What is the best synth-pop album of all time?

Synthesizers, sequencers, and era-defining hooks — vote for the greatest synth-pop album in music history.

1

Violator

Depeche Mode's 1990 dark-synth masterpiece containing Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence.

2

Dare

Human League's 1981 breakthrough album with Don't You Want Me, defining synth-pop.

3

Computer World

Kraftwerk's 1981 blueprint for all electronic pop that followed.

4

Songs from the Big Chair

Tears for Fears' 1985 arena-scale synth-pop landmark featuring Everybody Wants to Rule the World.

5

Architecture & Morality

OMD's 1981 atmospheric synth-pop album considered their finest work.

6

Hunting High and Low

A-ha's 1985 Norwegian synth-pop debut containing the iconic Take On Me.

7

Please

Pet Shop Boys' 1986 debut album anchored by West End Girls, defining the British synth-pop scene.

8

The Pleasure Principle

Gary Numan's 1979 cold, robotic synth-pop debut that spawned Cars.

9

Upstairs at Eric's

Yazoo's 1982 debut merging Alison Moyet's soulful voice with Vince Clarke's synths.

10

Rio

Duran Duran's 1982 glossy synth-pop-new wave album that made them global stars.

11

Music for the Masses

Depeche Mode's 1987 stadium-ready synth-pop album before Violator made them superstars.

12

Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret

Soft Cell's 1981 debut mixing New York sleaze, synths, and Tainted Love.

13

Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

M83's 2011 sprawling synth-pop double album and modern classic.

14

The Bones of What You Believe

CHVRCHES' 2013 debut that brought synth-pop into the 21st century with anthemic clarity.