B-Side Guys

The Best Albums of 1985

Every album of 1985, 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 Rain Dogs by Tom WaitsNumber one of 1985Tom WaitsRain Dogs100 A+7 critics · 100% approval · Unanimous · A-Side
Average Breakdown78across 1985's albums. That's higher than 79% of the other years here.
Liked57%of 1985's albums scored 75 or higher. Across every year it's 50%.
Most divisiveContentiousTears for Fears, Songs from the Big Chair split the critics more than any other album of the year.A-Sides26%of 1985's albums earned an A-Side. Across every year it's 6%.
  1. 1Album cover for Rain Dogs by Tom Waits
    Tom WaitsRain Dogs1985 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    100A+
  2. 2Album cover for Psychocandy by The Jesus and Mary Chain
    The Jesus and Mary ChainPsychocandyFebruary 1985 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    97A+
  3. 3Album cover for Rum Sodomy & the Lash by The Pogues
    The PoguesRum Sodomy & the Lash1985 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    93A
  4. 4Album cover for Hounds of Love by Kate Bush
    Kate BushHounds of LoveJuly 30, 1985 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    93A
  5. 5Album cover for Tim by The Replacements
    The ReplacementsTimJuly 1, 1985 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  6. 6Album cover for Radio by LL Cool J
    LL Cool JRadioNovember 18, 1985 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  7. 7Album cover for Steve McQueen by Prefab Sprout
    Prefab SproutSteve McQueenJune 1985 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    88B+
  8. 8Album cover for Fables of the Reconstruction by R.E.M.
    R.E.M.Fables of the ReconstructionJune 11, 1985 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  9. 9Album cover for Whitney Houston by Whitney Houston
    Whitney HoustonWhitney HoustonFebruary 14, 1985 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate
    83B
  10. 10Album cover for Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits
    Dire StraitsBrothers in ArmsMay 15, 1985 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    83B

How 1985 grades

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

1985

A26%
B22%
C35%
D13%
F4%

Every year

A6%
B25%
C37%
D21%
F10%
  1. 11Album cover for Promise by Sade
    SadePromiseNovember 16, 1985 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Broad agreement
    81B-
  2. 12Album cover for Spreading the Disease by Anthrax
    AnthraxSpreading the DiseaseOctober 30, 1985 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    78C+
  3. 13Album cover for King of Rock by Run-DMC
    Run-DMCKing of RockJanuary 21, 1985 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Divided
    76C
  4. 14Album cover for The Firstborn Is Dead by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
    Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsThe Firstborn Is DeadJune 3, 1985 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Broad agreement
    74C
  5. 15Album cover for Hunting High and Low by a-ha
    a-haHunting High and LowJune 1, 1985 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Divided
    74C
  6. 16Album cover for Songs from the Big Chair by Tears for Fears
    Tears for FearsSongs from the Big ChairFebruary 1, 1985 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Contentious
    73C
  7. 17Album cover for Once Upon a Time by Simple Minds
    Simple MindsOnce Upon a TimeOctober 21, 1985 · 7 reviews · 43% approval · Some debate
    71C-
  8. 18Album cover for Meat Is Murder by The Smiths
    The SmithsMeat Is MurderFebruary 11, 1985 · 9 reviews · 67% approval · Some debate
    71C-
  9. 19Album cover for Freaky Styley by Red Hot Chili Peppers
    Red Hot Chili PeppersFreaky StyleyAugust 16, 1985 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Broad agreement
    70C-
  10. 20Album cover for Different Light by The Bangles
    The BanglesDifferent Light1985 · 6 reviews · 50% approval · Some debate
    68D+
  11. 21Album cover for Power Windows by Rush
    RushPower WindowsOctober 14, 1985 · 6 reviews · 33% approval · Divided
    62D-
  12. 22Album cover for Bad Moon Rising by Sonic Youth
    Sonic YouthBad Moon Rising1985 · 8 reviews · 25% approval · Some debate
    62D-
  13. 23Album cover for Cut the Crap by The Clash
    The ClashCut the CrapNovember 4, 1985 · 7 reviews · 14% approval · Contentious
    40F

Where 1985 sits

Average Breakdown, for albums with five or more reviews.

Next to the years around it

198478
1985 (this year)78
198780
198880
  1. 1Album cover for Hounds of Love by Kate Bush
    Kate BushHounds of LoveJuly 30, 1985 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    93A
  2. 2Album cover for Steve McQueen by Prefab Sprout
    Prefab SproutSteve McQueenJune 1985 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    88B+
  3. 3Album cover for Whitney Houston by Whitney Houston
    Whitney HoustonWhitney HoustonFebruary 14, 1985 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate
    83B
  4. 4Album cover for Hunting High and Low by a-ha
    a-haHunting High and LowJune 1, 1985 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Divided
    74C
  5. 5Album cover for Different Light by The Bangles
    The BanglesDifferent Light1985 · 6 reviews · 50% approval · Some debate
    68D+
  1. 1Album cover for Rain Dogs by Tom Waits
    Tom WaitsRain Dogs1985 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    100A+
  2. 2Album cover for Psychocandy by The Jesus and Mary Chain
    The Jesus and Mary ChainPsychocandyFebruary 1985 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    97A+
  3. 3Album cover for Tim by The Replacements
    The ReplacementsTimJuly 1, 1985 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  4. 4Album cover for Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits
    Dire StraitsBrothers in ArmsMay 15, 1985 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    83B
  5. 5Album cover for The Firstborn Is Dead by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
    Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsThe Firstborn Is DeadJune 3, 1985 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Broad agreement
    74C
  6. 6Album cover for Songs from the Big Chair by Tears for Fears
    Tears for FearsSongs from the Big ChairFebruary 1, 1985 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Contentious
    73C
  7. 7Album cover for Once Upon a Time by Simple Minds
    Simple MindsOnce Upon a TimeOctober 21, 1985 · 7 reviews · 43% approval · Some debate
    71C-
  8. 8Album cover for Freaky Styley by Red Hot Chili Peppers
    Red Hot Chili PeppersFreaky StyleyAugust 16, 1985 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Broad agreement
    70C-
  9. 9Album cover for Power Windows by Rush
    RushPower WindowsOctober 14, 1985 · 6 reviews · 33% approval · Divided
    62D-
  10. 10Album cover for Cut the Crap by The Clash
    The ClashCut the CrapNovember 4, 1985 · 7 reviews · 14% approval · Contentious
    40F

← 1984 · Every year, back to the 1950s · 1986 →

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