One day at Amoeba Hollywood I proclaimed that Aztec Camera's 1983 release High Land, Hard Rain was one of the best records of the '80s. This single statement eventually led to over 200 Amoebites ranking their top 10 favorite albums from the ‘80s.

From the beginning we realized that it was impossible for most of us to condense our favorites from all genres into a tiny top ten list. So, we limited our lists to Rock/Pop and its sub-genres like punk, metal, goth, and new wave. Even so, it was a difficult selection process because not only are there hundreds of amazing records to consider, there is also the added dynamic of time.

The '80s were a long time ago and the music has had many years to gestate. We have a deep sense of nostalgia and sentiment with these albums as our fondest memories are associated with them. These are albums we LOVE.

- Henry Polk

Frankie Delmane
The Wipers – Over The Edge (1983)
Black Flag – My War (1984)
Fang – Landshark (1982)
The Clash – London Calling (1980)
Redd Kross – Neurotica (1987)
The Chills – Brave Words (1987)
The Go-Betweens – Liberty Belle & The Black Diamond Express (1986)
Greg Sage – Straight Ahead (1985)
Celtic Frost – Morbid Tales (1984)
The Lotus Eaters – No Sense Of Sin (1984)

                       


JD Molnar
G.B.H. – City Baby Attacked By Rats (1981)
The Jesus & Mary Chain – Psychocandy (1985)
Tom Waits – Swordfishtrombones (1983)
The Cramps – A Date With Elvis (1986)
The Stray Cats – Blast Off! (1989)
Echo & The Bunnymen – Porcupine (1983)
Motorhead – Orgasmatron (1986)
The Gun Club – Fire Of Love (1981)
OMD – Architecture & Morality (1981)
Ramones – Too Tough To Die (1985)

                           


Alice Auyang
The Smiths – The Smiths (1984)
Galaxie 500 – On Fire (1989)
Opal - Happy Nightmare Baby (1987)
Bauhaus – Burning From The Inside (1983)
The Dream Syndicate – The Days of Wine & Roses (1982)
The English Beat  – I Just Can’t Stop It (1980)
Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation (1988)
Iron Maiden – Killers (1981)
Love & Rockets – Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven (1985)
Steely Dan – Gaucho (1980)

                    


Skeeter
Motley Crue – Too Fast For Love (1981)
Black Sabbath – Heaven & Hell (1980)
Motorhead – Ace Of Spades (1980)
Van Halen – Women & Children First (1980)
Guns N’ Roses – Appetite For Destruction (1987)
Hanoi Rocks – Self Destruction Blues (1987)
Slayer – South Of Heaven (1988)
Danzig – Danzig (1988)
Iron Maiden – Killers (1981)
Led Zeppelin – Coda (1982)

                             


Jennifer Cooper
The Smiths – The Smiths (1984)
Siouxsie & The Banshees – A Kiss In The Dreamhouse (1982)
The Cure – The Head On The Door (1985)
Cocteau Twins – Head Over Heels (1983)
Depeche Mode – Construction Time Again (1983)
Strawberry Switchblade - Strawberry Switchblade (1985)
Duran Duran – Rio (1982)
New Order – Low Life (1985)
Dead Can Dance – The Serpent’s Egg (1988)
Fairground Attraction – First Of A Million Kisses (1988)

                            


Chris Curtis
Severed Heads – Come Visit The Big Bigot... (1986)
Depeche Mode – Construction Time Again (1983)
The Human League – Travelogue (1980)
My Bloody Valentine – Isn’t Anything (1988)
Cocteau Twins – Treasure (1984)
Yellow Magic Orchestra – Technodelic (1981)
OMD – Dazzle Ships (1983)
Thomas Dolby – The Golden Age Of Wireless (1981)
New Musik – From A to B (1980)
Section 25 – From The Hip (1984)

                             


Tuna
Duran Duran – Duran Duran (1980)
Talking Heads – Speaking In Tongues (1983)
Heaven 17 – Penthouse & Pavement (1981)
Madonna – Madonna (1983)
Minor Threat – Out Of Step (1984)
Haircut 100 – Pelican West (1982)
Tears For Fears – Songs From The Big Chair (1985)
Crass – Penis Envy (1980)
Depeche Mode – A Broken Frame (1982)
Ramones – Subterranean Jungle (1983)

                            


Ilene Barg
Grace Jones – Nightclubbing (1982)
The Fall – This Nation’s Saving Grace (1985)
That Petrol Emotion – Manic Pop Thrill (1986)
The Wolfgang Press – Birdwood Cage (1988)
Graham Parker – The Up Escalator (1980)
David Bowie – Scary Monsters (1980)
Tom Tom Club – Tom Tom Club (1981)
The The – Burning Blue Soul (1980)
Happy Mondays – Bummed (1988)
Shriekback – Care (1983)

                          


Brock Elmore
Misfits – Walk Among Us (1982)
Slayer – Reign In Blood (1986)
Ramones – Pleasant Dreams (1981)
Danzig – Danzig (1988)
Negative Approach – Tied Down (1983)
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – The First Born Is Dead (1985)
The Smiths – Strangeways Here We Come (1987)
Venom – Black Metal (1981)
Iron Maiden – Killers (1981)
Napalm Death – Scum (1987)

                           


Billy Calhoun
The Flirts – Born To Flirt (1982)
Madonna – Madonna (1983)
D.A.F. – Alles Ist Gut (1981)
The Cure – Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987)
Trans-X – Living On Video (1983)
New Order – Power, Corruption & Lies (1983)
Kraftwerk – Computer World (1981)
Depeche Mode – A Broken Frame (1982)
New Kids On The Block – Hangin’ Tough (1988)
Visage – Visage (1980)

                             


Next up is Part 5 of the '80s list project. We'll be posting new lists every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. See Part 3.