The Best Alternative & Indie Albums of the 1980s
Our pick of the essential alternative & indie records released in the 1980s, ranked.
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1DoolittlePixies
Doolittle
The quiet-loud-quiet template that Nirvana and countless others borrowed, packed with surreal lyrics and razor hooks. Tight, strange and hugely influential. The essential Pixies record.
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2The Stone RosesThe Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
A debut that fused indie jangle with dancefloor groove and defined Madchester. Effortlessly cool. One of the great British albums.
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3Daydream NationSonic Youth
Daydream Nation
A double album of tuned-down guitar epics, balancing noise and melody at the band's peak. Sprawling and influential. An alt-rock cornerstone.
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4DisintegrationThe Cure
Disintegration
A vast, immersive plunge into gothic gloom and beauty, anchored by 'Pictures of You' and 'Lovesong'. Widely considered the band's masterpiece. Best experienced as one long, enveloping mood.
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5MurmurR.E.M.
Murmur
A murky, jangling debut that helped invent American college rock, lyrics half-buried and atmosphere thick. Mysterious and influential. The start of something.
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6Surfer RosaPixies
Surfer Rosa
A raw, Albini-recorded debut album of jagged dynamics and surreal menace that influenced a generation. Visceral and strange. Essential alt-rock.
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7PsychocandyThe Jesus and Mary Chain
Psychocandy
A landmark of feedback-drenched pop, melody buried in noise. Influential and thrilling. A genre cornerstone.
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8You're Living All Over MeDinosaur Jr.
You're Living All Over Me
A loud, melodic alt-rock landmark of guitar squall and ennui. Raw and influential. Their finest.
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9Zen ArcadeHüsker Dü
Zen Arcade
A sprawling, ambitious hardcore-into-melody double album. Bold and influential. A genre landmark.
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10Let It BeThe Replacements
Let It Be
A scrappy, heartfelt peak balancing punk and tenderness. Raw and beloved. Their masterpiece.
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11PornographyThe Cure
Pornography
A bleak, claustrophobic goth landmark of despair. Dark and acclaimed. A pivotal record.
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12The Head on the DoorThe Cure
The Head on the Door
A bright, accessible pop peak balancing gloom and hooks. Tuneful and beloved. A turning point.
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13DocumentR.E.M.
Document
A sharper, political peak, home to 'It's the End of the World as We Know It'. Tuneful and huge. Their breakthrough.
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14ReckoningR.E.M.
Reckoning
A bright, jangly early peak of Southern mystery. Tuneful and beloved. A college-rock cornerstone.
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15SisterSonic Youth
Sister
A tense, melodic noise-rock landmark. Influential and acclaimed. A cornerstone of their run.
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16Seventeen SecondsThe Cure
Seventeen Seconds
A spare, atmospheric early peak. Moody and acclaimed. A turning point.
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17Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss MeThe Cure
Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
A sprawling, eclectic double album, home to 'Just Like Heaven'. Varied and beloved. A high point.
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18DarklandsThe Jesus and Mary Chain
Darklands
A cleaner, melodic follow-up to Psychocandy. Tuneful and acclaimed. A high point.
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19TreasureCocteau Twins
Treasure
A shimmering, otherworldly dream-pop peak of invented language. Beautiful and beloved. A genre cornerstone.
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20Isn't AnythingMy Bloody Valentine
Isn't Anything
A noisy, woozy debut that laid the shoegaze groundwork. Raw and influential. A genre origin point.
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21BugDinosaur Jr.
Bug
A loud, melodic peak of the original line-up. Raw and beloved. A genre cornerstone.
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22New Day RisingHüsker Dü
New Day Rising
A loud, melodic hardcore-into-pop peak. Raw and beloved. A high point.
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23TimThe Replacements
Tim
A sharper, major-label peak of ragged, heartfelt rock. Tuneful and beloved. A fan favourite.
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24Pleased to Meet MeThe Replacements
Pleased to Meet Me
A sharp, soulful peak of ragged songcraft. Tuneful and beloved. A high point.