Albums of 1985
The records from 1985 that made our lists.
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1Spreading the DiseaseAnthrax
Spreading the Disease
A sharp, tuneful thrash peak. Tight and beloved. A high point.
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2To Mega TherionCeltic Frost
To Mega Therion
An adventurous, avant-metal landmark of crushing invention. Bold and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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3Brothers in ArmsDire Straits
Brothers in Arms
A polished, digital-era blockbuster of immaculate guitar and 'Money for Nothing'. Slick and enormous. A CD-era landmark.
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4Bonded by BloodExodus
Bonded by Blood
A ferocious Bay Area thrash landmark. Fast and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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5New Day RisingHüsker Dü
New Day Rising
A loud, melodic hardcore-into-pop peak. Raw and beloved. A high point.
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6Hounds of LoveKate Bush
Hounds of Love
A two-sided masterpiece, pop singles up front and the experimental 'Ninth Wave' suite behind. Inventive and emotional throughout. Her crowning achievement.
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7RadioLL Cool J
Radio
A foundational, beat-driven debut of early rap swagger. Raw and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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8Low-LifeNew Order
Low-Life
A peak of melancholic dance-rock, home to 'The Perfect Kiss'. Tuneful and beloved. A high point.
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9Seven ChurchesPossessed
Seven Churches
A proto-death-metal landmark of extreme speed. Brutal and influential. A genre origin point.
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10Around the World in a DayPrince
Around the World in a Day
A psychedelic-pop pivot after Purple Rain. Bold and beloved. A creative swerve.
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11Hell AwaitsSlayer
Hell Awaits
A dark, fast early peak of proto-death thrash. Brutal and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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12Little CreaturesTalking Heads
Little Creatures
A bright, accessible peak, home to 'Road to Nowhere'. Tuneful and beloved. A high point.
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13Songs from the Big ChairTears for Fears
Songs from the Big Chair
Lush, ambitious synth-pop of real depth, home to 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World'. Polished and emotional. An 80s peak.
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14The 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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15PsychocandyThe 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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16TimThe Replacements
Tim
A sharper, major-label peak of ragged, heartfelt rock. Tuneful and beloved. A fan favourite.
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17Meat Is MurderThe Smiths
Meat Is Murder
A sharper, more political peak of Marr's guitars and Morrissey's wit. Bold and beloved. A fan favourite.
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18Rain DogsTom Waits
Rain Dogs
A wild, junkyard-orchestra masterpiece of broken ballads and barroom experiments. Singular and brilliant. His defining record.
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19Whitney HoustonWhitney Houston
Whitney Houston
A debut that announced one of the great voices in pop, balancing ballads and dance-pop with effortless power. A blockbuster on release. The start of an era.
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20Hunting High and Lowa-ha
Hunting High and Low
A synth-pop debut of soaring melodrama, home to 'Take On Me'. Bright and tuneful. An 80s staple.