B-Side Guys

The Best Albums of 1986

Every album of 1986, 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 The Queen Is Dead by The SmithsNumber one of 1986The SmithsThe Queen Is Dead99 A+8 critics · 100% approval · Unanimous · A-Side
Average Breakdown84across 1986's albums. That's higher than 94% of the other years here.
Liked79%of 1986's albums scored 75 or higher. Across every year it's 50%.
Most divisiveDividedCocteau Twins, Victorialand split the critics more than any other album of the year.A-Sides25%of 1986's albums earned an A-Side. Across every year it's 5.9%.
  1. 1Album cover for The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths
    The SmithsThe Queen Is DeadJune 16, 1986 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    99A+
  2. 2Album cover for Graceland by Paul Simon
    Paul SimonGracelandAugust 29, 1986 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    98A+
  3. 3Album cover for Reign in Blood by Slayer
    SlayerReign in BloodOctober 7, 1986 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    98A+
  4. 4Album cover for Licensed to Ill by Beastie Boys
    Beastie BoysLicensed to IllNovember 15, 1986 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  5. 5Album cover for Master of Puppets by Metallica
    MetallicaMaster of PuppetsMarch 3, 1986 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Some debate
    92A-
  6. 6Album cover for Your Funeral… My Trial by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
    Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsYour Funeral… My TrialNovember 3, 1986 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  7. 7Album cover for Lifes Rich Pageant by R.E.M.
    R.E.M.Lifes Rich PageantJuly 28, 1986 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  8. 8Album cover for Rapture by Anita Baker
    Anita BakerRaptureAugust 1, 1986 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    88B+
  9. 9Album cover for Control by Janet Jackson
    Janet JacksonControlJanuary 25, 1986 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    88B+
  10. 10Album cover for So by Peter Gabriel
    Peter GabrielSoMay 19, 1986 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B

How 1986 grades

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

1986

A25%
B46%
C21%
D8%
F0%

Every year

A6%
B25%
C38%
D21%
F10%
  1. 11Album cover for Atomizer by Big Black
    Big BlackAtomizerJanuary 1986 · 9 reviews · 78% approval · Some debate
    85B
  2. 12Album cover for Song X by Ornette Coleman
    Ornette ColemanSong X1986 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    84B
  3. 13Album cover for The Colour of Spring by Talk Talk
    Talk TalkThe Colour of SpringMarch 1986 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    84B
  4. 14Album cover for Evol by Sonic Youth
    Sonic YouthEvolMay 1986 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    82B-
  5. 15Album cover for Black Celebration by Depeche Mode
    Depeche ModeBlack CelebrationMarch 17, 1986 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Broad agreement
    82B-
  6. 16Album cover for Please by Pet Shop Boys
    Pet Shop BoysPleaseMarch 24, 1986 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    82B-
  7. 17Album cover for Parade – Music from the Motion Picture Under the Cherry Moon by Prince and the Revolution
    Prince and the RevolutionParade – Music from the Motion Picture Under the Cherry MoonMarch 31, 1986 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Broad agreement
    81B-
  8. 18Album cover for Invisible Touch by Genesis
    GenesisInvisible TouchJune 6, 1986 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    78C+
  9. 19Album cover for London 0 Hull 4 by The Housemartins
    The HousemartinsLondon 0 Hull 4June 23, 1986 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Some debate
    77C+
  10. 20Album cover for Back in the High Life by Steve Winwood
    Steve WinwoodBack in the High LifeJune 1986 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Some debate
    74C
  11. 21Album cover for Tutu by Miles Davis
    Miles DavisTutuSeptember 1986 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    74C
  12. 22Album cover for Brotherhood by New Order
    New OrderBrotherhoodSeptember 1986 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Some debate
    74C
  13. 23Album cover for Victorialand by Cocteau Twins
    Cocteau TwinsVictorialandFebruary 1986 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Divided
    68D+
  14. 24Album cover for True Stories by Talking Heads
    Talking HeadsTrue StoriesOctober 7, 1986 · 6 reviews · 33% approval · Some debate
    64D

Where 1986 sits

Average Breakdown, for albums with five or more reviews.

Next to the years around it

198478
1986 (this year)84
198780
198880
198977
  1. 1Album cover for So by Peter Gabriel
    Peter GabrielSoMay 19, 1986 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  2. 2Album cover for Atomizer by Big Black
    Big BlackAtomizerJanuary 1986 · 9 reviews · 78% approval · Some debate
    85B
  3. 3Album cover for The Colour of Spring by Talk Talk
    Talk TalkThe Colour of SpringMarch 1986 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    84B
  4. 4Album cover for Invisible Touch by Genesis
    GenesisInvisible TouchJune 6, 1986 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    78C+
  5. 5Album cover for Back in the High Life by Steve Winwood
    Steve WinwoodBack in the High LifeJune 1986 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Some debate
    74C
  6. 6Album cover for True Stories by Talking Heads
    Talking HeadsTrue StoriesOctober 7, 1986 · 6 reviews · 33% approval · Some debate
    64D
  1. 1Album cover for The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths
    The SmithsThe Queen Is DeadJune 16, 1986 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    99A+
  2. 2Album cover for Your Funeral… My Trial by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
    Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsYour Funeral… My TrialNovember 3, 1986 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  3. 3Album cover for Lifes Rich Pageant by R.E.M.
    R.E.M.Lifes Rich PageantJuly 28, 1986 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  4. 4Album cover for Evol by Sonic Youth
    Sonic YouthEvolMay 1986 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    82B-
  5. 5Album cover for Black Celebration by Depeche Mode
    Depeche ModeBlack CelebrationMarch 17, 1986 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Broad agreement
    82B-
  6. 6Album cover for London 0 Hull 4 by The Housemartins
    The HousemartinsLondon 0 Hull 4June 23, 1986 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Some debate
    77C+
  7. 7Album cover for Victorialand by Cocteau Twins
    Cocteau TwinsVictorialandFebruary 1986 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Divided
    68D+

← 1985 · Every year, back to the 1950s · 1987 →

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