it's cool

it's so professional.and really cool something thatu can grove to.

it's so catchy.

it's awoesome.

very powerful.

something you could groove to.

a powerful album

one of the greatest records ever heard.

music makes you come alive.

the perfect album of all time. the greatest music ever heard.

This album is simply a modern masterpiece: the definitive soundtrack for the New Wave Eighties. Duran Duran took NW, spun it with disco and funk, added Andy Taylor's itchy, "just-right" guitar, and then added copious, impenetrable art lyrics from the brooding world traveler Simon LeBon, whose musings vacillate on "Tiger" from the blindly ecstatic ("The Reflex") to the suicidal ("Seventh Stranger"). You got taken along for the trip. Kidnapped really. And when you woke up, somewhere around the "Liberty" album, this world had become a stranger, darker place, this grimy, sweaty, sex-obsessed dungeon of horrors where a creepy horde known as Generation Y had somehow bypassed The Real Generation In Charge (that would be X), and an aural toilet known as hip-hop was called music. Thankfully that sinister era ended when Generation X called, "Enough", and the word Electroclash was born. I thank God for that critic. "Seven and The Ragged Tiger" is pretty much all you'd ever want in a good strong Eighties album; enough pop savvy to keep you bouncing on the dance floor, and just enough analog wizardry to blow a nice silver frost over it all. Luscious album; simply luscious to the ears and soul. Good work, you boys from Birmingham. YOU *ARE* GENERATION X'S BEATLES. Nuff said.

I dare you to convince me Nick Rhodes did not produce this single, and that that isn't John Taylor playing the bass on "Ooh To Be A". No? Well then who else out there was capable of this kind of Michael Jackson footwork on the frets back then? One of my favorite singles ever, much less the Eighties, all the songs put me in such a state when I listen. I simply must dress gorgeously and apply as much makeup as possible, then drive around and spend wildly. The tonic to our modern times: an album that reminds us, somehow, that all music switches every 20 years, and that this genre is about to return and cast Britney, Beyonce, J.Lo and the other Stygian whores of Babylon down the cistern into hell forever. Happier days and nights approach, my loves - Kajagoogoo's delightful, sparkling, microbeaded keyboard gems would remind even the most jaded listener. The standouts, of course, "Too Shy", and "Oo To Be A" - "Oo To Be A" being the too-often overlooked better-sounding sister of THE HIT SINGLE. Reminds me of luxury, gold, happiness and champagne. When Generation Y's I-might-let-you-****-me-if-you-pay-me "music" gets to be too much for me, and I become depressed, THIS is the single I put in the CD player, and I just feel better in about four bars.

I'm not touching this one. I'll leave it at a superlative that by no means exaggerates: this is the "Sgt. Peppers" of Gothdom, hands down. Every single, classic. Anyone disagree out there?

One of the most extraordinary Eighties albums recorded, this understated stunner produced by Laurie Latham has all the beeps and pops in exactly the right places, along with gorgeously icy chords from Glenn Tilbrook, who of course also sings. Tilbrook's voice is one of the Wonders of The World: supple, fluid, with a gay silkiness unusual in a straight Englishman. He simply sings as an angel would, especially on singles like "Learnt How To Pray", which will rip an asymmetrical gouge in your heart with a freezer-cooled chorus of great power; then there's lovely pop treats like "Last Time Forever" (a violent tale describing something actually disturbing, and including samples from "The Shining") and "King George Street", one of the prettiest, most tear-provoking New Wave compositions in the book pretty much hands down. Go buy this album - but good luck finding it on CD. Mine's still on cassette; and I cherish it.

Required listening. When I was a teenager dancing to this album in the dark, I didn't know what the hell Heaven 17 were so conflicted about: the lyrics spoke of being torn between art and commerce; the hero, always unnamed, went to an office job in the daytime and then exorcised his soul to the drone of analogs when the sun dropped down. I never understood this; I always asked myself, "How can he work at a regular job like this and still be a new waver? Is that possible? Why doesn't he just quit?" Alas, the ignorance of youth; now I am 35 and BELIEVE ME, I GET HEAVEN 17 AND THE B.E.F. NOW. As an adult, I now see the B.E.F. as one of the most subversive statements imaginable. And as an American, I envy British courage. Could we be this anti-establishment, especially today? Ooh, such chilly, sparkling songwriting gems: "Temptation" -- "Come Live With Me" -- these singles are crafted so perfectly, their keyboards are so angular and sine wave, almost every song jets you backwards in a pneumatic tube to '82 within the first bar. Does it get any more New Wave than this album? Doubtful; Luxury Gap is pretty much canon, as exact an example of the form as you're going to find. This is audio crack.

This album truly needs no explanation or review. If you're reading this, you bought this on vinyl in 1984. And you still have it.

Like lots of Talk Talk albums, this one sometimes sees its overall concept wander around the neighborhood a few times, but if "It's My Life" doesn't bring you safely back home, you need to get lost for real. Forget Gwen Stefani's retouch; she has the right attitude, but this is a single for a greater voice, either a man's or a supercontralto like yours truly. Cool, bleak, windy; reminds you of a very cloudy day that threatens to rain but somehow never does; what else do you want from a New Wave album? Pour into bathtub and slowly sink into the Rolands and Yamahas.

I'm biased of course because Marc Almond's vocal register is exactly the same as mine, but this sensuous gay chanteuse has probably about the best pipes in all of New Wave: dark, satin and mischievous, with a real penchant for John Barry chordology - (that's the bloke of course who composed the 007 theme) but this album has so many anthems, you can't count them all. Check out neat touches like the Arabic-Greek flavored "The Frost of Tomorrow", the sublimely ambitious "Very Last Pearl" and the decadent, sugary Goth Disney Broadway tune "Kept Boy". No, "Tears Run Rings" can't stand up to the rest of this album. Idiot A&R people thought it would. The "hit single" is the low point of "Stars". Buy and cherish this album for the other tracks; then hide it in a chest full of red velvet. It sounds like that.

One of the de rigeur "secret cult hit albums" of the Eighties, one of the ones you passed from friend to friend on cassette and listened to until the oxide strip wore into Christmas tinsel. If you like early Berlin, this is an album to go get right now. But you probably have it. After all, "Sorry For Laughing" is the No. 2 GREATEST SINGLE OF THE EIGHTIES (No. 1 is below), with all the chords just in their right places, the cool keyboards singing like angels, and that somewhat Durannishly ambitious chorus melody. (Or was it Marc Almondly ambitious? Either one) For a band of moody German groofties, Propaganda came deliciously close to distilling what makes English new wave all that it was. Somewhere north of Heaven 17, definitely in Marc Almond's coolest coat pocket, but mostly a kiss between Duran Duran and Human League, you gotta own this album. Plus, what goth club night wasn't complete without the DJ spinning "Dr. Mabuse" at least once? ("Sell 'im your soul, sell 'im your soul... nevah look back... nevah look back") One of my favorite albums ever. "Duel" makes me miss the Eighties all over again.

Sparkling new wave as crisp as a cracker. Tight enough to bounce a quarter off its analog abs. This was David Gamson at his best, sporting those crunching, whirling drum fills he was so good at. Put on your best makeup, gel your hair, and stroll through the malls to this soundtrack. Just a total delight - especially the underrated, catastrophically funky "Small Talk". John Taylor couldn't even follow this bassline; it's too black, too instinctive. DARE you not to dance to it.

The only pop album you'll ever find on any list I ever make and the only one I ever bought. Really the only thing worth watching on MTV besides Headbangers Ball. Also the only album on this list I NEVER played when I was a DJ.

Seven legit hits on this album. A DJ's rock fantasy. Plus, it was the first album back with a one armed drummer. Incredible music.

From my interview with Brett Michaels: Me - What is Poison? Brett - "Take a bunch of different colors of paint and throw it on stage with dynamite. The resulting explosion is Poison.

Should be higher on my list, but I don't want to re-type. The making of a supergroup. And, I sat in a hotel room with Jon and did my first big rock interview. Too Damn Cool.

Good stuff, but not nearly good as thier late 70's stuff. Like Journey and REO, these guys decided to go commercial and sold out the classic rock feel. Still, my first "true" date was to see Styx in concert to promote this album, so I have fond memories.

A greatest hits package that included late 70's and early 80's stuff. As good today as they always were.

I think I was all caught up in the "super group" thing. Music wasn't bad.

Can't believe I haven't seen this on any lists. One of the most underated rock bands of the 80's. Their music is still great.

Loved the Southern guitar drive of these guys. Fun music, strong riffs.

Wasn't country. Wasn't rock. It was just fun music to cruise around to and drink your first beer.

Another well crafted hit machine of a record. Maybe less sophistacated than his most notable work with genesis, but an important 80's album.

A guilty pleasure, but a beautiful one. Meet you all the way!

EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD!!! best 6/8 groove in popular music ever!!!

He made the piano hip again, great songs... the reason I am now a proffessional musician, nuff said

Perhaps Sting's most mature melding of Jazz and Popular music, after he would continue in other interesting directions, this is one of my favorites. Great grooves, solos, and subtleties.

Infectious and profound at the same time. Important record.

With this album they made their presence heard in a major way, and it still hasn't subsided. Noone since the Beatles has so profoundly impacted the soundscape of popular music.

How did a Bay Area bar band become 80's icons? Fun songs and a classic sound just seemed to be in the right place in the right time.

One of the best selling albums of all time with good reason... Great grooves, hooks, and insane musicality and production.

Still used by discerning audiophiles and audio technicians to test P/A and hi fi systems, a gorgeously crafted and performed album.

Possibly best Australian Album of all time

well, this makes it top 11.

Best Rock album of the 80s, just don't take it too seriously

Timeless genius

Absolute classic

Directly influenced a little known band fronted by Kurt Cobain

The commercial album of the decade

Best guitar album of the decade

Prince was the 80s-this is his finest work

1989

1989

1980

1989

1984

1981

from 1982

1987

1982

Remember Big Love, Little Lies and Seven Wonders? And those aren't even the best on the album.

At the time, the coolest band around.

No 80s list is complete without it...

A given.

Too bad they split up.

Is Prince the best musician ever? Probably...

When Axl was cool...

Their best.

Some of her most ambitious work... And who can forget the video?

Epitomizes the 80s.