# Best Pazz & Jop Critics Poll Album 1984 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 30, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969 "2014-11-30T19:48:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/1 "2014-11-30T19:48:01Z")
For me, the hardest year of all - this was the year I turned 14, and the year I got heavily into “underground”/college rock, so, with the exception of the Tina Turner album (which I found bland), I’ve been listening to all these albums for 30 years now, and the number of them I consider classics is staggering. How can you vote against _Purple Rain_? Luckily, I’ll have more chances to vote for Prince, but it pains me to pass this one by. Similarly, you’ve got groundbreaking double albums from Hüsker Dü and the Minutemen that should be at the top of every music fan’s must-listen list, a great pop-oriented Lou Reed option, another classic from R.E.M. (luckily, I voted for them last time), the first rap album to make the list, and the pinnacle of '80s roots rock in the #1 and #3 positions. But since I’ll also have another chance to vote for Hüsker Dü, this year I have to go with the Replacements, if only for sentimental reasons. It pains me not to give the Minutemen some love, but this whole list pains me, really. A superb year. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/2 "2014-11-30T19:58:24Z")
Run DMC, for its historical impact over anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Eddie\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@Eddie\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eddie_F)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/3 "2014-11-30T19:59:17Z")
Much as I like - REALLY like - _Let It Be_, _Reckoning_, _How Will the Wolf Survive?_, _She’s So Unusual_, and _Double Nickles on the Dime_, they all are monochromatic when compared to the full on Technicolor 3-D funhouse that is Prince and the Revolution’s _Purple Rain_. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/4 "2014-11-30T20:01:25Z")
I must be the only person on the planet who doesn’t like Prince. I’m going with Springsteen; ever single song on that album is memorable and still plays well. How The Bangles ever made the list is a mystery to me. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/5 "2014-11-30T20:04:34Z")
That first Bangles album is great - updated '60s pop before they started aiming for a more top 40 sound. “Going Down To Liverpool” and “Hero Takes A Fall” are some of their best work. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/6 "2014-11-30T20:13:30Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > But since I’ll also have another chance to vote for Hüsker Dü You made my mind up for me. I voted REM - _Reckoning_ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/7 "2014-11-30T20:19:52Z")
\*Reckoning \*for me. My #2 pick would be _All Over The Place_. I played both of them to death when they first came out. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/8 "2014-11-30T20:45:41Z")
Yeesh. Tough one. I’m pretty much were **woodstockbirdybird** is ( other than being a couple of years older ) - I’m halfway inclined to go for the Minutemen or Hüsker Dü just because they will probably never get ranking again. But in the end I have to go The Replacements. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/9 "2014-11-30T21:17:01Z")
Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen of course. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/10 "2014-12-01T01:57:32Z")
Elvis Costello does not appear enough on these lists. _Purple Rain_, while not matching _1999_, is still spectacular. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/11 "2014-12-01T02:22:12Z")
The Replacements this year, though Prince is inches behind, and run DMC was also under close consideration for me. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/12 "2014-12-01T02:36:15Z")
It was Replacements, Minutemen, or Hüsker Dü for me, but “Let It Be” such a remarkable album that I had to vote for it. Also, I’m hoping that Hüsker Dü’s “Warehouse:” album shows up later. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/13 "2014-12-01T02:50:20Z")
Because of the instrumentals on it, this week, I’m gonna pick _Zen Arcade_. If it was any other week, I might have picked The Minutemen, Lou Reed, R.E.M., or The Replacements. The only record that I wish was on that list is The Cocteau Twins’ _Treasure_, but I’d still pick _Zen Arcade_ even if it was. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/14 "2014-12-01T04:30:21Z")
Tough choice between REM and The Replacements, two of my all-time favorite bands. I’ll go with _Let It Be_. I Will Dare, Androgynous, Unsatisfied, Seen Your Video, Sixteen Blue and Answering Machine are all just fantastic songs. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/15 "2014-12-01T04:57:16Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Elvis Costello does not appear enough on these lists. > > _Purple Rain_, while not matching _1999_, is still spectacular. That really got on your nerves did it not? Should I be flattered? Jeez. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/16 "2014-12-01T10:16:45Z")
After a couple of stellar years in a row, this is a list with albums that I don’t own and don’t need. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/17 "2014-12-01T18:03:00Z")
I voted for Springsteen, but as usual, I can think of many 1984 albums I liked better than any of these! U2’s _ **The Unforgettable Fire** _ The Cars’ _ **Heartbeat City** _ The Scorpions’ _ **Love at First Sting** _ Ratt’s _ **Out of the Cellar** _ Deep Purple’s _ **Perfect Strangers** _ Don Henley’s _ **Building the Perfect Beast** _ ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/18 "2014-12-01T19:35:12Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > U2’s _ **The Unforgettable Fire** _ This would also have been on my list. I probably listened to that album thousands of times in high school. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/19 "2014-12-01T19:43:07Z")
**The Unforgettable Fire** does seem like a \*very \*conspicuous omission. The Pazz & Jop critics ranked it #29. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969/20 "2014-12-01T20:48:25Z")
Well, it’s possible “4th of July” and the absolutely awful “Elvis Presley and America” caused critics to rank it a bit lower. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pazz-jop-critics-poll-album-1984/705969.md?page=2)