Best album of the 80s?

[potatobroth]

hrm, first thought that came to mind was:
Pixies - Surfer Rosa

[votingfloater]

By virtue of the fact that I still listen to it: Throwing Muses (untitled), from 86. It's the reason I still have a cassette walkman.

[big screen satellite]

omg - this is a toughie...

so mr 80's is here to clear this up...

we could go for albums that are pure class, and often a bit obvious, and Technique is my most favourite album of all time, but i kinda don't consider it real 80's gem, as it was more of a transdecade crossing album - an end of decade, start of new decade monolith of an album... so i won't consider it here... ;p

but being very keen on the 80's (no way!) there are many many decent and quality albums of pure pop genius that a lot of people have overlooked here in favour of 'albums' that are a bit untypical of the 80's really... and more dare i say it trying to hard...

the main trouble is that the 80's can really be split into at least three disticnt eras, new romantic, pop, and indie dance...

and what to choose from any of them...

well its so tough this that i'll just list some classic 80's albums that i think deserve a mention, beacuse when you see the list - you won't be able to really choose, because you have all overlooked some classics here:

Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Welcome to The Pleasuredome
Eurythmics - Touch
Howard Jones- Humans Lib
The Thompson Twins - Into The Gap
Tear For Fears - Songs From The Big Chair
Simple Minds - New Gold Dream
ABC - Lexicon of Love
Duran Duran - Rio
The Smiths - Hatful of Hollow
The Smiths - Meat is Murder
Duran Duran - 7 & The Ragged Tiger
Pet Shop Boys - Please
Kate Bush - House of Love
Pet Shop Boys - Disco
Erasure - The Innocents
OMD - Arcitecture & Morality
Soft Cell - Non Stop Electric Caberet
The Human League - Dare
Heaven 17 - Penthouse and Pavement
Madonna - Like A Virgin
Paul Simon - Graceland
The Cure - The Head on The Door
Joy Division - Closer
Peter Gabriel - So
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Nik Kershaw - Human Racing

honourable mention to: Now Thats What I call Music Volumes 1-6

i don't really want to list any end of the era albums that bordered on dance music because for me people don't remember that part of the 80's as real 80's... although arguably it was the time for the more decerning listeners period for music... and to be honest i couldlist so many more...

the 80's was a great era for music, don't forget the early 80's classics, i know a lot of you arenot old enough but dig deep and revist the albums released before 1988 eh?...

the 80's will never die...

Matt