B-Side Guys

The Best Albums of 1984

Every album of 1984, 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 Let It Be by The ReplacementsNumber one of 1984The ReplacementsLet It Be95 A9 critics · 100% approval · Broad agreement · A-Side
Average Breakdown78across 1984's albums. That's higher than 78% of the other years here.
Liked65%of 1984's albums scored 75 or higher. Across every year it's 50%.
Most divisiveContentiousRush, Grace Under Pressure split the critics more than any other album of the year.A-Sides27%of 1984's albums earned an A-Side. Across every year it's 5.9%.
  1. 1Album cover for Let It Be by The Replacements
    The ReplacementsLet It BeOctober 2, 1984 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  2. 2Album cover for Zen Arcade by Hüsker Dü
    Hüsker DüZen ArcadeJuly 1984 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  3. 3Album cover for Purple Rain by Prince and the Revolution
    Prince and the RevolutionPurple RainJune 25, 1984 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  4. 4Album cover for Double Nickels on the Dime by Minutemen
    MinutemenDouble Nickels on the DimeJuly 1984 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    93A
  5. 5Album cover for Meat Puppets II by Meat Puppets
    Meat PuppetsMeat Puppets IIApril 1984 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  6. 6Album cover for Treasure by Cocteau Twins
    Cocteau TwinsTreasureOctober 1, 1984 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  7. 7Album cover for Reckoning by R.E.M.
    R.E.M.ReckoningApril 17, 1984 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  8. 8Album cover for Run–D.M.C. by Run-DMC
    Run-DMCRun–D.M.C.March 27, 1984 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  9. 9Album cover for Ride the Lightning by Metallica
    MetallicaRide the LightningJuly 27, 1984 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Divided
    88B+
  10. 10Album cover for Ocean Rain by Echo & the Bunnymen
    Echo & the BunnymenOcean RainMay 4, 1984 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    86B

How 1984 grades

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

1984

A27%
B19%
C31%
D12%
F12%

Every year

A6%
B25%
C38%
D21%
F10%
  1. 11Album cover for Private Dancer by Tina Turner
    Tina TurnerPrivate DancerMay 29, 1984 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  2. 12Album cover for The Unforgettable Fire by U2
    U2The Unforgettable FireOctober 1, 1984 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    86B
  3. 13Album cover for Heartbeat City by The Cars
    The CarsHeartbeat CityMarch 13, 1984 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate
    79C+
  4. 14Album cover for Brilliant Trees by David Sylvian
    David SylvianBrilliant TreesJuly 7, 1984 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Broad agreement
    78C+
  5. 15Album cover for New Sensations by Lou Reed
    Lou ReedNew SensationsApril 1984 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate
    78C+
  6. 16Album cover for From Her to Eternity by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
    Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsFrom Her to EternityJune 1, 1984 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Broad agreement
    78C+
  7. 17Album cover for Like a Virgin by Madonna
    MadonnaLike a VirginNovember 13, 1984 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Some debate
    75C
  8. 18Album cover for Reckless by Bryan Adams
    Bryan AdamsRecklessOctober 29, 1984 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Some debate
    74C
  9. 19Album cover for Sparkle in the Rain by Simple Minds
    Simple MindsSparkle in the RainFebruary 6, 1984 · 7 reviews · 43% approval · Broad agreement
    71C-
  10. 20Album cover for Defenders of the Faith by Judas Priest
    Judas PriestDefenders of the FaithJanuary 4, 1984 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Broad agreement
    70C-
  11. 21Album cover for The Works by Queen
    QueenThe WorksFebruary 27, 1984 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Some debate
    62D-
  12. 22Album cover for The Top by The Cure
    The CureThe TopMay 22, 1984 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Divided
    62D-
  13. 23Album cover for Slip It In by Black Flag
    Black FlagSlip It InDecember 1984 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Some debate
    60D-
  14. 24Album cover for My War by Black Flag
    Black FlagMy WarMarch 1984 · 6 reviews · 17% approval · Divided
    57F
  15. 25Album cover for Grace Under Pressure by Rush
    RushGrace Under PressureApril 12, 1984 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Contentious
    52F

Where 1984 sits

Average Breakdown, for albums with five or more reviews.

By genre

Indie & Alternative88
Metal & Punk74
Rock73
  1. 26Album cover for Family Man by Black Flag
    Black FlagFamily ManSeptember 1, 1984 · 5 reviews · 0% approval · Some debate
    40F
  1. 1Album cover for Let It Be by The Replacements
    The ReplacementsLet It BeOctober 2, 1984 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  2. 2Album cover for Double Nickels on the Dime by Minutemen
    MinutemenDouble Nickels on the DimeJuly 1984 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    93A
  3. 3Album cover for The Unforgettable Fire by U2
    U2The Unforgettable FireOctober 1, 1984 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    86B
  4. 4Album cover for Heartbeat City by The Cars
    The CarsHeartbeat CityMarch 13, 1984 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate
    79C+
  5. 5Album cover for New Sensations by Lou Reed
    Lou ReedNew SensationsApril 1984 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate
    78C+
  6. 6Album cover for From Her to Eternity by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
    Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsFrom Her to EternityJune 1, 1984 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Broad agreement
    78C+
  7. 7Album cover for Reckless by Bryan Adams
    Bryan AdamsRecklessOctober 29, 1984 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Some debate
    74C
  8. 8Album cover for Sparkle in the Rain by Simple Minds
    Simple MindsSparkle in the RainFebruary 6, 1984 · 7 reviews · 43% approval · Broad agreement
    71C-
  9. 9Album cover for The Works by Queen
    QueenThe WorksFebruary 27, 1984 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Some debate
    62D-
  10. 10Album cover for The Top by The Cure
    The CureThe TopMay 22, 1984 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Divided
    62D-
  11. 11Album cover for Grace Under Pressure by Rush
    RushGrace Under PressureApril 12, 1984 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Contentious
    52F
  12. 12Album cover for Family Man by Black Flag
    Black FlagFamily ManSeptember 1, 1984 · 5 reviews · 0% approval · Some debate
    40F
  1. 1Album cover for Meat Puppets II by Meat Puppets
    Meat PuppetsMeat Puppets IIApril 1984 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  2. 2Album cover for Treasure by Cocteau Twins
    Cocteau TwinsTreasureOctober 1, 1984 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  3. 3Album cover for Reckoning by R.E.M.
    R.E.M.ReckoningApril 17, 1984 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  4. 4Album cover for Ocean Rain by Echo & the Bunnymen
    Echo & the BunnymenOcean RainMay 4, 1984 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    86B
  5. 5Album cover for Brilliant Trees by David Sylvian
    David SylvianBrilliant TreesJuly 7, 1984 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Broad agreement
    78C+
  1. 1Album cover for Zen Arcade by Hüsker Dü
    Hüsker DüZen ArcadeJuly 1984 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  2. 2Album cover for Ride the Lightning by Metallica
    MetallicaRide the LightningJuly 27, 1984 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Divided
    88B+
  3. 3Album cover for Defenders of the Faith by Judas Priest
    Judas PriestDefenders of the FaithJanuary 4, 1984 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Broad agreement
    70C-
  4. 4Album cover for Slip It In by Black Flag
    Black FlagSlip It InDecember 1984 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Some debate
    60D-
  5. 5Album cover for My War by Black Flag
    Black FlagMy WarMarch 1984 · 6 reviews · 17% approval · Divided
    57F

← 1983 · Every year, back to the 1950s · 1985 →

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