And while that album I won 't deny is very influenced by Peter Gabriel-Genesis, it still has a lot of great songs/songwriting on it. Garden Party, The Web and the title track were always my favorites. But I can't lie, among Marillion's catalog, it is only in the middle which maybe says more about my love and the quality I see in their history.
I guess looking at the calendar and rankings, 1983 had a lot of enjoyable albums from Metal to Pop to early prog. I guess I wouldn't say it's Top Heavy, but at the same time it is not without depth for at least nostalgia if not just artists putting out good albums or with multiple good songs. Even The Pointer Sisters who I just saw live last week, put out an album with a few 80's Pop classics.
How it fares compared to the rest of the decade? I kind of suspect it won't be at the top, but definitely not at the bottom at this point. Nostalgia points and depth as opposed to say 1981 or 1979 which at this point I see as 2 of the thinnest years for albums in my taste. 1983 though, I don't see as quite as thin though.
1, Marillion - Script for a Jester's Tear
2, The Police - Synchonicity
3. Tears for Fears - The Hurting
4. Queensryche - Queensryche [EP]
5, Peter Gabriel - Plays Live
6. Pat Metheny - Travels
7. Huey Lewis and the News - Sports
8, Duran Duran - Seven and the Ragged Tiger
9. David Bowie - Let's Dance
10. Dio - Holy Diver
11. Metallica - Kill'Em All
12. Genesis - Genesis
13, Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind
14, U2 - War
15. Lionel Ritchie - Can't Slow Down
16. Pink Floyd - The Final Cut
17. XTC - Mummer
18. Madonna - Madonna
19. The Pointer Sisters - Break Out
20. Savatage - Sirens
21. Yes - 90125

Neil Young - Trans
rel January 3, 1983

Def Leppard - Pyromania
rel January 20, 1983

Christopher Cross - Another Page
rel January 31, 1983

Journey - Frontiers
rel February 22, 1983

U2 - War
rel February 28, 1983

Neal Schon and Jan Hammer - Here to Stay
rel February 1983

Spandau Ballet - True
rel March 4, 1983

Tears for Fears - The Hurting
rel March 7, 1983

Nile Rodgers - Adventures in the Land of the Good Groove
rel March 11, 1983

Marillion - Script for a Jester's Tear
rel March 14, 1983

Pink Floyd - The Final Cut
rel March 21, 1983

Mark Knopfler - Local Hero
rel March 1983

Savatage - Sirens
rel April 11, 1983

Various Artists - Flashdance
rel April 11, 1983

R.E.M. - Murmur
rel April 12, 1983

Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes
rel April 13, 1983

David Bowie - Let's Dance
rel April 14, 1983

Weird Al Yankovic - Weird Al Yankovic
rel May 3, 1983

Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind
rel May 16, 1983

Dio - Holy Diver
rel May 25, 1983

Queensrÿche - Queensrÿche [EP]
rel May 1983

Talking Heads - Speaking in Tongues
rel June 1, 1983

Peter Gabriel - Plays Live
rel June 6, 1983

The Police - Synchonicity
rel June 17, 1983

Tony Banks - The Fugitive
rel June 1983

Richard Thompson - Hand of Kindness
rel June 1983
Robert Plant - The Principle of Moments
rel July 11, 1983

Metallica - Kill 'Em All
rel July 25, 1983

Asia - Alpha
rel July 26, 1983

Oingo Boingo - Good for Your Soul
rel July 26, 1983

Madonna - Madonna
rel July 27, 1983
Level 42 - Standing in the Light
rel August 1, 1983

Elvis Costello and the Attractions - Punch the Clock
rel August 5, 1983

Billy Joel - An Innocent Man
rel August 8, 1983

XTC - Mummer
rel August 30, 1983

Herbie Hancock - Future Shock
rel August 1983

Huey Lewis and the News - Sports
rel September 15, 1983

IQ - Tales from the Lush Attic
rel September 1983

Genesis - Genesis
rel October 3, 1983

Lionel Ritchie - Can't Slow Down
rel October 11, 1983
Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual
rel October 14, 1983

Mercyful Fate - Melissa
rel October 30, 1983

Steve Hackett - Bay of Kings
rel October 1983

The Pointer Sisters - Break Out
rel November 6, 1983

U2 - Under a Blood Red Sky
rel November 7, 1983

Yes - 90125
rel November 7, 1983
Stewart Copeland - Rumble Fish
rel November 8, 1983

Ian Anderson - Walk into the Light
rel November 8, 1983

Duran Duran - Seven and the Ragged Tiger
rel November 21, 1983

Jaco Pastorius - Invitation
rel December 1983

Psychic TV - Dreams Less Sweet
rel December 1983

Al Di Meola - Scenario
rel 1983

Happy the Man - Happy the Man 3rd: Better Late ...
rel 1983

Pat Metheny - Travels
rel 1983
Moraz and Bruford - Music for Piano and Drums
rel 1983

Eddie Murphy - Eddie Murphy: Comedian
rel 1983

Nathan Mahl - Parallel Eccentricities
rel 1983
Yo Yo Ma -The 6 Unaccompanied Cello Suites
rel 1983