Top 39 Music Albums of 1988
by slatsheit

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Buy album United States
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2nd-best live album of all-time, after ABB's Live at Fillmore East. [First added to this chart: 11/28/2024]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
136
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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As I have said elsewhere, one of this site's most underrated albums. [First added to this chart: 11/28/2024]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
97
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
3. (=)
Substance 
Compilation
Buy album United States
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This is old music, but here in the States, their stuff was only available as hard-to-get imports, and being a CD guy, there was no way to get their singles on disc before this. So this was my entree to the rock era's second greatest pound-for-pound champion after Nick Drake - the most masterpiece tracks in a brief catalog by a short-lived artist. Of course the Sinatra version of "Love Will Tear Us Apart," "Transmission," the 12" version of "She's Lost Control," and "Atmosphere" are worth the price of admission alone, and there are several other great tracks here. Once again, as freaking always, the CD version. [First added to this chart: 11/28/2024]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,295
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 04/03/2025]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
137
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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This is this low because I don't include the first four songs in my evaluation of it, but rather Rubber Soul and Revolver, since there's no way those wouldn't have been included in those albums had they been released any time after '68. If they were included, this would absolutely be #1 for the year, which would hardly be fair... [First added to this chart: 04/03/2025]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
215
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Love this band. This album was a huge change-up from their earlier stuff, with its greater sense of foreboding and mystery provided by the West Coast production, but the combination worked. I saw this band live in '88, but the experience was at least partly ruined by Marty Willson-Piper battling with his roadie and the crowd like a prima donna. Wouldn't come out for the encore. But I love the man's guitar work. Best track here is my all-time favorite Church song - "North, South, East and West." [First added to this chart: 11/28/2024]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,460
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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I usually say that '84-'86 was the Cocteaux' heyday - and they were the gem of mid-'80s, along with '82-'86 R.E.M. - but this more lightweight but gorgeous album was a fantastic victory lap. [First added to this chart: 11/28/2024]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,017
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
8. (=)
Buy album United States
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I know most here probably hate this sort of music, and a lot of her stuff is just candyfloss, but "Cursum Perficio," "The Longships," and "Na Laetha M'Oige" have an emotional weight that far outstrips the rest of her catalog. The last 5-star album (yes, this is a 5-star in my book) here. [First added to this chart: 11/28/2024]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
934
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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The Smithereens are unsung heroes of this time period. Their first two LPs had a songwriting heft and resonance that they sadly lost after this. My favorite song here, and in their catalog, is the title track, with its fantastic "Whoa-whoa-whoa" backing vocal hook, especially in the coda chorus. Great Rickenbacker tone from Jim Babjack throughout. [First added to this chart: 11/28/2024]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
75
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • #Sponsored
These guys are extremely underrated in retrospect as well, although their decline - or, to be honest, Shane's decline - was so rapid after this that perhaps it's not surprising no one remembers them as being as great as they were at their stratospheric peak (Rum, Sodomy & the Lash). P.S. - Thanks, Kirsty!!! [First added to this chart: 11/28/2024]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,740
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 39. Page 1 of 4
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Top 39 Music Albums of 1988 composition

Artist Albums %


The Beatles 2 5%
Sarah McLachlan 1 3%
The Church 1 3%
Megadeth 1 3%
Metallica 1 3%
The Bangles 1 3%
Cocteau Twins 1 3%
Show all
Country Albums %


United States 15 38%
United Kingdom 15 38%
Canada 3 8%
Ireland 2 5%
Australia 2 5%
Mixed Nationality 1 3%
Germany 1 3%
Compilation? Albums %
No 36 92%
Yes 3 8%
Live? Albums %
No 38 97%
Yes 1 3%

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Top 39 Music Albums of 1988 ratings

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87/100 (from 1 vote)
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12/19/2024 18:17 Rhyner   1,45699/100
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