Best rock albums of the 80s

This album is innovative, fusing new wave, funk, rock, and African rhythms with experimental production. It is acclaimed for its originality and creativity, being an influential work that expanded the boundaries of rock and popular music.

This album is iconic of British alternative rock, known for Morrissey's witty lyrics and Johnny Marr's distinctive guitar work. Despite sometimes being 'dismissed' by some, it is still considered one of the greatest rock albums of all time.

This art-rock album features innovative production and complex lyrics, highlighting Kate Bush's unique voice. It is considered an art-rock classic and has maintained its influence, being a record that many contemporary artists cite as inspiration.

This debut album fuses punk, surf rock, and experimental elements, with a 'loud-quiet' dynamic that would become their hallmark. It is a seminal album that deeply influenced 90s alternative rock and grunge, cited by Kurt Cobain as a key inspiration.

This album catapulted U2 to international stardom, with songs focused on sociopolitical and spiritual themes, and an epic, atmospheric sound. It is universally acclaimed and considered a benchmark in the band's career and in rock music.

This album was a massive commercial success that combined stadium rock anthems with lyrics exploring American working-class life. It contains some of Springsteen's most popular songs and remains an iconic album that captured the spirit of the decade.

This melodic and sophisticated rock album greatly benefited from the rise of MTV with innovative videos. Despite initial criticism, it became a massive international hit, notable for its addictive riff in 'Money for Nothing'.

Considered a thrash metal milestone, this album is known for its relentless speed, extreme aggression, and dark lyrics. It pushed the boundaries of thrash metal to its fullest expression and remains a benchmark for brutality and intensity in metal.

This album showed an evolution in Van Halen's sound, prominently incorporating synthesizers without losing its 'party-rock' essence. It was the last album with David Lee Roth as lead vocalist and contains some of their best-known tracks.

This album is a milestone of post-punk and alternative rock, with confessional lyrics and a stripped-down vision of punk rock. It is highly valued by contemporary musicians for its authenticity and its influence on the development of independent rock.

This soundtrack to the eponymous film is a masterful blend of rock, soul, pop, and funk, showcasing Prince's charisma and multifaceted talent. It is a masterpiece that defined the decade, solidifying Prince as a musical icon.

This album is a pillar of hard rock, released after the tragic death of Bon Scott and with the incorporation of Brian Johnson. Its raw and energetic sound remains influential and a benchmark for the genre, considered one of the best-selling rock albums of all time.

This album is emblematic of hair metal and stadium rock, filled with catchy anthems and powerful ballads. It contains massive hits like 'Livin' on a Prayer' and 'You Give Love a Bad Name', and is considered a 'textbook' for subsequent rock bands.

David Bowie explored 'dance rock' on this album, achieving enormous commercial success and defining part of the club culture of the era. It is an example of how established artists adapted and thrived in the 80s, with a polished and catchy sound.

This was The Police's last studio album, which fused rock, reggae, jazz, and new wave with a sophisticated sound and introspective lyrics. It includes the hit 'Every Breath You Take' and is considered the band's finest work, marking the end of an era.

This album is fundamental to thrash metal, recognized for its musical complexity, dark lyrics, and aggression. It is widely considered a metal masterpiece and one of the most influential albums in history, maintaining its cult status.

This album fuses punk rock with influences of reggae, funk, and hip-hop, featuring socially conscious lyrics. It contains some of The Clash's biggest hits like 'Should I Stay or Should I Go' and 'Rock the Casbah', serving as a testament to the evolution of punk.

This gothic rock and new wave album combines pop elements with a dark, introspective atmosphere. It is one of The Cure's most acclaimed works, successfully satisfying both gothic rock and pop fans, solidifying their distinctive sound.

This album showcased Judas Priest as masters of heavy metal, with powerful riffs and songs that became anthems of the genre. It is an essential record of heavy metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, with tracks still performed live today.