10 Best Alt-Rock Albums Of The 80's

The alternative scene in Britain was incredibly fertile in the 80's, with many of the post-punk outfits like New Order pioneering what would be known as alternative music further down the line. However, if there was one band that deserved the title of Best Alternative Band in Europe, the Smiths were well-worthy of such an accolade.

Though the band had great songs across countless singles and 2 fantastic albums, The Queen is Dead is the record where everything truly came together. While not necessarily being a shredder, guitarist Johnny Marr was a true innovator with the way he used effects and open chords to create luscious sonic textures across these tracks. Say what you want to about his offstage behaviors, but Morrissey's lyrics on this album are some of the most poignant words to be written in the 80's, from the longing in "There is a Light That Never Goes Out" to the takedown of the monarchy on the title track.

Even though the band's fantastic body of work didn't extend beyond the 80's, their legacy is still being praised, with bands as different as Oasis and AFI taking cues from this album. With fashions and trends fading with time, The Queen is Dead has earned a certain immortality as years have passed.