Album Of The Year
Some Girls — The Stones rallied their musical forces around a framework of anger, sardonicism and raw (some say sexist) parody to reach a new popular peak with an album that was — like it or not — on the cutting edge of our culture.
Album Runners-up
Darkness on the Edge of Town — Springsteen came back from the nether world with a dark, self-probing record that detailed the flip side of rock 'n' roll exhilaration with unflinching honesty.
Running on Empty — As both a song-cycle of the road and a map of its frail highs and lonesome lows, Jackson Browne's concept rang clear and true.
This Year's Model — Elvis Costello's well-honed humor and a fit-to-be-tied attack combined to show that this overwrought little rocker has a steady aim.
Road to Ruin — Sure the Ramones are dumb, but they're our kind of dumb.
Misfits — Ray Davies knows how to laugh at himself and rock 'n' roll, and somehow makes it sound dignified.
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