The Best Alternative and Indie Albums of the 1980s

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1. 1
   DoolittlePixies

   Doolittle

   Pixies · 1989 · Alternative & Indie

   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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2. 2
   The Stone RosesThe Stone Roses

   The Stone Roses

   The Stone Roses · 1989 · Alternative & Indie

   A debut that fused indie jangle with dancefloor groove and defined Madchester. Effortlessly cool. One of the great British albums.

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3. 3
   Daydream NationSonic Youth

   Daydream Nation

   Sonic Youth · 1988 · Alternative & Indie

   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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4. 4
   DisintegrationThe Cure

   Disintegration

   The Cure · 1989 · Alternative & Indie

   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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5. 5
   MurmurR.E.M.

   Murmur

   R.E.M. · 1983 · Alternative & Indie

   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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6. 6
   Surfer RosaPixies

   Surfer Rosa

   Pixies · 1988 · Alternative & Indie

   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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7. 7
   PsychocandyThe Jesus and Mary Chain

   Psychocandy

   The Jesus and Mary Chain · 1985 · Alternative & Indie

   A landmark of feedback-drenched pop, melody buried in noise. Influential and thrilling. A genre cornerstone.

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8. 8
   You're Living All Over MeDinosaur Jr.

   You're Living All Over Me

   Dinosaur Jr. · 1987 · Alternative & Indie

   A loud, melodic alt-rock landmark of guitar squall and ennui. Raw and influential. Their finest.

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9. 9
   Zen ArcadeHüsker Dü

   Zen Arcade

   Hüsker Dü · 1984 · Alternative & Indie

   A sprawling, ambitious hardcore-into-melody double album. Bold and influential. A genre landmark.

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10. 10
    Let It BeThe Replacements

    Let It Be

    The Replacements · 1984 · Alternative & Indie

    A scrappy, heartfelt peak balancing punk and tenderness. Raw and beloved. Their masterpiece.

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11. 11
    PornographyThe Cure

    Pornography

    The Cure · 1982 · Alternative & Indie

    A bleak, claustrophobic goth landmark of despair. Dark and acclaimed. A pivotal record.

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12. 12
    The Head on the DoorThe Cure

    The Head on the Door

    The Cure · 1985 · Alternative & Indie

    A bright, accessible pop peak balancing gloom and hooks. Tuneful and beloved. A turning point.

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13. 13
    DocumentR.E.M.

    Document

    R.E.M. · 1987 · Alternative & Indie

    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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14. 14
    ReckoningR.E.M.

    Reckoning

    R.E.M. · 1984 · Alternative & Indie

    A bright, jangly early peak of Southern mystery. Tuneful and beloved. A college-rock cornerstone.

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15. 15
    SisterSonic Youth

    Sister

    Sonic Youth · 1987 · Alternative & Indie

    A tense, melodic noise-rock landmark. Influential and acclaimed. A cornerstone of their run.

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16. 16
    Seventeen SecondsThe Cure

    Seventeen Seconds

    The Cure · 1980 · Alternative & Indie

    A spare, atmospheric early peak. Moody and acclaimed. A turning point.

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17. 17
    Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss MeThe Cure

    Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me

    The Cure · 1987 · Alternative & Indie

    A sprawling, eclectic double album, home to 'Just Like Heaven'. Varied and beloved. A high point.

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18. 18
    DarklandsThe Jesus and Mary Chain

    Darklands

    The Jesus and Mary Chain · 1987 · Alternative & Indie

    A cleaner, melodic follow-up to Psychocandy. Tuneful and acclaimed. A high point.

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19. 19
    TreasureCocteau Twins

    Treasure

    Cocteau Twins · 1984 · Alternative & Indie

    A shimmering, otherworldly dream-pop peak of invented language. Beautiful and beloved. A genre cornerstone.

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20. 20
    Isn't AnythingMy Bloody Valentine

    Isn't Anything

    My Bloody Valentine · 1988 · Alternative & Indie

    A noisy, woozy debut that laid the shoegaze groundwork. Raw and influential. A genre origin point.

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21. 21
    BugDinosaur Jr.

    Bug

    Dinosaur Jr. · 1988 · Alternative & Indie

    A loud, melodic peak of the original line-up. Raw and beloved. A genre cornerstone.

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22. 22
    New Day RisingHüsker Dü

    New Day Rising

    Hüsker Dü · 1985 · Alternative & Indie

    A loud, melodic hardcore-into-pop peak. Raw and beloved. A high point.

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23. 23
    TimThe Replacements

    Tim

    The Replacements · 1985 · Alternative & Indie

    A sharper, major-label peak of ragged, heartfelt rock. Tuneful and beloved. A fan favourite.

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24. 24
    Pleased to Meet MeThe Replacements

    Pleased to Meet Me

    The Replacements · 1987 · Alternative & Indie

    A sharp, soulful peak of ragged songcraft. Tuneful and beloved. A high point.

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