If you were born in 1985, you are going to turn 40 years old this year. That’s a fun thought. For many of us, though, it was a formative year for our musical tastes. There are tons of great records that celebrate the big 4-0 in 2025, so without hesitation, let’s take a look at 10 of them that have aged with various levels of grace, beauty and ridiculousness.
‘...And No One Else Wanted to Play,’ SNFU
From the world of punk rock, Canadian punk legends SNFU put out "…And No One Else Wanted to Play" in 1985. This ball of energy was put out by the dudes from Youth Brigade on their Better Youth Organization record label, and it exploded off the turntable much in the same way SNFU singer Mr. Chi Pig liked to explode off the stage with one of his signature leaps during their amazing live shows. Check out “Misfortune” and “Bodies in the Wall” to hear SNFU in their prime. "…And No One Else Wanted to Play" is still a classic 40 years later and SNFU’s best record by far.
Placebo Records
‘More Coffee for the Politicians, (Phoenix Underground Music Compilation #3)’
Locally, Placebo Records released the third of their unforgettable compilations of local bands in 1985. "More Coffee For The Politicians (Phoenix Underground Music Compilation #3)" is not as well known as the label’s other two comps (1982’s "Amuck" and 1984’s "This is Phoenix, Not the Circle Jerks"), but for my money, it's every bit as good as those other two. It wouldn’t be a Placebo comp without J.F.A. making an appearance with “Julie’s Song,” but "More Coffee…" also features J.F.A. frontman Brian Brannon’s other '80s project, Racer X, with “Jojoba Blues.”"More Coffee for the Politicians" includes the usual cast of '80s Phoenix weirdo savants such as Sun City Girls and Mighty Sphincter, but it also boasts some of the other underground greats like The Harvest, Bootbeast Carnival, ONS, Maybe Mental, Keening, Joke Flower and a hugely underappreciated track by Kill Everyone called “Icons.” Zany Guys, Dirt Clods, Hellfire and Domino Theory round out the lineup. Every track is well worth a listen, and not a single band sounds like another. Fans of heavy punk, noisy post-punk, psychedelic candy rock, pre-industrial grunge and sun-damaged garage rock will love it.
Sire Records
‘Meat Is Murder,’ The Smiths
Feeling mopey with a taste for the best guitar and bass riffs you’ll ever hear? Look no further than The Smiths’ "Meat Is Murder." Sure, you know ‘How Soon Is Now,” but what about the fantastic opener, “Headmaster Ritual”? Do you know that one? You should. "Meat Is Murder" was The Smiths' second full-length album, and guitarist Johnny Marr and bassist Andy Rourke absolutely shine here. “What She Said” is another straight-up rocker that often gets overlooked in The Smiths’ canon, but every song here is simply superb.
Select Records
‘UTFO,’ UTFO
Switching gears, old-school hip-hop fans will want to remember that UTFO’s self-titled debut album dropped in ’85. The biggest hit on the record was “Roxanne, Roxanne” and it spawned one of the first diss tracks, “The Real Roxanne,” which is on the record as well. One of the great things about UTFO is the exceptional and often socially conscious wordplay, especially from The Kangol Kid (the late Shaun Fequiere) and The Educated Rapper (Jeffrey Campbell). UTFO’s influence can be heard in the hip-hop acts that followed them even decades later. “Beats and Rhymes” is a fairly dated song, but the track just oozes nerdy '80s hip-hop fun.
Metal Blade Records
‘Hell Awaits,’ Slayer
Metal heads will remember that Slayer’s "Hell Awaits" made its debut in 1985 as well. This is one of the greatest thrash metal records of all time; from the opening title track, “Hell Awaits,” to the anthemic weirdness of “At Dawn They Sleep,” "Hell Awaits" sets the stage for what Slayer would become before the band (sort of) retired a few years ago. Pro tip: If you’re ever wanting to do something a little crazy while DJ-ing, mix “Necrophiliac” into the outro of John Coltrane’s song “Giant Steps.” It totally works.
Torrid/Combat
‘Bonded by Blood,’ Exodus
Staying in the thrash metal world, "Bonded by Blood" by Exodus is another member of the class of ’85. The San Francisco Bay Area could certainly push out great thrash bands, and Exodus is among the very best of them. “A Lesson in Violence” remains one of the heaviest, meanest-sounding thrash songs ever. Gary Holt’s guitar work on "Bonded by Blood" is as groundbreaking as it is tightly wound. Fun fact: Even though Holt would later spend time in Slayer, he played on every Exodus release. "Bonded by Blood" is a must for every heavy music fan. Listen to “Strike of the Beast” and try not to bang your head. 
Alternative Tentacles
‘Frankenchrist,’ Dead Kennedys
The Bay Area also produced another underrated punk classic, the Dead Kennedys’ "Frankenchrist" in 1985. Unfortunately, most people only know about this record because of the poster the band included in the initial release featuring artwork from H.R. Giger (designer of the famous "Alien" monster) called “Landscape #XX” (a.k.a. “Penis Landscape”) that got the band a date with the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) and a trip to court to battle obscenity charges. Songs like “This Could Be Anywhere (This Could Everywhere),” “M.T.V. – Get off the Air” and “Stars and Stripes of Corruption,” are right up there with the best songs the Dead Kennedys ever recorded.
Beggars Banquet Records
‘Love,’ The Cult
In the "Turn it the fuck up" category for 1985, there is no better record than The Cult’s "Love." From the opening guitar lick in “Nirvana” to the last note of “Black Angel,” there is no other slab of '80s wax that urges the listener to crank it up more than "Love." While singer Ian Astbury turns in, arguably, the performance of his storied career here, it is guitarist Billy Duffy who cemented himself in the guitar hero pantheon for this stellar work. “Love” and “Rain” are both all-time classics, but don’t sleep on “Phoenix,” either. In the end, though, “She Sells Sanctuary” is the best song on "Love" and there is no point in arguing.
Qwest Records
‘Low-Life,’ New Order
New Order was already one of the coolest bands on the planet in 1985, but then they released their classic "Low-Life" record. A post-punk gem, "Low-Life" runs the gamut of what New Order could offer in the 1980s. It is dreamy, poignant, self-effacing and completely fantastic. “Love Vigilantes” remains one of the greatest songs about ghosts and suicide to ever exist and even though the subject matter is dark, you can’t help but sing along. “Elegia” is as good as it gets, too, especially if you like an instrumental song that swells to an overwhelming flood of unspoken emotion.
ABC
