The Most Important Albums of the '80s?

[KingLouieLouie]

If I thought that the 70s was going to be difficult, then I didnt take into account the high degree of difficulty the 80s will be.... In this regards though.. so many to choose from....since several genres surfaced all throughout this decade...Again.. in no particular order.... I'll probably end up not including a few that I'll realize much later that I should have...

1) "Meat Puppets II" (pretty much influenced Nirvana to create Grunge... an album that was ahead of its time and didnt receive its praise/recognition for a decade after its initial release)

2) "the Real Thing" - Faith No More (I always claim that this album influenced such bands as Alice-in-Chains and several other bands that have since followed.. phenomonal in every regard... they even captured "War Pigs" in a manner in which Black Sabbath still wishes they did themselves)....

3) "Run-D.M.C./"Raising Hell" (just pretty much established which essentially became Rap/Hiphop and both albums propelled that genre into mainstream acceptance)....

4) "Licensed to Ill" - Beastie Boys (one of the first albums to combine both metal and rap...just set the standard for many artists that followed)

5) "Sound Affects" - the Jam (helped elevate Britpop into legendary status to begin the 80s and an album that inspired several acts to surface from that movement)....

6) "1984" - Van Halen (Eddie with this album helped trailblaze using synthesizer to add more lusture to Metal, which unfortunately the greatest downfall was witnessing the single best axeman from his generation shun guitar in favor of the synth that guitar soloing began to lose its overall importance)....

7) "Texas Flood" - Stevie Ray Vaughan (all he did was help revive a genre that had pretty much vanished from existence.. not only that.. was the most talented blues guitarist if one of the best guitarist of all-time in any genre and had probably the best voice in the process)

8) All of Depeche Mode during the 80s... (pretty much put synth-pop on the map with some of the most profound/creative lyrics of its time)...

9) U2... (the band of the 80s to be brutally honest.. nothing else can be said that hasnt been already said about their impact and lord.. what they did on "Joshua Tree" alone cannot be measured in words or anything else for that matter)...

10) Madness (how many bands have given Madness for being among their biggest influences... just their blend of ska/pop was something special).....

11) I'll cheat... Metallica/Queensryche (enough has already been said about those 2 bands and their 80s contributions)....

Edit: I'll have to cheat some more, but it's worth it... shouldnt forget Roxy Music because without them many I listed in the 90s thread wouldnt have ever been heard from/of....

 

[Jttsaz]

I would put GNR's "Appetite For Destruction", M. Jackson's "Thriller", U2's "Joshua Tree" in there for sure....

 

[KingLouieLouie]

I would put GNR's "Appetite For Destruction", M. Jackson's "Thriller", U2's "Joshua Tree" in there for sure....

You're absolutely right on "Appetite for Destruction"... I cant believe I overlooked that one.. guess I'm allowing Axl's recent misbehavior mar my memories of that album and how ground-breaking GNR were at one time....

 

[Gizmo Williams]

I'll throw out Let It Be by The Replacements. It inspired bands on several different levels....sound, style and attitude.

 

[Gizmo Williams]

Although I am not a huge rap fan...but Public Enemy's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back ( I think that's the full title) was a great album. Too bad rap became more of a gangster thang.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

I'll throw out Let It Be by The Replacements. It inspired bands on several different levels....sound, style and attitude.

Oh...I certainly agree on both of those albums...just always difficult to narrow anything down to just 10 and especially from the 80s... Paul Westerberg is such an amazing writer/singer as well (really love his solo work)....Must also toss in Husker Du's name into the mix....

Although I am not a huge rap fan...but Public Enemy's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back ( I think that's the full title) was a great album. Too bad rap became more of a gangster thang.

I'm ashamed that omitted anything by another performer from the state of MN and definitely would be any of Prince's 80s releases...

I would have to add NWA's first 2 albums (especially "Straight Outta Compton") along with Public Enemy for good measure.....

 

[Assface]

Minor Threat-complete discography
Operation Ivy-Energy.

2 HUGELY influencial punk bands.

 

[ajcardfan]

Def Leppard - "Pyromania"

Has to be on there somehow. That record was huge and lead many metal bands down the wrong road in the late 80s seeking the same pot of gold. It STILL gets a lot of airplay.

Madonna - "Like a Virgin"

Hate her, hate her music, but there's no doubt the album (and videos) had a huge impact on "music" (gag) and society.

 

[vince56]

6) "1984" - Van Halen (Eddie with this album helped trailblaze using synthesizer to add more lusture to Metal, which unfortunately the greatest downfall was witnessing the single best axeman from his generation shun guitar in favor of the synth that guitar soloing began to lose its overall importance)....

7) "Texas Flood" - Stevie Ray Vaughan (all he did was help revive a genre that had pretty much vanished from existence.. not only that.. was the most talented blues guitarist if one of the best guitarist of all-time in any genre and had probably the best voice in the process)

8) All of Depeche Mode during the 80s... (pretty much put synth-pop on the map with some of the most profound/creative lyrics of its time)...

9) U2... (the band of the 80s to be brutally honest.. nothing else can be said that hasnt been already said about their impact and lord.. what they did on "Joshua Tree" alone cannot be measured in words or anything else for that matter)...

11) I'll cheat... Metallica/Queensryche (enough has already been said about those 2 bands and their 80s contributions)....

I agree with all of the selected ones above. Choice selections, Lou.

Let's not forget Slayer and their impact on the hardcore/death metal scene. Anthrax & Public Enemy were also the first ones to really combine rap and rock, which eventually led to bands like LB, Korn, Sevendust, and most of the Nu Metal you hear now.

 

[Gizmo Williams]

I would say that The Clash's London Calling could be on the list if you are not to strict about the record being released after Jan 1, 1980. I checked the release date and it was released Dec. 14, 1979.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

I agree with all of the selected ones above. Choice selections, Lou.

Let's not forget Slayer and their impact on the hardcore/death metal scene. Anthrax & Public Enemy were also the first ones to really combine rap and rock, which eventually led to bands like LB, Korn, Sevendust, and most of the Nu Metal you hear now.

Yeah... I agree about Slayer, Anthrax, and Public Enemy.... I overlooked several including one that really had a major impact on early Thrash Metal and that being Motorhead (who could have also been labeled important in the 70s as well).... Their impact is really difficult to measure...

I would say that The Clash's London Calling could be on the list if you are not to strict about the record being released after Jan 1, 1980. I checked the release date and it was released Dec. 14, 1979.

That's exactly what I did... I grouped "London Calling" along with their self-titled debut as being highly influential albums in the 70s thread (which that and the 60s didnt generate any responses thus far)......

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Def Leppard - "Pyromania"

Has to be on there somehow. That record was huge and lead many metal bands down the wrong road in the late 80s seeking the same pot of gold. It STILL gets a lot of airplay.

Madonna - "Like a Virgin"

Hate her, hate her music, but there's no doubt the album (and videos) had a huge impact on "music" (gag) and society.

Yeah... you're definitely right on both albums... Also.. "Hysteria" was significant since it blended power-ballads with anthem/arena metal so well....

I would also have to list Janet Jackson along with Madonna for a female who inspired so many... "Control" and "Rhythm Nation" set the standards for the subsequent R&B acts that followed during the next cpl of decades...

Edit: Also.. I should have included Salt-N-Pepa... they essentially had "chutzpah" to Rap while tackling some very relevant issues.....

Minor Threat-complete discography
Operation Ivy-Energy.

2 HUGELY influencial punk bands.

I must admit that I never listened to those 2 before, but I should check them out.... Did you ever get into the rather controversial UK punk band Exploited? I remember one of my sisters had one of their albums back then and I would listen to the crudest/lewdest lyrics ever that I dare best not repeat on here!

 

[Gizmo Williams]

I must admit that I never listened to those 2 before, but I should check them out.... Did you ever get into the rather controversial UK punk band Exploited? I remember one of my sisters had one of their albums back then and I would listen to the crudest/lewdest lyrics ever that I dare best not repeat on here!

Have you listened to the Anti-Nowhere League. If not, check out We Are the League. They made some outrageously hilarious, offensive and downright great punk in the late 70's.

 

[Beaver]

I'll throw out Let It Be by The Replacements. It inspired bands on several different levels....sound, style and attitude.

Ahh...Good one. I remember finding that CD in Glamis(dunes) and listening to it the whole way home.

 

[Beaver]

I'll throw out Bad Brains "ST" and Stormtroopers of Death "Speak English or Die". Bad Brains released their first album a couple years before Beastie Boys, but never made it as big. They were influential in mixing punk with reggae. S.O.D., formed by an assortment of Anthrax members, blended hardcore punk from the mid 80s with metal for some gnarly tunes. I cranked it whenever I wanted to piss of my parents/neighbors.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

I'll throw out Bad Brains "ST" and Stormtroopers of Death "Speak English or Die". Bad Brains released their first album a couple years before Beastie Boys, but never made it as big. They were influential in mixing punk with reggae. S.O.D., formed by an assortment of Anthrax members, blended hardcore punk from the mid 80s with metal for some gnarly tunes. I cranked it whenever I wanted to piss of my parents/neighbors.

Oh..I agree with you regarding Bad Brains...must add Minutemen and Gang of Four to the list of EXTREMELY influential punk bands from the 80s.... The Minutemen would have been one of the most revered Punk bands of our time if their lead singer/lead guitarist D. Boon wasnt involved in a fatal car crash (that actually took place here in AZ) just at the time the band was at the creative/commerical peak and were on the verge of greatness, but in fact now in retrospect one realizes that they attained that.. If you've never heard of the Minutemen, Firehose (a project the 2 surviving members of Minutemen did after Boon's death), or Mike Watt solo, then you must do so... Just awesome indeed....

 

[bankybruce]

Minor Threat-complete discography
Operation Ivy-Energy.

2 HUGELY influencial punk bands.

OP Ivy IMO started the new wave of todays punk and of course with out minor threat there would be no Straight Edge.