Previous: 40-21

20. N.W.A- Straight Outta Compton

Paste: excluded

Slant: +4

19. Prince- Sign O’ the Times

Paste: -5

Slant: +10

18. Run-D.M.C.- Raising Hell

Paste: -27

Slant: -26

17. Eric B. and Rakim- Follow the Leader

Paste and Slant: excluded

16. Pixies- Surfer Rosa

Paste: -2

Slant: -13

15. Bruce Springsteen- Nebraska

Paste: two-album rule exclusion by Paste

Slant: -26

14. Talking Heads- Remain in Light

Paste: +7

Slant: +9

13. Tom Waits- Swordfishtrombones

Paste: excluded

Slant: -8

12. Bruce Springsteen- Born in the U.S.A.

Paste: +8

Slant: -16

11. R.E.M.- Lifes Rich Pageant

Paste: +6

Slant: -27

10. U2- The Joshua Tree

Paste: +2

Slant: -10

9. Pixies- Doolittle

Paste: +8

Slant: -18

8. The Replacements- Let It Be

Paste: -5

Slant: -24

7. The Replacements- Tim

Paste: two-album rule exclusion by Paste

Slant: -38

6. Joy Division- Closer

Paste: -22

Slant: tie

5. Public Enemy- It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

Paste: -6

Slant: +2

4. Beastie Boys- Paul’s Boutique

Paste: -8

Slant: tie

3. Sonic Youth- Daydream Nation

Paste: -7

Slant: -22

2. R.E.M.- Murmur

Paste: -25

Slant: -9

1. The Smiths- The Queen is Dead

Paste: -1

Slant: -13

See Also: Favorite Movies of the 1980s, Top 10 Albums of 2007, Top 10 Albums of 2006, Top 10 Albums of 2005, Top 10 Albums of 2004, Top 10 Albums of 2003, Top 10 Albums of 2002, Top 10 Albums of 2001, Top 10 Albums of 2000, Top 10 Albums of 1999, Top 10 Albums of 1998, Top 10 Albums of 1997, Top 10 Albums of 1996, Top 10 Albums of 1995, Top 10 Albums of 1994, Top 10 Albums of 1993, Top 10 Albums of 1992, Top 10 Albums of 1991, Top 10 Albums of 1990, Top 10 Albums of 1989, Top 10 Albums of 1988, Top 10 Albums of 1987, Top 10 Albums of 1986, Top 10 Albums of 1985, Top 10 Albums of 1984, Top 10 Albums of 1983, Top 10 Albums of 1982, Top 10 Albums of 1981, Top 10 Albums of 1980, Top 10 Albums of 1979, Top 10 Albums of 1978, Top 10 Albums of 1977, Top 10 Albums of 1976, Top 10 Albums of 1975, Top 10 Albums of 1974, Top 10 Albums of 1973, Top 10 Albums of 1972, Top 10 Albums of 1971, Top 10 Albums of 1970, Top 10 Albums of 1969, Top 10 Albums of 1968, Top 10 Albums of 1967, Top 10 Albums of 1966, Top 10 Albums of 1965

1. The Smiths- The Queen is Dead

Listen: “Frankly, Mr. Shankly”

2. R.E.M.- Lifes Rich Pageant

Listen: “Begin the Begin”

3. Run-D.M.C.- Raising Hell

Listen: “Walk This Way”

4. Sonic Youth- EVOL

Listen: “Shadow of a Doubt”

5. Metallica- Master of Puppets

Listen: “Master of Puppets”

6. Beastie Boys- Licensed to Ill

Listen: “No Sleep Till Brooklyn”

7. Elvis Costello- Blood & Chocolate

Listen: “I Hope You’re Happy Now”

8. Paul Simon- Graceland

Listen: “You Can Call Me Al”

9. XTC- Skylarking

Listen: “Dear God”

10. Elvis Costello- King of America

Listen: “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”

Archival Highlight: Bruce Springsteen- Live/1975-85

Listen: “Jersey Shore”

Honorable Mention: Peter Gabriel’s So, Slayer’s Reign in Blood

Updated: February 4, 2012

See Also: Top 10 Movies of 1986, Top 10 Albums of 2007, Top 10 Albums of 2006, Top 10 Albums of 2005, Top 10 Albums of 2004, Top 10 Albums of 2003,  Top 10 Albums of 2002, Top 10 Albums of 2001, Top 10 Albums of 2000, Top 10 Albums of 1999, Top 10 Albums of 1998, Top 10 Albums of 1997, Top 10 Albums of 1996, Top 10 Albums of 1995, Top 10 Albums of 1994, Top 10 Albums of 1993, Top 10 Albums of 1992, Top 10 Albums of 1991, Top 10 Albums of 1990, Top 10 Albums of 1989, Top 10 Albums of 1988, Top 10 Albums of 1987, Top 10 Albums of 1985, Top 10 Albums of 1984, Top 10 Albums of 1983, Top 10 Albums of 1982, Top 10 Albums of 1981, Top 10 Albums of 1980, Top 10 Albums of 1979, Top 10 Albums of 1978, Top 10 Albums of 1977, Top 10 Albums of 1976, Top 10 Albums of 1975, Top 10 Albums of 1974, Top 10 Albums of 1973, Top 10 Albums of 1972, Top 10 Albums of 1971, Top 10 Albums of 1970, Top 10 Albums of 1969, Top 10 Albums of 1968, Top 10 Albums of 1967, Top 10 Albums of 1966, Top 10 Albums of 1965