The ranking of the best indie rock albums of 1982, according to Radio X

Radio X magazine continues its exploration of the golden decade of the Eighties, this time focusing on 1982, "an extraordinary year for alternative music, which saw the release of albums destined to become classics from Depeche Mode, The Cure, Associates, The Clash, Yazoo and Talk Talk" – as the magazine points out in its introduction. "Radio X travels back in time to celebrate an unrepeatable season, in which post-punk, new wave, synth-pop and singer-songwriter pop produced some of the decade's most influential records". On OndaRock, meanwhile, we've published our ranking of the best albums of the Eighties.

So here's the ranking of the best indie-rock albums of 1982, according to Radio X magazine (full feature here).

1. XTC – “English Settlement”
2. Fun Boy Three – “The Fun Boy Three”
3. The Fall – “Hex Enduction Hour”
4. The Jam – “The Gift”
5. Sparks – “Angst In My Pants”
6. The Cure – “Pornography”
7. The Clash – “Combat Rock”
8. Altered Images – “Pinky Blue”
9. The Associates – “Sulk”
10. Blondie – “The Hunter”
11. ABC – “The Lexicon Of Love”
12. Talk Talk – “The Party’s Over”
13. The Go-Go’s – “Vacation”
14. Dexys Midnight Runners – “Too-Rye-Ay”
15. Yazoo – “Upstairs At Eric's”
16. Simple Minds – “New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)”
17. Psychedelic Furs – “Forever Now”
18. Depeche Mode – “A Broken Frame”
19. Bauhaus – “The Sky’s Gone Out”
20. Siouxsie & The Banshees – “A Kiss In The Dreamhouse”

Speaking of the 80s, British magazine Uncut set itself an ambitious goal: selecting the 500 greatest albums of the 1980s. On the magazine's website, the list is presented with an introduction to the decade in which, besides the media impact of the cult show “Top of the Pops”, emphasis is also placed on the coexistence of several souls of the decade: the punk-derived one that emerged from the end of the previous decade, complete with its wave and gothic evolution, the more futurist synth-pop one, later softened into the new guises of “new pop”, but also the openly anti-mainstream one of bands that were forerunners of indie-rock. Not to mention the nascent hip-hop scene and the evergreen metal strand. Here's the full list of the “500 Greatest Albums of the 1980's” according to Uncut (as reported on the Rocklist website, which we thank). A long journey through the Eighties from “Hounds Of Love” by Kate Bush to “The Wishing Chair” by 10,000 Maniacs.

1. Kate Bush – Hounds Of Love (1985)
2. Talking Heads – Remain In Light (1980)
3. Joy Division – Closer (1980)
4. Kraftwerk – Computer World (1980)
5. De La Soul – 3 Feet High And Rising (1989)
6. Prince – Sign O’ The Times (1987)
7. The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead (1986)
8. My Bloody Valentine – Isn’t Anything (1988)
9. Talk Talk – Sprit Of Eden (1988)
10. The Smiths – Hatful Of Hollow (1984)
11. R.E.M. – Murmur (1983)
12. The Cure – Disintegration (1989)
13. Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation (1988)
14. The Human League – Dare (1981)
15. Bruce Springsteen – Nebraska (1982)
16. The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses (1989)
17. Pixies – Doolittle (1989)
18. Public Enemy – It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988)
19. Prince And The Revolution – Purple Rain (1984)
20. Lloyd Cole And The Commotions – Rattlesnakes (1984)
21. Pixies – Surfer Rosa (1988)
22. The Jesus And Mary Chain – Psychocandy (1985)
23. Roxy Music – Avalon (1982)
24. Prefab Sprout – Steve McQueen (1985)
25. Brian Eno & David Byrne – My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts (1981)
26. ABC – The Lexicon Of Love (1982)
27. Michael Jackson – Thriller (1982)
28. Prince And The Revolution – Parade (1986)
29. Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique (1989)
30. New Order – Technique (1989)
31. Paul Simon – Gracelands (1986)
32. David Bowie – Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (1980)
33. Leonard Cohen – I’m Your Man (1988)
34. The Cure – The Head On The Door (1985)
35. Scritti Politti – Cupid & Psyche 85 (1985)
36. Dexys Midnight Runners – Searching For The Young Soul Rebels (1980)
37. Tom Waits – Rain Dogs (1985)
38. Donald Fagen – The Nightfly (1982)
39. Cocteau Twins – Treasure (1984)
40. New Order – Power, Corruption And Lies (1983)
41. Elvis Costello And The Attractions – Blood And Chocolate (1986)
42. Happy Mondays – Bummed (1988)
43. Siouxsie And The Banshees – Juju (1981)
44. The Costello Show – King Of America (1986)
45. Tom Waits – Swordfishtrombones (1983)
46. The Jesus And Mary Chain – Darklands (1987)
47. Lou Reed – New York (1989)
48. Elvis Costello And The Attractions – Imperial Bedroom (1982)
49. The Fall – Hex Enducation Hour (1983)
50. Prince And The Revolution – Around The World In A Day (1985)
51. The Blue Nile – Hats (1989)
52. The Smiths – The Smiths (1984)
53. Echo And The Bunnymen – Ocean Rain (1984)
54. The Fall – This Nation’s Saving Grace (1985)
55. The Sisters Of Mercy – Floodland (1987)
56. Kate Bush – The Dreaming (1982)
57. Echo And The Bunnymen – Crocodiles (1980)
58. AC/DC – Back In Black (1980)
59. Aztec Camera – High Land, Hard Rain (1983)
60. The Sisters Of Mercy – First And Last And Always (1985)
61. Orange Juice – You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever (1982)
62. Soft Cell – Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret (1981)
63. Peter Gabriel – So (1986)
64. David Sylvian – Secrets Of The Beehive (1987)
65. The Clash – Sandinista! (1980)
66. Brian Eno – Apollo: Atmospheres And Soundtracks (1983)
67. The Cure – Faith (1981)
68. The Teardrop Explodes – Kilimanjaro (1908)
69. The Smiths – Strangeways, Here We Come (1987)
70. The House Of Love – The House Of Love (1988)
71. Mary Margaret O’Hara – Miss America (1988)
72. The Cramps – Songs The Lord Taught Us (1980)
73. Specials – More Specials (1980)
74. XTC – Skylarking (1986)
75. The Associates – Sulk (1982)
76. Propaganda – A Secret Wish (1985)
77. R.E.M. – Lifes Rich Pageant (1986)
78. New Order – Low-Life (1985)
79. Spacemen 3 – Playing With Fire (1988)
80. The Feelies – Crazy Rhythms (1980)
81. The Soft Boys – Underwater Moonlight (1980)
82. Steely Dan – Gaucho (1980)
83. The Jam – Sound Affects (1980)
84. Bruce Springsteen – The River (1980)
85. Pet Shop Boys – Please (1986)
86. The The – Soul Mining (1983)
87. Peter Gabriel – Peter Gabriel (Pizza Face) (1980)
88. Tears For Fears – Songs From The Big Chair (1985)
89. The Raincoats – Odyshape (1981)
90. The Cure – Seventeen Seconds (1980)
91. Bruce Springsteen – Born In The USA (1984)
92. The Pogues – Rum, Sodomy And The Lash (1985)
93. Janet Jackson – Control (1986)
94. The Cure – Pornography (1982)
95. Felt – Forever Breathes The Lonely Word (1986)
96. The The – Infected (1986)
97. The Smiths – Meat Is Murder (1985)
98. Talk Talk – The Colour Of Spring (1986)
99. R.E.M. – Reckoning (1984)
100. Public Image Ltd – Album (1986)
101. The Birthday Party – Junkyard (1982)
102. The Replacements – Pleased To Meet Me (1987)
103. Richard And Linda Thompson – Shoot Out The Lights (1982)
104. OMD – Architecture And Morality (1981)
105. R.E.M. – Fables Of The Reconstruction (1985)
106. Lucinda Williams – Lucinda Williams (1988)
107. Squeeze – East Side Story (1981)
108. Hüsker Dü – Zen Arcade (1984)
109. Haircut 100 – Pelican West (1982)
110. Dexys Midnight Runners – Don’t Stand Me Down (1985)
111. R.E.M. – Green (1988)
112. Electric Light Orchestra – Time (1981)
113. Virginia Astley – From Gardens Where We Feel Secure (1983)
114. The Triffids – Born Sandy Devotional (1986)
115. R.E.M. – Document (1987)
116. Scritti Politti – Songs To Remember (1982)
117. The Replacements – Let It Be (1984)
118. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds – From Her To Eternity (1984)
119. Opal – Happy Nightmare Baby (1987)
120. Dinosaur Jr. – You’re Living All Over Me (1987)
121. Dinosaur Jr. – Bug (1988)
122. Echo And The Bunnymen – Heaven Up Here (1981)
123. The Pogues – If I Should Fall From Grace With God (1988)
124. Anita Baker – Rapture (1986)
125. The Pastels – Up For A Bit With The Pastels (1987)
126. The Dream Syndicate – The Days Of Wine And Roses (1982)
127. Tears For Fears – The Hurting (1983)
128. Prince And The Revolution – 1999 (1982)
129. ESG – Come Away Wit ESG (1983)
130. John Cale – Music for A New Society (1982)
131. Billy Bragg – Talking With The Taxman About Poetry (1986)
132. Mission Of Burma – Vs. (1982)
133. Young Marble Giants – Colossal Youth (1980)
134. Hüsker Dü – Warehouse: Songs And Stories (1987)
135. Genesis – Duke (1980)
136. Cocteau Twins – Blue Bell Knoll (1988)
137. Sade – Diamond Life (1984)
138. ZZ Top – Eliminator (1983)
139. Robert Wyatt – Old Rottenhat (1985)
140. The Wedding Present – George Best (1987)
141. The Go-Betweens – Liberty Belle & The Black Diamond Express (1986)
142. Madness – Absolutely (1980)
143. The Mekons – Fear And Whiskey (1985)
144. John Foxx – Metamatic (1980)
145. Cardiacs – A Little Man & A House & The Whole World Window (1988)
146. Dead Kennedys – Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables (1980)
147. Metallica – Ride The Lightning (1984)
148. Dexys Midnight Runners – Too-Rye-Ay (1982)
149. Minutemen – Double Nickels On The Dime (1984)
150. Pharoah Sanders – Journey To The One (1980)
151. The Prisoners – The Last Fourfathers (1985)
152. Galaxie 500 – On Fire (1989)
153. The Style Council – Our Favourite Shop (1985)
154. Rickie Lee Jones – Pirates (1981)
155. Julian Cope – St Julian (1987)
156. Playn Jayn – Five Good Evils (1985)
157. Hoodoo Gurus – Stoneage Romeos (1984)
158. Red Guitars – Tales Of The Expected (1986)
159. U2 – The Joshua Tree (1987)
160. Bob Dylan – Oh Mercy (1989)
161. Ry Cooder – Paris, Texas OST (1985)
162. Black Uhuru – Red (1981)
163. King Crimson – Discipline (1981)
164. Tom Verlaine – Dreamtime (1981)
165. Manuel Göttsching – E2-E4 (1984)
166. Opal – Early Recordings (1989)
167. Elvis Costello And The Attractions – Get Happy!! (1980)
168. The Beat – I Just Can’t Stop It (1980)
169. Diamond Head – The White Album (1980)
170. Grace Jones – Nightclubbing (1981)
171. Elvis Costello And The Attractions – Punch The Clock (1983)
172. Magazine – The Correct Use Of Soap (1980)
173. Van Halen – 1984 (1983)
174. The Style Council – Cafe Bleu (1984)
175. The Cult – Electric (1987)
176. Stevie Wonder – Hotter Than July (1980)
177. Kirsty MacColl – Kite (1989)
178. Metallica – Master Of Puppets (1986)
179. Depeche Mode – Music For The Masses (1987)
180. Jacobites – Robespierre’s Velvet Basement (1985)
181. The Waterboys – This Is The Sea (1985)
182. The Wedding Present – Bizarro (1989)
183. Ozzy Osborne – Blizzard Of Ozz (1980)
184. The Creatures – Boomerang (1989)
185. The Clash – Combat Rock (1982)
186. XTC – Black Sea (1980)
187. Television Personalities – The Painted Word (1984)
188. Killing Joke – What’s This For…? (1981)
189. Bauhaus – In The Flat Field (1980)
190. John Hiatt – Bring The Family (1987)
191. Hüsker Dü – Flip Your Wig (1985)
192. Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense (1984)
193. Big Audio Dynamite – This Is Big Audio Dynamite (1985)
194. Steve Earle – Copperhead Road (1988)
195. Rain Parade – Explosions In The Glass Palace (1984)
196. The Woodentops – Giant (1986)
197. The Undertones – Hypnotised (1980)
198. Royal Trux – Royal Trux (1988)
199. The Lilac Time – The Lilac Time (1987)
200. Fun Boy Three – Waiting (1983)

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