10 Perfect Albums That Defined The '80s

If you wanted to nail down a specific instrument that tied the entire '80s together, it would have to be synthesizers. Though the otherworldly sounds of synth saw its genesis in the '70s, it wasn't until the next decade that the entire sound of pop music was blaring out of these futuristic keyboards. While most of us can look back at how dated some of these songs are, the more elegant stuff never really goes out of date.

After making some decent pop music on the Hurting a few years prior, Tear For Fears came into their own as songwriters on Songs From the Big Chair, where they let themselves run wild in the studio. Outside of the infectious melodies, Tears for Fears were also able to capitalize on one of the greatest aspects of '80s music: melodrama. While you can definitely call what the band plays here pop music, there's a size to this record that sounds absolutely gigantic when paired with songs of heartache.

It's not like it doesn't fit either. For the teenagers growing up around this time, every little thing in your life may seem like the end of the world, and to have this as the soundtrack is just the kind of music you'd want to hear. After synths grew up, this was the sound of pop music becoming almost operatic.