Best 1985
The Nike Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG is a classic high-top basketball shoe released in 1985. It marked Michael Jordan’s inaugural signature design with its durable leather construction and distinctive perforations. This influential sneaker remains popular among collectors and those interested in the...
The Original London Cast Recording of Les Misérables documents the English-language premiere of the long-running musical. Released in 1985, the album features performances by the original West End cast, including Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean and Patti LuPone as Fantine. The recording captures the...
Why this score?
Definitive English-language cast recording, iconic performances, huge influence, and sustained acclaim.
Scoring methodology
The 1985 clash between Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns remains a landmark event in boxing history. Held in Las Vegas, the middleweight bout was characterized by intense action and devastating knockdowns from Hagler, ultimately resulting in a third-round stoppage victory. This fight is notable for it...
Why this score?
Three-round war, unmatched intensity, constant all-time rankings, and near-universal acclaim as an action masterpiece.
Scoring methodology
Psychocandy is the debut studio album by Scottish alternative rock band The Jesus and Mary Chain, released in November 1985 on Blanco y Negro Records. The album is renowned for its innovative sound, which combined 1960s pop melodies and Phil Spector-influenced production with extreme guitar feedback...
Why this score?
Landmark fusion of noise and pop with exceptional influence, strong ratings, and canonical status; deliberate abrasion remains mildly polarizing.
Scoring methodology
'Brazil' is a 1985 British dystopian black comedy film directed by Terry Gilliam. Set in a retro-futuristic, hyper-bureaucratic society, the narrative follows Sam Lowry, a low-level government employee who attempts to correct an administrative error that led to an innocent man's arrest. The film is...
Why this score?
Canonical dystopian satire, high critic esteem, strong cult reputation; some viewers find it overstuffed or abrasive.
Scoring methodology
'30 Greatest Hits' is a double-disc compilation album by American singer Aretha Franklin, originally released in 1985 by Atlantic Records. The tracklist documents her most commercially successful period during the 1960s and 1970s, featuring defining soul tracks such as 'Respect' and 'Chain of Fools....
Why this score?
Exceptional Atlantic hit concentration, enduring acclaim, and virtually no weak material.
Scoring methodology
This Nation's Saving Grace is the eighth studio album by the English post-punk band The Fall, released in September 1985 on the Beggars Banquet label. The album marks a significant point in the band's evolution, featuring the contributions of guitarist Brix Smith, who had joined the band led by fron...
Why this score?
Often identified as the Fall's definitive album, with exceptional critical standing, sharp songwriting, accessibility, and enduring influence.
Scoring methodology
The Nike Dunk Low Retro is a historically significant low-top sneaker originally released in 1985. Its durable leather construction and visible Air unit were innovative features for basketball footwear at the time. The shoe’s enduring popularity makes it suitable for casual wear and appeals to colle...
The Nike Dunk Low is a low-top sneaker originally released in 1985. Its durable leather construction and recognizable silhouette have made it a staple of streetwear culture. The shoe’s enduring popularity stems from its versatility appealing to casual wearers and collectors interested in retro desig...
"Meat Is Murder" is the second studio album by the English rock band The Smiths, released in 1985 through Rough Trade Records. The album features the band's signature jangly guitar style, driven by Johnny Marr, layered beneath Morrissey's distinct vocal melodies. The record is notable for its politi...
Why this score?
Highly acclaimed for musical growth, political conviction, and exceptional singles, with occasional criticism of uneven pacing and the title track.
Scoring methodology
The Schengen Agreement is a 1985 treaty among several European nations facilitating passport-free movement within its zone. This agreement allows citizens of participating countries to travel without border controls, significantly easing international travel in Europe. It primarily benefits tourists...
Louise Glück’s *The Triumph of Achilles* (1985) is a significant poetry collection exploring themes of loss, power, and ancient myth through a contemporary American voice. The work gained recognition with the National Book Critics Circle Award due to its rigorous engagement with classical Greek lite...
Why this score?
National Book Critics Circle winner, widely admired for mythic compression, grief, and Glück's mature authority.
Scoring methodology
Spleen and Ideal is the second studio album by Dead Can Dance, released in 1985 by 4AD. Created principally by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry, it moved beyond the group's earlier post-punk sound toward solemn arrangements featuring voices, percussion, brass, strings, and synthesizers. Its liturgical...
Why this score?
Landmark darkwave album with enduring acclaim for orchestral grandeur, ritualistic atmosphere, and influential fusion of post-punk and neoclassical music.
Scoring methodology
Option was a Los Angeles-based zine focusing on alternative music, California culture, and related scenes from 1985 through 1998. It gained recognition for pioneering coverage of independent music, college radio programming, and world music genres within the United States. The publication served art...
Why this score?
Highly respected alternative music magazine with broad independent coverage; strong critical reputation and historical importance for pre-internet discovery.
Scoring methodology
Released in 1985 by the British neo-progressive rock band Marillion, Misplaced Childhood is a concept album exploring themes of lost innocence and the sudden impact of fame. The record was the band's commercial peak, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart and producing the top-ten hit single "Ka...
Why this score?
Marillion's commercial and neo-prog peak; high fan esteem, strong concept, and enduring singles.
Scoring methodology
The Nike Air Jordan 1 Low is a low-top sneaker originally released in 1985 as Michael Jordan’s first signature shoe. Its leather construction and visible Air cushioning established it as a foundational basketball design. The shoe quickly gained popularity within streetwear culture and remains a nota...
Wynton Marsalis’s *Black Codes from the Underground* is a jazz album exploring themes of racial injustice and resistance. Featuring interpretations of songs by Billie Holiday and Nina Simone, it powerfully reflects the era of the Black Codes following Reconstruction. The project offers valuable insi...
Return of the Living Dead is a 1985 American horror comedy film centered around a group of college students who inadvertently resurrect zombies after discovering a canister of brain fluid. The movie’s innovative use of gore and darkly comedic tone helped define the zombie genre. It's notable for its...
Jiri Barta’s *The Pied Piper* is a 1985 Czech stop-motion film based on the classic fairy tale. Utilizing meticulously crafted puppets, it presents a visually striking adaptation of the story's themes of temptation and consequence. The film is notable for its artistic technique and enduring represen...
Live Aid was a monumental 1985 benefit concert held at Wembley Stadium and across multiple locations globally. It featured performances by iconic rock artists like Queen, U2, and Paul McCartney raising awareness and funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. The film captures this historic event and remai...
"The Singles 81>85" is a compilation album by the English electronic band Depeche Mode, originally released in 1985 and reissued in 1998. The record collects the group's early synth-pop singles, remixes, and B-sides produced during the first half of the 1980s. It serves as a retrospective of the ban...
Why this score?
Definitive early singles document with influential synth-pop and worthwhile B-sides.
Scoring methodology
Film Threat is an American magazine dedicated to independent and alternative film culture. Founded in Detroit by Chris Gore in 1985, it began as a photocopied zine focusing on overlooked cinematic works. The publication has expanded into a national print magazine and online resource. Film Threat ser...
Why this score?
Influential independent film zine-to-magazine with national reach; important indie-film role, later brand quality viewed unevenly.
Scoring methodology
Brothers in Arms is the fifth studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released in 1985. It contains the songs "Money for Nothing," "Walk of Life," and "Brothers in Arms," and combines rock songwriting with polished studio production and prominent guitar work by Mark Knopfler. The album reach...
Why this score?
Technically polished blockbuster with enduring hits, excellent musicianship, and huge cultural impact; slick production and uneven second half divide critics.
Scoring methodology
Greatest Hits is a Billy Joel compilation issued in 1985 as a two-record set covering recordings from the 1970s and early 1980s. Its track list includes established singles such as "Piano Man," "Just the Way You Are," "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" and "Uptown Girl," alongside previously unrelease...
Why this score?
Outstanding hit concentration and enormous longevity; ballad-heavy sequencing and omissions.
Scoring methodology
The GNU Manifesto is a foundational document written by Richard Stallman in 1985 to announce and explain the GNU Project. The text outlines the philosophical and practical arguments for developing free software, explicitly advocating for users' rights to run, copy, distribute, study, and modify comp...
Why this score?
Foundational free-software manifesto, highly influential in computing culture, clear and enduring despite ideological rigidity.
Scoring methodology
The Nike Dunk High Retro is a high-top sneaker originally released in 1985. It utilized durable leather and visible Air cushioning for basketball performance. Its enduring design has made it a popular choice within retro sneaker collections and remains favored by individuals seeking classic style an...
Fright Night is a 1985 American horror film written and directed by Tom Holland, blending classic vampire mythology with suburban teenage life. The plot follows Charley Brewster, a young man who becomes convinced that his new neighbor is a bloodthirsty vampire, only to find that no one believes him....
Why this score?
Enduring cult classic praised for practical effects, charismatic performances, humor, and affectionate vampire mythology; some dated pacing remains evident.
Scoring methodology
*Here Comes Everybody* is the second studio album by the Scottish post-punk band the Wake, released in 1985 on the influential independent label Factory Records. The album is noted for its melodic, synth-driven sound that blends jangle-pop guitar lines with atmospheric keyboards and understated voca...
Why this score?
Cult Factory Records favorite admired for melancholy atmosphere and melodic restraint; limited visibility and subdued consistency cap wider acclaim.
Scoring methodology
Clue is a 1985 American comedy mystery directed by Jonathan Lynn and adapted from the board game of the same name. Set largely inside an isolated mansion, it follows a group of pseudonymous dinner guests attempting to identify a killer amid multiple deaths, secret passages, and blackmail. Its origin...
Why this score?
Cult comedy mystery with enduring popularity, quotable ensemble, and strong home-video reputation despite mixed original reviews.
Scoring methodology
The Penang Bridge is a balanced cantilever bridge built across the Penang Strait. Completed in 1985, it connects Penang Island to the Malaysian mainland over a distance of roughly 13.5 kilometers. This significant structure facilitates transportation and trade for residents of both regions and is on...
Why this score?
Major Malaysian landmark and long sea crossing, widely recognized for national infrastructure importance and iconic status.
Scoring methodology
