10 Albums That Defined The 80s

10. The Clash - London Calling (1980)

At the end of the '70s, the Clash had established themselves as one of the greatest acts to come out of the punk scene. At the turn of the decade, they hunkered down and brought us one of the greatest double albums in rock history.

This record's mix of punk, reggae, and ska became hugely influential in the coming decade and helped the Clash stay relevant after their punk brethren, such as the Sex Pistols, were fizzling out.

The unapologetic nature of this record speaks volumes. The punks got done listening to it and knew things were gonna be different. The Clash were already a great band. With this record, they became the only band that mattered.