B-Side Guys

The Best Albums of 1989

Every album of 1989, 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 Paul’s Boutique by Beastie BoysNumber one of 1989Beastie BoysPaul’s Boutique98 A+10 critics · 100% approval · Unanimous · A-Side
Average Breakdown77across 1989's albums. That's higher than 67% of the other years here.
Liked67%of 1989's albums scored 75 or higher. Across every year it's 50%.
Most divisiveContentiousSkid Row, Skid Row split the critics more than any other album of the year.A-Sides10%of 1989's albums earned an A-Side. Across every year it's 6%.
  1. 1Album cover for Paul’s Boutique by Beastie Boys
    Beastie BoysPaul’s BoutiqueJuly 25, 1989 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    98A+
  2. 2Album cover for The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses
    The Stone RosesThe Stone RosesApril 1989 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  3. 3Album cover for 3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul
    De La Soul3 Feet High and RisingMay 14, 1989 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Divided
    92A-
  4. 4Album cover for New York by Lou Reed
    Lou ReedNew YorkJanuary 10, 1989 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  5. 5Album cover for Disintegration by The Cure
    The CureDisintegrationMay 1, 1989 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    89B+
  6. 6Album cover for Freedom by Neil Young
    Neil YoungFreedomOctober 2, 1989 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Broad agreement
    88B+
  7. 7Album cover for Pump by Aerosmith
    AerosmithPumpSeptember 12, 1989 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  8. 8Album cover for The Sensual World by Kate Bush
    Kate BushThe Sensual WorldOctober 17, 1989 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    85B
  9. 9Album cover for Technique by New Order
    New OrderTechniqueJanuary 24, 1989 · 10 reviews · 90% approval · Some debate
    85B
  10. 10Album cover for Like a Prayer by Madonna
    MadonnaLike a PrayerMarch 20, 1989 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Divided
    84B

How 1989 grades

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

1989

A10%
B33%
C36%
D13%
F8%

Every year

A6%
B25%
C37%
D21%
F10%
  1. 11Album cover for Affection by Lisa Stansfield
    Lisa StansfieldAffectionNovember 20, 1989 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Broad agreement
    82B-
  2. 12Album cover for Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails
    Nine Inch NailsPretty Hate MachineOctober 20, 1989 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Some debate
    82B-
  3. 13Album cover for The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste by Ministry
    MinistryThe Mind Is a Terrible Thing to TasteNovember 10, 1989 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    81B-
  4. 14Album cover for Altars of Madness by Morbid Angel
    Morbid AngelAltars of MadnessSeptember 1989 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    81B-
  5. 15Album cover for Nick of Time by Bonnie Raitt
    Bonnie RaittNick of TimeMarch 21, 1989 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate
    80B-
  6. 16Album cover for Dr. Feelgood by Mötley Crüe
    Mötley CrüeDr. FeelgoodAugust 28, 1989 · 6 reviews · 50% approval · Some debate
    80B-
  7. 17Album cover for Full Moon Fever by Tom Petty
    Tom PettyFull Moon FeverApril 25, 1989 · 9 reviews · 78% approval · Broad agreement
    80B-
  8. 18Album cover for Spike by Elvis Costello
    Elvis CostelloSpikeFebruary 6, 1989 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Divided
    79C+
  9. 19Album cover for Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 by Janet Jackson
    Janet JacksonJanet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814September 15, 1989 · 8 reviews · 63% approval · Divided
    79C+
  10. 20Album cover for Passion: Music for The Last Temptation of Christ by Peter Gabriel
    Peter GabrielPassion: Music for The Last Temptation of ChristJune 5, 1989 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate
    78C+
  11. 21Album cover for The Real Thing by Faith No More
    Faith No MoreThe Real ThingJune 20, 1989 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Divided
    78C+
  12. 22Album cover for Walking with a Panther by LL Cool J
    LL Cool JWalking with a PantherJune 13, 1989 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    78C+
  13. 23Album cover for Journeyman by Eric Clapton
    Eric ClaptonJourneymanOctober 23, 1989 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Some debate
    76C
  14. 24Album cover for Let Love Rule by Lenny Kravitz
    Lenny KravitzLet Love RuleSeptember 5, 1989 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Some debate
    76C
  15. 25Album cover for All Hail the Queen by Queen Latifah
    Queen LatifahAll Hail the QueenNovember 28, 1989 · 7 reviews · 57% approval · Broad agreement
    76C

Where 1989 sits

Average Breakdown, for albums with five or more reviews.

Next to the years around it

198780
198880
1989 (this year)77
199075
199177
199280

By genre

Indie & Alternative78
Rock75
Pop72
  1. 26Album cover for The Seeds of Love by Tears for Fears
    Tears for FearsThe Seeds of LoveSeptember 19, 1989 · 9 reviews · 67% approval · Divided
    76C
  2. 27Album cover for Automatic by The Jesus and Mary Chain
    The Jesus and Mary ChainAutomaticOctober 9, 1989 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Divided
    74C
  3. 28Album cover for Don’t Tell a Soul by The Replacements
    The ReplacementsDon’t Tell a SoulJanuary 31, 1989 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Contentious
    73C
  4. 29Album cover for Batman by Prince
    PrinceBatmanJune 16, 1989 · 9 reviews · 56% approval · Some debate
    73C
  5. 30Album cover for Sonic Temple by The Cult
    The CultSonic TempleApril 12, 1989 · 10 reviews · 40% approval · Some debate
    70C-
  6. 31Album cover for Cosmic Thing by The B-52's
    The B-52'sCosmic ThingJune 6, 1989 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Broad agreement
    70C-
  7. 32Album cover for Flowers in the Dirt by Paul McCartney
    Paul McCartneyFlowers in the DirtJune 5, 1989 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Some debate
    68D+
  8. 33Album cover for Skid Row by Skid Row
    Skid RowSkid RowJanuary 24, 1989 · 7 reviews · 57% approval · Contentious
    65D
  9. 34Album cover for Mudhoney by Mudhoney
    MudhoneyMudhoney1989 · 7 reviews · 43% approval · Divided
    64D
  10. 35Album cover for Mother’s Milk by Red Hot Chili Peppers
    Red Hot Chili PeppersMother’s MilkAugust 22, 1989 · 5 reviews · 0% approval · Broad agreement
    61D-
  11. 36Album cover for Tweez by Slint
    SlintTweez1989 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Some debate
    60D-
  12. 37Album cover for …But Seriously by Phil Collins
    Phil Collins…But SeriouslyNovember 7, 1989 · 6 reviews · 0% approval · Broad agreement
    55F
  13. 38Album cover for The Miracle by Queen
    QueenThe MiracleMay 22, 1989 · 7 reviews · 14% approval · Divided
    54F
  14. 39Album cover for Enjoy Yourself by Kylie Minogue
    Kylie MinogueEnjoy YourselfOctober 9, 1989 · 5 reviews · 0% approval · Some debate
    42F
  1. 1Album cover for The Sensual World by Kate Bush
    Kate BushThe Sensual WorldOctober 17, 1989 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    85B
  2. 2Album cover for Technique by New Order
    New OrderTechniqueJanuary 24, 1989 · 10 reviews · 90% approval · Some debate
    85B
  3. 3Album cover for Like a Prayer by Madonna
    MadonnaLike a PrayerMarch 20, 1989 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Divided
    84B
  4. 4Album cover for Affection by Lisa Stansfield
    Lisa StansfieldAffectionNovember 20, 1989 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Broad agreement
    82B-
  5. 5Album cover for The Seeds of Love by Tears for Fears
    Tears for FearsThe Seeds of LoveSeptember 19, 1989 · 9 reviews · 67% approval · Divided
    76C
  6. 6Album cover for Cosmic Thing by The B-52's
    The B-52'sCosmic ThingJune 6, 1989 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Broad agreement
    70C-
  7. 7Album cover for …But Seriously by Phil Collins
    Phil Collins…But SeriouslyNovember 7, 1989 · 6 reviews · 0% approval · Broad agreement
    55F
  8. 8Album cover for Enjoy Yourself by Kylie Minogue
    Kylie MinogueEnjoy YourselfOctober 9, 1989 · 5 reviews · 0% approval · Some debate
    42F
  1. 1Album cover for Freedom by Neil Young
    Neil YoungFreedomOctober 2, 1989 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Broad agreement
    88B+
  2. 2Album cover for Pump by Aerosmith
    AerosmithPumpSeptember 12, 1989 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  3. 3Album cover for Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails
    Nine Inch NailsPretty Hate MachineOctober 20, 1989 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Some debate
    82B-
  4. 4Album cover for Nick of Time by Bonnie Raitt
    Bonnie RaittNick of TimeMarch 21, 1989 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate
    80B-
  5. 5Album cover for Dr. Feelgood by Mötley Crüe
    Mötley CrüeDr. FeelgoodAugust 28, 1989 · 6 reviews · 50% approval · Some debate
    80B-
  6. 6Album cover for Full Moon Fever by Tom Petty
    Tom PettyFull Moon FeverApril 25, 1989 · 9 reviews · 78% approval · Broad agreement
    80B-
  7. 7Album cover for Spike by Elvis Costello
    Elvis CostelloSpikeFebruary 6, 1989 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Divided
    79C+
  8. 8Album cover for Journeyman by Eric Clapton
    Eric ClaptonJourneymanOctober 23, 1989 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Some debate
    76C
  9. 9Album cover for Let Love Rule by Lenny Kravitz
    Lenny KravitzLet Love RuleSeptember 5, 1989 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Some debate
    76C
  10. 10Album cover for Don’t Tell a Soul by The Replacements
    The ReplacementsDon’t Tell a SoulJanuary 31, 1989 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Contentious
    73C
  11. 11Album cover for Sonic Temple by The Cult
    The CultSonic TempleApril 12, 1989 · 10 reviews · 40% approval · Some debate
    70C-
  12. 12Album cover for Flowers in the Dirt by Paul McCartney
    Paul McCartneyFlowers in the DirtJune 5, 1989 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Some debate
    68D+
  13. 13Album cover for Mudhoney by Mudhoney
    MudhoneyMudhoney1989 · 7 reviews · 43% approval · Divided
    64D
  14. 14Album cover for The Miracle by Queen
    QueenThe MiracleMay 22, 1989 · 7 reviews · 14% approval · Divided
    54F
  1. 1Album cover for The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses
    The Stone RosesThe Stone RosesApril 1989 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  2. 2Album cover for New York by Lou Reed
    Lou ReedNew YorkJanuary 10, 1989 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  3. 3Album cover for Disintegration by The Cure
    The CureDisintegrationMay 1, 1989 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    89B+
  4. 4Album cover for Automatic by The Jesus and Mary Chain
    The Jesus and Mary ChainAutomaticOctober 9, 1989 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Divided
    74C
  5. 5Album cover for Mother’s Milk by Red Hot Chili Peppers
    Red Hot Chili PeppersMother’s MilkAugust 22, 1989 · 5 reviews · 0% approval · Broad agreement
    61D-
  6. 6Album cover for Tweez by Slint
    SlintTweez1989 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Some debate
    60D-

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