The year 1985 was a musical juggernaut, marked by Live Aid’s global moment, MTV’s influence as a cultural force, and blockbuster hits from Whitney Houston, Madonna, Bryan Adams, Dire Straits, and Phil Collins.

It was also a year of quiet revolutions. While mainstream radio blared the familiar, artists working on the margins were bending genres and forging paths that would shape the future of alternative, indie, and underground music. The following five albums may not have been radio darlings, but each one has aged remarkably well, influencing a whole generation of musicians and fans.