Albums of 1986
The records from 1986 that made our lists.
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1RaptureAnita Baker
Rapture
A smooth, sophisticated quiet-storm peak, home to 'Sweet Love'. Lush and huge. A genre cornerstone.
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2Licensed to IllBeastie Boys
Licensed to Ill
A rowdy, rock-sampling debut that made rap a pop force. Fun and brash. A cultural landmark.
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3Word Up!Cameo
Word Up!
A sleek, synth-funk peak built around its irresistible title hit. Sharp and beloved. A commercial high.
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4Epicus Doomicus MetallicusCandlemass
Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
A foundational epic-doom landmark of slow, majestic heaviness. Grand and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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5Black CelebrationDepeche Mode
Black Celebration
A dark, atmospheric synth-pop peak. Brooding and beloved. A fan favourite.
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6Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.Dwight Yoakam
Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.
A sharp Bakersfield-revival debut of honky-tonk fire. Tuneful and acclaimed. A genre highlight.
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7Somewhere in TimeIron Maiden
Somewhere in Time
A polished, synth-tinged peak of melodic metal. Tuneful and beloved. A high point.
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8ControlJanet Jackson
Control
The album that made Janet a force, sleek Jam-and-Lewis funk-pop of independence. Sharp and danceable. A defining record.
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9Pleasure to KillKreator
Pleasure to Kill
A blistering German thrash landmark of relentless speed. Brutal and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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10True BlueMadonna
True Blue
A bright, confident pop peak, home to 'Papa Don't Preach' and 'La Isla Bonita'. Tuneful and huge. A commercial high.
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11Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?Megadeth
Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?
A sharp, technical thrash peak of political bite. Tight and beloved. A genre cornerstone.
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12Master of PuppetsMetallica
Master of Puppets
Thrash metal's high-water mark, complex and crushing across eight tightly written epics. Widely held to be the best metal album ever made. Relentless and precise.
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13BrotherhoodNew Order
Brotherhood
A balanced peak of guitar-and-synth dance-rock. Tuneful and beloved. A high point.
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14GracelandPaul Simon
Graceland
A landmark fusion of pop and South African music, joyful and intricate. Controversial and acclaimed. One of the great 80s albums.
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15PleasePet Shop Boys
Please
A sleek, witty synth-pop debut, home to 'West End Girls'. Cool and tuneful. A strong start.
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16SoPeter Gabriel
So
Gabriel's accessible, art-pop blockbuster, home to 'Sledgehammer' and 'In Your Eyes'. Polished and soulful. His commercial peak.
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17ParadePrince
Parade
An adventurous, orchestral-funk peak tied to a film, home to 'Kiss'. Inventive and acclaimed. A creative high.
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18Storms of LifeRandy Travis
Storms of Life
A neo-traditionalist debut that revived classic country. Warm and acclaimed. A landmark.
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19Strong PersuaderRobert Cray
Strong Persuader
A polished, soulful blues peak that crossed over, home to 'Smoking Gun'. Smooth and acclaimed. A genre highlight.
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20Raising HellRun-DMC
Raising Hell
The album that took rap to the mainstream, home to the Aerosmith team-up 'Walk This Way'. Tough and tuneful. A landmark.
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21Born Too LateSaint Vitus
Born Too Late
A foundational doom-metal landmark of slow, heavy alienation. Heavy and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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22Reign in BloodSlayer
Reign in Blood
Twenty-nine minutes of pure, brutal velocity that redefined extreme thrash, bookended by 'Angel of Death' and 'Raining Blood'. Ferocious and flawless. A genre touchstone.
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23Guitar TownSteve Earle
Guitar Town
A sharp, rootsy debut of new-traditionalist country. Tough and acclaimed. A genre highlight.
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24The Colour of SpringTalk Talk
The Colour of Spring
A lush, sophisticated peak before their post-rock turn. Beautiful and acclaimed. A high point.
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25The Queen Is DeadThe Smiths
The Queen Is Dead
Morrissey's wit and Marr's chiming guitars at their combined peak, swinging from biting satire to aching tenderness. Widely held to be their masterpiece and a cornerstone of British indie. Funny, sad and gorgeous.
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26SkylarkingXTC
Skylarking
A sunny, Todd Rundgren-produced song-cycle of pastoral English pop. Tuneful and clever. Their most beloved record.