Seven Albums Turning 40 In 2025

1985 Was a Great Year For Hooky Guitar Pop

Apr 05, 2025

The 1980s were a wild time for music.

Punk splintered and evolved, MTV turned visually-oriented new wave and hair metal acts into megastars, and college radio stations and fanzines fostered a vibrant underground rock scene that led to the ‘90s alternative revolution.

The sometimes self-indulgent sounds of the “Greed Decade” were beyond eclectic, but pop hooks drove many of the stylistic twists and turn. From the slickest videos to the rattiest clubs, musicians from every genre and all around the world were tapping into their ‘60s and ‘70s guitar pop roots in one way or another.

From hair metal to the Paisley Underground, neo-psych to chart-topping hits, enjoy this 7-album trip back to the mid-’80s.

⚡️ What’s Your Favorite Guitar Pop Album Of 1985? 💥

1. Candy—Whatever Happened To Fun

Released by Mercury in August, 1985

“Every one of the songs on this record is classic and should be listened to in it’s entirety on a weekly basis, if you want to put a smile on your face.”—Veglam

“Candy was the overlooked missing link between The Knack and Mötley Crüe; too punk rock-glam to wear suits, too puppy dog to be junkies and too smart to know better. Candy was too much too late (or too soon) and it floundered after this absolutely brilliant pop album.”—Detroit Metro Times

2. Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians—Fegmania!

Released by Slash in March, 1985

“Fegmania!, the Egyptians' first album, was a distinct departure from both The Soft Boys and Hitchcock's previous solo work, featuring layered, intertwining guitars and keyboards that created lush and thick sonic textures.”—AllMusic

“The material is both imaginative and confidently grounded, equal to morbid merriment in ‘My Wife & My Dead Wife,’ metaphoric silliness in ‘The Man With the Lightbulb Head’ (‘I turn myself on in the dark’) and serious contemplation in ‘Glass.’”—Trouser Press

3. The Replacements—Tim

Released by Sire in September, 1985

“On these 11 tracks, Westerberg summons the restless tumult of the group’s early punk records while hinting at the greater heights the original foursome would’ve reached had it not been programmed to self-destruct.”—Billboard

“1985’s Tim caught the band on the cusp between thrashing suburban alienation and vaulting singer-songwriter ambition.”—BBC

4. Katrina And The Waves—Katrina And The Waves

Released by Capitol in March, 1985

“Instead of recording a new batch of songs for their major-label debut, Katrina and The Waves elected to redo ten songs from their first two albums… All were re-recorded in an aggressive power pop style; surprisingly, most all these fine songs hold up extremely well under this approach.”—AllMusic

“For a while I thought the only thing Capitol had done right was sign them, but between the exuberant Katrina Leskanich and the surefire Kimberley Rew this band would be hard for any label to fuck up.”—Robert Christgau

5. Game Theory—Real Nighttime

Released by Enigma in July, 1985

“Twisting, turning, and gyrating tunes with intelligent, highly literate lyrics, sometimes delicate but often erupting with bursts of energy.”—Big Takeover

“Real Nighttime was the pinnacle of Scott Miller's output at the time (and arguably, ever). Mitch Easter was occupying the producer's stead, and not only does he maximize and expand Game Theory's sonic capabilities, he elevates the group's wherewithal.”—Willfully Obscure

6. The Dentists—Some People Are on the Pitch They Think It's All Over It Is Now

Released by Spruck in June, 1985

“This is the best album The Dentists made. The blend of inspired songcraft performance and sound (and the fact that not too many people heard it) make the record a lost guitar pop classic.”—AllMusic

“It always makes me laugh when music snobs mock the ‘80s as The Dentists are one of 100s of bands from the era that either helped define todays indie-music scene or would sit very easily in the upper echelons of acclaimed bands if they were around today in their pomp.”—JanglePop Hub

7. The Three O’Clock—Arrive Without Travelling

Released by I.R.S. May, 1985

“This group is definitely into making pure pop. Call it wimpy, unpretentious, joyous, retrograde, groovy, or uplifting, The Three O'Clock's music is going somewhere.”—Spin

“Michael Quercio’s fey vocals accompany some of his sweetest melodies here, including the jaunty ‘Half the Way There,’ ‘Another World’ and the Scott Miller co-write ‘The Girl With the Guitar (Says Oh Yeah).’”—Shake Some Action: The Ultimate Power Pop Guide