U2's Joshua Tree voted the best album of the 1980s according to BBC

[FléauDeDieu]

For me, it's Secrets of the Beehive by David Sylvian

 

[Urban Youth]

Best of the 80s by far
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I like Joshua Tree a lot, but not so much U2. Bono can come off as being self aware in a pretentious way. That being said I can't deny the record. I actually like a lot of it's B-Sides over some of the cuts on the album (Spanish Eyes and Walk To The Water in particular, Race Against Time) Joshua Tree exists in the same tier as INXS's Kick for me.

 

[Thrawn33]

Appetite for Destruction may be my personal favorite...

But to deny Thriller is a fucking sin.

 

[nicapica]

Surely a band like Metallica or Van Halen had a better album. Maybe even Blue Oyster Cult?

I would assume the best album of the 80s would still be influential but it’s not really.
RUN DMC’s self titled album is probably more influential then Joshua tree, Ride the Lightning helped shape modern music probably more then Joshua tree.