What is the best rock album of the 1980s?

Arena monsters, MTV darlings, indie outsiders, and metal gods all left their mark on the decade. From synth-driven pop crossovers to raw, uncompromising thrash — which one reigns supreme?

1. 1
   Appetite for Destruction

   Guns N' Roses' 1987 debut, the best-selling debut album in US history, unleashing raw hard rock fury on a polished MTV era.
2. 2
   The Joshua Tree

   U2's 1987 album that made them the biggest rock band in the world, blending spiritual yearning with Americana influences.
3. 3
   Back in Black

   AC/DC's 1980 album recorded after Bon Scott's death, featuring Brian Johnson's debut and one of rock's most iconic opening riffs.
4. 4
   Purple Rain

   Prince's 1984 soundtrack and studio album fusing rock, R&B, and pop into a tour de force of guitar virtuosity and songcraft.
5. 5
   Born in the USA

   Bruce Springsteen's 1984 blockbuster featuring seven Top 10 singles and an ironic anthem misread as patriotism worldwide.
6. 6
   Hysteria

   Def Leppard's 1987 polished arena rock epic, produced over three years and loaded with seven Top 40 singles.
7. 7
   Master of Puppets

   Metallica's 1986 thrash metal landmark, widely considered the greatest heavy metal album ever recorded.
8. 8
   The Queen Is Dead

   The Smiths' 1986 album blending Morrissey's dark wit and Johnny Marr's jangly guitars into the definitive indie rock statement.
9. 9
   Synchronicity

   The Police's 1983 farewell album featuring Every Breath You Take, one of the best-selling singles in rock history.
10. 10
    Slippery When Wet

    Bon Jovi's 1986 arena rock phenomenon featuring Livin' on a Prayer and You Give Love a Bad Name.
11. 11
    Disintegration

    The Cure's 1989 gothic rock pinnacle, a lush, melancholy album that cemented Robert Smith as an alternative music icon.
12. 12
    Pyromania

    Def Leppard's 1983 breakthrough album that helped define polished 1980s hard rock with Photograph and Rock of Ages.
13. 13
    Van Halen 1984

    Van Halen's 1984 album balancing Eddie Van Halen's blazing guitar work with synth-pop crossover, featuring Jump.
14. 14
    Remain in Light

    Talking Heads' 1980 pioneering album blending funk, African rhythms, and post-punk into an enduringly influential record.
15. 15
    Brothers in Arms

    Dire Straits' 1985 album, one of the first to be widely sold on CD, featuring the MTV staple Money for Nothing.