B-Side Guys

The Best Albums of 1983

Every album of 1983, ranked by B-Side Breakdown: the reviews from 38 outlets we trust, put on one 0–100 scale. An album needs at least 5 reviews to make the list.

Album cover for Swordfishtrombones by Tom WaitsNumber one of 1983Tom WaitsSwordfishtrombones96 A8 critics · 100% approval · Broad agreement · A-Side
Average Breakdown76across 1983's albums. That's higher than 67% of the other years here.
Liked71%of 1983's albums scored 75 or higher. Across every year it's 49%.
Most divisiveContentiousBad Religion, Into the Unknown split the critics more than any other album of the year.A-Sides9.5%of 1983's albums earned an A-Side. Across every year it's 6.2%.
  1. 1Album cover for Swordfishtrombones by Tom Waits
    Tom WaitsSwordfishtrombonesSeptember 1, 1983 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  2. 2Album cover for Murmur by R.E.M.
    R.E.M.MurmurApril 11, 1983 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  3. 3Album cover for Pyromania by Def Leppard
    Def LeppardPyromaniaJanuary 20, 1983 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    88B+
  4. 4Album cover for Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks by Brian Eno
    Brian EnoApollo: Atmospheres and SoundtracksJuly 1983 · 10 reviews · 90% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  5. 5Album cover for Rebel Yell by Billy Idol
    Billy IdolRebel YellNovember 10, 1983 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    85B
  6. 6Album cover for Head over Heels by Cocteau Twins
    Cocteau TwinsHead over HeelsOctober 24, 1983 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    84B
  7. 7Album cover for She’s So Unusual by Cyndi Lauper
    Cyndi LauperShe’s So Unusual1983 · 9 reviews · 78% approval · Some debate
    84B
  8. 8Album cover for Hearts and Bones by Paul Simon
    Paul SimonHearts and BonesNovember 1983 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    83B
  9. 9Album cover for Texas Flood by Stevie Ray Vaughan
    Stevie Ray VaughanTexas FloodJune 13, 1983 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    83B
  10. 10Album cover for Speaking in Tongues by Talking Heads
    Talking HeadsSpeaking in TonguesJune 1, 1983 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Broad agreement
    83B

How 1983 grades

Share of albums at each letter grade. A is 90 and up, F is below 60.

1983

A10%
B38%
C24%
D10%
F19%

Every year

A6%
B24%
C37%
D22%
F10%
  1. 11Album cover for The Hurting by Tears for Fears
    Tears for FearsThe HurtingMarch 7, 1983 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Broad agreement
    79C+
  2. 12Album cover for Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) by Eurythmics
    EurythmicsSweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)1983 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Broad agreement
    79C+
  3. 13Album cover for Touch by Eurythmics
    EurythmicsTouchNovember 14, 1983 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Broad agreement
    79C+
  4. 14Album cover for Colour by Numbers by Culture Club
    Culture ClubColour by NumbersOctober 10, 1983 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    78C+
  5. 15Album cover for Hootenanny by The Replacements
    The ReplacementsHootenannyApril 29, 1983 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Broad agreement
    78C+
  6. 16Album cover for The Final Cut by Pink Floyd
    Pink FloydThe Final CutMarch 21, 1983 · 7 reviews · 43% approval · Contentious
    65D
  7. 17Album cover for Confusion Is Sex by Sonic Youth
    Sonic YouthConfusion Is Sex1983 · 7 reviews · 43% approval · Contentious
    61D-
  8. 18Album cover for Into the Unknown by Bad Religion
    Bad ReligionInto the Unknown1983 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Contentious
    58F
  9. 19Album cover for Construction Time Again by Depeche Mode
    Depeche ModeConstruction Time AgainAugust 22, 1983 · 6 reviews · 17% approval · Some debate
    55F
  10. 20Album cover for It by Pulp
    PulpItApril 18, 1983 · 5 reviews · 0% approval · Some debate
    54F
  11. 21Album cover for With Sympathy by Ministry
    MinistryWith SympathySeptember 1983 · 5 reviews · 0% approval · Some debate
    46F
  1. 1Album cover for Swordfishtrombones by Tom Waits
    Tom WaitsSwordfishtrombonesSeptember 1, 1983 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  2. 2Album cover for Pyromania by Def Leppard
    Def LeppardPyromaniaJanuary 20, 1983 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    88B+
  3. 3Album cover for Rebel Yell by Billy Idol
    Billy IdolRebel YellNovember 10, 1983 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    85B
  4. 4Album cover for Texas Flood by Stevie Ray Vaughan
    Stevie Ray VaughanTexas FloodJune 13, 1983 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    83B
  5. 5Album cover for Speaking in Tongues by Talking Heads
    Talking HeadsSpeaking in TonguesJune 1, 1983 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Broad agreement
    83B
  6. 6Album cover for The Hurting by Tears for Fears
    Tears for FearsThe HurtingMarch 7, 1983 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Broad agreement
    79C+
  7. 7Album cover for Touch by Eurythmics
    EurythmicsTouchNovember 14, 1983 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Broad agreement
    79C+
  8. 8Album cover for Colour by Numbers by Culture Club
    Culture ClubColour by NumbersOctober 10, 1983 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    78C+
  9. 9Album cover for With Sympathy by Ministry
    MinistryWith SympathySeptember 1983 · 5 reviews · 0% approval · Some debate
    46F
  1. 1Album cover for Head over Heels by Cocteau Twins
    Cocteau TwinsHead over HeelsOctober 24, 1983 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    84B
  2. 2Album cover for Hootenanny by The Replacements
    The ReplacementsHootenannyApril 29, 1983 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Broad agreement
    78C+
  3. 3Album cover for The Final Cut by Pink Floyd
    Pink FloydThe Final CutMarch 21, 1983 · 7 reviews · 43% approval · Contentious
    65D
  4. 4Album cover for Confusion Is Sex by Sonic Youth
    Sonic YouthConfusion Is Sex1983 · 7 reviews · 43% approval · Contentious
    61D-
  5. 5Album cover for It by Pulp
    PulpItApril 18, 1983 · 5 reviews · 0% approval · Some debate
    54F

← 1982 · Every year, back to the 1950s · 1984 →

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