berlin cabaret, New Orleans parade music or lunatic Delta blues), rummaging among the debris to find a terrific new sound not tied at all with the sound of his contemporaries. (Toni)

Place in the 1983 poll: 2

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 18

#14

The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses (1989)

Score: 1421 points

Biggest fans:
Toni (#1), Mitchell Stirling (#2), Midaso (#2), Mo (#5), LonesomePanda (#5), Andre (#5)

Comments:
Eight classics and two other personal favorites in a 13-track album. How many discs contain that? People can say the Stone Roses's debut was the birth of the ninities, the album that "saved" English rock, etc. That's no important, I only know this is a fucking great bunch of perfect gems in all of the senses! Melodies, harmonies, bassline, vocal interpretation, textures, climates and, of course, Squire's guitars filling everything. I Am the Ressurection and Fools Gold are just the least great they could be! (Toni)

Place in the 1989 poll: 2

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 8

#13

Paul Simon - Graceland (1986)

Score: 1427 points

Biggest fans:
Miguel (#1), Stephan (#2), Mo (#2), Greg Rumpff (#4), Rocky Raccoon (#

Comments:
None

Place in the 1986 poll: 2

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 13

#12

Pixies - Surfer Rosa (198

Score: 1432 points

Biggest fans:
tremolo (#1), BillAdama (#1), otisredding (#2), Mitchell Stirling (#3), Fred (#4)

Comments:
None

Place in the 1988 poll: 3

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 15

#11

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

Score: 1462 points

Biggest fans:
Netjade (#1), Sonofsamiam (#3), otisredding (#4), Adrian (#7), Honorio (#9), Midaso (#12)

Comments:
Funny, because although the songs and the samples are really great, I think this record has not aged very well compared to "It Takes A Nation". That said, it is the definitive conscious rap record, paving the way for a lot of others. (Nicolas)
De La Soul celebrated the first decade of hip hop with an album that simultaneously supposed one of the peaks of the genre and its main revitalization, pulling away the many clichés that it was piling up during its relatively brief existence. The humour, the fun, the sense of freedom that exudes with every word and with every sample was enough. (Honorio)

Place in the 1989 poll: 3

Acclaimed Music 1980s rank: 16

VanillaFire1000

Jan 8, 2009 - 11:51AM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Graceland at 13? What is wrong with you people.

Snusmumrik

Jan 8, 2009 - 12:40PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

You mean it should be higher or lower, VanillaFire?

nicolas

Jan 8, 2009 - 12:43PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Nice comments, Toni ! Especially the one on Swordfishtrombones

And Nebraska did a great job
Imo, tracks 1 to 6 in nebraska are not far from perfection.

And very happy to see Sign O The Times, Purple Rain and Rain Dogs (my numbers 3, 2 and 1) in the top 10

VanillaFire1000

Jan 8, 2009 - 12:59PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Much higher, Snusmumrik. Much higher.

Toni

Jan 8, 2009 - 1:13PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Oh no, nicolas, that comment on Swordfishtrombones wasn't mine... Maybe you even remember I said it would be my last position in the poll, and it indeed was. After reeding that comment and seeing its high position here, though, I promise that I'll listen to it again, hehe. Even my sister, who is not much into this kind of "acclaimed" music loved the record (and in the first audition)!!!

Glad for Thriller and Graceland's high place, and also for that more than unexpected #11 for De La Soul!

Andre

Jan 8, 2009 - 1:45PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Interesting list so far ... and happy to see my #1 and #2 are still in competition!

From the guesses for #1 so far, I did not see Sign 'O' The Times mentioned. Would not look bad if that album ends up at #1, now would it?

Snusmumrik

Jan 8, 2009 - 2:03PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Well, Graceland is a fine record indeed, VanillaFire.

Exciting list so far. Out of my own top 10, only one (by a certain quartet from Georgia) is left. But boy, I need to listen to some of the titles that I'm not familiar with.

Toni

Jan 8, 2009 - 2:27PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Stephan, I had forgotten to make comments for 2 albums out of my top ones, and so I've just sent for both your emails a comment for the one which hasn't already appeared (Surfer Rosa was the other), ok?
If you think there's not more time for you to pick up comments, no problem either!

Stephan

Jan 8, 2009 - 3:47PM

Re: Forum Poll: The Best Albums of the 1980s Results

Sure thing Toni. Sorry for crediting that Waits comment to you, that was actually Honorio's.