Albums of the Year 1985 - as chosen by users of the Fediverse
One of the most fun series of posts I do on this blog is the albums of the year for a particular past year, nominated by fellow users of the Fediverse. People really get involved and it’s great to see people talking about music that means a lot to them. In addition to this, I selfishly get to find out about lots of great albums that I may have missed!
Well the first two, both in the 90s, were a success so we’ve gone even further back in time, to 1985. This time it’s one before I was born and yet despite that, there might be even more on this list that I’m familiar with than previously.
A common sentiment when requesting these nominations was that there were plenty of albums people loved from the years immediately before and after this one, so rest assured, we will be revisiting the early to mid 80s again!
There were around twenty eight individual albums submitted for album of the year 1985, with seven albums receiving more than one nomination.
So without further ado, with the most votes, the album of the year 1985 according to the respondents was Psychocandy by Jesus and Mary Chain. This is one of the albums that I’ve heard a track or two from but I’m not familiar with the full record so I’ll definitely give it a try.
This time around there were four albums that were level for second place. These were:
Live After Death by Iron Maiden
The Head on the Door by The Cure
Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits
Hell Awaits by Slayer
Some solid choices there. I really need to listen to that Dire Straits album in full. People may also grumble about the Maiden selection, being a live album. However, it’s that good it doesn’t matter to me.
After these silver medalists, there was also a tie for bronze with three albums getting the same amount of nominations. These were:
Around the World in a Day by Prince
Hounds of Love by Kate Bush
Fables of the Reconstruction by R.E.M
Another selection of great albums. All deserving their spot on a rather crowded podium.
Beyond this lot though, there were a bunch of records that got one nomination and they also deserve some spotlight. So here is a list of the other albums that were named:
Up on the Sun by Meat Puppets
Rain Dogs by Tom Waits
Low-Life by New Order
Animosity by Corrosion of Conformity
I Don’t Want to Grow Up by Descendants
Mars Needs Guitars! by Hoodoo Gurus
Our Favourite Shop by The Style Council
Steve McQueen by Prefab Sprout
Meat is Murder by The Smiths
On a Storyteller’s Night by Magnum
Be Yourself Tonight by Eurythmics
To Mega Therion by Celtic Frost
Little Creatures by Talking Heads
Spreading the Disease by Anthrax
New Day Rising by Hüsker Dü
Straight Ahead by Greg Sage
First and Last Always by Sisters of Mercy
Love by The Cult
Rum, Sodomy & The lash by The Pogues
Open Fire by Y&T
Bad Moon Rising by Sonic Youth
Some albums here that I’m confident to say are great, and also a bunch that I’ve never had the pleasure of listening to. Yet.
Thank you to everyone that contributed and also to everyone who read this. What year shall we do next?
Hails!