B-Side Guys

The Best Albums of 1987

Every album of 1987, 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 You’re Living All Over Me by Dinosaur Jr.Number one of 1987Dinosaur Jr.You’re Living All Over Me96 A5 critics · 100% approval · Broad agreement · A-Side
Average Breakdown81across 1987's albums. That's higher than 89% of the other years here.
Liked81%of 1987's albums scored 75 or higher. Across every year it's 49%.
Most divisiveContentiousINXS, Kick split the critics more than any other album of the year.A-Sides15%of 1987's albums earned an A-Side. Across every year it's 6.3%.
  1. 1Album cover for You’re Living All Over Me by Dinosaur Jr.
    Dinosaur Jr.You’re Living All Over MeJuly 1987 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  2. 2Album cover for Hysteria by Def Leppard
    Def LeppardHysteriaAugust 3, 1987 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  3. 3Album cover for The Joshua Tree by U2
    U2The Joshua TreeMarch 9, 1987 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  4. 4Album cover for Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses
    Guns N' RosesAppetite for DestructionJuly 21, 1987 · 11 reviews · 91% approval · Divided
    91A-
  5. 5Album cover for …Nothing Like the Sun by Sting
    Sting…Nothing Like the SunOctober 1, 1987 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  6. 6Album cover for Document by R.E.M.
    R.E.M.DocumentAugust 31, 1987 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  7. 7Album cover for Sister by Sonic Youth
    Sonic YouthSisterJune 1987 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    88B+
  8. 8Album cover for Warehouse: Songs and Stories by Hüsker Dü
    Hüsker DüWarehouse: Songs and StoriesJanuary 19, 1987 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  9. 9Album cover for Darklands by The Jesus and Mary Chain
    The Jesus and Mary ChainDarklandsAugust 31, 1987 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    84B
  10. 10Album cover for Pleased to Meet Me by The Replacements
    The ReplacementsPleased to Meet MeJune 17, 1987 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Divided
    84B

How 1987 grades

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

1987

A15%
B58%
C12%
D12%
F4%

Every year

A6%
B24%
C37%
D22%
F11%
  1. 11Album cover for Diesel and Dust by Midnight Oil
    Midnight OilDiesel and DustJune 22, 1987 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    84B
  2. 12Album cover for Yo! Bum Rush the Show by Public Enemy
    Public EnemyYo! Bum Rush the ShowFebruary 10, 1987 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Broad agreement
    84B
  3. 13Album cover for Faith by George Michael
    George MichaelFaithOctober 30, 1987 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    84B
  4. 14Album cover for The Lion and the Cobra by Sinéad O'Connor
    Sinéad O'ConnorThe Lion and the CobraOctober 25, 1987 · 10 reviews · 90% approval · Some debate
    83B
  5. 15Album cover for Strangeways, Here We Come by The Smiths
    The SmithsStrangeways, Here We ComeSeptember 21, 1987 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    82B-
  6. 16Album cover for Floodland by The Sisters of Mercy
    The Sisters of MercyFloodlandNovember 15, 1987 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate
    82B-
  7. 17Album cover for Solitude Standing by Suzanne Vega
    Suzanne VegaSolitude StandingApril 1987 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Broad agreement
    81B-
  8. 18Album cover for Actually by Pet Shop Boys
    Pet Shop BoysActuallySeptember 7, 1987 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    81B-
  9. 19Album cover for Among the Living by Anthrax
    AnthraxAmong the LivingMarch 22, 1987 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Divided
    80B-
  10. 20Album cover for Tango in the Night by Fleetwood Mac
    Fleetwood MacTango in the NightApril 9, 1987 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Some debate
    79C+
  11. 21Album cover for Franks Wild Years by Tom Waits
    Tom WaitsFranks Wild YearsAugust 17, 1987 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Broad agreement
    75C
  12. 22Album cover for Kick by INXS
    INXSKickOctober 2, 1987 · 10 reviews · 70% approval · Contentious
    74C
  13. 23Album cover for Bigger and Deffer by LL Cool J
    LL Cool JBigger and DefferJuly 1, 1987 · 7 reviews · 29% approval · Broad agreement
    67D+
  14. 24Album cover for The Uplift Mofo Party Plan by Red Hot Chili Peppers
    Red Hot Chili PeppersThe Uplift Mofo Party PlanSeptember 29, 1987 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Divided
    64D
  15. 25Album cover for Born to Mack by Too Short
    Too ShortBorn to MackJune 20, 1987 · 5 reviews · 0% approval · Some debate
    60D-

Where 1987 sits

Average Breakdown, for albums with five or more reviews.

Next to the years around it

1987 (this year)81
198880
198977
199075
  1. 26Album cover for A Momentary Lapse of Reason by Pink Floyd
    Pink FloydA Momentary Lapse of ReasonSeptember 7, 1987 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Divided
    43F
  1. 1Album cover for Hysteria by Def Leppard
    Def LeppardHysteriaAugust 3, 1987 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  2. 2Album cover for The Joshua Tree by U2
    U2The Joshua TreeMarch 9, 1987 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  3. 3Album cover for Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses
    Guns N' RosesAppetite for DestructionJuly 21, 1987 · 11 reviews · 91% approval · Divided
    91A-
  4. 4Album cover for …Nothing Like the Sun by Sting
    Sting…Nothing Like the SunOctober 1, 1987 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  5. 5Album cover for Warehouse: Songs and Stories by Hüsker Dü
    Hüsker DüWarehouse: Songs and StoriesJanuary 19, 1987 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  6. 6Album cover for Diesel and Dust by Midnight Oil
    Midnight OilDiesel and DustJune 22, 1987 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    84B
  7. 7Album cover for Floodland by The Sisters of Mercy
    The Sisters of MercyFloodlandNovember 15, 1987 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate
    82B-
  8. 8Album cover for Solitude Standing by Suzanne Vega
    Suzanne VegaSolitude StandingApril 1987 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Broad agreement
    81B-
  9. 9Album cover for Tango in the Night by Fleetwood Mac
    Fleetwood MacTango in the NightApril 9, 1987 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Some debate
    79C+
  10. 10Album cover for Franks Wild Years by Tom Waits
    Tom WaitsFranks Wild YearsAugust 17, 1987 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Broad agreement
    75C
  11. 11Album cover for Kick by INXS
    INXSKickOctober 2, 1987 · 10 reviews · 70% approval · Contentious
    74C
  12. 12Album cover for A Momentary Lapse of Reason by Pink Floyd
    Pink FloydA Momentary Lapse of ReasonSeptember 7, 1987 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Divided
    43F
  1. 1Album cover for You’re Living All Over Me by Dinosaur Jr.
    Dinosaur Jr.You’re Living All Over MeJuly 1987 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  2. 2Album cover for Document by R.E.M.
    R.E.M.DocumentAugust 31, 1987 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  3. 3Album cover for Sister by Sonic Youth
    Sonic YouthSisterJune 1987 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    88B+
  4. 4Album cover for Darklands by The Jesus and Mary Chain
    The Jesus and Mary ChainDarklandsAugust 31, 1987 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    84B
  5. 5Album cover for Pleased to Meet Me by The Replacements
    The ReplacementsPleased to Meet MeJune 17, 1987 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Divided
    84B
  6. 6Album cover for Strangeways, Here We Come by The Smiths
    The SmithsStrangeways, Here We ComeSeptember 21, 1987 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    82B-
  7. 7Album cover for The Uplift Mofo Party Plan by Red Hot Chili Peppers
    Red Hot Chili PeppersThe Uplift Mofo Party PlanSeptember 29, 1987 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Divided
    64D

← 1986 · Every year, back to the 1950s · 1988 →

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