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Paste Magazine: The 50 Best New Wave Albums

By Josh Jackson | September 8, 2016
As we look at the best New Wave albums of the '70s and '80s, we're focused both on the early records which overlap with our 50 Best Post-Punk Albums list through the New Romantics, left-of-center power-pop and synth rock of the '80s. The following albums were collectively chosen by Paste music writers and editors.
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Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True
1
Talking Heads - Remain in Light (1980)
Talking Heads - Remain in Light (1980)
2
The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
3
Blondie - Parallel Lines
Blondie - Parallel Lines
4
New Order - Power, Corruption, & Lies
New Order - Power, Corruption, & Lies
5
The Police - Synchronicity (1983)
The Police - Synchronicity (1983)
6
XTC - Skylarking
XTC - Skylarking
7
Echo & the Bunnymen - Ocean Rain
Echo & the Bunnymen - Ocean Rain
8
David Bowie - Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
David Bowie - Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
9
The Cure - Disintegration
The Cure - Disintegration
10
Nick Lowe - Jesus of Cool
Nick Lowe - Jesus of Cool
11
Devo - Freedom of Choice
Devo - Freedom of Choice
12
The Cars
The Cars
13
Crowded House-Crowded House
Crowded House-Crowded House
14
Marianne Faithfull - Broken English
Marianne Faithfull - Broken English
15
Songs From the Big Chair - Tears for Fears (1985)
Songs From the Big Chair - Tears for Fears (1985)
16
Joe Jackson - Look Sharp!
Joe Jackson - Look Sharp!
17
Talking Heads - Fear of Music
Talking Heads - Fear of Music
18
This Year's Model - Elvis Costello
This Year's Model - Elvis Costello
19
Squeeze - Argybargy
Squeeze - Argybargy
20
Beauty and the Beat (The Go-Go's, 1981)
Beauty and the Beat (The Go-Go's, 1981)
21
Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden
Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden
22
Pretenders - Pretenders
Pretenders - Pretenders
23
Duran Duran - Rio
Duran Duran - Rio
24
Bangles: All Over the Place
Bangles: All Over the Place
25
Japan - Tin Drum
Japan - Tin Drum
26
The B52s-The B52s
The B52s-The B52s
27
Devo - Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
Devo - Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
28
A-Ha - Hunting High and Low (1985)
A-Ha - Hunting High and Low (1985)
29
Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses
30
The Go-Betweens - Tallulah
The Go-Betweens - Tallulah
31
Split Enz - True Colours
Split Enz - True Colours
32
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Juju
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Juju
33
The Human League - Dare
The Human League - Dare
34
The Police Outlandos D'Amour
The Police Outlandos D'Amour
35
Pylon - Gyrate
Pylon - Gyrate
36
The Jam - All Mod Cons
The Jam - All Mod Cons
37
Gary Numan - The Pleasure Principle (1979)
Gary Numan - The Pleasure Principle (1979)
38
Get the Knack - The Knack (1979)
Get the Knack - The Knack (1979)
39
Madness ‎– One Step Beyond...
Madness ‎– One Step Beyond...
40
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